Program Overview
The discipline of history untangles the deep complexities of human behavior and social arrangements. In its explanatory dimensions, it tries to understand change over time, context, causality, and contingency. In its moral dimension, it seeks to promote empathy. Seeking to understand unfamiliar practices and beliefs from the past offers opportunities to practice the Christian virtues of love, hospitality, and compassion for neighbors. In its professional dimension, the history major trains students in marketable skills such as effective oral and written communication, incisive analytical reasoning, dynamic narrative-telling, textual analysis, and persistent research.
Asbury’s History department offers extensive opportunities for students to practice primary research; to do internships with the Kentucky Historical Society, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts; and to participate in Phi Alpha Theta, the history honors society.
Far from a collection of dead facts, history is alive in the social structures and narratives that we inhabit every day. Our students are trained to:
The human brain is wired for story, and historians are dedicated to telling stories that are grounded in evidence, critical thought, and compassion.
We train students to critically evaluate primary texts—be they oral, written or aural—in their historical context. We help them learn to search for evidence by reading with and through the texts of human life.
The human experience is defined by a diversity of values, beliefs, and sensibilities. History hones a critical appreciation for the rich human tapestry.
Simple stories have beginnings and ends, but history is often more complex. We help students grapple with the nature of contingency and complexity in the human past.
Good historians must understand those they write about. The study of history, then, is an exercise in empathy, love, hospitality, and compassion.
Upper-level history classes are usually between seven to fifteen students. This small-class size allows for more engagement with the professor and seminar-style discussions that are missing in larger programs. This approach creates richer learning experiences, and it also better prepare students for graduate school or collaborative work environments.
With a net requirement of 33 additional credits our major can be easily combined with other major tracks. Similarly, our minor only requires 18 additional hours. These streamlined majors allow students to build core skills and gain specialized knowledge that can serve them in whatever career path they choose.
Our history classrooms are never boring lecture halls. From gamified classrooms to tactile learning experiences or digitally focused labs, we use proven, innovative pedagogies to build critical thinking and make history come alive.
Our program offers student teaching opportunities and internships at places such as the Kentucky Historical Society, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, and Old Sturbridge Village. These internships provide real-life experience that prepares students for service, citizenship, and work.
We help students build core competencies that will help them succeed no matter what field they choose to enter. Our graduates include entrepreneurs in business; leaders in the non-profit sector; lawyers and judges; and ministers and educators. Additionally, our program has sent students on to graduate schools at top ranked institutions, such as the University of London, Johns Hopkins University, Baylor University, Wake Forest School of Law, and many more.
Asbury’s history program trains students who offer employers strong skills of critical thinking, data analysis, and communication. Our history graduates over the years include a state governor, speaker of a state legislature, federal and state judges, diplomats, business executives, educators, pastors, and lawyers.
Graduates of the history program are equipped to pursue careers such as:
admissions@asbury.edu
(859) 858-5000