History

Degree: Honours Bachelor of Arts
Program Options: Specialist, Major, Minor

History is the study of the human past. It seeks to answer not only questions about what happened, but also about how and why; it responds to a human curiosity about ourselves, and it leads to greater understanding of our contemporary world.

The History program in Historical Studies is designed to give its students a wide-ranging perspective through a reflection on the past and a consideration of how historical events have shaped the world today. The department provides a diverse and global curriculum, with faculty offering a range of specialized expertise on the distant and recent past of Canada, Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the United States. The curriculum also offers courses on important themes such as imperialism, colonialism and nationalism; war and politics; culture and society; religion; the environment; social issues involving class, gender, and ethnicity; and migration and immigration. Some of these topics enhance the students’ studies in other disciplines within the department. Courses at the 100- and 200-level introduce broad topics through a combination of lectures and tutorials. 300-level courses offer instruction on more specialized subjects, and 400-level courses are conducted as seminars in which students engage in discussion, make presentations and pursue more independent research.

Students of history develop strong skills in research and communication. They learn how to find sources, evaluate evidence and assemble ideas into a persuasive argument. These skills, along with a knowledge of historical context, prepare students for many interesting and often interdisciplinary careers, including politics, policy analysis and work in the civil service; journalism, commentary on current events, and creation of new media; work in libraries, archives and museums; community or social work; law; and teaching at all levels.

Visit our Programs page for more information on Historical Studies undergraduate programs at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Program Learning Outcomes

Describe significant historical events, figures, and developments from a diversity of time periods and geographic regions;
Identify a variety of methods and approaches in historical inquiry;
Distinguish between "history" and "the past", and construct both historical and historiographical arguments;
Locate, select, and interpret primary sources in historical research;
Use evidence in different forms to make structured, evidence-based, and well-reasoned historical arguments and interpretations;
Formulate critical questions around ideas of historical significance, continuity and change, cause and consequence, and historical perspective;
Communicate findings persuasively in a variety of forms for a range of audiences;
Cultivate an informed curiosity about the human experience through time;
Show tolerance for ambiguities and paradoxes in the historical record;
Engage with contemporary questions and concerns using historical thinking;
Identify and assess historical narratives accurately, ethically, and empathetically;
Communicate the value of historical studies to the wider world.

Career Information

The skills and experience you acquire while studying a Historical Studies program at UTM will be benefit in any career you might enter. Graduates of a Historical Studies program bring a unique set of valuable skills to many diverse career areas. Visit the Careers page for more information on career areas for graduates of our History program.