History at UB

Students in a classroom.

The History Department at the University at Buffalo is dedicated to the belief that the critical study of the past is foundational, not only to a sound liberal arts education, but to a full and active intellectual life. Engaging with the past makes us better citizens, giving us the tools to understand, and when necessary, effectively confront, the issues we face in the world today. Here at UB, we take immense pride in teaching undergraduates, preparing graduate students as future historians, and in the original research produced by our renowned faculty.  

Curious Students

Our students come from all points and have vastly diverse interests. At every level, our students are actively grappling with the past and its influence on our lives today. We prepare our graduate students to become historians themselves, and invest our undergraduates with the critical thinking, reading, and writing skills they need to succeed in today's career market.  

Engaged Faculty

Our professors have an international reputation for excellence, as evidenced by numerous publications, a wide array of honors, as well as national and international fellowships.  But our faculty aren't detached researchers: they translate their love for the past into unique and compelling lessons every day in the classroom.

Beyond the Academy

The faculty and students of the UB History department are always looking for ways to share our expertise with members of the larger university and Western New York community. By sponsoring visiting speakers and hosting community discussions, we endeavor to help all members of society understand the historical context for the world around us. We have also joined with the American Historical Association and other organizations in expanding the parameters of the historical profession.  

Fields of Study

Our department is home to leaders in fields such as LGBTQ history; the histories of science, disability, and medicine; indigenous experiences; and drug and alcohol use and abuse. Our expertise spans across time and space, covering everything from the modern United States and Early Modern Europe to colonial Brazil and ancient China. Our course offerings have something for everyone.  

See also the Department of History's Diversity Statement.