It is the memory of human experience. “As a field of study, history provides the context with which we define our relationship with our local community, nation, and the world. Without the careful study and analysis of history, the past ‘remains an impenetrable wilderness.’ History offers an ordered account of past experiences and their significance to our present lives. It transforms obscure, contradictory and confusing events into meaningful occurrences. Analysis of how positive changes have been achieved and how evil has been confronted give us the hope to strive for a better future.

“The past affects and shapes everyone’s lives. Its study connects peoples together and provides a measure by which our actions, ideas, goals, and conduct can be evaluated. Knowledge of the past and an understanding of current events enable us to see cause and effect, to perceive what we must maintain or change, and to better analyze political, social, cultural, and economic events to their greatest advantage.

“The awareness and incorporation of history into our daily lives foster personal growth, professional competence, and civic responsibility. Students who undertake study in history develop a frame of reference with which to master other disciplines and build a strong foundation for a career in any field.”²

At the University of Scranton, the Department of History offers two major programs--History and International Studies--that provide students with a foundation for successful careers that require sound knowledge of the past, present, and possible future of the nation and world.