History

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Browse Program and Course Descriptions
Faculty
Career and Academic Paths
Academic Advising

Prelaw Advising
Accelerated B.A./M.A. Program
Evening and Part Time Options
Special Opportunities
Student Organizations

Faculty

Chair

Denise Meringolo

Professor

Amy Froide
B.A., University of San Diego, 1988; M.A.T., 1990; M.A., Duke University, 1992; Ph.D., 1996

Denise Meringolo
B.A., The George Washington University, 1990; Ph.D., 2005; M.A., University of Maryland, College Park, 1994

Anne Sarah Rubin
A.B., Princeton University, 1991; M.A., University of Virginia, 1993; Ph.D., 1999

Michelle R. Scott
B.A., Stanford University, 1996; M.A., Cornell University, 2000; Ph.D., 2002

Constantine Vaporis
B.A., The Ohio State University, 1979; M.A., Princeton University, 1984; Ph.D., 1987

Associate Professor

Terry Bouton
B.S., Cornell University, 1989; M.A., Duke University, 1993; Ph.D., 1996

Christy Ford Chapin
B.A., College of William & Mary, 1997; M.A., University of Virginia; Ph.D., 2011

Susan McDonough
A.B., Princeton University, 1996; M.A., Yale University, 2001; Ph.D., 2005

G. Derek Musgrove
B.A., University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 1997; M.A., New York University, 1999; Ph.D., 2005

Meredith Oyen
B.A., University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 1998; M.A., Georgetown University, 2004; Ph.D., 2007

Daniel Ritschel
B.A., McGill University, 1978; M.A., 1981; Ph.D., University of Oxford (U.K.), 1987

Assistant Professor

Brian Van Wyck
B.A., Williams College, 2007; M.A., Central European University, 2012; Ph.D., Michigan State University, 2019

Mirjam Voerkelius
B.A., Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, 2011; M.A., University of California, Berkeley, 2013; Ph.D., 2018

Noor Zaidi
B.A., Columbia University, 2007; Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 2015

Senior Lecturer

Melissa Blair
B.A., Grinnell College, 1997; M.A., University of South Carolina, 2002; Ph.D., University of Delaware, 2014

Program Director and Principal Lecturer, Universities at Shady Grove

Andrew Nolan
B.A., Loyola University New Orleans, 1989; M.A., University of Maryland, College Park, 1993; Ph.D., University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2001

Adjunct Associate Professor

John Birkenmeier
B.A., Dartmouth College, 1983; M.A., Boston College, 1990; Ph.D., The Catholic University of America, 1998

Mary Laurents
Ph.D, University of Maryland, Baltimore County, 2018

Julie Christ Oakes
B.A., Boston University, 1985; M.A., 1986; M.A., Stanford University, 1997; Ph.D., University of Chicago, 2009

Howard Smead
B.A., University of Maryland, 1970; M.A., 1972; Ph.D., 1979

Director Martha Ross Center for Oral History

Barry Lanman
B.S., Towson State University, 1973; M.Ed., 1975; Ed.D., Temple University, 1984

The History, B.A. and History Minor enable students to develop analytical and communication skills that broaden perspectives on the past, the present, and the future. In addition to encouraging mature judgments, the history curriculum trains students to work sensibly and logically with a wide variety of evidence to identify and solve problems as well as broaden their understanding of the diverse human experience.

The UMBC Department of History boasts an award-winning faculty of internationally recognized scholars who take teaching as seriously as they do research. Small class sizes create an exciting intellectual atmosphere in an array of innovative courses. The department’s faculty and programs also help students learn how to apply the knowledge and the analytical skills gained through the study of the past for satisfying careers in a wide range of fields and the importance of life-long learning.

Career and Academic Paths

Choosing to major or minor in history is excellent preparation for a variety of professional careers. The study of history provides skills in analytical thinking, writing, and speaking. Graduates work in fields such as communications, marketing, management, education, finance and banking, government service, political advocacy, and public history and research. Many are engaged in social entrepreneurship through employment with non-profit foundations and think tanks. The study of history also provides exceptional preparation for a wide range of graduate programs and law school. At UMBC, history students regularly meet with faculty advisors to devise a personalized path of study matching their individual goals for the future. Students seeking K-12 teacher certification follow a specially designed course of study offered in conjunction with UMBC’s Department of Education and approved by the Maryland State Department of Education. The department also provides an Accelerated B.A./M.A. program for qualified advanced undergraduate students.

Academic Advising

Students may ask for a list of current faculty advisors or may request a specific academic advisor from the department’s fulltime faculty when declaring history as a major or minor. Students may find advising information on the Department of History website. History majors are urged to consult with a faculty advisor each semester, take advantage of resources at UMBC’s Career Services Office, and take part in department activities, especially the History Student Council.

Prelaw Advising

The study of history provides excellent preparation for careers in law, and the history major traditionally has been one of the most heavily represented undergraduate majors in American law schools. Recognizing this, the history department provides supplemental pre-law advising to history students considering law school.

Accelerated B.A./M.A. Program

History majors interested in taking graduate-level courses as an undergraduate may apply to enter the department’s accelerated B.A./M.A. program offered by the department. After earning the undergraduate degree, if accepted into the Historical Studies Master’s Program, Accelerated B.A./M.A. students may count up to 9 credits earned as an undergraduate toward the M.A. degree. Students should apply in the junior year to begin the program during the senior year. For further information, contact the Department of History.

Evening and Part Time Options

The history major and minor programs can be completed by evening or part-time students. A significant number of courses, including required courses, are offered in the late afternoon, evening and in the winter and summer sessions. It should be noted, however, that not all courses are offered frequently or on a regular basis at those times.

Special Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to enhance their classroom experience by participating in internships in such organizations as the Maryland Historical Society, the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis, the Baltimore Museum of Industry and other museums, archives and historical societies in the region. One agency wrote to thank UMBC’s history department for “the wonderful employees and interns you have been sending us. To say we are satisfied with the quality of the people would be an understatement.” Further information about internship opportunities is available by contacting the Department of History or visiting the Department of History website. The Department also supports the many initiatives at UMBC designed to offer a distinct undergraduate educational experience such as the Undergraduate Research and Creative Achievement program, the Honors College, and departmental honors.

Student Organizations

History Student Council/Phi Alpha Theta

All students are encouraged to participate in the History Student Council. The council meets monthly for lectures and informal discussions on historical topics and careers. The council also sponsors guest speakers and field trips to museums and historic sites. Phi Alpha Theta qualified history majors may apply to join Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. Members attend and often present papers at the yearly regional Phi Alpha Theta conference held at an area university. Information on the society is available in the history office.

Programs

Major

History, B.A.

Minor

Courses

History

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