Studying the past is a fascinating window into the human experience. Thus, the History Major is designed to provide students with a well-rounded understanding of history from different times and places around the world. In fact, several courses offer a more global examination of a particular topic, such as disease and medicine or modern cities. Beyond more lecture-based courses, history majors take two discussion-oriented seminars in which students are able to focus on more specific topics often in the field of a professor's expertise. Past seminars have examined, among other topics, the history of Portland, the history of the European family, women's health in post-World War II America, and issues in the French Revolution... Read the Department Chair's letter
Alex Ritsema
- Class of 2017
History
"I know that the time I spent studying history at UP and being challenged by the department professors will carry over and help me in whatever field of work or continued education I decide to pursue."
Anthony Vitali
- Class of 2017
History
"The history department ultimately inspired a passion to serve my community through historical education, a desire to advocate for social justice, and ambitions to spread human compassion as far as I could reach."
Emily Dovel
- Class of 2016
History
"As a history major I learned to analyze historical documents, to understand and critique ideas from a diverse set of cultures, and to express my own arguments in a cogent manner."
Pearl Kahle
- Class of 2017
History
"My four years in UP’s close-knit history department was full of hands-on research and eye-opening classes."
University of Portland
5000 N. Willamette Blvd.,
Portland, Oregon 97203-5798
503.943.8000
