School of Arts and Sciences / History
Students enjoy a wide range of interesting and unique courses including:
HIS 324: HISTORY OF PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia was America’s “First City” both in size and influence. Although its importance later declined, the city has continued to be an American icon. This course covers the development of Philadelphia from colonial times to the present, with an emphasis on social, political, and economic history. It considers how the peoples of the city have shaped it, the role Philadelphia has played in national history, and the nature of historical memory about the city. Lectures and discussion are complemented by field trips and student research.
HIS 325: MODERN AMERICA
This course examines the growth of government involvement at home and abroad since 1939 with readings and analysis of original documents. (Formerly HIS 425.)
HIS 328: HISTORY OF U.S. WOMEN
An in-depth analysis of the experience of women in American culture is examined in this course. Special attention is given to the women’s rights movement, women in the Industrial Revolution, and women in World War I and World War II.
HIS 356: TOPICS IN MODERN NON-WESTERN HISTORY
This course provides an examination of selected topics illustrating the political, social, and cultural history of the non-Western world.
HIS 382: 20TH-CENTURY RUSSIA AND THE USSR
Major themes of this course include revolution, collapse of the empire and creation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, industrialization, Stalinist repression, World War II, reform, and the collapse of the Soviet Union. (Formerly HIS 452.)
There is no one path to follow with a bachelor’s degree in history. The skills you learn in critical thinking, research, historiography, and more can take you into a number of different fields. While history majors have traditionally become historians and professors, our graduates have followed their talents and interests across industries and around the globe. Our graduates have landed jobs in prestigious companies like:
Your major in history could prepare you for positions such as:
Philadelphia is full of historic landmarks, museums, and cultural sites. We use the city’s storied past to our advantage when educating our students. Interning at one of Philadelphia’s landmarks is encouraged for every history major at La Salle. These internships often lead to full-time employment after graduation. Our campus is home to one of the city’s many interesting historic sites. The Peale House, which now serves as the University’s Alumni House, was home to 18th century painter Charles Willson Peale and is one of the oldest buildings still in use on a college campus. Philadelphia is also home to:
The culmination of your education as a history major at La Salle will be a two semester senior seminar. You’ll compile a capstone research project in an area of your own choosing. With an in-depth focus on historiography and primary source use you’ll create a well-rounded, thought provoking project that showcases all you have learned. Past student topics have included:
You may work with a faculty member to learn more in your chosen area or assist with his/her research.
5-Year B.A./M.A. in History
For those students who want to pursue further education we offer a 5-year B.A./M.A. program in History or History Education. Students may apply for the program at the end of their junior year. Once accepted they will be on the fast track to graduating with two degrees.
We also offer master’s degrees in history with a concentration in public history. Our history students have attended graduate school at other prestigious institutions including:
I think the dedication for helping others, being organized with good time management, being active in the community, and learning about other people’s backgrounds have all been huge factors that will help me not just in the job market but also in life as well. These values are what sets La Salle apart from other […]
After graduating from La Salle University with a B.A. in History in 2010, Victoria embarked on a year of service with the Lasallian Volunteers program at St. Frances Academy, an inner-city high school in Baltimore, Md. In June 2011, she began work as a library assistant at the Othmer Library of Chemical History of the […]
Originally from Florida, associate professor Lyman Stebbins earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and joined the La Salle History Department in 2011. He specializes in British and Middle-Eastern history. A member of the Honors Program faculty, he has led two travel study courses to London. His book, British Imperialism in Qajar Iran: Consuls, […]
I think the dedication for helping others, being organized with good time management, being active in the community, and learning about other people’s backgrounds have all been huge factors that will help me not just in the job market but also in life as well. These values are what sets La Salle apart from other universities. (more…)
After graduating from La Salle University with a B.A. in History in 2010, Victoria embarked on a year of service with the Lasallian Volunteers program at St. Frances Academy, an inner-city high school in Baltimore, Md. In June 2011, she began work as a library assistant at the Othmer Library of Chemical History of the Chemical Heritage Foundation in Philadelphia. At the same time, she began Drexel University’s Library and Information Science master’s program. She received an MSLIS in June 2013 and became a full-time librarian at the Othmer Library. Her responsibilities include reference, circulation, outreach, and technical services. She serves as the administrator for the library’s social media accounts and contributes to the blog of the American Library Association. She has co-authored two articles on using social media to promote special collections and was one of five librarians interviewed for an eBook organized by the Royal Society of Chemistry on the topic of social media use by libraries.
Originally from Florida, associate professor Lyman Stebbins earned his Ph.D. at the University of Chicago and joined the La Salle History Department in 2011. He specializes in British and Middle-Eastern history. A member of the Honors Program faculty, he has led two travel study courses to London. His book, British Imperialism in Qajar Iran: Consuls, Agents, and Influence in the Middle East was published in 2016. He sees teaching, scholarship, and service as a single vocation that it is deeply embedded in the tradition of the liberal arts, the discipline of history, and the mission of La Salle University.
Every full-time faculty member in the History department has published at least one book.
Our department has five Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award winners.
Philadelphia is home to over 65 historic landmarks.
Listed by the New York Times in the Top 6% for median income of graduates at age 34.