Student Enrichment Opportunities

Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University

• The Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University is located in the Davis House. It collects, preserves and interprets, in an historical and social context, its collection of apparel and related objects, which range from the 18th century to the present, with emphasis on items associated with middle-class and working Americans and with Pennsylvanians. Students regularly work for the FA&M.

Shippensburg Station and the Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum

• Often referred to as “the boxcar museum,” the Cumberland Valley Railroad Museum near campus represents the histories of area railroads along with their impacts on the region. The museum features artifacts and exhibits. This is a great resource for the History and Philosophy Department.

Students are able to design a personalized internship experience that will meet their educational needs and professional interests. For-credit internships may be conducted with any of the region's numerous historical organizations or at any appropriate historical site in the United States.

An internship can be highly rewarding, offering real world experience in the realm of history, as well as allowing students to showcase their talents, develop new skills, and create long lasting professional relationships.

For more information about interning, please visit the College of Arts and Sciences Internship Page.

The following is a list of partner organizations which have hosted History & Philosophy Department students. The list is not meant to be exhaustive, but provide a sense of the wide variety of internship opportunities available. If you are interested in pursuing an internship please contact your advisor.

Archives and Preservation

• Dickinson College Archives, Carlisle, PA
• Pennsylvania House of Representatives Archives, Harrisburg, PA
• Pennsylvania State Historic Preservation Office, Harrisburg, PA

Historical Societies

• Adams County Historical Society, Gettysburg, PA
• Cumberland County Historical Society, Carlisle, PA
• Shippensburg Historical Society, Shippensburg, PA

Military: War Battlefields, Museums, Parks, and Archives

• Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, MD
• Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, PA

Museums

• Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA
• National Fire Museum, Harrisburg, PA
• State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
• Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, MD

National Parks

• Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historic Park, Cumberland, MD
• Harper's Ferry National Historic Site, Harper's Ferry, W.V.
• Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA

National and State Government Entities

• Maryland Secretary of State's Office, Annapolis, MD 
• The White House, Washington, D.C. 

History & Philosophy Department students of all levels have many opportunities to conduct research, present it, and have it published. We foster active collaboration between faculty and students, and have a strong commitment to engaging undergraduate students in faculty-student research projects.

Learning how to research and uncover important parts of history is crucial for any student. Historical research is an interpretation of the past in a meaningful, original way, based on the author's use of a variety of primary sources and secondary sources. The author reviews the source material to construct an original argument that interprets the past in a new way and to analyze the material's significance in the realm of politics, economics, religion, gender, or a number of other categories. The finished product may take a variety of forms, including books, journal articles, poster presentations, or museum exhibits. 

Available Grants

• Undergraduate students are encouraged to submit applications for independent research to be conducted during the academic year and summer months. Learn more about the Undergraduate Research Grant Program.
• The Graduate Research Grant Program is designed to provide financial support to graduate students for research or scholarly activities related to their program of study. Learn more about the Graduate Research Grant Program.
• SU Minds@Work Conference offers Ship students the chance to present their research, scholarly, and creative works to the campus community and general public. Learn more about the Minds@Work Conference.

History Club

• The History Club is open to any student who loves history. The group organizes a variety of co-curricular activities and historical field trips.

Phi Alpha Theta

• Shippensburg University has a chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honorary society. The organization is dedicated to history and provides special opportunities for the department’s outstanding students such as participation in regional and national professional conferences.

For history majors, it can be a valuable educational experience to live and study abroad in another country. History majors are encouraged to consider exploring both short-term and long-term opportunities to study abroad. Students interested in studying abroad should discuss it with their advisor as soon as possible to determine whether or not it will fit within their course of study.

For more information about study abroad opportunities and resources, check out the Shippensburg University's International Programs Office.

Our very own, Dr. Gretchen Pierce, is one of the leaders of the Reach Out Program that has traveled each year to promote literacy in the Dominican Republic. Although this program is sponsored by the Honors Program, students who are not in the Honors Program can apply. History majors are encouraged to consider this program. More information can be found at the program's website by clicking here.