• HISTORY

    Degrees Offered:  Bachelor of Arts
    See Also:  Integrated Social Studies Education

    Program Overview

    Students have an opportunity to explore the past from the perspective of both general knowledge and particular areas of interest. The study of History liberates the mind and prepares the students for the responsibilities of citizenship in the nation and the world. The emphasis on critical thinking skills in research, reading and writing are applicable to many different career paths.

    Key Points About the Major

    • Opportunity to explore the past from the perspective of both general knowledge and particular areas of interest— courses in American, Western and non-Western areas comprise the core of our curriculum 
    • Students gain a thorough understanding of pivotal national and world events, and are able to analyze them from multiple perspectives

    Why ODU?

    Students in ODU’s History program will graduate with a better understanding of people who thought and acted differently than we do in our own time; the ability to place our own times in perspective and to make informed decisions about the best course of action for the future; and the ability to find connections in the human experiences.

    Career Possibilities

    Graduates of ODU’s History program are prepared to pursue a variety of careers in Law, Teaching, Government, Business, Cultural
    Organizations and Policy Research as well as Communication fields.

    • Law. Students are admitted to law school from almost every academic discipline. The discipline of history, however, provides students with essential skills for the practice of law, including logical argumentation, research, writing and information analysis. Historians who are not lawyers can also play an important part in the legal process by providing litigation support research and serving as expert witnesses.
    • Teaching. Depending on the level of teaching (early childhood, middle, secondary, university), you may need to take additional courses in other subjects or specialize in a narrowly defined field of history. Most public schools require courses in education, while other schools (independent, charter or private) may not require this specific qualification. The Integrated Social Studies Education program at ODU allows students to take a range of courses in history, political science, sociology and geography while working toward a certification in secondary education.
    • Government. The government is one of the largest employers of students with training and degrees in history. City, state and federal governments have a variety of jobs and careers.
    • Business. Students with a background in history may find careers in areas of external relations, marketing, information resource management, legal affairs, finance and control, administration, human resources and operations.
    • Cultural Organizations & Policy Research. Historians are often employed by museums and historical organizations to authenticate, verify and describe items; they are also sought to research the meaning, significance and context of artifacts, and to assemble an exhibition or educational program based on the museum’s collection. Work in cultural resources management and historic preservation are also possibilities.
    • Communications. Historians can be employed as editors or writers for a variety of publications, films and shows.

    On Campus Opportunities

    Students are encouraged to participate in the History Club, Model UN, and diverse Study Abroad opportunities. Through Senior Seminar, students are given an opportunity to participate in hands-on research at the Ohio Historical Society; students who excel are encourage to apply for internships and part-time jobs.

    For More Information About the History Major...

    Contact Dr. Matthew Ponesse, Associate Professor of History, at ponessem@ohiodominican.edu or Dr. Kathleen Riley, Professor of
    History, at rileyk@ohiodominican.edu to learn more about the History Program. For questions about the other programs such as Art, Art Education, Campus & Youth Ministry, Graphic Design, Integrated Language Arts, Philosophy, Spanish, and Theology, please contact your Admission Counselor or your Academic Advisor at admissions@ohiodominican.edu.