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History

Studying history in college is nothing like it was in high school. You'll find rich and challenging courses where you will learn about other worlds, eras and cultures. By understanding the past you will better understand yourself and the complex and diverse world we live in today.

Grand View's rigorous academic program stresses critical thinking, analytical reading, problem solving, careful research, effective writing and communication. Plus, our small class sizes foster interpersonal relationships among a supportive community of learners where you collaborate with other bright, ambitious students. Your professors get to know you on a one-on-one basis and take a genuine interest in your success.

Why Grand View?

Strong placement of students into graduate and law schools, often with scholarships and / or assistantships.
Small class sizes foster interpersonal relationships and encourage collaboration in a supportive community of learners.
Personal attention from top-notch faculty experts who take an interest in your success.
Opportunities to attend and present at history conferences.
Experience field excursions to national museums and presidential libraries.
Challenging and valuable internship opportunities with the Iowa State Historical Building, Living History Farms, Gold Star Military Museum at Camp Dodge and the Danish American Archive and Library in Nebraska.

Degree Level:

Undergraduate Programs

Program Type:

Major, Minor

Format:

Full Time, In-Person

Program Catalog Visit Apply Contact

Student Testimonials

Dr. Thomas Lecaque

“Dr. Lecaque makes sure that his students always feel welcome and that they are being listened to. He goes above and beyond to make sure that the material is understood but that it is also in connection with other material. He is the most understanding person on this campus, and always has great advice.” - Caitlyn Malloy

Alumn Shares Her Story

"I credit the Grand View history department, especially the faculty with preparing me, not just for graduate school and future employment, but really preparing me for life. The courses I took and the faculty I engaged with encouraged me to think for myself and question everything. I was taught to analyze history, not just regurgitate information about a person, event, or important date. I started to form my own opinions on various topics, not just history, because of the training and the critical inquiry demanded of me in my coursework."
- Lauren Haugh

Course Requirements (30 credits)

Take two courses (six credits) from the following:

HIST 103	The Ancient World	3 credits
HIST 104	The Medieval World	3 credits
HIST 104	The West in the Modern World	4 credits

Take two courses (six credits) from the following:

HIST 111	Colonial and Revolutionary America	3 credits
HIST 112	The U.S.: Republic to Empire, 1789- 1898	3 credits
HIST 113	The American Century Since 1898	3 credits
HIST/POLS 215	The Presidency

Take HIST 280 The Historian’s Craft (three credits) and two upper-level courses (six credits) in US History:

HIST 280

The Historian’s Craft

3 credits

Take two of the following:

HIST 315	World Since 1945	3 credits
HIST 330	Contemporary U.S., 1945-present	3 credits
HIST 340	Iowa History	3 credits
HIST 346	Age of the American Revolution	3 credits
HIST 349	Civil War and Reconstruction	3 credits
HIST 352	World War I	3 credits
HIST 354	World War II	3 credits
HIST 365	Korean & Vietnam Wars	3 credits
HIST 380	History of Capitalism	3 credits
HIST 390	Public History	3 credits
HIST 392	Independent Study (with appropriate topic)	3 credits
HIST 430	Topics in History (with appropriate topics)	3 credits

Take three upper-level courses (nine credits) in World History:

HIST 303	Roman Republic and Empire	3 credits
HIST 307	The Vikings	3 credits
HIST 308	The Crusades	3 credits
HIST 315	World Since 1945	3 credits
HIST 324	Modern Russia	3 credits
HIST 326	Modern Britain	3 credits
HIST 327	Modern Germany	3 credits
HIST 332	Modern Latin America	3 credits
HIST 334	Modern Middle East	3 credits
HIST 335	The British Empire	3 credits
HIST 336	Modern Africa	3 credits
HIST 352	World War I	3 credits
HIST 354	World War II	3 credits
HIST 365	Korean & Vietnam Wars	3 credits
HIST 380	History of Capitalism	3 credits
HIST 381	Gaming in History	3 credits
HIST 392	Independent Study (with appropriate topic)	3 credits
HIST 430	Topics in History (with appropriate topics)	3 credits

Recommended for majors who wish to pursue graduate work in History:

HIST 390	Public History (for students who wish to pursue public history)	3 credits
HIST 399	Internship in History (for students who wish to pursue public history)	3 credits
	Foreign language coursework as appropriate (consult with advisor)

Career Options

History is relevant and applicable to many career choices. Consider your future as a:

Museum Curator or Exhibition Officer
Librarian or Archivist
Secondary School Teacher
Graduate or Law School
Politician or Government Administrator
Journalist, Publisher or Editor
Investigator or Law Enforcement
Archaeologist
Management or Analyst
Military Officer or Intelligence

American Historical Assoc. - Professional & Career Resources

History Minor

A history minor is a great way to explore historical questions and issues while you pursue a concentration in a different field. The flexible course offerings in the minor program allow you to select the history courses that interest you the most and best fit with your career goals. The coursework you complete in the history minor provides you with the research, writing and critical thinking skills desired by most employers.

We offer a straightforward, coherent and yet flexible program that will provide you with a solid introduction to the discipline, as well as the interpretive and analytical skills historians depend on and employers value.

You will become a consciously critical reader, a concise and compelling writer, and a person who not only "knows stuff" but who can tell others what that "stuff" means and why it matters.

Degree Fit

This program could be a good fit if you:

Have strong research, writing, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
Enjoy learning about historical facts.

Career Options

With this minor, you may become a/an:

Historian
Teacher
Museum/archives director
Lawyer
Diplomat/Foreign service
Officer in the U.S. military
Journalist
Intelligence analyst
Business/public administration

Course Requirements (18 Credits)

World History Required Courses (select 2)

HIST 103	The Ancient World	3 credits
HIST 104	The Medieval World	3 credits
HIST 105	The West in the Modern World	3 credits

U.S. History Required Courses (select 2)

HIST 111	Colonial America	3 credits
HIST 112	The U.S.: Republic to Empire, 1789-1898	3 credits
HIST 113	The American Century: U.S. History Since 1898	3 credits

Additional Courses
Six additional credits of upper division (300 / 400 level) history courses.

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Tuition & Scholarships

At Grand View University, your tuition supports instruction delivered by knowledgeable and experienced faculty who uphold our tradition of exceptional teaching. Additionally, we are dedicated to offering a high-quality education at the most affordable cost.

Transfer Credits

No matter what major you’re thinking about, you may be able to transfer in as many as 75 credits from a community college or junior college. If you have an A.A. or A.A.S. from an Iowa community college, you will be automatically admitted at junior status.

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AWARDS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Thomas Lecaque • Dr. Thomas Lecaque is a member of the prestigious French humanities research group Laboratiore d'etudes sur les Monotheismes (LEM) in Saint-Etienne, France, which happens to be the sister city of Des Moines. He presents papers at international conferences such as the Institute for Historical Research in London, the International Medieval Congresses at Leeds, England, and Kalamazoo, Michigan, as well as the International Byzantine Congress in Sofia, Bulgaria. Dr. Lecaque recently published his first peer-reviewed book chapter in the commentary series The Uses of the Bible in Crusading Sources, eds. Elizabeth Lapina and Nicholas Morton (Leiden: Brill, 2017).

Matthew Plowman • Various publications such as in the Journal of Intelligence History, the New Hibernia Review, and American Espionage: A Historical Encyclopedia; several paper presentations including at the Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism at the London School of Economics; the Centre for Irish Studies at the University of Ireland-Galway; the Roger Casement Conference of the University of Notre Dame and the University of Limerick in Tralee, Ireland; the World War I International Conference at Queen Mary University of London; and a colloquium at Balliol College, Oxford University. Dr. Plowman works with students on their articles and book reviews for MUNINN: Journal of History and serves as department chair. He also received Grand View's Distinguished Faculty Service Award in 2015-16.

Future Success

Our program has a strong placement of graduates into graduate and law schools, often with scholarships and/or assistantships. As such, faculty are very involved in the application and reference process.

Leaders in every industry, from business to the arts, can point to their training as history majors as the starting point for their success. Indeed, historical study plays an important part in fostering well-rounded intellectual development as well as instilling valuable career skills in research, writing, argumentation and documentation.

Interestingly (and luckily for history majors) recent trends in medical and business school admissions suggest that professional schools are looking for students with training in humanities and social sciences.