History

Major/Minor

Why History is Important

In light of Thomas More University’s mission, the department acknowledges importance of history within the liberal arts, specifically in the context of the Catholic intellectual tradition. History is the invaluable heritage of predecessors’ interpreted experience.

Far more than just dates and events, names and places, history is woven from the threads of humanity’s struggles, dreams, hopes and fears, sweat and blood, belief and disbelief, life and death — in sum, with those experiences and realities which mark the world today. The historical critical mind carries the capacity to better understand oneself in relation to not only their own immediate cultural heritage, but also those past and/or foreign cultures that impact our world today.

Who will I be learning from?

The history department has a distinguished reputation on the local, national, and international stage, with a record of excellence reaching back well over half a century. The department prides itself in excellence in the classroom, high level scholarship, and the development of new generations of historians prepared for service in the classrooms and larger community. Publications from professors touching wide-ranging themes including women’s studies, British history, Latin American studies, and issues surrounding the Holocaust have reached the highest peer-reviewed level of professional journals and engaging and shaping seminal topics on the international stage. The faculty works from the perspective of Catholic intellectual tradition in seeking the whole truth about nature, man, and God, without neglecting the moral, spiritual, and religious dimensions of the human search for meaning. (cf.Ex Corde Ecclesiae , 4 & 7)

Jim McNutt, Ph.D

Professor

Raymond Hebert, Ph.D.

Professor and Dean Emeritus

Luis Sierra, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor and Chairperson

Patrick Eagan, M.A.

Assistant Professor

At Thomas More, history majors pursuing a Bachelor of Arts or an Associate of Arts degree acquire a solid grounding in world, western, and United States history. One unique offering of the program is the three-semester seminar series, which focuses on history as a discipline and the art of historical detection. Students also may select from a wide range of elective courses. These and other core courses, internships, and co-op experiences provide extensive training in reading comprehension, research, analysis, writing, and public speaking. Put simply: Thomas More University history majors develop skills that open doors to a host of careers.

Classes introduce students to a broader understanding of human experience through the lens of past interpreted events handed down to us in various sources. In this journey students will develop their writing skills, enhance their critical thinking skills, and computer application skills. A sampling of the history courses available to majors and non-majors include:

Thomas More University history graduates have continued on to graduate schools in both law and history. Many have received substantial scholarships from leading universities due to their excellent preparation and academic success.

Examples of careers Thomas More history graduates have pursued include High School Counseling, Working for the Internal Revenue Service, The United States Secret Service, Public Administration, College Professors, High School Teachers.

Studying history not only provides a broader foundation for understanding the complex human society, but also prepares the student for employment in careers including – but not limited to – business, government, education, and social service. A degree in history provides the skills many employers seek in applicants. These skills include oral and written communication skills, critical thinking and writing skills, teamwork, research, problem solving, initiative, creativity, organizational ability, and strategic planning.

The History, International Studies and Political Science Department considers experiential learning to comprise student involvement with Thomas More University sanctioned groups or organizations beyond the classroom which contribute to the student’s academic and personal growth in harmony with the college mission statement. Specifically, the department recognizes all internships provided under the direction of the History, International Studies and Political Science Department, all study abroad programs facilitated by the university, and service learning experiences directed by other Thomas More University departments.

Potential Internships for students include:

  • The National Park Service – Taft Museum
  • Behringer-Crawford Museum
  • Internships affiliated with the Political Science Department

Thomas More University offers a number of travel and study abroad opportunities. As a member of the Cooperative Center for Study Abroad (CCSA), a consortium of American colleges and universities, annual study programs are offered in Great Britain, Ireland, Australia, and Hong Kong. In addition, Thomas More has three sister universities: the Catholic University of Eichstätt in Eichstätt, Germany; Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland; and Sacred Heart University in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In cooperation with other consortia and universities, Thomas More University is able to place students in study-abroad programs on six continents.

Scholarships Available for Students within the Program

  1. Nancy Bruns Scholarship for a deserving JR or SR history Major (currently SO or JR).
  2. Carl Tschoefen Scholarship for a deserving history major.
  3. Mitchell Family Scholarship for a deserving history major in the pre-law program.

Awards Available for Students in the Program

  1. Sr. Mary Philip Trauth Award – most outstanding graduate
  2. Rev. Anthony Deye Award—civic engagement.
  3. Nancy Bruns Award—any purpose.
  4. Tenkotte/Meier Family Award—Promotion of international understanding by students, faculty, staff, or community members.
  5. Sr. Mary Albert Murphy Award—outgoing president of Phi Alpha Theta
  6. Pi Sigma Alpha Award—Outgoing president

Thomas More’s history department is an award winning member of the National Phi-Alpha-Theta History Organization. Initiations are held every two years.

Interested
in becoming a Thomas More student?

Join a community of learners, thinkers, and doers at Thomas More. 

Come & See
Apply