History

Why study history? Examining the social, political, economic, intellectual, and cultural dimensions of the past is vital to helping us all move forward. 

Disciplined study of the past encourages the cultivation of “historical thinking” – understanding human identity and social interaction in their historical contexts – to better analyze and evaluate issues of the contemporary world. 

At Bryant, students pursuing a degree in history receive thorough training in historical studies. Each student acquires skills enabling them to read documents or texts in an historical context, to interpret events and understand institutions, to appreciate the diverse cultural and historical experience of Western and non-Western peoples, and to write extensively. 

Coupled with Bryant’s common core of business training, the command of these skills – all highly valued by the business community – provides students a unique education and training for positions of leadership. 

Bryant's small class sizes encourage critical thinking, analysis, social justice, and civic engagement. Students can tailor their individualized program of instruction with guidance from faculty, and work closely with a faculty advisor on a capstone project that could be presented at professional conferences, such as the New England Historical Association.

In addition, opportunities to enhance learning with experiential internships are available at the many rich historical resources throughout New England and in Washington, D.C.

The history major consists of three components:

1. An individually tailored program of instruction, to be created by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor.
2. Completion of a minimum of 30 credit hours (10 courses) in history:
   •  no more than three may be at the 200-level (HIS273 is required);
   • at least two must be in U.S. history; 
   • at least two must be in non-U.S. history; and
   • at least two must be at the 400-level (includes HIS490). 
3. Completion of the capstone course HIS490 Seminar in Historical Inquiry. 

Students are also encouraged to pursue individual directed studies courses and to exploit the rich historical resources available in the New England area through internships with the Rhode Island Historical Society, Slater Mill Historic Site, or other area museums and public history institutions.

For more information and a full listing of courses, visit the undergraduate catalog. 

Students completing the history minor will choose among four tracks of study: United States history, European history, world history, or a specialized course of study. The history minor emphasizes personal resourcefulness, the ethical dimensions of history, and the awareness of diversity and differences in the human experience.

A minimum of 12 credit hours (four courses) is required for the minor:

• One 200-level history course
• Two 300- or 400-level history courses
• One 400-level history course 

For a full listing of courses, visit the undergraduate catalog. 

This is an 18-credit concentration. Students must have a primary concentration in the College of Business or a major in the College of Arts and Sciences.

The history concentration consists of three components:

1. An individually tailored program of instruction, to be created by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor from history.
2. Completion of a minimum of six courses in history, of which:
   • no more than two may be at the 200-level;
   • at least one elective must be at the 400-level;
   • at least two must be in U.S. history; and
   • at least two must be in non-U.S. history.
3. Completion of the capstone course HIS490 Seminar in Historical Inquiry. 

For a full listing of history courses, visit the undergraduate catalog. 

Our history faculty are award-winning educators, mentors, and scholars with expertise in varied fields. These caring and supportive professors get to know students as individuals in our close-knit, student-centered community. 

Our faculty includes:

• A leading authority on the Holocaust’s impact on the law, who is the author of award-winning books on the Holocaust and international law.
• An expert on recent U.S. cultural and political history, whose recent work touches on housing and social justice.
• An expert on Imperial Russia and the international history of the early 20th century, with a focus on the First World War.
• A specialist in interaction between the Islamic World and West, who has spent years in the Middle East researching and learning Arabic, and brings this global experience to the classroom.
• An Early American and Indigenous Historian who is trained in Ethnohistory, who embraces an interdisciplinary and experiential learning approach to studying both academic and public history.

A partnership between Bryant University and The Washington Center in the U.S. capital provides students with access to a variety of semester-long internships. Participate in the work of leading think tanks, the White House, the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Opera House, law offices, and more. 

Make meaningful connections with experts in fields that interest you as you consider post-graduate options including a range of graduate school programs and career opportunities. 

For more information on this program, visit The Washington Center website. 

Read more on news and opportunities in history, current events, and research for Bryant students:

• Public history course students work with Tomaquag Museum to elevate Indigenous voices
• Research in action: REDay showcases scholarly impact at Bryant
• Recent Bryant graduates see significantly higher ROI than peers across the U.S., per Fed analysis
• At Hillel talk, journalist offers first-hand account of Israel, Gaza conflict
• At MLK Legacy Dinner, Cheryl Henderson urged attendees to 'Stand up, show up, speak up'
• Working at America’s ‘hippest cemetery,’ alum shares career journey with undergrads
• Students: Study art, history, literature abroad at Oxford University this summer
• Through Bryant Honors Program, students research, analyze hot-button issues