There are two dominant features of the major in History, Politics, and  International Relations. First, the major moves a student through a carefully considered sequence of required core courses. Successive courses both provide the student with the opportunity to develop empirical knowledge about different historical periods and to add new intellectual skills. The capstone experience for seniors is the semester-long senior seminar in which they define a research project, conduct research, and write a substantial thesis. Second, like English literature, history is a reading and writing-intensive discipline.   The department faculty believe strongly in the value of independent research, study abroad, and first-rate internships as transformative experiences for undergraduates. In recent years, students in the department have found the means to study in Germany, Austria, England, and Greece. Department students have held internships at local law offices, the office of the Chester County Commissioners, the juvenile parole office of Chester County, the Valley Forge National Historical Park, the Foreign Policy Research Institute, the archaeological museum of the University of Pennsylvania, the narcotics division of the office of the District Attorney in Philadelphia, and the Smithsonian Institution. 

Successful Graduates

Theresa Connelly, Service teaching at a Reservation school in South Dakota

Patricia Waters, Secondary Education Certification

Nicole Newton, J.D., Villanova University

Ellen J. Loll, Archivist, Smithsonian Institution Washington, DC

Kristen K. Bray, J.D., Villanova University, 2005; Assistant City Solicitor in the Mayor John F. Street Honors Attorney Program with the Philadelphia City Solicitor's office

Earl Schandelmeier, Middle school history teacher and author

Huyen B. Ta, Public Programs Demonstrator National Constitution Center

Anna Besch, M.A. in Philosophy, Boston College 2008; Teaching Assistant, Boston College Research Assistant to the Fitzgibbons Chair, Boston College