The Department of History at Stanford University is one of the most prestigious and highly regarded history departments in the world. With a long tradition of academic excellence, the department has been a hub for innovative and cutting-edge research and teaching in the field of history. The department's faculty consists of renowned historians who are experts in their respective fields, and they offer a wide range of courses and programs that cater to the diverse interests of undergraduate and graduate students.
History of the Department
The Department of History at Stanford was established in 1892, just a year after the university’s founding. The department’s early years were marked by a strong focus on American and European history, with a emphasis on the study of historical events, institutions, and ideas. Over the years, the department has undergone significant transformations, expanding its scope to include a broader range of geographical areas, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, as well as thematic fields, such as social, cultural, and environmental history. Today, the department is home to over 30 faculty members, who are committed to teaching and researching the complexities of the human past.
Research and Teaching
The Department of History at Stanford is known for its rigorous and interdisciplinary approach to the study of history. Faculty members are engaged in a wide range of research projects, from the history of science and technology to the study of global migrations and diasporic communities. The department offers a variety of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Ph.D. in History. Students in the department have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members on research projects, participate in seminars and colloquia, and engage in internships and other experiential learning opportunities. The department is also home to several research centers and initiatives, including the Stanford Humanities Center, the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
| Research Area | Faculty Members |
|---|---|
| African History | Professor Caroline E. winter, Professor Jennifer L. Morgan |
| Asian History | Professor Matthew H. Sommer, Professor Yumi Moon |
| European History | Professor James J. Sheehan, Professor Paula Findlen |
Notable Faculty and Alumni
The Department of History at Stanford has a long tradition of attracting and producing talented historians. Some notable faculty members include Natalie Zemon Davis, a renowned historian of early modern Europe and the winner of the 2012 National Humanities Medal, and David M. Kennedy, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian of the United States. The department’s alumni have gone on to pursue successful careers in academia, law, medicine, and other fields, and include notable figures such as Condoleezza Rice, the former US Secretary of State, and Rebecca Goldstein, a philosopher and novelist.
Awards and Honors
The Department of History at Stanford has received numerous awards and honors for its teaching and research excellence. The department has been ranked as one of the top history departments in the country by US News & World Report, and its faculty members have won numerous awards for their research and teaching, including the Pulitzer Prize, the National Book Award, and the National Humanities Medal. The department is also home to several endowed chairs and professorships, including the Walter and Elise Haas Professorship in the Humanities and the William Robertson Coe Professorship in American Economic History.
- The department offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Ph.D. in History.
- Faculty members are engaged in a wide range of research projects, from the history of science and technology to the study of global migrations and diasporic communities.
- The department is home to several research centers and initiatives, including the Stanford Humanities Center, the Center for Comparative Studies in Race and Ethnicity, and the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
What are the department’s areas of research focus?
+The Department of History at Stanford has a wide range of research areas, including African History, Asian History, European History, and American History, as well as thematic fields such as social, cultural, and environmental history.
What are the department’s undergraduate and graduate degree programs?
+The department offers a range of undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including the Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Ph.D. in History. Students in the department have the opportunity to work closely with faculty members on research projects, participate in seminars and colloquia, and engage in internships and other experiential learning opportunities.
