Department of History and International Studies
This diverse department encourages students to explore the American past, the European heritage, and Non-Western cultures.
The programs provide excellent preparation for law or graduate school, government service, seminary, museum and archive work, or secondary education.
The interdisciplinary international studies major provides a broad liberal arts foundation, a basic knowledge of foreign cultures, and an opportunity to concentrate in studies in one or more geographic regions.
Majors are urged to seek active, hands-on learning experiences. In recent years, majors have:
- Observed first-hand the rapid changes overtaking Eastern Europe by spending January in Bulgaria and May in Poland , Hungary , and the Czech Republic
- Researched presidential primaries
- Attended national political conventions
- Tried legal cases in mock courts
- Investigated regional history as part of a research team that published its findings
- Explored foreign cultures through novels, poetry, and films
- Conducted political surveys
- Presented before the West Virginia Historical Association and regional undergraduate research conferences