Major in History

Learn how to study the past to inform our future.

In the history program, you'll analyze primary and secondary historical sources from a Christian perspective, but your work doesn't stop there. JBU's discussion-based classes give you the space to develop your communication skills and express your ideas. The flexible nature of the program enables you to focus your studies in the manner that best prepares you for your career.

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Engage the past

History students will be able to not only read about and write about truths from every age and era, but they will be given opportunities to directly engage with historical sites and discuss many timeless truths with classmates.

Inform your future

Through the study of past rhetorics, cultures, events and ideologies, students gain the necessary skills to express themselves and their ideas by understanding how those before us recorded themselves.

Choose your emphasis

Because history is so broad, faculty encourage students to select their own independent study topics to supplement the curriculum.

Become a historian at JBU.

About history

The history department equips students with the resources to truly explore the past and find ways to incorporate their studies into future careers whether it involves writing, reading, research, museum studies or archival work.

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What to expect as a history student at JBU

Experience unique class structure

JBU’s history department emphasizes discussion-based classes and the use of texts from various cultures and time to inform a single topic or event in history.

Add a museum studies minor

This minor preps students for employment in archives administration, museum education, curation and management.

Be a double major

With a flexible curriculum, adding a second major is efficient and valuable. JBU faculty are happy to help think through what additional major would fit your interests and career goals.

What can you do with a history degree?

Students in the history department are given multiple opportunities to explore various paths and fields to contemplate what type of career they'd like to pursue.

Graduate school

Many graduates choose to advance their careers in a particular area of interest. An advanced degree also qualifies students to teach collegiate-level classes.

Law school

Majoring in history lays the groundwork for studying law, as you will have to read extensively while maintaining knowledge of overall ideas, create cohesive arguments and find research to back your arguments.

Technical writing

Technical writing works well with history majors because it requires attention to detail and consistency. Often, writers have to take complex ideas and make them understandable for the average reader.

Policy analyst

Both governmental agencies and businesses in the private sector hire people to develop policies and communicate them clearly to the target audience.

Archivist

History majors make excellent archivists. Gathering data, researching, writing event summaries and documenting finds are part of the job and are skills that every history major learns.

Records management

Many companies, universities, colleges, non-profit organizations and government agencies need individuals who can research and organize large amounts of data meticulously.

John Brown University admits persons to its programs and activities without regard to race, color, national or ethnic origin, or gender. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, physical or mental disability, or gender in the administration of education policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, athletics, and other school-sponsored programs.

John Brown University is a leading private Christian university, training students to honor God and serve others since 1919. Arkansas’ top-ranked regional university (U.S. News Best Colleges 2019), JBU enrolls more than 2,100 students from 38 states and 53 countries in its traditional undergraduate, graduate, online and concurrent education programs. JBU offers 41 majors, with top programs including engineering, nursing, family and human services, biology, graphic design and construction management.

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Major in History

Learn how to study the past to inform our future.

Engage the past

Inform your future

Choose your emphasis

Become a historian at JBU.

About history

What to expect as a history student at JBU

Experience unique class structure

Add a museum studies minor

Be a double major

What can you do with a history degree?

Graduate school

Law school

Technical writing

Policy analyst

Archivist

Records management

Meet our history professors

Edward Ericson III

Robert Moore

Trisha Posey

Join JBU's contact list

The future you starts here.

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