At A Glance

As a history major or minor at Carthage, you’ll enter a vibrant arena created to open and develop your mind. Our courses seek to challenge students’ assumptions of how the world works, ideas evolve, and peoples and nations move through time and space.

Major

  • History

Minor

  • History

Special Academic Option

Pre-Law

View Degree Requirements

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Earn your history degree at Carthage

Carthage history majors excel in fields like business, law, education, and public service, and lifetime earnings for history majors are higher than in many fields that sound more practical. We believe that’s because there are no shortcuts to becoming a valuable member of any community.

At Carthage, historians engage in that process of becoming by taking part in experiences that grow you into the best version of yourself.

Forget the endless lists of historical names and dates you memorized in high school. Do you experience what Carl Sagan called the “ecstasy of understanding?” Does it give you a thrill to figure out why things are the way they are? That’s the kind of history we pursue.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg" alt="Madison Payne" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,175,1170,1345/37813_8397_163701665847155.rev.1684809140.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1170" data-max-h="1170" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “Having positive relationships with the faculty here has helped me to create more opportunities for myself at Carthage, and it’s great knowing that I can reach out to any past or present professors if I need help.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2437-madison-payne">Madison Payne</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/png" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.png 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.png" alt="Jose Antonio ?Tony? Lule" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.png 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,689,689/38361_9946_163701665847155.rev.1693880001.png 3x" data-max-w="689" data-max-h="689" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I would encourage anyone who wants to double major in history and a foreign language because it will help broaden your perspective on different cultures and the world.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2505-jose-antonio-lule">Jose Antonio Lule</a> ’26</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg" alt="Kj De Jesús" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1000,1000/37777_2022_APT2.rev.1684353001.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1000" data-max-h="1000" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I would not have gotten very far without my professors. My English and history teachers have helped me with more questions than anyone else on campus. When you find your people, they really take care of you.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1913-">Kj De Jesús</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Unique Classes for history majors

Scaffolding

History majors learn the challenging (and highly transferable) skills to become historians over three years. In your sophomore year, Historical Methods introduces you to the craft. As a junior, Historiography stretches your abilities to read and process heavy loads of complex information. Finally, as a senior, you’re ready to ask and answer meaningful questions on your own. A successful senior thesis uses raw data and existing literature to make a “modest contribution to knowledge.”

Simulations and Team Teaching

Wrap up in your rebozo or put on your sombrero to relive the Mexican Revolution. Students in the History of Mexico course use primary sources to plot assassinations, overthrow governments, and even engage one another’s armies on the battlefield. Many of our classes employ a teaching tool called “Reacting to the Past.” Students take on the roles of historical figures. All Carthage students take at least one interdisciplinary course.

 

Beyond the classroom

History Student Organizations

History honors fraternity Phi Alpha Theta offers speakers, field trips, and national conferences.

History Study Abroad opportunities

During the popular J-Term, history professors often lead study tours to destinations like Southeast Asia, Guatemala, and the European battlefields of World War II.

history major Internships

Between Chicago and Milwaukee, students who major in history find internships at museums, congressional offices, libraries, nonprofits, and law firms.

More Student Opportunities