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Department Head Mike Thompson‘s invitation to UTC exploratory/undecided majors to join the History Department or the Africana Studies Program:
Welcome to UTC and to what I hope will prove some of the most impactful and memorable years of your life. As you work with UTC’s Center for Advisement this Fall semester to explore possible majors and career paths, I invite you to seriously consider the tremendous benefits of joining the History Department.
It is a widespread misconception that those who major in History can only become historians and teachers. The study of history, in fact, prepares students across the country to enter a broad array of fields, ranging from business, law, and medicine to sales, media, and entertainment. Though there is great value in understanding how the past is connected to the present, the History Department’s courses are also designed to develop and then sharpen skills that can be applied to any future job or profession – problem solving through careful analysis, evaluation, and interpretation, creative and critical thinking, written and spoken communication, information literacy, teamwork and collaboration, project and time management, etc. Check out the “Students” and “Resources” tabs of our department website for all kinds of articles and data about why employers seek out History majors.
If you’re searching for a minor, the History Department also coordinates Africana Studies, an interdisciplinary program that engages students in the study of African, African American, and Afro-Latin history, culture, literature, and politics.
Please be in touch to learn more!