Through the careful interpretation of historical evidence of all kinds, the discipline of history ultimately seeks to understand the lives and thoughts of men, women, and communities in other times and places. It is the work of empathy, engagement, knowledge and imagination.
Our department is a vibrant and diverse community, where students and faculty work together to uncover, create, and question accounts of people’s lives in the past. Studying history at Carleton will help you learn to “make history” for yourself as a way of understanding how human societies work and what led us to our present world.
Consider choosing one of the History A&I seminars (HIST 100) on topics ranging from food to exploration and from colonialism to music. Or get started by trying out one of our 100- or 200-level courses that let you explore people’s worlds and experiences around the globe from ancient times to the present. You will learn how to use a wide array of sources to investigate the past, from historical maps to oral histories and archival documents.
Putting history to work in the present, we foster public history through our courses and encourage student partnerships with local museums, historical societies, and environmental centers. History faculty engage students in creating digital tools and video games to teach history to diverse publics. You will have the chance to work with faculty on research projects in far-flung archives and right here in Northfield. Our department also provides funding for students to pursue their own independent projects.
Most of our majors and minors study off campus at least once. History faculty take students to explore medieval Rome and an exciting new program is in the pipeline in the Caribbean. Through these programs and many others offered through Carleton’s Off Campus Studies office, students come to understand the fascinating relationships between our present world and our pasts. One student said recently, “I love taking history courses at Carleton because they provide such a great context to help me understand the world today. Topics I studied in class end up being relevant in lots of other classes and in so many surprising ways. And they’re just a lot of fun!”
Everything has a history. As our students move beyond Carleton, they find that their ability to make sense of the past becomes a powerful tool for shaping their futures. Carleton History students go on to excel in diverse fields. They become influential in law and medicine, carve out successful careers in journalism and business, and make significant contributions to politics, education, and the historical field itself.