Department of History
Studying history prepares students to navigate a complex world.
Welcome to Our Department
Award-winning faculty teach wide-ranging courses on different parts of the world and time periods, women and gender, imperialism and colonialism, US in relation to the world, the history of the African diaspora, history of human rights, and the history of medicine and science, are some of the departmental strengths.
Our faculty cultivate relationships with local organizations such as the Seattle Art Museum, Northwest African American Museum, Central District Forum for Arts and Ideas, Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute, Seattle International Film Festival, Northwest Film Forum, and Seattle Public Library to connect what is learned in the history classroom with the wider Seattle community.
Current students have pursued internships with local and international organizations, such as the Seattle Holocaust Center for Humanity, the Seattle branch of the ACLU, Starbucks, and the City of Seattle.
BA and Minor, History
Explore the details about our degrees, including information about our internship program.
Hear From Our Alumni
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Megan Grosse
Combining her interests in history and Spanish language in her academic research into Latin American history, and through her participation in the Latin American Studies Program in Puebla, Mexico in 2018, her research included themes relating to leftist organizing amidst United States interventionism in 20th century Latin America.
BA, History, Spanish, University Honors, '20
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Career Opportunities
Your history degree can open the doors to numerous career pathways. The American Historical Association provides extensive information about how your knowledge and skills will connect to jobs across fields.
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Clio Speaks: History Today
Our History faculty share their personal perspectives on history and yield insights into the past, present, and future in a series of informal essays.
Beyond the Classroom
Public History Intern Program
See history from a different perspective. You might work with a local museum, historical society, archives and more. Some of our students have launched their careers through their internships.
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Phi Alpha Theta
An active group of Seattle University students participate in the national history honor society. Activities include coffeehouse discussions, game nights, annual spring picnic and student- led panel discussions with faculty and alumni. Recent SU history students have won national awards for research papers and conference presentations and received Phi Alpha Theta graduate student fellowships as well as other national and international grants and fellowships.
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History in Seattle
You will find myriad opportunities to immerse yourself in history, including visits to Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Frye Art Museum, Holocaust Center for Humanity, Museum of History and Industry, National Nordic Museum, Northwest African American Museum, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Asian Art Museum, and Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience.
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Our Faculty
Award-winning faculty teach courses in medieval and modern European, ancient Mediterranean, and United States, Asian, Latin American, Caribbean, African, and Southwest Asian history, women and gender history, imperialism and colonialism, United States in the world, the history of the African diaspora, history of human rights, and the history of medicine and science, are some of the departmental strengths.
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Dr. Tom Taylor, Professor of History, Past Chair. Video by Eric Becker.
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Dr. David Madsen, Professor Emeritus. Video by Eric Becker.
Haejeong Hazel Hahn, PhD
Department Chair, History
Professor, History
Affiliate, Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Affiliate, Asian Studies
Affiliate, Film and Media Studies
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