Faculty:

• Michael Cary, D.A.
• Robin Rohrer, Ph.D.
• John Spurlock, Ph.D.

The study of history provides the background needed for a wide variety of interesting careers, including in the legal field. SHU’s history pre-law major is designed for students who desire to enter into the legal field in some capacity (career options include attorney, legal assistant, paralegal, trial or jury consultant, various judiciary positions, etc.). Students in the pre-law history major take additional courses (beyond the history major) that expand upon their education by providing the foundational knowledge that will make them competitive when applying to law school or seeking positions in the legal field that don’t require a law degree.

Learning Objectives: History

1. Identify and discuss the major historical events, relationships, and developments over time in the United States and the World.
2. Apply historical context to questions and investigate contemporary social and political issues
3. Explore and clarify historical questions and apply the major historiographic modes of analysis to issues that may range from gender, race, and sexuality to social class, political change, health, and economic development.
4. Design and carry out independent research that makes use of both primary and secondary resources.
5. Develop a professional identity that incorporates historical thinking and analytical skills.

All candidates for the Bachelor of Arts degree in history must complete the Liberal Arts Curriculum requirements, the capstone assessment requirement, and the courses required for the major.

The capstone assessment includes successful completion of a portfolio and an oral presentation. The portfolio includes an argument paper on how students have met the history learning objectives, and the presentation addresses how the major and University objectives are integrated.