History

People without the knowledge of their history, origin, and culture are like a tree without roots. Here, at Clarke University, in the bachelor’s degree in history program, history and political science courses provide learning experiences that involve critical thinking and personal decision making. For example:

• You are a Puritan colonist in Massachusetts Bay in the 17th century. Can you prove you are not a witch?
• You are participating in the French Revolution. Do you want to kill the king?
• You are a hippie in the US in the 1960s. Are you a feminist?

When studying for your BA History, you and a team of classmates might also create a project to analyze the effects of outsourcing by investigating labor conditions in countries where your own clothes were made. You may retell the story of the U.S. Civil War through the letters of a Confederate Soldier; or the story of factory work through the diaries of a female airplane mechanic during WWII; or, maybe, the story of escaping from a Soviet prison by analyzing a documentary movie secretly made in the 1960s.

Do you have a passion for history and love to learn? A history degree from Clarke is about knowledge and versatility. You will learn writing, critical thinking, and research skills, all of which are highly sought after in today’s trending markets. Employers expect candidates who can articulate their thoughts with clarity and precision, both in speaking and writing, and graduates with a Clarke Bachelor’s degree in History have a great advantage. Additionally, employers seek energetic employees with the problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills the History degree programs provide. Our bachelor of arts in History graduates have gone on to become high school teachers, digital marketing associates, graduate students, and successful entrepreneurs. If you are interested in getting a history degree, check out our campus visits and virtual visits in Dubuque, Iowa, so you can see for yourself that Clarke is one of the best History degree programs in the Midwest.

Program Details

Clarke History degree students have the opportunity to enroll in courses in U.S. history and European history as well as the history of Modern Asia, Latin America, and courses in Modern World Politics and Constitutional Law. In Topics Courses, the department experiments with non-traditional subjects of interest and various teaching techniques. Examples include such modern topics as Terrorism, Harry Potter, U.S. Modern Sports, and Women’s History.

Cool Classes

Here is a sampling of the types of unique and diverse classes you will take as a history major:
ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY — You will study how human beings have transformed the natural world.
INTRODUCTION TO PRIMARY RESEARCH — You will tackle a research project using the techniques and skills of actual historians.
EUROPE TO 1848 — You will study topics that range from Medieval witchcraft trials to the role of the slave trade in western society.

Admission to Clarke University

Bachelor of Arts in History applicants are considered on an individual basis. Apply to Clarke today to begin your journey toward a bachelor’s in history.