History, Bachelor of Arts

Governors State University

We live in a complex, changing world. Studying the past helps us understand how that complexity evolved, why some patterns change yet others endure, and how we came to our present historical moment. History refers not only to past lived experiences, but also to the stories told about those experiences. Current debates about which stories should be told and how history should be taught demonstrate history’s importance to our understanding of ourselves as individuals, as citizens, and as a nation-and of what is at stake in interpretations of the past and decisions on which groups to include in those stories. Democratic societies need to critically examine the historical record. More complex, inclusive, historically accurate portrayals of the past can help us better understand the present, which is essential to addressing current issues that have historical roots.

College of Arts and Sciences