History

H. Hazel Hahn, PhD, Chair
Web: http://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/departments/history/

Objectives

Defying classification as belonging to either the humanities or the social sciences, history functions as both. It focuses on the values, as well as the ideas, personalities, and institutions that existed in the past and shaped the present. As concerned with perceptions of reality as with historic reality itself, it attempts to exploit all forms of information concerning the past-myth, folklore, legend, and works of art, as well as conventional manuscript and published sources. And, while the department attempts to assist all students in acquiring that knowledge of the past that is essential to the educated person in the modern world, it is especially concerned with developing the methods and techniques unique to historical inquiry. By consistently raising questions regarding “how we know” as well as “what we know,” the department aims at the development of fundamental intellectual skills that will be of lifelong utility.

Programs

Undergraduate Major

Undergraduate Minor

History Minor