Department of History and American Indian Studies
From the earliest days at UND, history faculty have played an important part in preparing students to be engaged citizens of their communities, the state, and the world.
Today the department remains committed to teaching the past and developing in our students the reading, writing, and critical thinking skills necessary to contribute to an increasingly global world. Each faculty member is an active researcher in their respective fields, and bring fresh perspectives on different cultures and ideas into the classes they teach.
The University of North Dakota Department of American Indian Studies is the only academic unit in the North Dakota University System offering a Bachelor's degree in American Indian / Native American Studies.
Our Programs
Undergraduate Degree
Students can also obtain a minor in American Indian Studies.
Graduate Degree
The History Department at UND also offers a minor in History.
History Faculty and Research
These programs are supported by a faculty whose research interests span periods of American, Ancient, European, and African history. Faculty approach their fields using different methods, with an emphasis on social, cultural, military, gender, and intellectual history. Faculty and student research draw upon textual analysis, the study of material culture, quantitative methods, and oral history to bring the past alive.
Both undergraduate and graduate students work closely with History faculty to complete independent research projects on topics of their choosing. The department also promotes engagement with the discipline through a regional archive with collections of national significance, the largest library between Minneapolis and Seattle, the history honor society Phi Alpha Theta, monthly informal workshops, and several annual lectures.
Department Mission
The Department of History seeks to engage students, the university community and public audiences in critical analysis of the past to promote cultural literacy and inform our society’s future. Through research, teaching, and service, the History Department promotes social engagement and the critical thinking skills that are the heart of liberal arts education; an education that equips students with the knowledge and skills to succeed in the modern world.