History students may apply for scholarships, fellowships, and awards by completing an electronic application for the College of Arts and Sciences, here. As you near the end of the application you will answer questions that are specific to the study of history – these questions will help the department of history select recipients for the scholarships, fellowships, and awards listed below.

The Department of History is fortunate to be able to offer a wide range of funding opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students. The scholarships, fellowships, and their award criteria are listed below.

Faculty and graduate students in the Department of History conduct path-breaking research in a wide variety of fields on a diverse range of topics. Faculty members have published books with prestigious university presses, and their articles have appeared in the principal scholarly journals in the fields of American, European, Asian, and World History.

Faculty research specialties in U.S. history include: urban environmental history; 1960s urban policy; the social and cultural history of the American West; American borderlands; U.S. foreign relations; Native American sovereignty; 20th-century U.S. religious history; women, gender and colonialism; and immigration and labor. Our European historians are conducting research on slavery in the early modern Atlantic world; 19th-century French intellectual history; war memory in the 20th century; Russian and East European social and cultural history; the British Empire; and early modern European social, cultural, and religious history. Our world historians are working on such subjects as Afro-Caribbean encounters; Japan during the Second World War; Islamic civilization; ethnicity, religion, and nationalism in modern China; and British imperialism in Southwest Asia.

The department maintains a particularly strong research focus in the history of the American West and the Pacific Northwest, religious history, world history, public history, and the history of empire. Faculty have recently published books on opium policy in Southeast Asia, food culture in the Caribbean, American evangelism in the interwar period, religious tolerance in Netherlands during the Reformation, cross-dressing and sexuality in the American West, and urban sustainability in Seattle.

The Department of History at Washington State University offers graduate study leading to the master of arts (thesis and non-thesis options) and doctor of philosophy degrees.

Specialized areas of study within the Department of History include United States, early modern Europe, modern Europe, modern East Asia, environment, women, public, world, and American studies (in cooperation with the Department of English).

Matt Sutton, chair of the Department of History, notes that the department in recent years has placed almost all of its graduate students in academic or public history positions. The history graduate program continues to grow and offer new challenges for today’s scholars. One hundred years ago when SCW President Bryan turned over the courses for the Economic Science and Department of History to Walter Beach, he gave him these instructions: “You will teach your students how to think and find the truth and will be concerned with that chiefly and with the methods of research.” The dedicated and award-winning faculty of the Department of History continues to live up to those instructions and to attract graduate students who share their passion for history.

For information from a current graduate student’s perspective, please feel free to contact one of our HGSA representatives.

About the Graduate Guidelines

The Department of History’s Graduate Guidelines provide basic information about our graduate program, admission requirements, and financial assistance. They are to be used in conjunction with the Policies and Procedures of the Graduate School. The purpose of the guidelines is to elaborate, interpret, and apply the Policies and Procedures with respect to the graduate study of history. Nothing contained here should be construed to contradict or supersede the instructions and regulations found in the Policies and Procedures.

The guidelines are not intended to be absolutely binding upon the faculty and students of the Department of History. Requests for departures from the guidelines may be made in writing to the department’s Graduate Studies Committee, which can authorize or reject them. All such requests should be made with the support of the major professor. Such departures may not conflict with the Policies and Procedures of the Graduate School. In cases where a departure involves significant changes, the Graduate Studies Committee will refer the matter to the entire faculty of the Department of History for determination.

These guidelines supercede all previous memoranda, minutes, and letters of the Department of History and the departmental Graduate Studies Committee with respect to policy and procedures governing the graduate study of history.

To apply for admission to the Graduate School, click here! The Graduate School will send you general information on graduate studies at Washington State University. Application forms pertaining specifically to the graduate program in history can be completed on-line. For additional information regarding degree programs, contact Lawrence Hatter:

Director of Graduate Studies: Lawrence Hatter
Phone: 509-335-7298
E-mail: lawrence.hatter@wsu.edu

Graduate School Admissions
Washington State University
Pullman, WA 99164-1030
Phone: 509-335-3535
Fax: 509-335-1949
E-mail: gradschool@wsu.edu
Request information

Who are we? Where did we come from? How did we get here? How does history inform the present, and how can it illuminate our contemporary concerns? These are fundamental questions that humans have pondered for centuries. By exploring these questions we can gain a better understanding of ourselves, our world, and our place in it. High school graduates or transfer students looking for a congenial atmosphere to learn about the history that shapes our world can find no better place than the WSU Department of History.

History majors and minors at WSU benefit from the close relationships they can develop with their professors. Faculty members are not only experts in their field, but are also mentors and advisors who can help students succeed in their studies and prepare for their careers. Our faculty’s specialties span nearly every part of the globe from ancient times to the present, offering a range of course offerings that allow history majors to tailor their education to their own interests and goals. These include:

• Foundational surveys that provide a broad overview of different historical periods and regions
• Varied upper-level electives in specialist areas, such as environmental history, gender history, and the history of popular culture
• Intensive seminars that allow students to focus on a specific topic in depth
• Independent studies that give students the opportunity to pursue their own research interests
• Courses in historical methods that teach students how to conduct research and write historical papers

In addition to taking courses with our experienced faculty, history majors also have the opportunity to participate in research projects, study abroad, and internships. This hands-on experience helps students develop research skills, build experience, and prepare for a career in history, teaching, or a related field.

Courses leading to the degrees in History (General), History Education, Pre-Law, and Social Studies are offered at our Pullman, Vancouver, Tri-Cities, and Global (online) campuses.

Why Study History?

History students develop a wide range of skills and competencies that are essential for success in their future careers and as engaged citizens. These include research skills, problem-solving and critical thinking skills, writing skills, interpersonal skills, and cultural understanding.

History students also gain a deep understanding of human experiences and cultures, both past and present. This understanding is essential in today’s increasingly complex, interconnected world. History students learn to appreciate cultural diversity and to understand how different cultures influence people’s perceptions and actions.

These skills and knowledge are highly valued by employers in a variety of fields, including law, government, business, and education. History majors are also well prepared for careers in history-specific fields, such as archive management, historic preservation, and museum work.

Here are some specific examples of how the skills and knowledge developed in a history degree can be applied in different careers:

• Research skills: A history student with strong research skills might work as a research analyst in a government agency, a market researcher in a private company, or a research librarian in a university library.
• Problem-solving and critical thinking skills: A history student with strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills might work as a lawyer, a consultant, or a policy analyst.
• Writing skills: A history student with strong writing skills might work as a technical writer, an editor or copywriter, or a journalist.
• Interpersonal skills: A history student with strong interpersonal skills might work as a teacher, a social worker, or a human resources manager.
• Cultural understanding: A history student with a deep understanding of human experiences and cultures might work as a diplomat, a foreign aid worker, or a cultural anthropologist.

In short, a history degree from WSU can prepare you for a wide range of careers. The skills and knowledge you develop in a history program are in high demand by employers in all sectors of the economy.

Distinctive Programs and Projects