Saint Michael's College

"Remembering the past is a
fundamental human activity."
In his account of the violent conflict between the Persian Empire and the Greek city-states, the ancient scholar Herodotus wrote that his purpose was "to preserve the memory of the past." He called the work his "researches" or "inquiries" — his historia.

Saint Michael's path to
the past
At Saint Michael's,
you will work with professional historians to bring the past to life.

Among the course topics we offer include:

• Contemporary China and Japan
• World War II in Asia, Europe, and the United States
• Saints and religion in 13th and 14th century Italy
• New England before the Civil War
• Women in 20th century Britain and the United States
• The rise and fall of the British Empire
• The presidency of FDR and the Great Depression
• Society and culture in Latin America 
  
  

Our history program emphasizes critical thinking and analysis: reading (historical sources), research (the resolution of historical problems), and writing (the presentation of research results in the form of an argument).

Travel and learn
Consider taking our study tour course to Selma, Alabama, where the Society of Saint Edmund (the founding religious order of Saint Michael's College) played a significant role in the struggle for Civil Rights in the 1960’s.  An academic study tour to Assisi, Italy, focusing on Saint Francis of Assisi, d. 1226, and the Franciscans) is also in the works.

Unique opportunities   
Many students combine their history studies with other programs at Saint Michael's, including: 

• Pre-Law
• American Studies
• East Asian Studies
• Medieval Studies
• Humanities
• Environmental Studies
  
  

Students have interned at a variety of places, including the Office of the Governor of Vermont, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Vermont Commission on Women, Shelburne Museum and more.

Careers and graduate schools
Our history program incorporates social science, religious studies, philosophy and literature, all of which will prepare you for a variety of career and graduate school options. Our graduates have gone on to successful careers in law, education, business, government, museum management, among many others.
Learn more >>

To contact the Department of History:

View a complete list of faculty in the Department of History.

George Dameron
Professor of History

Susan Ouellette
Professor of History

Douglas Slaybough
Professor of History