History (HIST) | CSU Northridge

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Understand the Past
Engage with the Present
Shape the Future

The CSUN History Department combines teaching and research at the highest levels. Our mission is to teach students to think independently, read critically, and write persuasively in order to understand the complexities of the past and engage constructively with today’s world as informed citizens.

Our undergraduate (BA) and graduate (MA) programs provide students with a grounding in research, writing, and analytical thinking through coursework in the history of the United States, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. Faculty explore the past from a variety of perspectives including political and economic history, urban and social history, cultural and intellectual history, the history of women and gender, legal history, and diplomatic, military, and international history.

The History Department fosters student research through small seminar-style classes and trips to archives and historic sites in the United States and internationally. Our internship program gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience in a variety of fields while earning credit towards their degree. The History Department also maintains a dedicated Writing Center to help students improve their writing skills.

Students at CSUN study History because...

They want to build the skills they need to pursue careers in teaching, the law, museums and historical preservation, public relations, journalism, government, and many other fields.
They value the department's internship program, which has placed hundreds of students in career-building internships at museums, historical sites, and nonprofits throughout greater Los Angeles.
They appreciate the personal attention they get from their professors, who have won more than two dozen Distinguished Teaching and Publication Awards from the University.
They receive financial support in the form of special history scholarships and awards.

Why Major In History Become A History Major