History
Christopher Libertini, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of History, Coordinator of History
P: (845) 848-4069
F: (845) 359-8025
E: christopher.libertini@dc.edu
About the Program
“The most wonderful thing about any man is that he knows and the saddest thing is that he be ignorant.” As the ninth-century British ruler Alfred the Great rightly noted, education is indeed an ennobling experience, and in particular learning about the human story of the past can deepen our knowledge even as it broadens our perspectives. Yet, the study of history is more than just learning a varied collection of facts. Since the ancient Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus wrote the world’s first true historical account in the fifth century B.C., studying history has meant research, analysis, and critical interpretation of the source materials that maintain a record of our past. Through this process we can come to discover the origin, growth, and complexity of civilization, and in so doing, we can develop a framework from which to view and respond to the challenge of our time.
In order to meet the needs of students as individuals in an increasingly competitive and technological society, the history program at Dominican College traces the development of spiritual and humanistic ideas and values, provides intellectual and cultural enrichment, and develops skills in critical thinking, research, and expression. Equipped with such knowledge and skills, the student is prepared to make a creative response to the challenge of the contemporary world.
The scope of the history program enables students to pursue American, European, and non-Western areas of study, to develop necessary skills and techniques, and to gain useful insights from other disciplines among the social sciences. Students who complete the program gain a solid preparation for careers not only in education but also in history-related fields that demand the ability to research, write, and think critically, including law, government, military service, journalism, and business management. They also come to appreciate the broader historical narrative of which we are all a part and to which we all contribute in some way as new chapters of history continue to be added to our continuing human story.
Programs of Study
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in history may select one of the following options:
- History Major (involving 36 semester hours in history)
- Childhood Education Major with an Emphasis in History (involving 30 semester hours in history)
- Social Science Major with a Concentration in History (involving 24 semester hours in history)
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