History

Explore the past in order to shine a light on the present. At UMass Amherst, we study history to better understand our current context. As a discipline, the study of history relies on finding, evaluating, and interpreting recorded evidence in order to paint a picture of a particular historical period, place, or theme such as modern American cultural history. An undergraduate degree in history can open doors to a variety of careers and academic pathways including law, journalism, diplomacy, and work in the nonprofit sector. At the graduate level, students deepen their expertise in a given historical context such as women’s history or Latin American history through comprehensive research.