History

Dickinson College

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History

The Department of History exemplifies Dickinson in the way it covers the world beyond our shores; students may study the regional histories of Africa, East Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East, or they may explore the diversity of American history. Further, our courses explore a wide variety of approaches that include the history of gender, empires, the environment, medicine, migration, religion, and diplomacy and war in national, comparative, and global contexts.

History majors work closely with the faculty to develop research skills, regularly making use of the rich resources of Dickinsons Archives & Special Collections, the nearby U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center and the Cumberland County Historical Society. Our newest course to make extensive use of such resources is History 205, Public History, which teaches students about the ways history can be put to work in the world and made relevant and useful in the public sphere.

Chair: Karl QuallsProfessor of Historyquallsk@dickinson.edu
Department Coordinator: Madeline BrownAcademic Department Coordinatorbrownmad@dickinson.edu

Phone: 717-245-1521
Fax: 717-245-1479
Location: 219B, Denny Hall Mailing Address

Department Features

Study Abroad

American_Studies_MulticulturalAmericanLiteraryHistoryClass_20161027_0083_300x215.jpg

Current Courses

Research Opportunities

Student Outcomes

Where Our Students Go From Here

Jobs:

United Way of the Midlands
JET Program
Cushman & Wakefield
Temple University
Archaeological Testing and Consulting
Smithsonian Institution
Peace Corps
The Fulbright Program
USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Hudson Legal Group
SITE Program Lombardia
Microsoft Corporation
The Democracy Collaborative
National Consumer Law Center

Graduate Schools:

Yale Law
New York University
University of Pennsylvania
University of Connecticut
Columbia University
University of Massachusetts
George Washington University
George Mason University
University of Virginia
Harvard University
Fordham University
Georgetown University Law
Tufts University
USC
Johns Hopkins University
City University London

Where Students Have Interned

Breakthrough Collaborative
Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Organization
National Museum of American History
National Museum of the American Indian
National Postal Museum
Port Jefferson Historical Society
U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
U.S. Army War College - Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
Dickinson College House Divided project
Dickinson College Archives & Special Collections
U.S Army Heritage & Education Center
Art Institute of Chicago

Student Perspective

"The opportunity to mingle with professors and students within the department no matter what concentration or focus you are interested in. The history department really fosters an amazing community of colleagues and students who are there to support one another and bond over our shared love for history."

— Kaileigh McNellis '23

History News

All News Department News

Five Dickinson Students Heading to Oxford’s Mansfield College

Five Dickinson Students Heading to Oxford’s Mansfield College

Dickinson's long-running success with students being accepted into the prestigious program continues.

Behind the Mic: Red Devil Sports Network Elevates Student Broadcasting

Behind the Mic: Red Devil Sports Network Elevates Student Broadcasting

Dickinson's hands-on training ground for students looking to break into sports media has been going strong since 2013.

Learning, Leading, Exploring

Learning, Leading, Exploring

Ryan Bergh Thies ’25 dives into learning, leadership and study abroad through Dickinson.

Internship Spotlight: Ben Warren ’25

Internship Spotlight: Ben Warren ’25

As a data-reporting intern at 'The Wall Street Journal,' Ben Warren '25 sharpened his tech and analytical skills, enhanced his interviewing savvy and learned the rhythms of the reporter's life.

The (Red) Devil Wears Prada

The (Red) Devil Wears Prada

There are fascinating lessons sewn into fashion. Researching in Italy, students explored the culture, history, politics and ethics of Italian fashion, from fast fashion to couture.

Enlivening the Present Moment

Enlivening the Present Moment

Assistant Professor of History Say Burgin uses the past as a lens to examine who we are and who we'll become.

Organizing your Own by Say Burgin book cover

Newest Faculty Book Publication

Congratulations to Say Burgin (Assistant Professor of History) on her new book Organizing Your Own: The White Fight for Black Power in Detroit, which was recently published by NYU Press! The book is a fascinating history of white solidarity with the Black Power movement.

Alumni Spotlight

APRIL 2024:

Congratulations to Dickinson History Dept alum Elizabeth Price ’22, who will be starting a graduate program in history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison next term! Elizabeth, who was a double major in History and Russian while at Dickinson, will be researching Soviet involvement with African wars of liberation and anti-colonial movements, interests she developed in Dickinson classes with history professors Jeremy Ball and Karl Qualls.