Programs in History and Philosophy
If you want further information or would like to visit the campus, please write to the Department of History and Philosophy, Shippensburg University, 1871 Old Main Drive, Shippensburg, PA 17257, or call (717) 477-1621 or email sbburg@ship.edu. You may apply for admission to the university on on-line via the Shippensburg University Office of Admissions or the Office of Graduate Studies.The Department of History and Philosophy at Shippensburg University offers undergraduate studies in a variety of historical fields to prepare students for the Bachelor of Arts degree, the Bachelor of Science degree in Comprehensive Social Studies Education and the minor in history. We also offer a minor in philosophy. In addition, the department provides courses in three interdisciplinary minor programs, Women's Studies, Ethnic Studies, and International Studies. All of the department curricula have been designed to prepare students for diverse careers and for advanced study at the graduate level.
Students in the Bachelor of Arts program gain knowledge and develop skills that they will use either for advanced study or in professions such as law, government, museum work and historic preservation. Students also may choose other career paths because the opportunities for history majors are many and varied. A current trend is for business and industry to employ individuals who have advanced writing and analytical skills, both attributes of history majors. To encourage career exploration and as part of the requirements of the program, the department arranges internships for undergraduates for academic credit. Recent sites where students have had internships include local and regional historical societies, the State Historical and Museum Commission and the Gettysburg National Military Park.
The Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Social Studies Education prepares students for careers in teaching at the secondary level. Successful completion of the program leads to provisional certification from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in social studies education.
Students at Shippensburg University may also choose to minor either in history or in philosophy. Both minor programs enable students to enrich their undergraduate specialization and to become better prepared for employment or graduate study.
The History and Philosophy Department sponsors numerous events and activities throughout the academic year, such as conferences and visiting lecturers. The department also sponsors a chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the international honor society in history.
Click here to learn more about the History and Philosophy Department's Master of Arts in Applied History program.