Share:

Learn More

History

History at Huron is a dynamic and exciting department that explores the rich and varied landscapes of the human past. A sense of the past is essential to personal identity, national unity and international co-existence. Yet, modern society makes the past increasingly elusive. The study of History produces an awareness of the fragility of our knowledge of the past, and the critical tools we need to examine the many versions of the past offered to us.

Studying History cultivates empathy, bring precision and energy to your writing, and connects you to professional networks. Our programs offer unparalleled opportunities for hands-on archival research, digital scholarship, research travel, local and global partnerships, and collaboration with faculty. In a world rocked by questions about truth, evidence and the nature of human understanding, history matters.

HISTORY BROCHURE

Alumni Stories

Our History alumni have outstanding records in graduate and professional studies after Huron, and are employed in a range of fields, from digital communications, management, law, education, journalism, film and publishing to urban planning and global health policy.

Read more about our outstanding History graduates.

  • Huron's experiential learning opportunities enabled me to extend my knowledge far beyond what I learned in class. This helped me develop a robust understanding and skillset that I am able to apply to my pursuits of Leadership with Heart.
    Emily Abbott
    History & Political Science
    Read more
  • Female entrepreneurs should never give up. There’s a lot of naysayers, but if you believe in something with your whole heart, don’t give up, just work toward it
    Sonja Fernandes, BA'12 Philosophy
    Founder, SF&Co
    Read more
  • Alfred Apps
    BA '79, Philosophy
    Read more
HONORS SPECIALIZATION
SPECIALIZATION
MAJOR
MINOR
History

History and memory are at the heart of all human experience. Studying History is key to understanding contemporary culture, and to unlocking hope for a future that holds endless capacity for change.

Our courses offer global perspectives, taking you to the leading edge of historical scholarship through our faculty research expertise, and award-winning teaching.

History builds flexible and practical skills in research, writing, crafting argument, collaboration, public engagement, and a sense of empathy. History students at Huron have unparalleled opportunities for hands-on historical research, travel, and experiential learning in the local community and through international collaboration and study. Our programs easily combine with study in a range of other disciplines, or with our unique and innovative minors, including Public History, and History of the Book.

Learn more about History programs:
Honors Specialization
Specialization
Major
Minor
Combined Honors Specialization Faculty of Arts and Social Science at Huron/HBA

Public History

Huron’s Minor in Public History—the first undergraduate Public History program in Canada—promotes critical reflection about the meaning of the past, and develops digital communication and research skills. Students learn through community-based and active history partnerships with museums, heritage organizations, libraries and archives.

A joint program offered by Huron University College, King’s University College and Western University, Public History at Huron will teach you new ways to communicate about history in and beyond museums, archives, historical sites, film, fiction, on the web, and public discourse and policy making.

You can combine the module with a History Honors Specialization, Major or Specialization, or with modules in other disciplines at Huron or at Western such as Archaeology, Classical Studies, Geography, Visual Art, Museum and Curatorial Studies, and Media, Information and Technoculture.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE JOINT MINOR IN PUBLIC HISTORY.

HISTORY OF THE BOOK

The new Minor in History of the Book is a joint program Huron’s English and Cultural Studies at Huron. Courses introduce you to the field of book studies, provide opportunities to create digital scholarship, and give you new perspective on historical study and evidence.

The program features collaborative workshops, community-based research, and a capstone course in Huron’s new Letterpress Studio.

Learn more about History of the Book.

PACIFIC RIM STUDIES

Pacific Rim Studies offers interdisciplinary and cross-regional studies of East Asia and North America, focusing on the common, comparative, and interactive aspects of the lives of the peoples in the Pacific Rim region.

While encouraging students to find commonalities between disciplines, Pacific Rim Studies Minor will also introduce them to a diversity of approaches, primary sources and intellectual traditions that shape this dynamic transnational and interdisciplinary research area.

The minor will benefit students interested in the fields of law, education and policy making, and any field which builds on the connections between the regions which form the Pacific Rim.

Learn more about the Pacific Rim Studies minor.

HISTORIES OF AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORAS

This interdisciplinary module offers the only program in African history in the Western family of history departments. Learn critical perspectives on the histories of Africa, histories of the African Diaspora in the Americas, and the histories of Africa and African Diasporas in a global context.

Choose from our unique-to-Huron courses in African history, and from courses across a range of programs at Huron and Western, including English and Cultural Studies, Global Studies, Theology, Women’s Studies, Geography, and Political Science.

Learn more about the Histories of Africa and the African Diasporas minor.

World History

Designed for students completing a major or specialization in a discipline or program other than History, this module offers global perspectives that draw on our unique suite of world history courses.

Including electives from across Huron programs, the World History minor complements modules in a wide range of fields, including Management and Organizational Studies, Global Studies, Philosophy, and Political Science.

Learn more about the World History minor.

STUDIES IN IMPERIALISM

Study empire and colonialism, enslavement and dispossession, and the power of resistance movements to challenge and dismantle the structures of imperial power through the global history courses and cross-disciplinary options in the Studies in Imperialism minor.  Understanding the history of imperialism is key to understanding the contemporary world, including Canada’s place in a global context.

Learn more about the Studies in Imperialism minor.

ATLANTIC WORLD

Study the interconnected cultures, literatures, and histories of the Atlantic World through a module that includes elective courses from across the Faculty of Arts and Social Science at Huron. The courses in the module highlight theme of revolution, slavery, emancipation, imperialism and post-colonial movements, Enlightenment, and women’s activism.

Learn more about the Atlantic World minor.

Chinese History

This module includes engaging and unique-to-Huron courses in the history and culture of China. The minor is designed to complement studies in a range disciplines, including BMOS, Global Great Books, and Governance, Leadership and Ethics.

Learn more about the Chinese History minor.

Professors

We are a diverse and international group of scholars. As a collegial unit, we thrive on collaborative and innovative teaching and support each others’ impressive publication records. Our research, which is focused on the modern era, links the study of the past with vital social and political issues of today: indigenous rights, gender equality, the environment, education, modern slavery, citizenship and issues of law and justice.

  • China has a rich history that spans countless centuries, making a study of its cultural practices over time an extraordinarily interesting academic endeavour. I look forward to supporting my students to learn about the significant political, military and social discourses that have shaped this world power - and its many dynamic dynasties.
    Jun Fang, PhD
    Professor, History
    Read more
  • My goal when I teach is to transform how my students think. In particular, I want students to recognize the importance of historical context to understanding the contemporary world.
    Geoff Read, PhD
    Provost and Dean of Arts and Social Science
    Read more

History Department

Faculty

Program sessional and per course instructors 

Professors Emeriti

History Courses

Our classes emphasize the connections between historical study and the world we live in today. Faculty research expertise addresses North America, China, and the British and French Empires, framing contemporary debates about slavery, freedom and race; the struggle for gender equality; indigeneity, empire and colonialism; and the parameters of law in the global context of individual freedoms.

2024 - 2025 Courses
Course – See link for Academic Calendar descriptionInstructorSection – see links for Course Outline
HIS 1808G – Powerful Words: Global History Through Key SourcesWilkinson550
HIS 1815G – Histories of LoveBell550
HIS 1816F – Histories of ViolenceFang550
HIS 1817G – History in the HeadlinesBlocker550
HIS 1818F – Treasure: Objects of Desire in Global HistoryCompeau550
HIS 1818G – Treasure: Objects of Desire in Global HistoryTBA550
HIS 1819F – Monsters: A Human HistoryReid-Maroney550
HIS 2125F – Northern Enterprise: Canadian Business and Labor HistoryBlocker550
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaBlocker550
HIS 2302F – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyReid-Maroney550
HIS 2415G – The Age of NapoleonCompeau550
HIS 2420G – Britain During World War IIBell550
HIS 2604G – European Imperialism in Africa 1830-1994Solomon550
HIS 2701E – Patterns and Perspectives in World HistoryCompeau550
HIS 2702E – Ten Days That Shook the WorldFang550
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: The Americas to 1867TBA550
HIS 2810G – Gender and Modern Europe, 1789-1989TBA550
HIS / JS 2821F – Jewish History from the Origins of the Israelites to 1492 CEClark550
HIS 3202G – Treaties (PENDING)Peace550
HIS 3313F – The Movement: Civil Rights and African-American History in the 20th CenturySolomon550
HIS 3314F – California Calling: Histories of the “Golden State” in Text, Sound, and ImageReid-Maroney550
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftBell550
HIS 4605E – War and Memory in Modern East AsiaFang550
HIS 4804G – Murder: A Social and Legal HistoryBell550
HIS 4702G – European ImperialismCompeau550
2023 - 2024 Courses
Course – See link for Academic Calendar descriptionInstructorSection – see links for Course Outline
HIS 1606F – China: Current Issues in Historical ContextFang550
HIS 1808G – Powerful Words: Global History Through Key SourcesWilkinson550
HIS 1815G – Histories of LoveBell550
HIS 1817G – History in the HeadlinesBlocker550
HIS 1818F – Treasure: Objects of Desire in Global HistoryCompeau550
HIS 1818G – Treasure: Objects of Desire in Global HistoryCompeau550
HIS 1819F – Monsters: A Human HistoryReid-Maroney550
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaBlocker550
HIS 2302G – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyReid-Maroney550
HIS 2413E – Europe and the Paradoxes of ModernityRamsay550
HIS 2420G – Britain During World War IIBell550
HIS 2603E – China: Tradition and TransformationFang550
HIS 2709F – Race, Rights, and Revolution: The Atlantic World in the Eighteenth CenturyReid-Maroney550
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: The Americas to 1867Melle550
HIS 2712F – Tyrants: Historical Profiles in Oppression and ResistanceCompeau550
HIS 2714G – Merchants of Empire: The First Global CorporationsCompeau550
HIS 2801G – History WarsCompeau550
HIS 2822F – Jewish History from the Spanish Expulsion to the Modern EraTesler-Mabé550
HIS 3230F – Digital Disruptions: Using Digital Tools to Learn Mi’kmaw and Acadian HistoriesPeace550
HIS 3311F – Slavery and Freedom: African-American History, 1600-1896Solomon550
HIS 3416G – The HolocaustTesler-Mabé550
HIS 3706E – Political Assassinations, 1900-2000Fang550
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftReid-Maroney550
HIS 4802G – Masculinity and Modern HistoryCompeau550
HIS 4804G – Murder: Social and Legal HistoryBell550
HIS 4810F – Making History Matter to the Public: Practicing Active HistoryIsaac550
HIS 4903E – Senior ThesisPeace550

 

2022 - 2023 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
HIS 1800F  – The People’s HistoriesReid-Maroney550
HIS 1808F – A Few Words That Changed the WorldWilkinson550
HIS 1815G – Histories of LoveBell550
HIS 1816F – Histories of ViolenceFang550
HIS 1817G – History in the HeadlinesBlocker550
HIS 1818G – Treasure: Objects of Desire in Global HistoryCompeau550
HIS 2125F – Northern EnterpriseKrats550
HIS 2127G – In Search of CanadaKrats550
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaBlocker550
HIS 2302G – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyReid-Maroney550
HIS 2415F – The Age of NapoleonCompeau550
HIS 2420F – Britain During World War IIBell550
HIS 2602G – Pre-Colonial AfricaWilkinson550
HIS 2610F – Women in East AsiaFang550
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: Early North American HistoryBayer550
HIS 2811G – Historians, Communities, and the PastCompeau550
HIS 2813F – Women Making WavesReid-Maroney550
HIS 2821F – Jewish History from the Origins of the Israelites to 1492 CEClark550
HIS 3201E – First Peoples and Colonialism in CanadaPeace550
HIS 3313F – The Movement: Civil Rights and African-American History in the 20th CenturyBayer550
HIS 3314G – California Calling: Histories of the “Golden State” in Text, Sound, and ImageReid-Maroney550
HIS 3797F – Selected Topics in International or Comparative HistoryCompeau550
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftBell550
HIS 4307F – American Dreams: Radicals and Reformers From a “City on a Hill” to HerlandReid-Maroney550
HIS 4606F – Sex, Law, and Society in Imperial ChinaFang550
HIS 4713G – Spiritualism, Seances and the OccultBell550
HIS 4802G – Masculinity and Modern HistoryCompeau550

 

 

2021 - 2022 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
HIS 1800F  – The People’s HistoriesReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 1808G – A Few Words That Changed the WorldPeaceView course outline
HIS 1815F – Histories of LoveBellView course outline
HIS 1816G – Histories of ViolenceFangView course outline
HIS 1817G – History in the HeadlinesBlockerView course outline
HIS 1818F – Treasure: Objects of Desire in Global HistoryCompeauView course outline
HIS 2125F – Northern EnterpriseKratsView course outline
HIS 2127G – In Search of CanadaKratsView course outline
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaPeaceView course outline
HIS 2302F – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2413E – Europe and the Paradoxes of ModernityCompeauView course outline
HIS 2604G – European Imperialism in Africa 1830-1994van TolView course outline
HIS 2615G – Chinese Women’s BiographyFangView course outline
HIS 2702E – Ten Days That Shook the WorldFangView course outline
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: Early North American HistoryMcCorkindaleView course outline
HIS 2712G – Tyrants: Historical Profiles in Oppression and ResistanceCompeauView course outline
HIS 2813F – Women Making WavesReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2822F – Jewish History From the Spanish Expulsion to the Modern EraShawView course outline
HIS 3311G – Slavery and FreedomMcCorkindaleView course outline
HIS 3410F – Sex, Books and ViolenceBellView course outline
HIS 3615F – Crime and Punishment in Imperial ChinaFangView course outline
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftBellView course outline
HIS 3812G – Historical FantasiesCompeauView course outline
HIS 4202F – Confronting Colonialism: Land, Literacies and LearningPeaceView course outline
HIS 4702G – European ImperialismReadView course outline
HIS 4713G – Spiritualism, Seances and the OccultBellView course outline
HIS 4810F – Engaging With the Past: Practicing Active HistoryBlowView course outline
2020 - 2021 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
HIS 1800F  – The People’s HistoriesReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 1815G – Histories of LoveBellView course outline
HIS 1816F – Histories of ViolenceFangView course outline
HIS 1817G – History in the HeadlinesBlockerView course outline
HIS 1818F – Objects of DesireCompeauView course outline
HIS 2125F – Northern EnterpriseKratsView course outline
HIS 2127G – In Search of CanadaKratsView course outline
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaBlockerView course outline
HIS 2302G – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2602G – Pre-Colonial AfricaReadView course outline
HIS 2603E – China: Tradition and TransformationFangView course outline
HIS 2610G – Women in East AsiaFangView course outline
HIS 2701E – Patterns and Perspectives in World HistoryCompeauView course outline
HIS 2709F – Race, Rights, and RevolutionReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: Early North American HistoryMcCorkindaleView course outline
HIS 2811F – Historians, Communities and PastCompeauView course outline
HIS 2821F – Jewish History to 1492ClarkView course outline
HIS 3201E – First Peoples and ColonialismMelleView course outline
HIS 3410F – Sex, Books and ViolenceBellView course outline
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftBellView course outline
HIS 4296G – Selected Topics in Canadian HistoryHalpernView course outline
HIS 4422F – London UK: Crime and DisorderBellView course outline
HIS 4606F – Sex, Law, and Society in Imperial ChinaFangView course outline
HIS 4802G – Masculinity and Modern HistoryCompeauView course outline
2019 - 2020 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
HIS 1801E – Blood, Sweat & Gold: Controversies in Global HistoryPeace/CompeauView course outline
HIS 1815F – Histories of LoveBellView course outline
HIS 1816G – Histories of ViolenceBellView course outline
HIS 2125F – Northern Enterprise: Canadian Business and Labour HistoryKratsView course outline
HIS 2127G – In Search of Canada: Postwar to PresentKratsView course outline
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaPeaceView course outline
HIS 2302F – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyMcCorkindaleView course outline
HIS 2413E – Europe and the Paradoxes of ModernityCompeauView course outline
HIS 2604G – European Imperialism in Africavan TolView course outline
HIS 2610F – Women in East AsiaFangView course outline
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: Early North American HistoryPeaceView course outline
HIS 2712G – Tyrants: Historical Profiles in Oppression and ResistanceCompeauView course outline
HIS 2713G – Republic of Letters: Enlightenment in the Atlantic World Reid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2813F – Making Waves: Women’s Activism in the Atlantic WorldReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 3296F – Special Topics in Canadian HistoryPeaceView course outline
HIS 3410G – The British Empire: Sex, Books and ViolenceBellView course outline
HIS 3706E – Political AssassinationsFangView course outline
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftBellView course outline
HIS 4202F – Land, Literacies & LearningPeaceView course outline
HIS 4605E – War & Memory in Modern East AsiaFangView course outline
HIS 4810F – Engaging With the Past: Practicing Active HistoryCompeauView course outline
2018 - 2019 Courses
CourseInstructorCourse Outline
HIS 1801E – Blood, Sweat & Gold: Controversies in Global HistoryPeace/CompeauView course outline
HIS 1815F – Histories of LoveBellView course outline
HIS 1816G – Histories of ViolenceBellView course outline
HIS 2125F – Northern Enterprise: Canadian Business and Labour HistoryKratsView course outline
HIS 2127G – In Search of Canada: Postwar to PresentKratsView course outline
HIS 2204G – Crises and Confederation: The Making of Modern CanadaPeaceView course outline
HIS 2302G – American Modern: The United States in the Twentieth CenturyReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2701E – Patterns and Perspectives in World HistoryCompeauView course outline
HIS 2710F – Red, White, Black et Blancs: Early North American HistoryReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 2712G – Tyrants and TyrannyCompeauView course outline
HIS 2810F – Gender in Modern Europevan TolView course outline
HIS 2811F – Historians, Communities and the PastCompeauView course outline
HIS 3201E – Fist Peoples and Colonialism in CanadaPeaceView course outline
HIS 3313G – The Movement: Civil Rights and African American History in the 20th CenturyReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 3705E – Current Crises in Historical PerspectiveCharbonneauView course outline
HIS 3801E – The Historian’s CraftBellView course outline
HIS 4307F – American Dreams: Radicals and ReformersReid-MaroneyView course outline
HIS 4414F – Secrets, Spies and SurveillanceCompeauView course outline
HIS 4422G – London UK: Crime and Disorder  BellView course outline
HIS 4802G – Masculinity and Modern HistoryCompeauView course outline

History Careers

History leads the humanities as preparation for careers in law, management, public service, and education. Beyond those pathways, a Huron History degree gives you the flexibility and experience you need to take on any career you can imagine. Our programs will take your studies to the leading edge of research in the humanities and transform the way you think about the past, the way you see the present, and the way you frame your future.

Also, visit the Canadian Historical Association’s website to delve deeper into where a degree in History could take you!

VISIT CHA NOW

Canadian Historical Society

Where will a degree in History take you?
  • Business
  • Journalism
  • Publishing
  • Marketing
  • Tourism
  • Finance
  • Digital communications
  • Curriculum development
  • Public service
  • Heritage
  • Film
  • Teaching
  • Law
  • Social work
  • Administration
1

Key Contacts

Send Your Message