WKU History Department

The study of history flows from our desire to understand how humans have tried to turn their hopes into reality.

Examining these past efforts can be both exhilarating and humbling. The human past is a record of remarkable achievements, astonishing in their variety. The past, however, also gives evidence of the fragility of those achievements. A history major will help you explore and understand issues facing people in the past, present, and future.

With more than 500 students and more than 100 graduates each year, WKU History is one of the largest departments on campus. History majors at WKU pursue a wide range of careers, including teaching, law enforcement, journalism, public history, local, state, and federal government, and politics. Additionally our graduates have attended a wide variety of graduate schools, including the University of Mississippi, Johns Hopkins, Harvard, and the University of Massachusetts.

Our faculty are a vibrant scholarly community, representing a broad array of interests and approaches to the study of the past.

Our mission is to engage students in the pursuit of knowledge while preparing them for a wide variety of careers. We believe that asking questions and seeking knowledge, either for practical reasons or out of curiosity, is one of the most worthy of all pursuits.

We welcome you to learn more about pursuing a History major at WKU and invite you to contact us.