From science to sports, everything has a history.
Iowa State Department of History faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students play an important role in Iowa State’s land grant mission. We engage in active research endeavors that contribute meaningful knowledge to the community, the state, the nation, and the world.
A culture of historians
With over 20 historians in our department, Iowa State offers a wide breadth and depth of historical expertise. Our faculty maintain research programs on historical topics in the United States and around the world, including military history, the history of science and technology, women’s history, environmental history, the history of revolutions, and many other areas. Curious to find out what fascinates your faculty? Explore our faculty expertise by viewing a professor’s biography page.
Iowa State historians are highly regarded by leading presses and national journals, and are active in national and international associations and conferences. We also regularly engage both campus and the community through scholarly talks, presentations, and lectures with the Ames History Museum, Ames Public Library, our History Department Colloquium Series, and other local and state partners.
Enhance your curiosity through undergraduate research
Here, you’ll dive into research in all levels of history courses and continuously hone your research skills as you advance into 3000-level courses and above.
As you move into our upper-level courses, you’ll create original research projects and can explore your unique interests through both traditional papers and a variety of creative projects. Every history major graduates with a resume-worthy, original research project through our course “The Historian’s Toolbox” (HIST 3010). Senior history majors taking “Historiography and Research Writing” (HIST 4950) also complete original research.
If you’re studying history education, you’ll learn to design curriculum and lesson plans that build off of your independent research. You’ll gain skills and confidence through research that will help you stand out in future job interviews.
Outside of your required courses, you can take research even further. Consider exploring a topic you love through one-on-one independent study, conduct research through the University Honors Program, or take a cluster of history courses in a specialized area.
Our students present research at the Iowa State Undergraduate Research Symposium and contribute to important museum and archival projects through internships and capstone projects.
