Department of History and Geography

Chairperson of Department (Interim): Jeremiah Dibua

Professors: Jeremiah Dibua, Lawrence Peskin, Debra Ham, Glenn Phillips

Associate Professors: Brett Berliner, Robert Morrow, Linda Noel, Annette Palmer, Francis Dube

Assistant Professors: Dexter Blackman, Herbert Brewer, Brandi Brimmer, Jewell Debnam, Alexander Pavuk, David Terry, Sara Rahnama, Felicia Thomas

Lecturers: Derick Hendricks, Freereick Kumolalo, Samuel Ngovo, Aubrey Thompson

The Departmental Philosophy

The Department of History and Geography seeks to convey the essence and excitement of its disciplines to students. Faculty members are committed to disabusing students of the impression that history is the memorization of dates and learning by rote and that geography is merely memorizing the locations of cities and states. Students are engaged with their historical heritage and are encouraged to find the links between that heritage and their place in today’s interconnected and ever-changing world. Geography, with its focus on globalization, emphasizes these connections. To these ends, faculty members challenge students with materials and assignments that call for thought and reflection, encourage them to ask probing questions and require them to write substantive essays that are historically and geographically accurate, and composed according to the standards of formal English.

In the history offerings of the General Education Program, faculty members ensure that all students at the university have a core of historical knowledge which is necessary for them to understand contemporary political, social, economic and cultural institutions and movements. In addition, historical memory is a key to self-identity; therefore, faculty members teach students to understand their place in the stream of time and the shared humanity of all who will be touched by their future decisions.

In the geography offerings of the General Education Program, faculty members ensure that students obtain the knowledge and skills to understand our ever-changing world where connections and relationships between people and places are increasing. In addition, geographical knowledge provides the links between culture, society, and environmental processes and the spatial patterns of these processes at local, regional, national and international scales.

Mission

The Department of History and Geography is committed to teaching the skills required of the professional historian and geographer: research, writing, analysis of sources and arguments, map skills, spatial understanding and formal research presentation. The department also prepares students to pursue professions such as teaching, law, administration, and public history. At the graduate level, the department trains students to become professional historians, research scholars, and highly skilled teachers who are capable of contributing to the field of history.

Goals

The following goals are the key components that guide the Department of History and Geography to accomplish its mission:

Ensure that students at the university have a common core of historical and geographical knowledge which is necessary for them to understand contemporary political, social, economic, and cultural institutions and movements.
Engage students regarding their historical heritage and geographical place.
Encourage students to find the links between history and their place in today’s interconnected and ever-changing world; between themselves and others; and between the United States and the rest of the world.
Train students to research, analyze, synthesize, and communicate accurate conclusions about change over time by using the historical method.
Prepare history majors to succeed in history-related fields of endeavor or any other field that requires information retrieval and analytic skills.
Prepare minors in geography to relate their spatial and analytic skills to any other field.

Teacher Certification

Students interested in being certified to teach history in secondary schools should complete requirements in one of the concentrations outlined above and consult the School of Education and Urban Studies for courses needed to attain certification.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Minor