History

"Thank you for always turning my insecurities into strengths; there is always talk among freshmen about whether their majors would truly turn out to be worth it. I can confidently report that the time I spent as a History major at Hofstra is priceless."

"After your course, I became deeply interested in Islamic Spain.  I thank you for having sparked this interest; it is a fascinating topic!"

"My History classes were the only ones that prepared me for the workload at law school now.  The essays you assigned, and the no nonsense issues and points you made us construct was the only college course work I can recall that has prepared me at all for the workload here."

"The effect your class had upon us is exactly the effect I hope to have upon my students in the future.  The ability to impart knowledge, while at the same time provoking thought, is a gift."

"My love for History has only grown as a direct result of your class—I never thought I would think about History in the way that I do now."

"Thanks for a great class, I truly learned much more than I expected, and I truly loved the way you really made us question what we read."

"On a personal note, I just wanted to let you know that you were one of the most inspiring professors I have ever had."

"[The Professor] made us better investigators of what we were reading. He trained us to become more informed and alert readers and really comprehend and question the words on the page. Every answer led to a new question, and he did very well to get us to become more aware of the historical context of what we read."

"All these years later you’re still making your students, think, read, and discuss important subjects!"

"I will never be fully able to express how much you mean to me as a mentor. You’re the best mentor I could ever have asked for. Thank you so much for guiding me through my honor’s thesis the past two semesters. The whole process was so rewarding."

"The Hofstra History Department expands its students’ experience in and out of the classroom."

"I truly felt like I found my own as a Hofstra History major and much is due to you and your support."

"Thank you for making my time as a History major challenging and memorable."

A major in history is a powerful tool in understanding global affairs, politics and social change, and economic developments. Students acquire skills in critical analysis and communication that are crucial for professional success, as well as the knowledge they need as citizens.

Many History students pair their History major with another major or a minor. Some popular examples include Anthropology, Education, English, Global Studies, Journalism / Film, Latin American and Caribbean Studies (LACS), Political Science, and Sociology / Criminology.

We now offer a concentration in Public History with an introductory course entitled, Stories from the Street: History, Memory, and the Public (History 104). Public History includes those practices and activities that put the methods, theory and content of the History discipline to use in public settings. Such work can range from public-facing digital work in such mediums as websites and film to live exhibitions, performances and public meetings and events.

Studies in history can complement a wide variety of majors, including business, the performing and visual arts, education, communications, journalism, philosophy, global studies and geography, political science, and foreign language studies.

Percentage of recent grads from our Kalikow School of Government, Public Policy, and International Affairs that reported they were employed or pursuing graduate studies a year after their graduation from Hofstra.

Percentage of Kalikow School students who reported employment said they landed their position within six months of graduation.

The mean reported salary for 2020-2021 Kalikow School graduates.