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Understand the Past, Engage the Present

A series of busts next to shelves of books

Welcome to the Department of History

The department staff is available Monday through Friday from 8:00am – 5:00pm. Contact us by calling the front office at (360) 650-3457, email, or find us on Teams Chat:

Phi Alpha Theta Meetings

Next Meeting Date:

TBD

For more info contact hunter.price@wwu.edu

History Newsletter

Check out our annual History newsletter, Clio Speaks. It features student spotlights, department updates, and exciting news in the field of History. 

Declare your Major or Minor

AY 2022-23 History Schedule

 
Summer 2022
Summer 2022
HIST 318 31090 Medieval England MTWR 1200 1350 Peter Diehl
HIST 331 31091 History of the Holocaust MTWR 1400 1550 Sarah Zarrow
HIST 364 30639 Civil War Era in Film MTWR 1000 1150 Hunter Price
HIST 370 30480 Chinese History to 600 A.D. MTWR 1000 1150 Roger Thompson
HIST 409 30453 WW II: The Pacific War MTWR 1400 1550 Roger Thompson
HIST 494 30452 Public History Internship Arrange Arrange Arrange Chris Friday
HIST 690 30144 Thesis Arrange Arrange Arrange Various
HIST 690 30047 Continous Enrollment Arrange Arrange Arrange David Patrick

 
Fall 2022
Fall 2022
HIST 103 42619 Intro American Hist to 1865 MWF 1000 1120 Hunter Price
HIST 103 43934 Intro American Hist to 1865 TR 1000 1150 Michael Hughes
HIST 103 43163 Intro American Hist to 1865 TR 1200 1350 Michael Hughes
HIST 104 42705 Intro American Hist Since 1865 MWF 1300 1420 Mart Stewart
HIST 104 43164 Intro American Hist Since 1865 TR 1400 1550 Daniel Chard
HIST 111 42701 Intro W.Civil Prehist To 476 MWF 1000 1120 Staff
HIST 112 42694 Intro W. Civilization 476-1713 MWF 1000 1120 Peter Diehl
HIST 141 43165 History of the American West MWF 1000 1120 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 220 42685 Intro. South Asian History TR 800 950 Dharitri Bhattacharjee
HIST 232 42977 History of the Jews MWF 1300 1420 Sarah Zarrow
HIST 262 43516 African American to 1865 TR 1200 1350 Peter Pihos
HIST 273 43374 Latin America:1492-1824 MWF 1130 1250 Ricardo Lopez
HIST 275 42698 The Indian in American History TR 1000 1150 Chris Friday
HIST 277 43935 Canada:A Historcl Survy MWF 1130 1250 Madison Heslop
HIST 285 42708 African History to 1800 MWF 1130 1250 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 287 43936 Intro Islamic Civilization TR 1200 1350 Charles Anderson
HIST 315 43937 Europe Mid Ages 300-1050 MWF 1300 1420 Peter Diehl
HIST 321 43938 Age of Religious Wars TR 1200 1350 Amanda Eurich
HIST 326 43939 Immigration in the Americas TR 1000 1150 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 331 43940 History of the Holocaust MWF 1430 1550 Sarah Zarrow
HIST 349 43941 History of the U.S. South TR 1400 1550 Mart Stewart
HIST 350 42883 American Colonial History MWF 1000 1120 Jared Hardesty
HIST 360 42703 History of Religion in Early America MWF 1430 1550 Hunter Price
HIST 364 42979 Latin Am Histories in Movies MWF 1430 1550 Ricardo Lopez
HIST 372 42707 Chinese History, 1800-present TR 1000 1150 Roger R. Thompson
HIST 375 43942 Modern Japanese History TR 1000 1150 Emi Bushelle
HIST 385 43943 West Africa & Atlantic World MWF 1300 1420 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 390 42686 Modern India TR 1000 1150 Dharitri Bhattacharjee
HIST 390 43944 History of the Salish Sea MWF 1430 1550 Madison Heslop
HIST 390 44069 Religion in America TR 1400 1550 Holly Folk
HIST 390 44072 Islam in the Indian Ocean Wrld TR 1400 1550 Jonathan Miran
HIST 390 42700 Ancient Empires MWF 1300 1420 Staff
HIST 391 43166 History of Pacific Northwest MWF 1300 1420 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 393 42981 Introduction to Public History TR 1400 1550 Chris Friday
HIST 401 42693 Methods Reseach & Analysis TR 1000 1150 Susan Costanzo
HIST 408 43945 WW II: The European War TR 1400 1550 Roger R. Thompson
HIST 474 42982 U.S. Latin American Relations TR 1400 1550 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 483 43188 Early Modern Japan TR 1400 1550 Emi Bushelle
HIST 490 42692 Digital Methods in History TR 1200 1350 Christine Johnston
HIST 499 42696 Social Movemts in 20th Cent US T 1400 1650 Peter Pihos
HIST 499 42704 Ancient Mediterranean T 1500 1750 Christine Johnston
HIST 499 42706 Witches & Werewolves T 1400 1650 Amanda Eurich
HIST 505 42684 Historical Theory and Method T 1400 1650 Charles Anderson
HIST 597 TBD On Microhistory M 1400 1650 Jared Hardesty
HIST 597 TBD Digital Methods in History TR 1200 1350 Christine Johnston
HIST 597 TBD City Early Modrn Iberian World TR 1200 1350 Kimberley Lynn
HIST 690 43616 Thesis Arrange Arrange Arrange Susan Costanzo
HIST 699 43617 Continous Enrollment Arrange Arrange Arrange David Patrick

 
Winter 2023
Winter 2023
HIST 103 13064 Intro American Hist to 1865 TR 1200 1350 Michael Hughes
HIST 104 12588 Intro American Hist Since 1865 MWF 1000 1120 Daniel Chard
HIST 104 13065 Intro American Hist Since 1865 MWF 1300 1420 Mart Stewart
HIST 112 12578 Intro W. Civilization 476-1713 TR 1000 1150 Staff
HIST 112 12579 Intro W. Civilization 476-1713 MWF 1130 1250 Amanda Eurich
HIST 113 12577 Intr W.Civilization 1713-Prsnt TR 1400 1550 Arna Elezovic
HIST 123 12574 World History 1500-Present MWF 830 950 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 141 13625 History of the American West MWF 1430 1550 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 151 13626 Communities of Ancient World MWF 1130 1250 Christine Johnston
HIST 220 12571 Intro. South Asian History TR 800 950 Dharitri Bhattacharjee
HIST 233 13705 Modern Jewish History MWF 1130 1250 Sarah Zarrow
HIST 263 13627 African American since 1865 MWF 830 950 Peter Pihos
HIST 274 13334 Latin Amer:1824-Present TR 1000 1150 Ricardo Lopez
HIST 277 13628 Canada:A Historcl Survy MWF 1300 1420 Madison Heslop
HIST 280 13711 Intro:East Asian Cvlztn MWF 1300 1420 Emi Bushelle
HIST 280 13712 Intro:East Asian Cvlztn MWF 1430 1550 Emi Bushelle
HIST 281 12592 E Asian Hist Early-Mod/Mod Era TR 1000 1150 Roger R. Thompson
HIST 290 12882 The Atlantic World MWF 830 950 Jared Hardesty
HIST 290 13629 The Atlantic World MWF 1000 1120 Jared Hardesty
HIST 311 12582 History of Ancnt Egypt MWF 1430 1550 Christine Johnston
HIST 313 13630 History of Ancient Rome TR 1200 1350 Steven Garfinkle
HIST 316 12883 Europe Mid Ages 1050-1450 MWF 1130 1250 Peter Diehl
HIST 327 13631 Soccer in Latin America MWF 1130 1250 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 334 12885 20th Century Russia MWF 1000 1120 Susan Costanzo
HIST 363 12888 The American Revolution TR 1400 1550 Johann Neem
HIST 364 13708 Film History: France in WWII MWF 1430 1550 Amanda Eurich
HIST 369 13632 WGS in African History TR 1200 1350 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 379 13633 Canadian American Relations MWF 1000 1120 Madison Heslop
HIST 380 12889 Food & Environment in America TR 1400 1550 Mart Stewart
HIST 390 13066 US & International Terrorism MWF 1300 1420 Daniel Chard
HIST 390 13788 Religious Communes in America TR 1400 1550 Holly Folk
HIST 390 13789 Islam in Africa TR 1000 1150 Jonathan Miran
HIST 392 13262 Tribal Sov & WA Hist TR 1000 1150 Chris Friday
HIST 490 12765 Topics in Modern Chinese Hist TR 1200 1350 Roger R. Thompson
HIST 490 13634 Pandemics in European History M 1400 1650 Peter Diehl
HIST 490 13637 Gendr, Repro & Hlth in NA West MWF 1300 1420 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 490 13709 Adventures at Sea TR 1000 1150 Dharitri Bhattacharjee
HIST 490 13936 Eroticism Ancient/Medieval Eur MW 1430 1620 Sean Murphy
HIST 493 13635 Landscapes & Built Environmts TR 1400 1550 Chris Friday
HIST 499 12583 Cold War Americas T 1400 1650 Ricardo Lopez
HIST 499 12622 Topics in African History T 1400 1650 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 499 13636 Antebellum Slave Narratives T 1000 1250 Hunter Price
HIST 597 TBD Age of Revolutions T 1400 1650 Hunter Price
HIST 597 TBD Gnder, Reprod, & Hlth in NAm West MWF 1300 1420 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 506 12589 Research Seminar M 1400 1650 Sarah Zarrow
HIST 690 13340 Thesis Arrange Arrange Arrange Susan Costanzo
HIST 699 13342 Continous Enrollment Arrange Arrange Arrange David Patrick

 
Spring 2023
Spring 2023
HIST 103 22754 Intro American Hist to 1865 MWF 830 950 Johann Neem
HIST 103 23264 Intro American Hist to 1865 MWF 1000 1120 Hunter Price
HIST 104 23006 Intro American Hist Since 1865 MWF 1300 1420 Daniel Chard
HIST 111 23431 Intro W.Civil Prehist To 476 MWF 1430 1550 Christine Johnston
HIST 112 22553 Intro W. Civilization 476-1713 MWF 1000 1120 Peter Diehl
HIST 113 22550 Intr W.Civilization 1713-Prsnt MWF 1300 1420 Susan Costanzo
HIST 121 23432 World History to 500 MWF 1130 1250 Steven Garfinkle
HIST 123 23433 World History 1500-Present MWF 830 950 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 265 23435 LGBTQ+ History in the US MWF 1130 1250 Josh Cerretti
HIST 268 23444 Intro Asian American History MWF 1000 1120 Chris Friday
HIST 281 23453 E Asian Hist Early-Mod/Mod Era TR 1000 1150 Roger R. Thompson
HIST 286 23446 Africa History 1800-present TR 1200 1350 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 312 23448 History of Ancient Greece MWF 1130 1250 Christine Johnston
HIST 347 23450 US Legal/Constitutional Hist TR 1000 1150 Peter Pihos
HIST 352 22565 Civil War & Reconstruction MWF 1430 1550 Hunter Price
HIST 356 22549 Gender and History MWF 830 950 Dharitri Bhattacharjee
HIST 362 22822 Civil Rights Black Power Era TR 1200 1350 Peter Pihos
HIST 364 22551 Beyond Fiddler: Rep E Eur Life TR 1200 1350 Sarah Zarrow
HIST 364 23451 Westerns TR 1000 1150 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 364 23452 Film AsHist:People's Rep China TR 1400 1550 Roger R. Thompson
HIST 366 23436 Early American Republic MWF 1430 1550 Johann Neem
HIST 390 23437 Early Modern Globalization TR 1000 1150 Emi Bushelle
HIST 390 23437 Early Modern Globalization TR 1000 1150 Jared Hardesty
HIST 390 23438 Fanon: Pwr, Psychoan & Hists TR 1000 1150 Ricardo Lopez
HIST 390 23439 Topics in Canadian History TR 1200 1350 Madison Heslop
HIST 390 23440 Topics in European History TR 1200 1350 Arna Elezovic
HIST 390 23441 Topics in European History TR 1400 1550 Arna Elezovic
HIST 390 23442 Topics in US History TR 1200 1350 Michael Hughes
HIST 390 23596 Cultural History of Ireland MWF 1000 1120 Sean Murphy
HIST 391 23008 History of Pacific Northwest MWF 1000 1120 Daniel Chard
HIST 411 23449 Latin America in WWII MWF 1300 1420 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 490 22567 War & Militarization in Africa TR 1400 1550 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 490 23283 Hist of Neolib in Americas TR 1400 1550 Ricardo Lopez
HIST 490 23443 Modern Plagues, Modern Powers TR 1400 1550 Jennifer Seltz
HIST 490 23445 Env. History of US Agriculture MWF 1300 1420 Mart Stewart
HIST 490 23593 Revival Reform Islam TR 1000 1150 Jonathan Miran
HIST 490 23724 Conformity/Dissent 19th Cen US TR 1400 1550 Holly Folk
HIST 499 22541 Japan Before 1900 T 1300 1550 Emi Bushelle
HIST 499 22552 Medieval Heresy R 1400 1650 Peter Diehl
HIST 499 22559 The Ancient World M 1500 1750 Steven Garfinkle
HIST 499 23447 Indigenous People of the PNW M 1400 1650 Chris Friday
HIST 597 TBD Limits of History M 1400 1650 Dharitri Bhattacharjee
HIST 597 TBD Latin America and WWII MWF 1300 1420 Pedro Cameselle
HIST 597 TBD War & Militarization in Africa TR 1400 1550 Sarah Zimmerman
HIST 690 23287 Thesis Arrange Arrange Arrange Susan Costanzo
HIST 699 23288 Continous Enrollment Arrange Arrange Arrange David Patrick

COVID-19 is not the first pandemic to hit Whatcom county. Over 100 years ago Whatcom county fell subject to the Spanish Influenza. To learn more check out the Bellingham Centennial Celebration put together by the Whatcom County Historical Society in collaboration with WWU Students & Faculty.

Many people who went on to become prominent elected officials, judges, journalists, and business executives realized when they were students that the study of history would help them to become astute observers, careful analysts, and gifted communicators. Notable history majors include President Franklin D. Roosevelt; current Supreme Court Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor; journalists Malcolm Gladwell and Wolf Blitzer; and business executives Donna Dubinsky, who played a pivotal role in the development of personal digital assistants, and Robert L. Johnson, the founder of Black Entertainment Television.  Hoby Darling, who graduated with a degree in history from Western in 1997, was the President and CEO of Skullcandy.

No other major prepares students for as many different careers. All employers value history majors’ strong written and oral communication skills. Business executives and government officials prize history majors’ abilities to conduct research, analyze evidence, and evaluate arguments. Many history majors have successful careers in journalism and law, in addition to business and public service. A history major prepares you for teaching, for graduate study in several humanistic disciplines, many interdisciplinary programs, and library and information science. A growing number of history majors have made careers in the expanding field of public history, working in museums, archives, and historical preservation.

Statement of Principles

  • As a department composed of people with many different backgrounds, identities, skill sets, and opinions, we are committed to an inclusive department and university. Although we do not speak with one voice, in our teaching and scholarship we share a commitment to the discipline of history as a critical tool for understanding the struggles of the present.
  • Many students feel unsafe on campus, and we share their commitment to a university in which all people are welcome and encouraged to learn. We appreciate students’ engagement with curricular questions and their aspiration for a university that empowers students to be effective agents of change.
  • We see the value students place on knowing and using history. We welcome the opportunity to work cooperatively from our own distinct positions towards a better university. 
  • Our department is committed to academic excellence and providing curricular offerings dealing with the fullest possible range of locations, cultures, and experiences. Our courses encourage critical thinking, rigorous inquiry, and intellectual growth.

April 24, 2019

Mission Statement

The study of history is essential to a liberal education. The mission of the Department of History is to create and nurture a community of scholars, including students in general education courses, undergraduate majors and minors, graduate students, faculty, and staff, who value historical thinking. We prepare students for thoughtful participation in public affairs, further education, and a wide range of careers by fostering an appreciation of the diversity of human cultures and experiences, the development of research and analytical skills, and the ability to communicate effectively, especially in writing.