Brandeis University History Department
Learning Goals
Over the centuries, the study of history has stood at the heart of a liberal education. In the
Twenty-First Century – as human societies the world over become ever more closely interconnected
and historical time itself seems to accelerate – a well-informed and well-reasoned understanding of
the past has become all the more vital.
In its sweeping subject matter and wide-ranging methodologies, history is an unusually
robust field of inquiry. Historians employ methods as diverse as the kinds of evidence they study –
from geological traces to the archival manuscripts of dynasties long gone to the digital information
of the modern world. Whatever the subject, the study of history involves the student in all of the
most essential elements of liberal learning, including the acquisition of knowledge, the development
of critical thinking skills, and the strengthening of oral and written communication. Whether the
past being examined is that of a foreign country or one’s own, history involves a recognition of the
central importance of historical sequence and context – the crucial differences of time and place that
shape the possibilities of human endeavor and the meanings of community. Reflecting a broader
concern for human values and needs, historians seek the universal in the particular, the global in the
local, the breadth of human experience in the details of the everyday.
The Brandeis history major seeks to provide students with a broad introduction to the
development of the modern world. By design, the major is flexible, enabling students to devise
individual programs tailored to their own specific needs and interests.
Knowledge:
Students completing the major in history will come away with a strong understanding of:

the cultures, economies, social structures, and governmental systems of past civilizations. To
this end, the department’s flexible requirements for the major direct students to take courses
covering pre-modern and modern history; the histories of the North America, Europe, and
non-western countries

the diverse sources and methods that historians use to study the past

the perspective afforded by studying events, ideas, and actions in historical context and
sequence

different forms of historical explanation, argument, and narrative
Core Skills:
The history major teaches core skills in scholarly research, critical thinking, oral
communication, and written expression. The study of history teaches students to strive for a higher
appreciation of the world around them, and to understand that to effectively address contemporary
problems requires a full understanding of the origins and causes of those problems.
Upon Graduating:
A Brandeis student with a history major will be prepared to:

pursue graduate study and a scholarly career in history; or

use the knowledge, perspectives, and skills gained from their historical studies to pursue (as
many of our majors have done) careers in law, business, journalism, public service, or
innumerable other fields.
The department is deeply committed to the development of writing and analytical skills that are
invaluable and transferable, regardless of future career. And it is our belief that the knowledge and
skills our major provides will lay the foundation for a fuller, more productive, and engaged life after
college.