Welcome to the Cornell University Department of History
History is the study of the past. Through it we strive to understand why events happened, how people experienced them, and how they reshaped the societies in which they lived. We come to know ourselves by discovering in history -- the way in which the past shaped us, and how it created the present in which we live. To thrive in an ever more complex world, Cornell University students need to understand the diversity of human experience and how it has changed over time. Only then, we believe, will they be able to understand others or themselves.
Here in the History Department we offer a wide variety of introductory and advanced courses that will challenge any undergraduate student. We are also training the next generation of historical scholars and teachers in our graduate program. Our faculty members teach, serve the university and the community, and contribute to our society's ongoing discussion about history through their scholarship. We invite you to explore our department website. Here you can find information about the department, its faculty and staff, the courses offered, the history major and honors program, graduate programs and admissions, and the events and presentations that foster an ongoing climate of intellectual discussion.