BA in History and Public Policy

Inform your worldview and prepare for success as a history and public policy major

You're ready to awaken your purpose and make your mark in history. As research has repeatedly shown, history and public policy majors and other liberal arts majors typically enjoy great success in leadership positions in academia, business, law, and other professions because of the strong reasoning and decision-making skills emphasized in their degree programs in college. Our history and public policy degree program gives you a broad understanding of the human condition and places current questions, issues, and problems in a historical and faith-filled context. You will be challenged to think analytically and critically, to see issues from multiple perspectives, to perceive patterns and predict outcomes, and to grasp the bigger picture in any situation. A history and public policy degree from SWU does more than prepare you for a variety of careers and post-graduate options; it prepares you to be a better person and Christ-follower.

See the world, Change the World

You have the potential and the opportunity to help transform the world for Christ. As a history and public policy major, you will learn history from a Christian worldview and will be able to articulate a personal philosophy of history based on these ideals. You will develop a thorough knowledge of American and European history, and learn to compare them thoughtfully and analytically to the histories of non-Western societies. You'll also get to conduct relevant research and gain experience in professional conferences and presentations.

Our history and public policy majors go beyond the classroom: international and domestic travel, internships at historical societies and museums, and membership in such prestigious national organizations as the American Historical Association, the Southern Historical Association, the Conference on Faith and History, and the National Association of Scholars. Our department also co-owns and tends the Pickens Cemetery, a historic burial site with graves dating back to the Revolutionary War!

Is a History and Public Policy Major right for you?

A history and public policy degree prepares you for a wide range of careers including work in government agencies, politics, military, missions, or law. You might want to teach history or display historical artifacts in a museum or at a historical site. Or you might have aspirations for research, graduate school, or corporate careers. Are you ready to learn history so you can make history? SWU is here for you!