Ben Joseph
Ben Joseph is the 2023 recipient of the Quirinus Breen Prize
“The professors at GVSU were excellent at providing me opportunities to expand my critical thinking, tools to analyze information and sources at a high level and help me find career opportunities.”
—
Social Studies grad, '12
THE STUDY OF HISTORY
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.
THE PROFESSION OF SOCIAL STUDIES EDUCATION
Or, choose the major in Group Social Studies that is designed for students seeking teacher certification to teach in high schools or middle schools. Students study a variety of academic fields including History, Geography, Political Science, and Economics. Students acquire a strong background to engage their classrooms with vibrant content. Students have historically had great success in landing jobs in classrooms in Michigan, but also across the United States, particularly in Texas and Utah. A significant number of alumni have gone into educational administration, graduate school, and a wide variety of other professions. Social studies students can choose from a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.S). We also support the Pedagogical Content Knowledge for Elementary Teaching major designed for students seeking teacher certification in elementary education.
The Department of History is a unit of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.
Welcome Back Majors and Minors!
Join us in Week 3 of the Fall Semester
Drop by to enjoy donuts in our History conference room, MAK-D-1-142. Times will be: Monday and Wednesday, 8:45-10:45 // Tuesday and Thursday, 8:15-10:15. Chat with your favorite History and Social Studies professors and get some sugary morning fuel.
Congratulations to 2024 Department Awards, Scholarship Recipients and Phi Alpha Theta Inductees!
The History Department celebrated the acheivements of our outstanding students and welcomed new members to our chapter of the History National Honor's Society, Phi Alpha Theta.
Phi Alpha Theta inductees: Abigail Brown, Joshua M DeWolfe, Jill Ely, Katelyn Fletcher, Jason Hiegel, Hannah Mae Kaye, Mikaela Joanne Martin, Carolyn E. Mast, Hannah N. McBride, Anna Theune, and Nathan Wietrzkowski.
Award winners:
Jo Ellyn Clarey Women's History Scholarship: Hannah McBride
Quirinus Prize Breen Scholarship: Elizabeth Kieliszewski
Glenn A. and Betty J. Niemeyer History Scholarship: Sabrina White & Ashlynn Scafidi
Frances Anne Kelleher Memorial Scholarship: Mya Dever
Richard L. Cooley-Chester Huff Distinguished Social Studies Award: Jill Ely
2024 Outstanding Major in History: Hannah Krebs
2024 Outstanding Major in Social Studies: Jill Ely
2024 History Major High Merit: Joshua Kuiper & Daisy Soos
Social Studies High Merit Award: Nathan Wietrzykowski
2023-24 Annual Newsletter Out Now!
Alumni and Graduates!
If you haven't already, please email [email protected] to provide a non-GVSU email address where we can keep in touch, primarily with this annual newsletter.
The History Department's annual newsletter is now in a digital format that allows more to be shared! Scroll through to take a look at the features, and click on any of them to read more.
These are just sneak peeks...click to read more!
Click either picture or the link HERE!
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The Public History badge allows students to enhance their degree program through place-based and community engaged projects drawing on current practices and methodologies.
The Certificate in Medical and Health Humanities allows students to broaden their understanding of medicine and health by incorporating the diverse perspectives of a variety of disciplines in the liberal arts and sciences.
The Civic Change Agent Badge aims to inspire students to align democratic ideals and civic commitment with deep knowledge of context, history, and policy. It teaches students the values and practices required to sustain democracy through formal curricula, project learning, and co-curricular activities.
Click to learn about the programs happening every year in the History Department!
Upcoming Events and Opportunities
NEW Internship Opportunity!
Click HERE to read the description of a new, PAID internship with the Greater Grand Rapids Women's History Council!
Click to learn more about the History Department scholarships.
Scholarship Recipients
Caitlyn Cooling
Caitlyn Cooling is the 2023 recipient of the Jo Ellyn Clarey Womens History Scholarship.
Outstanding Alumni and Students
Social Studies Alumni Panel
On March 25, 4 of our Social Studies Education alumni came to speak at a panel to students, giving advice and insight on their journey through the GV program and into their careers! They come from the roles of both teaching and administration (Kenyatta is a Principal!!). Students gathered at the beautiful Allendale campus Alumni House and enjoyed tasty food and great conversation. We hope to make this an annual event!
From left to right: Tim McKeeby, Kenyatta Hill-Hall, Marlena Gray, Carleigh Haskins
94% of GVSU alumni respondents rated their academic experience in the History and Social Studies majors as excellent or good.
Bradley Stek, History '19
Graduate Student, Central Michigan University and District Representative for the Office of Congressman Peter Meijer
Andrew Saathoff, History '09
Athletic Director, high school in Arizona
Ysabela Golden, History '22
Graduate Student, Rutgers University
Department News
Recent Faculty Doings and Achievements
Dr. Whitlock published "Place-Based Social Studies Education: Learning From Flint, Michigan" in January of 2024. Learn more or order here.
David Zwart: Published a chapter in a book: “The 1918-1919 Flu Pandemic: Remembering Trauma amongDutch Americans,” in Dutch Immigrant Stories, Donald J. Bruggink, Dennis N. Voskuil, and William Katerberg, eds. Holland, Mich. Van Ralte Press, 2022.
Eric Covey: Publishes new article: “The anti-apartheid movement at Grand Valley State College in West Michigan,” Safundi: The Journal of South African and American Studies, February 22, 2023, pp. 1-15.
Professor James Smither is the editor of Death and Life in the Big Red One.
Professor Louis Moore is featured in a TIME article "The Historic Significance of a Super Bowl With Two Black Starting Quarterbacks" and MSNBC Article "Why we shouldn't let the NFL take credit for Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes"
Professor Patrick Shan publishes a book chapter
Patrick Shan: published a book chapter titled “From Admirer to Critic: Li Dazhao’s Changing Attitudes towards the United States,” in Sino-American Relations: The New Cold War, The University of Amsterdam Press, 2022, 31-54.
GVNext: History Department News
Annual Great Lakes History Conference to explore 'Division and Reaction'
The conference, which is free and open to the public, will be held October 5-7.
Sep 28, 2023
Civic Engagement Showcase returns to highlight campus-community partnerships
After a three-year absence, the Civic Engagement Showcase returns on April 6, offering campus and community members space to share their partnerships on issues that impact everyone.
Mar 30, 2023
History Scholarships
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