The University of Dayton Department of History offers students a challenging yet flexible program of study that emphasizes the distinctiveness and utility of the historian’s craft. Courses focus not only on the past, but also on the manner in which historians gather their evidence and reach their conclusions.

Successful Americans have long understood that knowledge of history offers opportunities to make better decisions. A history background can provide important advantages in analyzing contemporary events and trends; whether in business or in service, good solutions today depend on a clear understanding of yesterday. Even in daily life, history not only informs but instructs. The skills of the historian — critical thinking and the ability to conduct documentary research — can influence the way we read a newspaper, shop for a car, trace our family lineage or evaluate the performance of our institutions.