History at UB
Study the past. Understand the present. Shape what comes next.
History helps you make sense of how we got here and where we might be going. At the University at Buffalo Department of History you will explore stories from around the globe, ask hard questions and learn how people have wrestled with power, justice and change over time.
Whether you want to be a historian or to bring historical thinking into law, education, public service or other careers, the Department of History gives you the tools to think clearly, write persuasively and engage thoughtfully with the world.
Jump to:
History is more than names and dates. It is about connecting past events to today’s challenges so you can think clearly and act thoughtfully.
As a history student at UB you will:
- Read complex sources closely and critically
- Write clear, evidence-based arguments
- Analyze issues from multiple perspectives across time and place
- Develop curiosity, empathy and sound judgment
You will learn from faculty whose research shapes the field and whose teaching centers on discussion and debate. In small classes, you will test ideas, refine your thinking and build confidence.
Why UB?
UB is a place where you can challenge yourself, find your community and build a future. As New York’s flagship public research university, UB gives you the power of an R1 institution and the support of a campus that feels welcoming from day one.
What you’ll experience at UB
- Affordable excellence: Earn a top-tier education at a cost that supports your goals.
- Collaborative community: Learn from faculty and peers who care about your growth.
- Built-in opportunity: Get experience through research, internships and student clubs.
- A vibrant place to live: Buffalo offers friendly neighborhoods, a lively arts and food scene and easy access to Toronto and New York.
The UB difference
UB students get big-university advantages without losing the personal connections that make college meaningful. You’ll join a campus that encourages curiosity, celebrates different perspectives and gives you room to explore your path.
The Department of History is a lively community of students and scholars who believe that the critical study of the past is central to a strong liberal arts education and a full intellectual life. Studying history at UB is active and collaborative. You will not just absorb information. You will investigate it.
How you will learn
- Discussion-driven seminars: Analyze primary sources and debate ideas in focused, supportive settings.
- Global and thematic courses: Explore topics such as LGBTQ history, histories of science, disability and medicine, Indigenous experiences, modern United States, Early Modern Europe, colonial Brazil and ancient China.
- Hands-on historical methods: Learn to find, evaluate and interpret archival, visual, oral, published and digital sources.
- Past meets present: Apply historical thinking to current debates in public health, technology, social movements and global politics.
Learning beyond the classroom
History connects to the Buffalo community and beyond. Faculty and students:
- Host public talks that provide context for issues in the news
- Partner with local organizations and cultural institutions
- Collaborate with national groups such as the American Historical Association
These experiences show how historical knowledge informs policy, education, museums and media.
Support at every stage
- Undergraduates: Build strong foundations in reading, research and writing that prepare you for many paths.
- Graduate students: Work closely with mentors as you develop original research and train for professional careers.
Faculty in the Department of History are committed to open inquiry and careful, source-based research. Classrooms are spaces where ideas are examined closely and respectfully.
The department emphasizes:
- Evidence first: Historical arguments are grounded in primary sources and ongoing investigation.
- Many voices: Courses examine the wide range of human experiences across cultures and time.
- Learning across differences: Students engage thoughtfully with classmates who bring varied backgrounds and perspectives.
- Honest engagement: The past is studied in its full complexity, including both achievement and injustice.
Faculty support students in asking bold questions and pursuing evidence wherever it leads.
A degree in history opens many doors. Some students pursue graduate study in history, law, public policy or education. Others bring their research and analytical skills directly into the workforce.
History graduates pursue careers in:
- Law, public policy and government
- Education, museums and archives
- Nonprofit and community organizations
- Journalism, publishing and communications
- Business and consulting
Because you learn to evaluate evidence, build strong arguments and explain complex ideas clearly, you will be prepared to adapt as industries and technologies evolve.
Choose the path that fits your goals.
Undergraduate Degrees
- BA in History
- BA in History/JD in Law
- BA in History/MS in School Librarianship
- BA in History/EdM in Social Studies Adolescence Education
- Minor in History
- Middle East Studies Micro-credential
Graduate Degrees
- MA in History
- PhD in History
- History Advanced Certificate
If you are curious about how the world came to look the way it does, the Department of History is a place to turn that curiosity into insight and impact. You will join a community that believes understanding the past is essential to shaping what comes next.