Hanover History Department
The history department at Hanover College gave me the opportunity to research and pursue historic eras that I am most interested in -- eventually taking me to Europe and Israel with Dr. Thornton where I was certain that history was the field I wanted to study.
Molly Herner,
Hanover College, Class of 2006
Why Study History?
With so many interesting courses available at Hanover, choosing a major can be difficult. If you are wondering whether history would be a good fit for you, the answer is probably "Yes!" Anything that you enjoy learning about has a history to explore. Fortunately, all Hanover history classes are open to major and non-majors alike (with no prerequisites). If any of the following is true for you, then the history department at Hanover College may be just what you're looking for.
You enjoy:
• Experiencing the past through films or novels like Saving Private Ryan or Pride and Prejudice or other films and novels our students enjoy
• Visiting museums
• Re-enacting the past at SCA events or military encampments
• Talking about history with your friends and older relatives
• Doing research on genealogy or other historical topics
• Writing and speaking
You want to:
• Understand social and political change around the world
• Do research, write, and speak
• Travel abroad
• Have a meaningful and fun academic experience
What Hanover History Offers
As a student here, you will find many reasons to study history. History at Hanover is more than just names and dates. You might agree with those who argue that understanding the past is the key to understanding the future. Or you might be among those who appreciate the way historical training gives us the tools to succeed in a fast-changing world. But don't forget that there's yet another reason to study history -- it's fun!
The Hanover College history department will help you shape your future -- if you major in history, you will have the freedom and flexibility to choose your own course of study, based on your own interests and skills. You will also complement classroom learning with intellectual engagement outside of the classroom, from the informal activities of the History Club, to summer internships for credit, to the culminating experience of an independent research project.
A typical history class involves discussing big ideas and doing close analysis of texts, especially primary sources like the ones reproduced in our Hanover Historical Texts Project. Most of our beginning history courses put European and American history in global context. Advanced courses delve further into specific aspects of U.S. history, European history, Asian history, or world history.
Highlights
Highly Dedicated Faculty
Hanover College professors invite students to investigate a wide range of questions, from the causes of the Holocaust to the sources of Lincoln's greatness, from the role of technology in war to our roles as members of a family, from the temptations of the devil to the triumph of Enlightenment rationalism, from the meaning of our Constitution to the role of Christianity in China.
Involvement
The History Club, a student organization open to both majors and non-majors, sponsors a variety of activities to bring history enthusiasts together and serves as a fun academic and social outlet. Recent activities include film screenings and discussions, a walking tour with Historic Madison Inc., and the Hanover Historical Review, which publishes original historical research by students.
Hands-on Learning
Students in the history program can learn by doing, whether visiting local historic sites or engaging in historical research outside the classroom. Opportunities for experience include volunteering at the Jefferson County Historical Society, contributing to one of the department's internet projects, and serving on the editorial board of the Hanover Historical Review.
Opportunities for Research
Hanover history students have many opportunities to delve into research, including their Independent Study, which they complete in their senior year. The Independent Study gives students the freedom to address topics of importance to them while working closely with a faculty advisor. The department also encourages students to complete an internship or engage in similar activities to gain professional experience for life after college.
Career Opportunities
Historical skills in writing and analysis are valuable in almost any career. History department alumni have pursued a wide variety of career paths over the years -- including computer entrepreneur, private investigator, lawyer, and public school teacher. Our History Career Network connects current students with loyal history alumni who can advise them on making the transition to a successful career that builds on on the liberal arts training they received at Hanover.
A sampling of the careers recent history students have entered:
• Americorps volunteer
• bookstore manager
• coach
• college admissions counselor
• computer technician
• insurance agent
• restaurant manager
• teacher (high school)
• teacher (elementary school)
A sampling of the graduate schools recent history students have entered:
• Indiana University (law)
• New England Culinary Institute
• Morehead State University (history)
• Purdue University (sports management)
• University of Cincinnati (art history)
• University of Sydney, Australia (museum studies)
• University of Texas at Austin (history)
• Wake Forest University (law)
