History Program Homepage
History Happenings
Meet the Professors Event
Pizza, Professors, & Possibilities
The History Department hosted its annual Meet the Professors event, where students had the opportunity to come speak with faculty and get some free pizza! At this event, students get to visit the History office, meet professors in a more relaxed environment, and explore what programs the department offers. Because History is such a wide reaching program, as many professors try to attend as possible to give students the opportunity to learn more about the various concentrations someone can study. Make sure you stop by next year to get a slice of pizza and meet our amazing professors!
2025 Great Lakes History Conference
Climate, Environment, Psyche, & History
This year's conference, "Climate, Environment, Psyche, & History", brought together experts from many fields to explore how people and societies experience and respond to both natural and human-made disasters. It focused on the often-overlooked emotional, cultural, and psychological impacts of environmental trauma, such as those caused by climate change, pandemics, pollution, and war. By encouraging dialogue between scholars of past and present disasters, the event strove to deepen our understanding of how humans perceive, react to, and reshape their environments in times of crisis.
Why Study History at Grand Valley?
The craft of history interprets the past. History examines the lives of people, the consequences of ideas, and the products of human ingenuity. Historians engage in deep inquiry and persuasive debate. They craft narratives about the past based in evidence. The skills students gain through the study of history allow them to analyze and interpret evidence and evaluate how human societies change over time.
Choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in history, or a minor in history or history of science, or select history as a teachable minor. Careful training in research, writing, critical reading, and interpretation makes history graduates attractive to a wide number of employers who value those abilities, especially in fields of law, library and museum work, finance, journalism, and public administration. Students also study history to advance their own liberal education and to train their minds.
About Us
The GV History Club is a history-oriented club for majors, minors, and enthusiasts! Our organization believes in two things: loving the past and having fun! Anyone interested in the past is encouraged to join us at one of our events, including movie nights, historical board games, and outings to museums and archives. Hope to see you there!
Contact Us:
Meetings:
Our first meeting for the Fall 2026 semester will be September 8th at 6PM!
Stay tuned for more information on location and other details.
- Gustave Nadaud
The image shown is of students in Namibia during a faculty-led study abroad program.
2026 Inductees
Jack Benjamin Alcorn
Caleb Steven Bennett
Christina A. Carriveau
Caiden Donnelly
Alexander James Fitzpatrick
Cody T. Hansen
Aiden Henderson
Isaac Michael Knol
Liam Patrick Magin
Conrad Emerson McIntosh
Máire Noonan
Nicholas Porter
Kate Elizabeth Roelof
Joel VanOeffelen
Jamie Marie Vedders
Juliet A. Veliz-Figueroa
Adam Ronald Walsworth
Layne Weatherwax
Brianna Zukowsk
Application Requirements
The local chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society, promotes the study of history by honoring students who have maintained high academic standards throughout their college careers. Specifically, they must meet the following requirements:
- Successfully completed four History courses (12 Hours) at GVSU
- Maintain an overall GPA of 3.25
- Maintain a 3.25 GPA in History courses
We cannot be flexible about these standards. Members participate in a variety of intellectual and social activities throughout the academic year.
In the past, Phi Alpha Theta has hosted movie nights with guest professors from the History Department, museum and archives tours, and annual book awards. Members also attend Phi Alpha Theta regional and national conferences.
Membership is stated on your official transcript, helping earn jobs and entrance into graduate schools.
Applying For Membership
In addition to the above requirements, qualified applicants must provide the following information:
- Unofficial transcript
- Legal Name
- Official Home Address
- Email Address
If you are interested in joining Phi Alpha Theta and you meet the qualifications, please come to the History Office (D-1-160 MAK) or contact Professor Alice Chapman ([email protected]).
The application process takes place during the winter semester. Please turn your application items into the History Office, MAK D-1-160, by 5PM of the application deadline.
Grand Valley Journal of History
Established in 2011, the Grand Valley Journal of History (HST 410) is a student-run publication that provides undergraduates with an opportunity to share their historical research in a cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed forum. In this credited course, students work collaboratively to review and publish articles and to promote the Journal. The aim of the Journal is to facilitate the development of an academic community through scholarly interaction while preparing undergraduates for the professional world.