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History Department

Overview

SUNY Cortland’s History Department offers two majors, a minor and a graduate program. We have a world-class faculty offering classes ranging from Revolutionary America to Ancient Greece, from Medieval Europe to Modern China, from the South Asia to Native American History, from World Environmental History to Public History, and dozens more. In our history courses, students don't just study the past — they become historians.

Check out these additional resources on why majoring in history brings a lifetime of opportunity, career choice, and excitement:



News

Community Roundtable on May 7 to Focus on Laws Promoting Democracy

April 30, 2009
SUNY Cortland Associate Professor of History Girish Bhat will offer his thoughts about whether democracy has stood the test of time in the modern political climate at a community roundtable on Thursday, May 7, at the College.

Seven Valleys Writing Project Application Workshops on April 8

April 6, 2009
SUNY Cortland's Seven Valleys Writing Project (SVWP) is seeking applications for its 2009 Summer Institute, a professional development seminar for kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from across the region in all fields of study. Applications are due Monday, April 20. Two application-writing workshops will be held on Wednesday, April 8, to provide information about the application process.

Jewish Historian Looks at Israeli-Arab Conflict on April 6

April 6, 2009
SUNY Cortland Professor of History Sanford Gutman will deliver the College's Phi Kappa Phi lecture on the subject of Jewish-Arab relations on Monday, April 6. Titled "Opposing Loyalties?: A Progressive, Jewish Historian Confronts the Arab-Israeli Conflict," the talk begins at 4:15 p.m. in Old Main on the third floor mezzanine. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Award-Winning Filmmaker to Show Women's Cultural Similarities on March 18

March 13, 2009
Jennifer Fox, an internationally acclaimed, award-winning filmmaker, will speak about her experience traveling the globe to document women's lives, on Wednesday, March 18, at SUNY Cortland.

Slavery in New York State Expert to Lecture, Hold Workshops in Cortland March 4

March 4, 2009
Historian Alan Singer, a professor of education at Hofstra University, will address "Time to Teach the Truth: The History of Slavery in New York State" during a daylong series of talks and workshops at SUNY Cortland and at Cortland Junior-Senior High School on Wednesday, March 4.

Clubs/Societies

The History Club is one of SUNY Cortland’s most active organizations on campus! Its goals are to provide a social setting for developing interests in historical topics and to establish a better relationship between faculty and students. 

The Archaeology Club will be discussing cool and interesting archaeological finds, holding lectures, attending events both off and on campus, visiting archaeological sites, and exploring methods for being an effective archaeologist. Every Cortland student is welcome to join us!