History Western Washington University

Overview

The History programme at Western Washington University offers a rigorous academic framework designed to transform how students perceive the past. Rather than focusing on simple memorisation, this degree emphasises the development of critical research, evaluative, and interpretive skills essential for modern professional environments.

Students engage deeply with a wide variety of historical evidence, including both textual and visual sources. Through consistent writing and classroom discussion, participants refine their communication abilities while learning to construct and support original historical interpretations based on primary and secondary data.

Why History at Western Washington University?

The department provides a versatile curriculum that prepares students for an extensive range of career paths across business, government, and education. The faculty focus on humanistic disciplines and public affairs, ensuring that graduates possess the high-level communication skills valued by global employers.

Facilities and resources at the institution support specialised training in the expanding field of public history. Students benefit from an environment that encourages the study of people across different times and places, fostering a global perspective that is highly applicable in today’s interconnected world.

The curriculum is structured to allow for significant flexibility, enabling students to specialise in specific geographical or thematic areas. This tailored approach ensures that learners can align their academic focus with their personal interests and future professional goals within the historical discipline.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 27690 per year
• National fee: USD 27690 per year
• Local fee: USD 8523 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The curriculum requires students to distribute credits across multiple fields, including the United States, Europe, East and South Asia, Africa and the Middle East, and the Ancient world. Modules may include:

• Historical Research
• Methods of Research and Analysis
• United States History
• European History
• East and South Asian History
• African and Middle Eastern History
• Ancient History
• Western Hemisphere History
• Transnational and Global History
• Gender and Sexuality
• Environmental History
• Intellectual History
• Religious History
• Military History
• Imperialism and Colonialism

Careers with History

Graduates from this programme pursue diverse roles in both the public and private sectors. The analytical training provided serves as an excellent foundation for further study in law, library science, or various humanistic disciplines at the graduate level.

Common career destinations for alumni include roles as attorneys, foreign service officers, and government officials. Many graduates also find success as journalists, business managers, or social studies teachers, applying their communication expertise to influence various professional fields.

The growing sector of public history offers additional opportunities in museums, archives, and historical preservation. Graduates frequently secure positions as curators, archivists, cultural resource managers, and historic preservationists, or work as consultants and policy advisors for various organisations.