Why Study History?

For a great many people, history is a set of facts, a collection of events, a series of things that happened, one after another, in the past. In fact, history is far more than these things-- it is a way of thinking about and seeing the world. 

To genuinely make sense of the past, you need to learn how to see it on its own terms, how to make the strange and unfamiliar logical and comprehensible, and how to empathize with people who once thought so differently than we do today. If you learn how to do these things, you begin to cultivate a crucial set of skills that not only help navigate the past, but the present as well. Once you can see the things that history teaches you, once you know how to penetrate unfamiliar modes of thought and behavior and can understand their inner logic, it becomes easier to make sense of the modern world and the diverse peoples and ideas that you will confront within it.

It might seem counterintuitive that one of the best ways to illuminate the present is by studying the past, but that is precisely why history can be so important. When we appreciate that history is not, first and foremost, a body of knowledge, but rather a way of thinking, it becomes a particularly powerful tool. Not everyone may choose to become a historian. Yet, whatever career you choose, knowing how to think historically will help. 

By taking History courses at Stanford, you will develop

• critical, interpretive thinking skills through in-depth analysis of primary and secondary source materials.
• the ability to identify different types of sources of historical knowledge.
• analytical writing skills and close reading skills.
• effective oral communication skills.

Undergraduate Degree Options

We offer the four degree options to Stanford undergraduate students:

• Undergraduate Major: Become a historian by taking 13 courses and completing a honor's thesis or a capstone project. Your major advisor will support you as you chart your path through your B.A. in History.   
  • Honors in History:  Join a passionate group of History majors who conduct in-depth, original research on a historical question with Stanford faculty for their honor's thesis.
• Undergraduate Minor: Master historical thinking and analytical skills by that taking six History courses for a letter grade.
• Co-terminal Masters:   Join the selective group of Stanford undergraduates who explore their passion in History before entering graduate school or professional life.

How to Declare

• To declare a major in History, please review the formal steps at this link.
• To declare a minor in History, please review the formal steps at this link.
• To apply for Undergraduate Honors Program in History, please review the formal steps at this link.
• Department faculty can help with your degree planning.  Peer Advisors or Kai Dowding (History, Undergraduate Student Services Officer) are also available to talk about how to navigate the program. 

Undergraduate Grants 

To support Stanford undergraduates' professionalization in history and adjacent fields, we offer research grants and summer internships. Browse funding opportunities

Herodotus: An Undergraduate Journal

Herodotus is a student-run publication founded in 1986 by  the History Undergraduate Student Association (HUGSA). Based on a rigorous, supportive peer-review process, the journal preserves and features the best undergraduate research conducted in the department. Browse Herodotus

Undergraduate Alumni

Stanford History students are supported by mentorship from our world-class faculty and by unique research opportunities. These experiences enable our majors and minors to pursue successful careers in business, journalism, public service, law, education, government, medicine, and more.  Browse post-graduation updates from Stanford History alumni.