History

Jeffrey Fortin, Ph.D. Chair

The study of history enables students to understand change and continuity across time. Courses survey such topics as the growth and decline of states and societies, the conduct of war and the pursuit of justice, cultural achievements, religious beliefs and forms of worship, reform movements, influential ideologies, the significance of race, gender and class and exploration and colonization.

Students look at cultures and civilizations both nearby and remote as they study topics such as Boston’s neighborhoods, the British presence in India or the ideals of the ancient Greeks. Examining instances of beauty, progress and success on the world stage as well as episodes of carnage, cruelty and injustice familiarizes students with the range and commonality of human experience and provides perspective on the present.

Analyzing historical records and interpretations enables students to become more perceptive, confident, and sophisticated writers and thinkers. The department provides training in research methods, theories of history, and the opportunity for applied work through a broad range of internship choices in archives, libraries, museums, government, law firms, media agencies, non-profits, and many other venues.

History prepares students for a variety of professional paths. Many of our majors become teachers, archivists, attend graduate school, or become lawyers. The study of history yields creative, resourceful individuals who can problem solve and evaluate information. These skills translate to virtually any career, with many of our graduates working for non-profit organizations, corporate finance, journalism, among others.

LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES

The Emmanuel College History Department’s Goals and Objectives of Majors:

Analysis. Through evaluation of historical information, data, sources, and methodologies, students will broaden and deepen their critical thinking and analytical skills and understand how different ideas (political, cultural, economic, religious), geography (location, environment, resources), and diversity (race, class, gender, ethnicity) have influenced historical interpretations. Students are equipped with the necessary intellectual skills in the pursuit of knowledge.

Research. Students conduct primary and secondary source research utilizing up-todate methods and sources, including digital and media resources; students will know how to locate, evaluate, and ethically use this information effectively in constructing an argument. Through research and dialogue, students reflect on diverse perspectives in all that they research.

Historiographical Literacy. Students will be able to compare and contrast historical interpretations, recognizing there is no one historical truth and that interpretations have changed, and will continue to change, over time. Through research students will be ale to examine cultures in a comparative context and to place their own culture, values, and ethics within larger historical narratives, methods, and fields, deepening