History Student Resources

You can earn an undergraduate degree in history as well as specialized training in history education leading to the BSEd. Combining historical studies with other disciplines provides you with a well-rounded background that is increasingly important in many areas of employment. CMU's history teacher education programs provide solid preparation for a rewarding career in education. More than half of CMU's history majors plan to teach. Earning your history degree will also prepare you for graduate study leading to a career in foreign or government service, teaching, research, law, museum, library, or archival work.

Sign a major or minor in history

Central Michigan University offers major and minor programs in history, public history, and history education. Instructions for finding and signing up for your program can be found in the following list.

  1. Education students. If you are a teacher-in-training, pursuing a history major or minor as part of the BSEd degree, please email the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures. 
  2. Public history​. If you want to sign a major in public history, you should email Professor Jay Martin or email Professor Brittany Bayless Fremion, both of whom can advise and sign your program.
  3. Everyone else. All other majors and minors in history (BA or BS) should identify a potential advisor by finding a professor whose research or teaching fields match your interests. This site offers full details about faculty fields and research areas, and you can find even more by clicking on the name of individual professors. If you're uncertain about which area of history best fits your interests and plans, please contact the department office for help with finding an advisor or to schedule an appointment with the department chair.​

For other questions regarding advising or signing a major/minor in history, please email the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures.

History 300/400 registration forms

Below are fillable versions of registration forms for Education program students who wish to enroll in HST 300 or HST 400. Please email completed forms to the Department of History, World Languages, and Cultures. Note: Completed forms must be saved with a different file name, otherwise the form will come through blank.

Study abroad opportunities in History

With comprehensive information about long- and short-term opportunities for international education through CMU, including courses and programs in history, the university's Study Abroad Office is the best place to start learning about where in the world you might take your next history course (or spend your next semester). Professors Kathy Donohue and Doina Harsanyi​ are the faculty coordinators for study abroad in history and are happy to offer advice or answer questions about foreign-study opportunities related to history. 

    Scholarships and awards

    The Duane Mark Bouliew History Prize is awarded to a junior or senior with at least 12 credits in history completed at CMU.

    Requirements: The prize must be used for undergraduate study at CMU or in one of CMU's study-abroad programs. Applicants must have a 3.25 GPA or higher in history, 3.0 GPA overall & ranking in top 35% of class. Also must be active in Phi Alpha Theta, the History Club or other campus or community organizations, and must submit two letters of recommendation from history faculty members.

    The Gabriel Chien Memorial Fund Essay Prize honors the memory of Gabriel Chien, a former CMU history professor. We award the prize annually to one student for a written essay that focuses on an aspect of Chinese culture, Sino-American relations, or a comparative study of China.

    This scholarship was established in 2008 in honor of Dr. Howard V. Evans, who was a member of the history department from 1969 until his retirement in 1990. He was a dedicated and beloved teacher of European history, specializing in the fields of the Renaissance and 18th Century Europe with a specialty in the French Revolution. He taught several honors seminars, guided two study abroad groups, was longtime advisor to the History Honors Society, Phi Alpha Theta, and was always supportive of students wishing to study abroad. He is the author of numerous articles and two books of the history of his hometown Redgranite, Wisconsin. The scholarship is awarded bi-annually for study abroad depending on available funds.

    Requirements: Applicants must have 3.0 or higher GPA in history. Other criteria considered include: educational benefit to student's plan of study;commitment to serious study; and financial need.

    The Mae Teeters History Prize is awarded annually to a CMU student majoring in history.

    Requirements: Applicants must have a GPA of 3.5 or higher, produce an outstanding essay in a CMU history seminar, be elected to Phi Alpha Theta and make a promise and commitment to a career of service. Applicants must also submit a thoughtful proposal for using the award for continued study in history and 2 letters of reference from CMU history faculty members.

    The Dennis Thavenet Study Abroad History Award provides financial assistance to a junior or senior history student studying abroad, with some preference given for study in the Netherlands. The award is named in honor of Emeritus Professor Dennis Thavenet, who has been very active in promoting the benefits of study abroad experiences for students.

    Requirements: Applicants must have 3.0 or higher GPA in history. Other criteria considered include: educational benefit to student's plan of study; commitment to serious study; and financial need. Applicants must also solicit 2 letters of recommendation from History faculty.

    The Dennis Thavenet Study Abroad Scholarship provides financial assistance to a junior or senior history student studying abroad, with some preference given for study in the Netherlands. The award is named in honor of Emeritus Professor Dennis Thavenet, who has been very active in promoting the benefits of study abroad experiences for students.

    Requirements: Applicants must have 3.0 or higher GPA in history. Other criteria considered include: educational benefit to student's plan of study; commitment to serious study; and financial need. Applicants must also solicit 2 letters of recommendation from History faculty.​

    Student organizations

    CMU's chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society is a professional society whose mission is to promote the study of history through the encouragement of research, good teaching, publication and the exchange of learning and ideas among historians. They seek to bring students, teachers and writers of history together for intellectual and social exchanges, which promote and assist historical research and publication by our members in a variety of ways.

    Together with the History Club, Phi Alpha Theta engages in both academic and social activities. Academic activities have included attending national and regional paper conferences and organizing faculty and graduate student research talks. Social events include museum visits, region cultural events and more. The organization’s biggest event is the annual Humanities Ball, a fundraiser whose proceeds go to the Freedom House of Detroit. Members of Phi Alpha Theta are eligible for various history department scholarships and national paper prizes and awards. Moreover, they have the opportunity to interact with history department faculty and students who share a love and pursuit of historical knowledge.

    To learn more, email Phi Alpha Theta and the History Club or visit their Facebook Page. Any further questions may be directed to Phi Alpha Theta's faculty advisor at CMU, Professor Brittany Bayless Fremion.