History Major

Let the past be illuminated and the present better understood as you study human history.

Gain perspectives of time and place as you examine the complexities of our human history and experience. Grounded in a disciplined study of the past, you will be well-equipped to meet the demands of the 21st century. History majors and minors take courses on histories from around the world, as well as a field specialization in one region or theme. History students develop sharp reading, writing and research skills, preparing them for advanced graduate study or careers in education, public affairs, law, business and more.

Heart of the Liberal Arts
Preparation for Possibility
Chu History Class.jpg
In class with professor Pey-Yi Chu
In class with Professor Ken Wolf
In class with Professor Ken Wolf
In class with Professor April Mayes
In class with Professor April Mayes

What You’ll Study

    • Five courses in a field of specialization
    • Three courses from other departmental fields
    • A research methods seminar
    • Senior thesis or essay
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In addition to funding from the summer research program, the History Department offers four other grant sources for students.

Student Projects

Sophie David ’26 and her research

Muralism in Chile

Sophie David ’26 spent a summer in Valparaíso, Chile, researching muralism as a form of artistic and political expression during the Salvador Allende presidency and Pinochet dictatorship.

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Sophie David ’26
Sophie David ’26

The History Department at Pomona offers a diverse range of classes and some of the most passionate and accommodating professors I have met at the 5Cs. Walking through the History hallway at Mason Hall, you will find open doors and professors constantly engaging with their students, willing to do anything to provide support and feedback.

Faculty & Teaching

The history faculty represents a broad swath of expertise, across time periods, movements, cultures and continents. Their nuanced knowledge of the past and the close mentorship they offer will make a lasting impact on your worldview. 

Professor Tomás Summers Sandoval

I think history is the backbone of the liberal arts. We study the past not just to better understand what happened ‘then’ but to better understand our present world and ourselves. Our diversity is a big part of that. We're a diverse faculty with diverse experiences and interests. That’s how we nurture the critical global perspective students need for life in the 21st century.