Shippensburg University History and Philosophy Department

Ashton Ferrell Student at LRSH Scott Karper at NARA

History Major

The History and Philosophy Department is committed to preparing individuals for a lifetime of personal growth and professional success grounded in critical thinking, creativity, scholarly inquiry, effective oral and written communication, public service, and global understanding. The department fosters active collaboration between faculty and students, and has a strong commitment to engaging students in research, field study, and experiential learning such as practicums and internships.

Shippensburg University History majors enjoy small class sizes taught by members of our faculty, not by graduate assistants. Our upper-division major courses are capped at 25 students, allowing close interaction between our faculty and students.

We have eighteen historians on our faculty, allowing us to offer a wide range of course exploring diverse time periods and regions of the world. Our department has particular strength in United States history, World History, Social Studies Education, and Public History.

Our history majors and graduate students utilize the rich historical resources of our region. Recently, students have arranged internships and conducted research at such places as Gettysburg National Military Park, the United States Army Heritage and Education Center, the U.S. Civil War Museum, the Cumberland County Historical Society, the Pennsylvania State Archives, the State Museum, and the Pennsylvania Bureau for Historic Preservation. Internships may also be arranged with approved historical institutions anywhere in Pennsylvania, the United States, or abroad.

Training Future Social Studies and History Teachers

Our Bachelor of Science in Education with Social Studies certification program prepares students to be middle school and high school teachers. A unique aspect of our program is that we have three faculty members who serve as special academic advisors to our students pursuing teacher certification. Each of these faculty members were high school history teachers who chose to return and earn their doctoral degrees, so they are both experts in history scholarship and experienced classroom teachers. These faculty members help students to navigate the university and state requirements for teacher certification, teach the department's course on social studies teaching methods, and supervise student teachers in the field.

Students who complete their degrees will be certified by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to teach History, Geography, Civics, Economics, Sociology, Anthropology and Psychology.

Our department has a close working relationship with teachers and school districts throughout the region, offering our student teachers high-quality practicums and field placements.

Public History Concentration

Students interested in working for museums, historical societies, or archives often need a history major as a first step toward their careers. The department’s Bachelor of Arts Degree with a Public History Concentration introduces students to the specialized methods used by history professionals. History internships allow these students to explore historical careers and to gain valuable work experience while earning credit towards their degrees. This combination of training and on-the-job experience provides a solid foundation for students who wish to pursue the advanced degree often required for employment in these fields.

Applied History Graduate Program

Shippensburg University's graduate program in applied history is designed for college graduates seeking advanced historical training and educators seeking professional development opportunities.

The graduate program in applied history is a flexible program designed to provide educators, public historians, and individuals wishing to pursue advanced graduate work with practical professional training. Our faculty work one-on-one with students to design a program of study to meet their personal and professional needs.

For those seeking careers in the field of public history, the program offers coursework in archives, museum studies, oral history, local history, and historic preservation, as well as professional internships to prepare students for employment in museums, historical institutions, and at historic sites. Educators will find a diverse array of courses in United States history, world history, and historical methods that will deepen their historical knowledge and provide new resources for classroom use. The curriculum provides a rigorous historical training, including the option to write a master’s thesis, that can also prepare students for further graduate work.

Students who seek the Master's Degree in Applied History may also apply to gain their certification in Social Studies education. Students must be accepted by both the History Department and the School of Education and Human Services. Each accepted students will recieve a personalized transcript evaluation in order to determine the coursework required to complete certification.

The History Department also has a joint program with Clarion University allowing students to earn a dual degree, a Master's of Applied History and a Master's of Information and Library Science.

For more information about Shippensburg University's graduate History programs, click here.

Graduate Studies in History: Other Options

In addition to earning the Master's Degree in Applied History, students may also consider the following options:

Master's in Organizational Development & Leadership with a Historical Administration Concentration: A program designed to provide leadership and administrative training for individuals working in the field of public history. This is a joint program between the Shippensburg University History/Philosophy Department and the Organizational Development and Leadership Program.

Master's in Curriculum and Instruction with a Secondary History Cluster: A program specially designed for in-service teachers that combines advanced Education and History coursework. This thirty credit program does not require an internship or thesis. This a joint program between the Shippensburg Unversity History/Philosophy Department and the Teacher Education Department).