About History
Why Study History?
"So, what are you going to do with a history major?"
That's a fair question. For many, the entire point of pursuing a college education is to open opportunities for a better job or better pay — to do something, and what can you do by studying the past? Quite a lot, actually. History is about more than just knowing the past. It's about understanding why things happened as they did and how they continue to shape our world today.
History majors work as teachers, lawyers, in business, finance, healthcare, government, communications, non-profits, public service, and really, almost everywhere. By studying history, you will acquire skills that help you think critically about a subject, locate evidence, understand perspectives and biases, and make persuasive arguments. These skills can be applied anywhere. Indeed, these are precisely the skills most employers are looking for in prospective applicants. So perhaps the question should be,"why NOT study history?"
Hurrah Hornet History Majors
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the CSUS History Department is the twelfth largest producer of History BAs among four-year public universities (2010-2018), leaping ahead of powerhouses like Rutgers, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Michigan.
Well done!
Department land acknowledgment
We acknowledge that we live and work on still-unceded Nisenan land. We also acknowledge the sovereign tribes in the Sacramento region, the Foothills and Southern Maidu people to the north, the Valley Miwok and Me-Wuk people to the east, and the Patwin, Wintun, and Wintu people to the south and west.
Division Resources
Connect with Department of History
Find Us
Department of History
Tahoe Hall,
3080
Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Contact Us
Phone: (916) 278-6206
history@csus.edu