History

students sitting on lawn in front of Schaeffer Hall studying

Centerpiece of a Humanities Education

With its global scope, history helps us to understand today’s crises as well as today’s success stories.

Share our enthusiasm for the study of past societies and cultures

History unlocks important insights into the world we inhabit. But we also find intellectual satisfaction, and wisdom, in understanding the past on its own terms. Because of the geographical breadth of our courses, history students develop a global consciousness as they develop key transferable skills such as critical thinking, communication, and empathy.

The World is Calling: History Majors

History is the centerpiece of a humanities education. It's about problem-solving, gathering evidence, and fitting that evidence together to understand what happened in past societies - and why those things happened.

Iowa Native Spaces

Native American history is complex and requires multiple perspectives—especially the Native perspective—to tell accurately. Until recently, however, Iowa Native history was not a big part of social studies curricula in Iowa’s public schools. That is changing, however, and the University of Iowa is helping drive the change.

Iowa Native Spaces

History Writing Center

The History Writing Center is available to any student in a history course needing assistance with a writing assignment.

History Writing Center

History Corps

History Corps is a graduate student-led, online digital and oral history project based out of the Department of History at the University of Iowa.

History Corps

News and announcements

History Faculty and Staff win UI Awards

Monday, April 8, 2024

Heineman, Howard, Kelley and Warren honored

Outstanding TA Maddison Kuncl

Monday, April 8, 2024

Congratulations to PhD Student Maddison Kuncl, who was selected as an Outstanding Teaching Assistant for 2023.

Shelton Stromquist wins the 2023 "Book of the Year" award from ILHA

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Professor Emeritus Shelton Stromquist won the 2023 “Book of the Year Award” for labor history from the International Labor History Association (ILHA) for his book, Claiming the City: A Global History of Workers’ Fight for Municipal Socialism.

Upcoming events

History Senior Send-off

Thursday, April 18, 2024 5:00pm to 6:30pm

Schaeffer Hall

At the History Senior Send-off, we will honor the newest History BA grads, present certificates to award winners, and enjoy pizza, treats, and fellowship.