Department of History
Location: Building 9, Room 2501
Phone: (904) 620-2880
Web Address: www.unf.edu/coas/history
Dr. David Sheffler, Chair
Mission
Our mission is to graduate a liberally educated person who can view the world with a historical perspective, appreciate the traditions of various cultures, understand the role of change and continuity, and have interests encompassing humanities, social sciences, fine arts, and natural sciences. The history graduate should leave UNF with the ability to evaluate the world critically and with an understanding that education is a never-ending process.
The Program
Our program emphasizes the study of and research in the field of History. The study of history involves an understanding and appreciation of our cultural heritage, whether ancient or modern, eastern or western, humanistic or technological. It seeks to appreciate the values of our global civilization in its many parts. The study of history also stresses the importance of the historical perspective for understanding contemporary social, political, technological, and economic problems.
History depends upon the skills of communication and critical thinking. Knowledge has limited value unless it can be conveyed by word or picture, sight or sound. Studying history enables students to develop their creative and analytical powers, to learn the methodology of the discipline, to apply insights from other fields of thought, and to develop an understanding of a particular historical era.
History as a discipline is also committed to the liberal arts as the basic core of human knowledge. It contributes to the development of the individual's intellectual skills in preparation for employment. In addition, it encourages the creative and flexible thinking necessary to live in tomorrow's world of continuing change. Finally, the study of history can motivate students to pursue independent learning after college. It is essential that students appreciate the certainty of continuing change, develop the intellectual skills to respond to that change, and maintain a value system which enables them to understand the world and involve themselves in it.
Graduate Degree Program
The Department of History offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) in History. Courses in United States, European, African, Asian, and Latin American History are offered to fulfill degree requirements. By the end of the first year, students choose between thesis or non-thesis options, both of which require a minimum of 36 credit hours to complete.
For admissions requirements, see graduate school academics.
For questions regarding the application process or to begin an online application contact The Graduate School, (904) 620-1360.
For additional information or questions concerning the History Master's Degree, contact Chau Kelly, Graduate Coordinator.
Email address: chau.kelly@unf.edu. Telephone: 904-620-5234
The History Department also offers a limited number of Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs). Students selected to serve as GTAs receive a substantial stipend plus a partial tuition waiver for up to two years. Graduate Teaching Assistants assist with history courses that typically have large enrollments. They facilitate discussions, grade course work, administer exams, meet with students, and engage in other instructional activities. They also assist in a variety of ways with Distance Learning courses. Get more information on Graduate Teaching Assistantships and the application process.
Scholarships are also available to graduate students through the Graduate School. For more information on scholarships, please see Graduate School costs and funding website.
For information on Graduate Teaching Assistantships and other funding opportunities for graduate students, please contact Chau Kelly, Graduate Coordinator, at chau.kelly@unf.edu.
Undergraduate Degree Program
The requirements for a History major assure that graduates will develop both depth and breadth of knowledge of geographical regions of the world, time periods in history, and thematic approaches to understanding social, political, and economic changes in human societies. A degree in History prepares students for graduate or professional schools, as well as a wide variety of careers in museums, archives, law, teaching, parks, business, government, public service and others. History stresses learning how to read critically, write effectively, and develop diverse yet rigorous bodies of knowledge. History majors will learn skills that open a world of career opportunities.
To ensure that this broad range of knowledge is obtained all History majors are required to take courses in:
- U.S. History
- European History
- Non-Western History
- Global History
- History Seminars
Each year, the Department of History offers two Travis Bates Memorial Scholarships to outstanding undergraduate History Majors. For more information on this scholarship, see College of Arts and Sciences Scholarships.
Undergraduate Minor Program
Minor in History
Students interested in history but majoring in another subject may get a minor in history.
The history minor provides students with an overall view about the people and events of the past. Students learn the various ways in which the past continues to shape the present.
The Program of Study for a minor in History is as follows:
Total of 15 credit hours
- No more than 3 semester hours, or 1 course carrying lower-level numbers may be used in the history minor.
- A minimum of 12 hours, or 4 courses, must be upper level.
- A minimum of 6 semester hours, or 2 courses, must be taken at UNF.
- 9 semester hours may be transferred towards the minor.
- A grade of C or better is required for all minor courses.
Select 5 History courses (3000/4000 level) from classes bearing the following prefixes:
- EUH, ASN, AMH, AFH, ASH, LAH
For more information on minors in History, please contact Dr. David Sheffler at david.sheffler@unf.edu.
Minors in other Fields
Asian Studies
Asian Studies is an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of History. It is designed to facilitate an academic concentration in South, Southeast or East Asian civilization.
The faculty in Asian studies includes professors of religion, literature, philosophy, history, sociology, political science, business and education. Together, they offer a broad range of courses conceived to provide students both with the opportunity to encounter Asia from the perspective of its inhabitants and to employ a comparative perspective on the Asian contribution to world civilization.
Students minoring in Asian Studies must have the approval of a member of the Asian Studies Faculty. For more information please contact Dr. Chau Kelly at chau.kelly@unf.edu.
Ancient Studies
The Ancient Studies minor is an interdisciplinary program administered by the Department of History. The minor enables students to fashion a course of study imparting a broad yet coherent understanding of the civilization of the ancient world.
The faculty in Ancient Studies includes professors of religion, literature, languages, philosophy, and history. Together, they offer a range of courses conceived to provide students with the opportunity to encounter the ancient world from a variety of perspectives.
For more information please contact Dr. Philip Kaplan at pkaplan@unf.edu for more information.
Honors in History
History majors at UNF may participate in an Honors Program at UNF. The program is available to students in history who are intellectually mature and who seek the challenge of doing a major research project under the supervision of a faculty mentor. This program is especially recommended to students who are considering graduate work in history or another discipline, such as law, which requires substantial research and writing.
Students interested in earning honors in history should contact the department chairperson at (904) 620-1856 or email at david.sheffler@unf.edu.
Internships, Community Based Transformational Learning, and Study Abroad
The History Department offers students several opportunities for internships, classes that include a community based transformational learning component, and study abroad.
- Internships include supervised, history-based work opportunities at local museums, parks, and environmental organizations.
- We occasionally offer classes that include a significant community based transformational learning opportunity.
- We also offer opportunities for our students to study abroad in Europe, Latin America and other parts of the world.
For information on all of these opportunities, please contact the Chair of the History Department, Dr. David Sheffler, at 904-620-1856 and/or david.sheffler@unf.edu.
Department of History Faculty
David L. Sheffler, Associate Professor and Chair
Felicia Bevel, Assistant Professor
Denise I. Bossy, Associate Professor
Alison J. Bruey, Professor
Charles E. Closmann, Associate Professor
Philip G. Kaplan, Associate Professor
Chau J. Kelly, Associate Professor
Justin I. Rogers
E. Kyle Romero, Assistant Professor
Christopher J. Rominger, Assistant Professor