History

Your Window to the World

Here, we learn to share ideas, to challenge assumptions, and to understand who we are. We are scholars and teachers with a passion for understanding the past in all its dimensions. Our faculty conducts research on the history of Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, colonial North America and the United States, and the world as a whole.

Read about the Indigenous history of our local land.

History Commencement Ceremony

Monday, June 16, 2025
4:00 p.m.
Location: Straub Hall

More Commencement Information

What You Can do with a Degree in History

History introduces students to new ways of thinking and new ways of understanding, preparing them to become effective global citizens and responsible consumers of news and information. A degree in history can pave the way to a broad variety of careers, providing students with a foundation for employment in:

  • Legal professions
  • Journalism
  • Education and training
  • Business management and administration
  • Politics and public interest groups
  • Museums and historical sites
  • Libraries and archives
  • Art, design, and social media
  • Nonprofit organizations
History alumna Odalis Aquilar

How a History Degree Deepens Your Career

“I'm currently working on the political team for a labor union as a lobbyist. My college years were filled with new experiences and many, many learning opportunities that I cherish deeply. A lot of the skills I gained through my college experience and the history department have been helpful in my career. History helped me develop great reading and writing skills. It also prepared me more as a leader overall. I became a person who wasn't scared to ask questions. In my courses, I felt really supported by my professors while also being challenged at the same time! If I had the chance to do it, I would do it all over again!”

—Odalis Aguilar-Aguilar, lobbyist, '22

Our Degree Programs

The study of history cultivates critical skills useful in all walks of life. Among these are the ability to communicate verbally and in writing; to conduct research on virtually any topic; and to analyze, interpret, and synthesize large quantities of information. A history degree cultivates the kinds of learning and skills that we regard as crucial for historical thinking and, more broadly, as integral to a liberal arts education.

Undergraduate Degrees
 
Carlos Aguirre

Learn from Experts in the Field

Our faculty conduct research all over the globe in over 15 languages on fascinating topics stretching from 1,000 years ago to the present. Their research is supported by prestigious grants and their books have won many prizes. In addition to researching, writing, and teaching, they also engage in public history by curating exhibitions, advising government agencies and non-profits, and writing for public media.

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Explore Beyond the Classroom

Investigate centuries-old books and artifacts in our campus collections. Go on field trips and site visits to discover how history has shaped the world. Immerse yourself in the culture of another country while studying history abroad. Apply your skills through internships and other experiential learning opportunities. It doesn't get more real than the study of history.

Scholarships & Funding

The department traditionally bestows a number of undergraduate awards, as well as multiple graduate-level fellowships. The department also meets the challenges of funding graduate education by supporting its students with graduate employee appointments; a variety of internal awards; and university-wide fellowships, grants, and prizes.

Undergraduate Scholarships 
Graduate Funding

Academic Support

Our faculty and advisors support our students’ academic journeys via remote advising sessions.

Undergraduate Advising 
Support for Graduate Students

History News and Events

HISTORY - A 17th-century court case discovered by a history PhD candidate led to a prestigious prize that had never before been awarded to a Pacific Northwest graduate student. Explore Michele Pflug’s award-winning research on the surprising drama around how early scientists named their specimens.
HISTORY - Ever wonder how research universities like UO evolved? It all comes down to one man, according to history professor Vera Keller. In her new book, she explores how Johann Daniel Major established the foundation of modern academia in the 17th century that is ethical and locally grounded.
Through fellowships, the Oregon Humanities Center at the University of Oregon works to promote innovative humanities research produced by faculty members at the UO. The fellowships are for tenure-track faculty and are awarded on an annual basis. The 2025-26 fellows include CAS faculty members in the Divisions of Humanities and Social Sciences.

All news »


Language Learning and Journalism with Frauke Böger and Camila Mortensen
Apr14
Language Learning and Journalism with Frauke Böger and Camila Mortensen Apr 14
Physical Chemistry Seminar - From Stability to Dissociation: Elucidating Dissociation Kinetics of Protein-Protein Complexes via Atomistic Simulations
Apr14
Physical Chemistry Seminar - From Stability to Dissociation: Elucidating Dissociation Kinetics of Protein-Protein Complexes via Atomistic Simulations Apr 14 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Collaborative Communities: Northwest Indigenous Language Preservation and Revitalization
Apr14
Collaborative Communities: Northwest Indigenous Language Preservation and Revitalization Apr 14 Many Nations Longhouse
Ritualization and Myth Making
Apr14
Ritualization and Myth Making Apr 14 Knight Library
History Pub Lecture Series: ‘Back to Your Roots’: Nutritional Advice to the Cook Islands, 1850-1975
Apr14
History Pub Lecture Series: ‘Back to Your Roots’: Nutritional Advice to the Cook Islands, 1850-1975 Apr 14 Whirled Pies Downtown
Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr15
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 15 McKenzie Hall
gradCONNECT: Disabled and Neurodiverse Graduate Student Time Together
Apr15
gradCONNECT: Disabled and Neurodiverse Graduate Student Time Together Apr 15 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
New Faculty Roundtable - Latinx Studies
Apr15
New Faculty Roundtable - Latinx Studies Apr 15 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Curious about Resumes? (Workshop)
Apr15
Curious about Resumes? (Workshop) Apr 15 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
Your Future in Tech + Connect (Industry Panel + Networking Night)
Apr15
Your Future in Tech + Connect (Industry Panel + Networking Night) Apr 15 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)

All events »