History and Public Policy (BA)

Federal CIP: 54.0101 History, General

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History and Public Policy promotes and explores the traditional, fundamental principles of both Western civilization and the American founding, examines their development and refinement over time, and endeavors to formulate public policy solutions based on these core principles.  Beyond this distinctive, the program focuses on the general study and interpretation of the past, including the gathering, recording, synthesizing and criticizing of evidence and theories about past events. It includes instruction in historiography; historical research methods; studies of specific periods, issues and cultures; and applications to areas such as historic preservation, public policy, and records administration.

The perspective a History and Public Policy major brings to the problem-solving context of any occupation has been broadly valued in many different fields. Key transferrable skill sets include the ability to see issues from multiple perspectives, the ability to think analytically and critically, the ability to research problems and propose solutions in written or oral form, and the ability to realistically contextualize a situation.

Opportunities for graduates in History and Public Policy include:

• Careers with government agencies.
• Careers with political foundations, campaigns, or organizations.
• Careers in secondary education.
• Careers working with museums.
• Careers working with state and national parks and historical sites.
• Careers working with archaeological teams.
• Careers working with historical societies.
• Graduate school in history, leading to careers in higher education.
• Graduate school in areas such as the social sciences, public policy, economics, the humanities, religion, and education.
• Law school.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students completing the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in History and Public Policy are expected to be able to:

• articulate and discuss, in both written and oral form, the fundamental principles of the Western heritage, including the role of the Christian faith in the formation of these principles.
• articulate and discuss, in both written and oral form, the fundamental principles of the American heritage, including the role of the Christian faith in the formation of these principles.
• analyze and demonstrate whether and how the fundamental principles have changed, affected, or been affected over time; based on an acquired knowledge of how the fundamental principles have been challenged by events and new ideologies, students will create a philosophical framework which will guide policy development.
• formulate and apply policy solutions to contemporary issues, questions, and challenges.