History

This is an archived copy of the 2018-19 Catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit http://catalog.norwich.edu/.

Program Coordinator: Emily Gray

Charles A. Dana Professor Reina Pennington; Professors Rowland  Brucken, Christine McCann, and Thomas Taylor; Associate Professors Emily Gray and Steven Sodergren; Assistant Professors Mark Boonshoft and Miri Kim.

Mission:

The History Program instills and fosters, in the spirit of free inquiry and intellectual exchange, an understanding of the influence of political, economic, social and cultural forces on past and contemporary events, institutions, and peoples.  The History Program provides students with the ability to comprehend, compare, and evaluate competing explanations of past and present subjects, using reason and evidence to guide inquiry. 

Goals:
  • Develop critical thinking, research, and communications skills.
  • Develop an appreciation for the variety of cultures and civilizations of the world, across every period of history, from the ancient world to the 21st century.
  • Promote not only tolerance of different perspectives and points of view, but an understanding of why these differences exist and persist.
  • Complete independent research in the field of history by working with professional historians.

Outcomes:
  • Students are able to write and speak effectively about the contributions of others as well as their own research.
  • Students understand and use the methods and ethical standards of professional historians.
  • Students are able to discern between different types of sources.
  • Students develop and present a thesis.

Careers for this Major:
  • Historian
  • Military Officer
  • Lawyer
  • Museum Curator
  • Teacher
  • Intelligence Officer
  • Any career that requires critical thinking, and analytical, problem-solving, and communications skills