History

With firm foundations in research, writing, and reasoned argument, the History program fosters lifelong learners who are engaged in answering global challenges with empathy, creativity, and verve. The combination of rigorous academics and a sense of adventure offers a toolkit for the creation not only of a career, but a fulfilling life.

• Explore the human adventure across time, culture and place while enriching your knowledge of your culture, your country, and your world
• Build foundational knowledge of the most important developments in History
• Examine fundamental questions and experiences from diverse perspectives
• Become a problem solver, leader, and researcher who reads primary sources closely
• Join an accomplished cohort of students; Holy Cross History majors have garnered first place in research from the Delta Epsilon Sigma National in 2018, 2019, and 2025.
• Take opportunities for experiential learning through an internship at an institution of your choice

While their paths have varied, our history graduates all share one thing in common: they are intellectually curious scholars equipped to excel wherever their passions take them.

Some have undertaken graduate study in History, Law, Politics, Journalism, and Librarianship

Other have embarked on careers in archives, museums, and education, to name just a few.

• “I realized that to do well at Holy Cross particularly in the history program with its rigor I was really going to have to lean in and I was really going to have to give it my all… it was the best thing that could have happened to me.”
• “One of the things that I so appreciate about my time at Holy Cross was how available my professors were to me and what an incredible opportunity I had to get to be mentored by these serious Scholars.”

– Sam Mertz, ’14

• “Everything I learned at Holy Cross is directly applicable to the PhD program at Notre Dame… skills that have been of such a great service to me that I still use on a daily basis today.”
• “I think Community is the greatest value that that Holy Cross has. I was well educated here but I was also well-loved and that matters a lot.”

– Colin Crawford, ’18

• “My Holy Cross history degree got me into the door at the CIA. This isn’t a second rate degree… you can get to some spots.”

– Thomas Brophy, ’19