Overview
Carolyn Vacca, Chair of the Division of Humanities
The study of history introduces students to the larger forces of change that have given shape and substance to the modern world and encourages students to develop perspectives on the present through examination and analysis of the past.
Reflecting a variety of research interest, members of our department faculty have received four National Endowment for the Humanities grants.
The history program is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society.
Vision
Our vision statement guides the Department of History at St John Fisher: to prepare students to understand the complexity of how and why historical change happens. Our students critically evaluate historical continuities and use history as a contextual framework for understanding our world today.
Mission
History at Fisher trains students for lives of active citizenship and professional success. Whether in education, law, government, business, or the nonprofit sector, our goal is to graduate students who possess strong critical thinking abilities and excellent communication skills, as well as a commitment to civic engagement.
Teaching Certification
The History major provides both the content and the discipline that informs teachers of excellence. Students possess various skills employers want, including a mastery of history and cultures, ArcGIS mapping, effective engagement skills, and hands-on work with a wide range of source materials.
Degree options include:
B.A. in History
B.S. Inclusive Adolescence Education/History Dual Major
B.S. Inclusive Adolescence Education Major with a Social Studies Concentration (HIST)
B.S. Inclusive Childhood Education Major with a Liberal Arts Major/Concentration in History
4+1 Teacher Certification Program
The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education offers a 4+1 program designed to provide an accelerated pathway to New York State Teacher Certification for highly qualified students in the liberal arts and sciences.
This competitive program allows you to complete your baccalaureate degree in the liberal arts and sciences and a master’s degree in inclusive education with dual teacher certification in five years.
3+3 Pre-Law Programs
Earn a law degree in six years through the Legal Education Accelerated Program (LEAP) at Fisher. The History major can be completed in conjunction with this program.
St. John Fisher University, in conjunction with the State University at Buffalo School of Law and many other law schools offers the opportunity for a select number of qualified St. John Fisher University students to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree and a juris doctor degree over the course of approximately six years of full-time study.
The Honors Major
History majors who maintain a grade point average over 3.50 may apply to become honors majors. The honors major must complete the requirements for the major plus an additional course, HIST 498 - Honors in History. This independent study research project results in an essay that must be presented to the department and defended successfully. The prerequisite for HIST 498 is one 300- or 400-level history class from a concentration area pertinent to the research project. Hence, the honors major requires a minimum of 36 hours in history.