Santa Clara’s History Department strives to be a community of scholars in which students and faculty engage in vigorous inquiry to study and understand the past.
This is the product of both interpretation of what others have written about the past and original scholarship that expands the boundaries of historical knowledge. Because history is what the present says about the past, it is continuously undergoing reinterpretation. Examination of the construction of history is therefore at the base of learning and scholarship within the department.
Through an integrated approach to teaching, learning, and scholarship, students will become informed about their own and other cultures in a global context, will develop broadly reflective and analytic skills, and will prepare themselves to be engaged citizens serving their societies.
About Our Program
The major program in history provides students with an understanding of the human experience through the analysis of evidence derived from both the recent and more distant past. As history majors, students learn essential skills, understand the breadth and similarities of the human experience, and acquire specific geographical and thematic knowledge. A degree in history provides excellent preparation for careers in education, journalism, media, government, law, business, and international affairs---all of which are careers that utilize the history major's expertise in discovering, organizing, and analyzing the forces that shape the contemporary world.
Faculty & Staff
News & Events
Our Stories
The History Department mourns the loss of Tim O’Keefe, a much-beloved faculty member. We were heartened, however, by the flood of condolence notes that came to the office and were forwarded to the (very grateful) O’Keefe family.
Some of Professor Meg Gudgeirrson’s immense popularity with our students stems from her willingness to incorporate social media and other non-traditional forms of communication into her classes. Students in her class on the Cold War created memes, reviewed them, and placed them in the context of the course material.
Coming Events
Life After SCU
Alumni Stories
Pursuing a master's degree in London
Publishing graduate school research that began at SCU
Experience in journalism and heading to graduate school
History alum Neil Datar and the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics team up to help the city of Santa Clara become more equitable and inclusive.