At A Glance

Studying history at Carthage, you’ll enter a vibrant arena created to open and develop your mind. Our courses seek to challenge students’ assumptions of how the world works, ideas evolve, and peoples and nations move through time and space.

Major

  • History

Minor

  • History

Special Academic Option

Pre-Law

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Carthage history majors excel in fields like business, law, education, and public service, and lifetime earnings for history majors are higher than in many fields that sound more practical. We believe that’s because there are no shortcuts to becoming a valuable member of any community.

At Carthage, historians engage in that process of becoming by taking part in experiences that grow you into the best version of yourself.

Forget the endless lists of historical names and dates you memorized in high school. Do you experience what Carl Sagan called the “ecstasy of understanding?” Does it give you a thrill to figure out why things are the way they are? That’s the kind of history we pursue.

  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg" alt="Ava Serfling Bennett ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,1043,989/35346_Ava-Serfling-Bennett-24.rev.1663183552.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1043" data-max-h="989" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “The students who go to Carthage are driven, intelligent, and hard working. If you want friends and peers who push you to be the best, this is the best place to be!”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2056-">Ava Serfling Bennett</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.jpg" alt="Dorin Tiberius Drimboi" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/64/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,255,1125,1379/36226_4586_163701665847155.rev.1667424847.jpg 3x" data-max-w="1125" data-max-h="1124" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I chose Carthage because of the fact it was so close to home while also being far enough where I can grow independently. I also chose Carthage because of the family/community feel that I have definitely felt in my four years here. The small class sizes were a major draw, and the lake is also a huge reason most people decide to go here.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/2138-dorin-tiberius-drimboi">Dorin Tiberius Drimboi</a> ’23</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>
  • <div class="lw_widget lw_widget_type_blockquote"><blockquote class="blockquote"><div class="blockquote__image"><picture class="lw_image"> <source type="image/webp" srcset="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.webp 1x, /live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.webp 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.webp 3x"/> <source type="image/jpeg" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 3x"/> <img src="/live/image/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg" alt="Karlee De Jesus ?24" width="183" height="183" srcset="/live/image/scale/2x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 2x, /live/image/scale/3x/gid/47/width/183/height/183/crop/1/src_region/0,0,916,830/34828_Karlee_De_Jesus_24.rev.1655492826.jpg 3x" data-max-w="916" data-max-h="830" loading="lazy"/> </picture> </div><div class="blockquote__content"><div class="blockquote__quote"><svg aria-hidden="true" class="icon icon-round-left-quote" width="48" height="33"><use xlink:href="#icon-round-left-quote"/></svg><p> “I have enjoyed so many classes here — History of the Caribbean, Native American Literature, Greek Religion, Creative Writing, and Politics in Film are all amazing courses.”</p></div><footer class="blockquote__footer"><span class="blockquote__author"><a href="/live/profiles/1913-">Karlee De Jesus</a> ’24</span></footer></div></blockquote></div>

Unique Classes

Scaffolding

Students learn the challenging (and highly transferable) skills to become historians over three years. In your sophomore year, Historical Methods introduces you to the craft. As a junior, Historiography stretches your abilities to read and process heavy loads of complex information. Finally, as a senior, you’re ready to ask and answer meaningful questions on your own. A successful senior thesis uses raw data and existing literature to make a “modest contribution to knowledge.”

Simulations and Team Teaching

Wrap up in your rebozo or put on your sombrero to relive the Mexican Revolution. Students in the History of Mexico course use primary sources to plot assassinations, overthrow governments, and even engage one another’s armies on the battlefield. Many of our classes employ a teaching tool called “Reacting to the Past.” Students take on the roles of historical figures. All Carthage students take at least one interdisciplinary course.

 

Beyond the classroom

Student Organizations

History honors fraternity Phi Alpha Theta offers speakers, field trips, and national conferences.

Study Abroad

During the popular J-Term, history professors often lead study tours to destinations like Southeast Asia, Guatemala, and the European battlefields of World War II.

Internships

Between Chicago and Milwaukee, majors find internships at museums, congressional offices, libraries, nonprofits, and law firms.

More Student Opportunities