HISTORY DEPARTMENT
History is a wide-ranging discipline, its limits being only the interests and capabilities of the individual. Whether dealing with social, political, economic, intellectual, scientific, psychological, or diplomatic history, the concern is to find how people lived and how they dealt with their problems. It is more an interpretive study than a study of facts; as such, it is relevant to our own day as it provides us with a means of measuring our own performance against that of our ancestors.
The history program at Randolph-Macon is comprehensive enough to prepare student for graduate study and general enough to provide a solid liberal arts background for students seeking the bachelor's as their highest degree.
CURRICULUM INFORMATION
All Randolph-Macon students are required to take two history courses entitled,
Introduction to History. During the junior and senior years, majors normally enroll in two history courses each semester. The History major requires a minimum of 11 courses above the freshman level. All majors must include the following among their eleven courses: two in U. S. History; two in European History; two courses on non-western topics; and, a capstone experience. A list of courses for each area is included in the navigation bar to left.
Flexibility is provided in the History Department by independent study options and by the option to elect a senior project (undergraduate thesis). In addition, History students are encouraged, but not required, to enroll for an internship or for study abroad.
SAMPLE OF COURSE OFFERINGS
- United States History
- British History
- The Colonial and Revolutionary Periods of American History
- Antebellum America
- The American Civil War
- The British Empire
- History of France
- Contemporary Europe
- Modern China
- Arab-Israeli Conflict
- The Middle East
- The Black Novel as History
- The Ascent of Man
- Senior Project
- Themes in British Social History*
- Britain in the Modern Era*
- Europe in the 1990s*
*Courses offered through the Randolph-Macon Study Abroad Program in England at Wroxton College.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Senior Project & Independent Study:
The optional senior project enables students to gain experience in historical research and writing techniques as they prepare a major research paper. Independent study projects have spanned a wide range of topics; some have concentrated on historiography, while others have focused on areas of research and reading.
J-Term Courses:
One month programs have given students unique perspectives on history. For example, an interdisciplinary course offered jointly with the Economics Department enabled students to study the economic history of Eastern Europe while actually visiting several Eastern European countries. Another course studied the history of radio in America, using taped radio programs of the 1930's and 1940's. A third studied World War I.
Internships:
Students interested in internships may work out special field-study programs with department faculty members. In the recent past, history majors have completed internships with the Valentine Museum and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond while several others have assisted at the Richmond Holocaust Museum and on the Hanover County History Project. Click here for a list of selected internship opportunities.
CAREER AND POSTGRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
A degree in history prepares graduates for a variety of career possibilities. A small number of students each year continue on to graduate study in history, while others use a degree in history as preparation for law school or the seminary. Some recent Randolph- Macon history majors have pursued careers in museum work, historic preservation, and library work. Additional fields open to history majors include public administration, investment banking, editing, employment with the federal government, and teaching.
History majors wishing to teach at the elementary or secondary level can meet their state certification requirements by enrolling in the appropriate education courses at Randolph-Macon.
Some Graduates and their Current Positions
David Balch: Vice President for Strategic Planning and Marketing, United Way of Dade County, Miami, FL.
Timothy "Joey" Crawford: Social Studies Teacher, Amherst County, VA
James A. Davis: President, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA
Rose Marie Downs: Attorney, Richmond, VA.
Ann W. Graves: Professor of Special Education, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA.
Dennis J. Hoover: Attorney, Baltimore, MD.
Timothy W. Nelson: Logistics Engineer, Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Va.
Henry Hunter Odom, Jr.: Co-owner/Sales, Suffolk Insurance Company, Suffolk, VA.
J. Gregory Richtarek: Consultant, Computer Marketing; CA.
Henry Orr Robertson, Jr.: History, Louisiana State University, LA
Nick Seetin: M.A. Student, Ancient History, University of Maryland
Scott M. Stroh III: Executive Director, Roanoke Island Festival Park, NC
William Sudduth, III: Head of the Department of Documents & Microforms, University of South Carolina.
Mark Carter Temple: Bureau Chief for the International Research & Exchanges Board, Bucharest, Romania.
For further information, contact:
Professor Thomas W. Porter, Chair
History Department
Randolph-Macon College
P.O. Box 5005
Ashland, Virginia 23005-5505
(804)-752-7242