History is to society what memory is to an individual; it brings to a civilization an understanding of its identity. The distinguished medievalist J. R. Strayer expressed it this way: “No community can survive and no institution can function without constant reference to past experience. We are ruled by precedents fully as much as by laws, which is to say that we are ruled by the collective memory of the past. It is the memory of common experiences that makes scattered individuals into a community.”

The study of history enables us to deal more knowledgeably with continuity and change in society. The construction of an informed sense of our past is a fundamental ingredient in appreciating and understanding the present as well as anticipating the future. History majors are prepared to be active and contributing members of their society. The study of history, which has long held a major role in the liberal arts, is an entry to elementary and secondary education, graduate study in many fields, and a wide range of employment opportunities that require abilities in communication, conceptualization, and processing of information.