History

The Department of History instills in all of its students, especially History majors, "history's habits of the mind." An understanding of the present and possible future is obtained by studying and interpreting the past. The perspectives of thoughtful judgment are applicable in any major or career. Students in History often pursue careers in museum and curatorial positions, law, journalism, public school and college/university teaching, government service, or graduate study in a specialized field. Our courses share collectively, even if as an introductory segment, explanations of the importance of historical mindedness to citizenship as well as the learning process in the 21st Century. Separate programs in public history through the History and Tourism Center are open to all students.

The History faculty is actively engaged in innovative research involving pedagogical aspects of teaching history and a community-based focus of historical interpretation promoting student-centered projects and outreach. The Civil War Institute provides special programs and tours twice a year using the rich resources related to the Civil War in the Winchester area. The Community History Project centers its efforts on the rich and varied history of Winchester and the Shenandoah Valley occasionally supporting national conferences related to local and community history. This makes History at Shenandoah University a "natural" resource for students in their academic experiences.