Get Your History Degree From a Christian University
Prepare for a successful career while earning your bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, associate, or minor from Liberty University’s Department of History. With our history, social sciences, and military studies degree programs, your knowledge of these fields will be enriched as you explore exciting career options.
Courses are taught from a Christian worldview by experienced professors who share your passion for history and are grounded in their faith. Interested in a career in politics, education, or communications? A degree from our Department of History will get you ready for these career opportunities and more.
Chaplains Museum Open Monday through Friday 12:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on the terrace level of the JF Library. Summer hours vary.
New London Projects The New London projects give students hands-on opportunities in archaeology, historical architecture, historical interpretation, and much more.
"The most important thing about Liberty is the people. The people I’ve met have probably been the most impactful in shaping me into the person I am. I obviously enjoyed my classes and the opportunities I’ve had to study abroad. (Liberty) challenged, encouraged, and developed me more fully as a person."
Stephanie Wright
"It was a lot of fun to work with the new public history initiatives launched by Liberty’s history department. It’s a great opportunity for students to get hands-on experience because historical archeology is something that you have to do. It’s hard to learn it just by being in a classroom, so the investment by Liberty has been great for students."
Grace H.
"The small tight-knit community that [the History Department] has, I think, is what made it a great experience for me. You get to know all your professors. They really guide you in not only what you are doing in your school work, but they guide you professionally."
Congratulations to Dr. Burrell, a graduate of Liberty`s online Doctor of Philosophy in History program! She has secured a tenure-track assistant professorship at South Georgia State College!
From Dr. Burrell: “I had some of the best mentors from Dr. David Snead to Dr. Steven Woodworth who taught my classes. However, it was not just my mentors in the classroom that impacted my experience as a student. The residential faculty always kept an open-door/ear policy for me. Anytime I needed to talk to work things out they all were there for me. I am the professor I am today because of their guidance and mentorship in how to be a compassionate, caring but rigorous professor. I completed all three of my degrees with LU and each course provided a solid foundation to build on. Each professor encouraged my interests, albeit with caution since I specialized in Prisoners of War during the Civil War. It is a controversial topic among scholars but one I am extremely passionate about and yet I was given the support to pursue it. I could not be more grateful for all their support.”
Today, we commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The below is a description of the symbolism of the patch commissioned by Dwight D. Eisenhower for the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force: “The flaming sword of freedom cuts the black of the Nazi night over Europe and points the way to the final rainbow of peace and liberty. The rainbow is made up of the colors of the Allied nations.” - From Harry C. Butcher in My Three Years with Eisenhower
Fun Fact: The D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA is designed according to this patch. Go see the rainbow when all the flowers are in bloom.
1. Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force patch 2. Message from Dwight D. Eisenhower to the allied troops 3. Troops landing on the coast of Normandy in a Higgins Boat
Read further here: https://mwi.westpoint.edu/2014913designing-a-shoulder-patch-for-supreme-headquarters-allied-expeditionary-force/
Did you know that May is Historic Preservation month? In addition to our online Public History offerings, our residential students have the opportunity to experience historic preservation up close and in person right here in Central Virginia.
Liberty University owns two historic properties in the nearby community of New London: Mead’s Tavern and the Bedford Alum Springs Hotel. Students in our residential public history classes (HIST 305 and HIST 307) spend time at New London learning from preservation professionals and participating in archaeology and historic preservation.
You can see some of these students in action when we open the sites for tours on New London Day, October 19, 2024.
More about LU’s Historic Preservation projects:
Mead’s Tavern, a National Register property, was built in 1763 making it the oldest standing structure in the region. Since LU acquired the property in 2015, it has served as a hands-on laboratory for history students who have participated in architectural investigation and archaeological excavation. The next phase of this project will transform the existing wing into a finished museum space to showcase the history of the Tavern and the town of New London.
During the American Revolution, the Bedford Alum Springs Hotel site was home to one of five Continental arsenals. It was a key factor in the success of Nathanael Greene’s Southern Campaign and housed all the British small arms captured in the surrender at Yorktown. After arsenal operations moved to Harper’s Ferry in 1798, the site was used primarily for storage until it ceased operation in 1812. The current building (c. 1910s) is the third resort hotel built at this site. The grandest days of the resort were in the heyday of the 19th-century mineral springs craze. After acquiring the property in 2018, LU commissioned an archaeological survey that confirmed the presence of 18th-century structures. The next phase of this project will be a full excavation of these sites.
Congratulations to our 23-24 awards winners for the History Department!
Marco Mirals - Excellence in Public History Thomas Gillmeister - Jesse Strong Citizenship Award Benjamin Grist - Aaron Horton Award Outstanding Student Workers - Madison Kelly, Ethan Peirce, and Regan Snead Outstanding Graduate Student - Abigail Corker Outstanding Undergrad Student - Sadie Deshon Outstanding European Scholar - Ethan Pierce PAT Book Award - Adaline Nolley