History

What can you do with a History degree?

History helps us understand the world by exploring the people, events, and ideas that have shaped societies over time. At Wooster, you'll examine historical evidence, evaluate different perspectives, and learn how the past continues to influence the present. Along the way, you'll develop skills in research, critical analysis, writing, and communication that prepare you for a wide range of careers.

Our curriculum encourages you to follow your interests, whether they're rooted in politics, medicine, environmental history, global affairs, or popular culture. With a flexible major, close faculty mentorship, and Independent Study, you'll have the freedom to pursue original research and present history in creative and meaningful ways.

Research the Past

Learn to analyze evidence, interpret sources, and build well-supported arguments.

History in New Ways

Create documentaries, museum exhibitions, podcasts, lesson plans, digital projects, and more.

Follow Your Interests

Pair History with another major, study abroad, complete an internship, or build a pathway that reflects your goals.

Why Study History at Wooster?

Learn from award-winning faculty whose research spans topics from medieval Europe to contemporary global culture.

Design an Independent Study that reflects your interests and choose the format that best tells your story.

Travel for research through funding that supports work in archives, museums, historic sites, and oral history projects.

Participate in the Wooster Digital History Program, creating public history projects with community partners.

Connect classroom learning with internships, study abroad, TREKs, and faculty-led research.

Featured Courses

Explore history through global perspectives, contemporary questions, and hands-on learning.

The Making of the Contemporary World
Warfare in Global History
Russia's World War II: Film & History
Chinese Medicine
Crime & Punishment in Historical Perspective

Introduction to Environmental History
Podcasting Workshop
Museum Exhibitions Workshop
Historic Preservation Workshop
Documentary Filmmaking Workshop

Discover new ways to tell history.

Independent Study gives you the opportunity to pursue original historical research while working one-on-one with a faculty mentor. Students have created documentaries, curated exhibitions, developed lesson plans, produced video games, and explored new ways to share historical research with different audiences.

Beyond Independent Study, History students can participate in the Wooster Digital History Program, conduct faculty-led summer research, complete internships, study abroad, and apply for funding to visit archives, museums, and historic sites across the United States and around the world.

Ready to Explore History?

If you're curious about how the past shapes the present, History at Wooster gives you the tools to ask better questions, evaluate evidence, and share meaningful stories with the world.

Apply Now

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Career Opportunities

History graduates develop research, writing, analytical, and communication skills that are valuable across many professions.

Many graduates also continue their education through law school and graduate programs in history and related fields.

Key Areas

Wooster alumni have built careers in:

Law

Education

Government

Business and finance

Journalism

Museums and public history

Communications

Engineering

Architecture

Nonprofit leadership

Where Our Alumni Go

History graduates have built careers with organizations and institutions including:

Ohio History Connection
Boston Red Sox
Columbia University
U.S. Department of Labor
Institute for Defense Analyses
Washington and Lee University
KAZU (NPR)
Cleo Redd Fisher Museum

They've also become journalists, architects, historians, educators, engineers, communications professionals, and public policy leaders.

Scholarships & Student Opportunities

History students may be eligible for a variety of scholarships and departmental awards recognizing academic achievement, Independent Study, leadership, and financial need.

Students also have access to funding for research travel, faculty-led summer research opportunities, and experiential learning through the Wooster Digital History Program.

Peter Pozefsky

Michael O. Fisher Professor of History; Chair of Global and International Studies; Russian Studies

ppozefsky@wooster.edu

Christina Welsch

Robert Critchfield Associate Professor of English History; Department Chair of History

cwelsch@wooster.edu

James Bonk

Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese Studies; East Asian Studies; History

jbonk@wooster.edu

Madonna Hettinger

Lawrence Stanley Chair and Professor of Medieval History

mhettinger@wooster.edu

Jordan Biro Walters

Associate Professor of History

jbirowalters@wooster.edu

Greg Shaya

Henry J. and Laura H. Copeland Professor of European History; Global Media & Digital Studies;

gshaya@wooster.edu

Joan S. Friedman

Lincoln Professor of Religion and Professor of History; Middle Eastern and North African Studies

jfriedman@wooster.edu

Jeff Roche

Professor of History (On leave 2025-26)

jroche@wooster.edu

Margaret Ng Wee-Siang

Associate Professor of History; Archaeology; Chinese Studies; Program Chair of East Asian Studies; Co-Liaison to the Public Health Pathway

mng@wooster.edu

Katherine Holt

Aileen Dunham Professorship in History; Latin American Studies; Global and International Studies; Co-Liaison to Digital and Visual Storytelling Pathway

kholt@wooster.edu

Ibra Sene

Associate Professor of History and Global & International Studies

isene@wooster.edu