Department of History
Introduction
The study of history is an essential part of a liberal arts education and offers valuable preparation for many careers in law, business, and journalism; in local, state, and national government; in non-profit and international organizations; and, of course, in historical fields of expertise that include teaching, libraries, and museums. More broadly, by an exposure to a variety of cultures and human experience and by training in the interpretation of conflicting evidence, the Department of History seeks to prepare a person for the responsibilities of citizenship and for dealing with the ambiguities of human existence. Diversity in the history major program encourages a comparative approach to human problems and discourages parochialism; specialization in the program promotes an appreciation of the complexity of human affairs and the difficulties involved in interpreting them. Finally, the discipline of history stimulates imagination and analytical thinking.
Advising
All majors and minors have a primary academic advisor from the Academic Advising Program. Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with their advisors and review their Tar Heel Trackers each semester. The Department of History offers students numerous advising resources to assist them with all things related to studying history at UNC–Chapel Hill, from making the initial decision to become a history major or minor to thinking about what to do after they complete their degree. Although history majors are not assigned individual faculty advisors, they are strongly encouraged to seek out the advice of their professors during office hours, especially if they are considering an independent study project, senior honors thesis, or applying for graduate study. The department’s lecturer/advisor serves as a general advising resource for all history majors and minors as well as first- and second-year students who are considering a major in history.
Graduate School and Career Opportunities
History majors at UNC–Chapel Hill develop skills that prepare them for a wide range of meaningful careers, most of which are not narrowly tailored to the academic practice of history itself. Majors commonly pursue work in business, law, journalism, education, health care, and government, for example. Historical study hones fundamental skills that include close reading, problem conceptualization, research, and large-scale data analysis, as well as highly effective written and spoken communication.
Many history majors go on to professional and graduate schools in areas like law, business, and medicine, where they apply their ability to analyze problems, understand human behavior and social structures, and communicate effectively.
Some majors end up applying their history majors directly in their vocations. Those who wish to teach history at the secondary level in public schools must obtain appropriate certification, usually through an M.A.T. degree. Other students pursue graduate study by entering a master’s degree program in history that requires a thesis and takes about two years to complete. A student can then decide whether to proceed into a Ph.D. program, which normally requires an additional three to four years of study and the completion of a doctoral dissertation. Students who decide to pursue a Ph.D. in history generally aspire to teach at the college level. Some complete a master’s degree in public history and work for government archives at the national, state, or local levels or for private nonprofit organizations, such as groups interested in restoration work.
Professors
Karen Auerbach, Cemil Aydin, Jennifer Boittin, W. Fitzhugh Brundage, Chad Bryant, Marcus G. Bull, Claude A. Clegg, Kathleen DuVal, Erik Gellman, Michelle T. King, Klaus W. Larres, Miguel A. La Serna, Wayne E. Lee, James L. Leloudis, Lisa A. Lindsay, Ian McNeely, Susan D. Pennybacker, Louis A. Pérez, Morgan Pitelka, Donald M. Reid, Sarah D. Shields, Jay M. Smith, Daniel Sherman, John W. Sweet, Katherine Turk, Benjamin C. Waterhouse, Brett E. Whalen, Lisa Wolverton, Molly Worthen.
Associate Professors
Jens-Uwe Guettel, Lauren Jarvis, Terence V. McIntosh, Michael Morgan, Eren Tasar, Michael Tsin.
Assistant Professors
Ana Maria Silva Campo, Raquel Escobar, Camille Goldmon, Jennifer Grayson, Henry Gruber, Antwain Hunter, Heather Lee, Michael O'Sullivan, Sergey Salushchev, Joseph Stieb, Andrew Walker.
Teaching Professor
Matthew Andrews.
Teaching Associate Professor
Joseph W. Caddell.
Teaching Assistant Professors
Mandy Cooper, Max Owre, Joanna Flynn.
Adjunct Professor
Kenneth Janken.
Adjunct Associate Professors
Jessica A. Boon, Christian C. Lentz, Raúl Necochea.
Professors Emeriti
Judith M. Bennett, E. Willis Brooks, Christopher R. Browning, Melissa M. Bullard, Kathryn Burns, John C. Chasteen, Stanley J. Chojnacki, Peter Coclanis, William R. Ferris, Peter G. Filene, W. Miles Fletcher, Joseph Glatthaar, Karen Hagemann, Jacquelyn D. Hall, Barbara J. Harris, Reginald Hildebrand, Jerma Jackson, Konrad H. Jarausch, John F. Kasson, Richard H. Kohn, Lloyd S. Kramer, Fred S. Naiden, Genna Rae McNeil, Louise McReynolds, Michael R. McVaugh, Theda Perdue, Cynthia Radding, Donald J. Raleigh, John E. Semonche, Richard Talbert, Harry L. Watson, Gerhard L. Weinberg.
