History Student Resources

Check out resources for History students, including scholarships, study abroad opportunities, advising and student organizations.

History degrees

Central Michigan University offers major and minor programs in history, public history, and history education. Combining historical studies with other disciplines provides you with a well-rounded background that is increasingly important in many areas of employment. CMU's history teacher education programs provide solid preparation for a rewarding career in education. More than half of CMU's history majors plan to teach. Earning your history degree will also prepare you for graduate study leading to a career in foreign or government service, teaching, research, law, museum, library, or archival work.

Sign a major or minor in history

Interested in signing a major or minor in history? Follow our instructions below for finding and signing up for your program.

  1. Education students. If you are a teacher-in-training, pursuing a history major or minor as part of the BSEd degree, please email the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures. 
  2. Public history​. If you want to sign a major in public history, please email Professor Brittany Bayless Fremion.
  3. Everyone else. All other majors and minors in history (BA or BS) should identify a potential advisor by finding a professor whose research or teaching fields match your interests. This site offers full details about faculty fields and research areas, and you can find even more by clicking on the name of individual professors. If you're uncertain about which area of history best fits your interests and plans, please contact the department office for help with finding an advisor or to schedule an appointment with the department chair.​

For other questions regarding advising or signing a major/minor in history, please email the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures.

    Study abroad opportunities in history

    With comprehensive information about long- and short-term opportunities for international education through CMU, including courses and programs in history, the university's Study Abroad Office is the best place to start learning about where in the world you might take your next history course (or spend your next semester). Professors Kathy Donohue and Doina Harsanyi​ are the faculty coordinators for study abroad in history and are happy to offer advice or answer questions about foreign-study opportunities related to history. 

    Scholarships and awards in History

    Learn more about the scholarships, awards and paper prizes available to majors and minors in History.

    Scholarships and Awards

      Student organizations

      CMU's chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society is a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. They seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.

      Together with the History Club, Phi Alpha Theta engages in both academic and social activities. Academic activities have included attending national and regional paper conferences and organizing faculty and graduate student research talks. Social events include museum visits, region cultural events and more. The organization’s biggest event is the annual Humanities Ball, a fundraiser whose proceeds go to the Freedom House of Detroit. Members of Phi Alpha Theta are eligible for various history department scholarships and national paper prizes and awards. Moreover, they have the opportunity to interact with history department faculty and students who share a love and pursuit of historical knowledge.

      To learn more, email Phi Alpha Theta and the History Club or visit their Facebook Page. Any further questions may be directed to Phi Alpha Theta's faculty advisor at CMU, Professor Brittany Bayless Fremion.