Program Overview

The history program focuses on the values, as well as the ideas, personalities, and institutions that existed in the past and shaped the present. Concerned with perceptions of reality and historic reality itself, the history program attempts to exploit all forms of information concerning the past-myth, folklore, legend, and works of art, as well as conventional manuscript and published sources. While the department attempts to assist all students in acquiring that knowledge of the past that is essential to the educated person in the modern world, it is especially concerned with developing the methods and techniques unique to historical inquiry, By consistently raising questions regarding “how we know” as well as “what we know,” the department aims at the development of fundamental intellectual skills that will be of lifelong utility.

Degrees and Specializations Offered

Degree in Bachelor of Arts
Major in History
Major in History with Dept. Honors
Minor in History

Also Offered

Internship Program
History Majors can participate in the Public History Intern Program, which is coordinated by Dr. Daniel Burnstein. Students earn course credits by interning, under professional supervision, at public history agencies in the Seattle area—including museums, historical societies, archives, and similar institutions. Interns often find that they are able to under-stand history from a different perspective than that obtained in the classroom, and their experience has helped some to obtain subsequent employment in the field. (Contact: danielbu@seattleu.edu)

Phi Alpha Theta
Seattle University has a very active group of students who participate in Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. Activities include a highly popular film series, coffeehouse discussions, a brown-bag lunch seminar, and student- led panel discussions. Recent SU history students have won national Phi Alpha Theta awards for their research papers and conference presentations, and are the recipients of Phi Alpha Theta graduate student fellowships. (Contact: theresa@seattleu.edu)