History

In the history department, students explore human experience in a wide variety of times, geographical settings and cultural contexts. Guided by a faculty steeped in scholarly research and committed to excellence in the classroom, history majors and minors develop essential skills in critical reading, writing, speaking and thinking. About half of the department's 220 majors pursue certification as teachers, primarily in secondary education. An increasing number of majors seek advanced degrees in historical studies, museum studies and archival training. Whatever their plans, history students receive a broad liberal arts education that prepares them for a variety of careers.

Department Page Faculty

Outcomes

Students will be able to:

interpret historical events by using multiple primary source documents/artifacts.
evaluate multiple historical interpretations of significant historical events.
create their own well-reasoned historical arguments using forms proper to the discipline.

Career Outlook

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"I really loved my department and the academic experience that I had at SUNY Potsdam. All of our history professors were amazing."
Austin Raetz ’18

Remembering 1776

This summer, six SUNY Potsdam students have completed hands-on internships around New York State focused on examining the local history of the Revolutionary War. Part of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Semiquincentennial Summer Fellowship Program, the students have been diving into the local history archives and helping historians plan for upcoming celebrations to mark the 250th anniversary of American Independence.

Fabric of Learning

Weaving together academic research and applied learning experiences, Emily Bailey ’24 and Annabelle Kahle ’26 have been immersing themselves in unique hands-on research projects through the Presidential Scholars Program—examining the history of homespun garment manufacturing and using historical tools to create costumes that their ancestors would have worn.

On the Road in Libbie’s World

SUNY Potsdam Department of History Chair Dr. Libbie Freed explored five countries in Central Asia and brought her students along with her virtually on a trip to discover the history and modern remnants of the famed Silk Road trade route.

Exploring Local History

It’s never too late to go back to school. Just ask Tabitha Brown who is back in college after a 25-year hiatus. After raising a family and homeschooling her children, she decided it was time to complete her bachelor’s degree—starting the same year her daughter went off to college. Brown excelled as a non-traditional student in SUNY Potsdam’s Department of History where she delved into local history projects to explore Northern New York’s past.

Shannon Mattice ’19

Shannon Mattice ’19, a history major with a minor in women’s studies, examined a variety of unique history topics as an undergraduate student—everything from the use of smallpox as a biological weapon to opium addiction in China. As a presidential scholar, she conducted research on the role of women in the New Netherlands.

B.A. in History