Department of History and Political Science

You’ll hear it often these days: we are living in a global society. As technology and business have helped make the world more connected, an understanding of the people and cultures of the world has never been more important. By studying history, you can learn to evaluate objects and records from the past, as well as historical interpretations from various sources. You will learn about people and societies, leaders and innovation. If you enjoy reading, writing and research, history may be the right major for you.

Overview

The Department of History and Political Science offers both a major and a minor in history. The department also offers a major in social science that is specifically designed for those who want to teach history and social science at the high school level. Related majors offered include international studies and political science.

Point Loma’s history major consists of courses that involve both traditional and contemporary approaches to historical study. Teaching methods include lectures, seminars (sometimes held in professors’ homes), internships, teleconferences, computer simulations, and travel and study throughout the world.

If you major in history at PLNU, you can join a group of students who: are diligent in class attendance; write papers that are presented at academic conferences; participate in honor societies like Phi Alpha Theta; participate in political campaigns; and welcome both scholars and politicians to speak in the beautiful forum of Colt Hall. You will have the chance to participate alongside faculty and other students in the activities of the Institute of Politics and Public Service and the Margaret Stevenson Center for Women’s Studies.

Special Features:

• Travel courses, which take students to learn history while sailing the waters of Greece or traveling up and down the California coastline
• Internships and study abroad
• Innovative teaching methods including teleconferences, computer simulations, and travel courses
• Institute of Politics and Public Service
• Margaret Stevenson Center for Women’s Studies
• Honors societies and senior honors program available

Career Opportunities:

History opens the door to many career possibilities. In addition to becoming an historian, you could become a teacher, lawyer, archivist, librarian, museum curator, politician, international relief worker, businessperson, or public servant.

Recent graduates have become Fulbright Scholars, served as interns at the Supreme Court and White House, won scholarships at institutions such as Yale University, and entered law schools and graduate programs at Berkeley, Harvard, UCSD, UCLA, and New York University. It is the goal of the department to help students prepare to make moral decisions within the world community and to transcend their self-interests in the service of God and humanity.