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History

Choose your own adventure

Study the human story on our Florida campus

At Eckerd College, history isn’t the usual program of standard survey courses. You can choose elective courses that follow your interests right from your first year. Many of the courses are linked by themes, including environmental history, cultural history, political/military history, and race and gender.

Are you interested in American environmental history? The history of sport? Pirates and shipwrecks? Native American History? Technology and the automobile? Nazi Germany and WWII? Music and social revolt? We teach courses that are fun–and matter.

Work closely with our professors to pursue what you’re passionate about and build skills and knowledge that are indispensable for almost any career, including:

  • clarity in writing and speaking;
  • effective use of evidence and rational argument;
  • the ability to perform independent research;
  • an awareness of cultural differences and commonalities.

These skills are some of the most sought-after by employers, in fields as diverse as business, law, journalism, education, and medicine.

Full Department Website

Only@Eckerd

Joining a learning cohort

At Eckerd, history majors part of a learning cohort alongside majors in allied fields such as humanities, literature, religious studies and philosophy. Cross-pollination is encouraged: classes in other disciplines can complement and count for your history major. This cohort experience culminates in shared upper-division courses such as the Humanities Symposium, the Humanities Internship, and the Senior Colloquium.

Fresh perspectives

You’ll learn plenty in the history major, but you’ll also have the opportunity to learn complementary skills such as foreign languages and data skills; take advantage of Eckerd’s amazing study abroad options; and double major or minor in an allied field in the humanities or the broader Arts and Sciences.

An environmental studies and history double major? Yes! Animal studies and history? A perfect combination! History and marketing? Of course! The study of history brings a fresh perspective to the study of any other field.

In Their Own Words

“Excellent professors, close mentoring relationships, and plenty of opportunities for individual research. I really learned not just how to study history but how to become a historian at Eckerd.”
— Randy Browne’06
Assistant Professor, Xavier University History Department

Beyond the Classroom

Crazy about the Civil War? Fascinated by the Middle East? Explore any topic through one-on-one study with your professor. Recent independent studies include French Communism and Empire: the Riff War, 1921-1925 and Peasant Revolt and Indigenous Politics in Latin America.

Spend five weeks in Takamatsu, Japan studying marine environments, sustainability, and Japanese culture in this thriving port city. Or head to Morocco for “Modernization and Sustainability in the Atlas Mountains.” Or choose from more than 300 other destinations offered every year.

Study Abroad Pics on Flickr

Service is more than just a buzzword here. It starts with Into the Streets during Autumn Term, when small groups of new students spend a few hours volunteering with youth programs, shelters and other local non-profits.

There are many opportunities to get involved locally, like EC Kitchen, which has developed and is running a food kitchen right in downtown St Pete.

Service Pics on Flickr

Popular classes

Making History: Shipwrecks

Start learning about history by exploring how we can interpret shipwrecks as sources for historical research. Explore the classical Mediterranean, maritime Asia, and treasure fleets off the Florida Keys. Then do independent research on a shipwreck of your own choosing.

Empire and the Environment

This course explores the rise of the modern colonial economy with a focus on use (and abuse) of natural resources and the attitudes of invaders toward their surroundings.

Delacroix painting studied by our History majors

Outcomes

Find Eckerd alumni on LinkedIn

What can I do with a history degree?

  • Diplomat
  • Foreign service officer
  • Historical researcher
  • Intelligence analyst
  • Journalist
  • Lawyer
  • Librarian
  • Museum curator
  • Public Relations professional
  • Publisher
  • Teacher

Where our history majors go to grad school

  • Chicago State University
  • Colorado State University
  • Stetson University College of Law
  • Stony Brook University
  • SUNY Albany
  • University of Central Florida
  • University of South Florida
  • University of Tampa

Where our history majors go to work

Quick contact

727.864.8331
admissions@eckerd.edu

Sign up for more about Eckerd and our history program