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.

History majors at WKU pursue a wide range of careers, including teaching, business, law enforcement, journalism, public history, local, state, and federal government, and politics. History majors have attended a wide variety of graduate schools, including Harvard, Columbia, Johns Hopkins, and University of London.

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