History

To inquire about this program:
Dr. Debra Salata | 423.869.7154 | debra.salata@lmunet.edu

History Major

According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of historians is projected to grow 6 percent from 2018 to 2028, about as fast as the average for all occupations. Many organizations that employ historians, such as historical societies and historical consulting firms, depend on donations or public funding. Those with a master's degree or Ph.D. should have the best job opportunities. For more information on the job outlook for historians please see: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook: Historians.

LMU's history major teaches students how to be a historian and provides them with a solid foundation for a variety of careers in teaching, historic preservation, and further study in law school and graduate school. Even if students choose not to develop a career in a history-related field, studying the past will give students new perspectives on the present and knowledge that is useful for succeeding in any career.

Program Mission Statement

The History Program seeks to prepare students to understand the American past and the history of the world around them, to create a global awareness of the diverse people with whom they share the Earth, and to foster an awareness of how cultures have interacted to create world history. Moreover, the History Program is committed to training students to think in historical terms, to understand history from a humanities-based perspective, to appreciate historical methodology, and to become capable of critically processing and using historical information in their coursework and post-graduate careers.

The History Program’s mission supports the university’s effort to provide students with in-depth study of a field of knowledge. Through research and writing essays and papers, the program supports the University’s effort to teach students effective communication, and its course content supports the University’s goal of providing students with an understanding of the development of human societies over time. The program’s course offerings in the life and career of Abraham Lincoln serve as a cornerstone of the University’s effort to highlight the president’s premier role among American statesmen and the values he represented in its mission.

BA in History

The History Program has three tracks students can choose from to best suit his or her interests and goals.

The Early Entry Program to LMU Duncan School of Law

The Early Entry Program to the LMU Duncan School of Law allows undergraduate students at Lincoln Memorial University to apply, be accepted to, and begin pursuing a JD at LMU Duncan School of Law (DSOL) prior to graduating with a Bachelor's Degree. For more information, see Guidelines and Early Entry Plan (starting Fall 2024).

Required Core Courses for the BA

All tracks require the same six core courses:

HIST 121 World History to 1500
HIST 122 World History since 1500
HIST 131 American History to 1877
HIST 132 American History since 1877
HIST 300 Introduction to Historical Studies
HIST 480 Historical Methods

History Minor

The History minor provides students with a more in-depth involvement with History than General Education classes provide on their own. Starting with all four introductory surveys as a solid foundation, students then take at least 9 hours of upper-division classes. For these upper-division classes, students can choose to focus on a particular area of interest, such as the 19th-century United States, the Ancient and Classical Worlds, Medieval Europe, Britain, South Asia, and the Middle East. A History minor provides students with the ability to sharpen analytical and communication skills through papers and presentations assigned in these upper-division classes. These skills translate across many fields and will benefit anyone heading into the workforce or pursuing furthering their educations. A History minor works particularly well with a major in English, Criminal Justice, or Political Science and is a very viable option because the minor only requires 18 credit hours. Students will already have 6 hours of this minor completed after they finish their General Education History requirement.

Required courses for the History Minor:

HIST 121 World History to 1500 (3 credit hours)
HIST 122 World History since 1500 (3 credit hours)
HIST 131 American History to 1877 (3 credit hours)
HIST 132 American History since 1877 (3 credit hours)
Electives in History - any two upper-division History classes at the 300 or 400 level (6 credit hours)

Total: 18 credit hours

Meet the Faculty

Dr. Carson Benn

Dr. William Hardy

Dr. Stephanie Holyfield

Dr. Joanna Neilson

Dr. Debra Salata

Internships

Internships are available on campus at the Abraham Lincoln Library Museum, as well as at several other historic sites and agencies in the region.

Career Opportunities

With a degree in history, students are prepared for jobs and graduate and professional programs that require solid analytical and communication skills.

Students interested in pursuing a career focus within the history field consider one of the following:

Teaching at the secondary school level (with a major in History and Secondary education certification)
Teaching at community colleges and four-year colleges (with additional preparation through graduate-level coursework at universities that offer History MA and PhD degrees)
Working in research and archival positions at museums, historical societies, and national and state historical parks
Working in research and archival positions in the public sector

Alumni Success

You'll find LMU history program graduates:

Attending Graduate and Professional Programs at the University of Kentucky and the University of Tennessee
Working as director of tourism and education at the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum, Lincoln Memorial University
Serving as an official National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Certified Guide at Panther Creek State Park in the historic Holston River Valley
Serving in the Tennessee State Legislature
Practicing law