https://www.uwplatt.edu/department/history
Interim Department Chair: Melissa Gormley
Office: 155 Gardner Hall
Phone: 608.342.1601
E-mail: gormleym@uwplatt.edu
Majors
Minors
About the History Program and Major
The UW-Platteville Department of History offers a major and minor in history; a major in social studies education; and a social sciences comprehensive minor. History is the systematic study of the past. It is also a foundational discipline within the liberal arts. Understanding the past helps us understand human nature, broadens our perspectives, refines our judgments, and provides insight into contemporary issues. The study of history is basic to our personal uniqueness, our professional identity, and our civic lives.
Students of history learn important skills. The study of history requires students to read, write, analyze, and use logic. Students learn to do research using written documents, assess arguments, and interpret economic, social, political, cultural, and technological change in a variety of contexts.
History majors can find work in many fields. Some are directly related to the subject matter of history, such as museums and archival work, documentary film making, or historical publishing. Others use the skills that the study of history cultivates. History is a liberal arts degree that provides the basis for work in business, advertising, journalism, public relations, public administration, planning and research, and professional fields, such as law.
Mission Statement
The history program enables its majors to become broader in perspective, more literate, intellectually more astute, ethically more sensitive, and to participate wisely in society as competent professionals and knowledgeable citizens. Our students understand the complexity of the factors and forces that can cause historical change, and they are able to analyze and evaluate historical narratives that explain change. Students develop skills in reading, writing, analysis, and logic. History majors learn to do research using written documents, assess arguments, and to interpret economic, social, political, cultural, and technological change in a variety of contexts.
Goals and Objectives
Students will:
- Write historical essays with a clear and focused thesis, developed by a logical argument and substantiated with factual detail
- Undertake historical research projects based on primary and secondary sources in both print and electronic formats, including the formulation of historically significant questions, gathering of appropriate sources, and application of appropriate methods of analysis and synthesis
- Critically analyze works of history by demonstrating an understanding of a work’s assumptions, method, sources, and point of view, and evaluating its argument
General Requirements Bachelor of Arts Degree
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| 120 |
| 44-58 |
| 39 |
Students must have a cumulative grade point average of 2.50 within the major studies for graduation.
Faculty and Lecturers
Additional information about the Faculty and Lecturers below may be found in the Faculty and Academic Staff section of this catalog.
