Building the Study of History into Professional Programs

A one-year planning project integrating the study of history into undergraduate professional programs in in homeland security, informatics, and public health.The University at Albany, SUNY, seeks planning support to expand the role of history in its undergraduate curriculum. By integrating historical methodology and scholarship into the university’s professional programs in homeland security, informatics, and public health, the proposed project will grow the history major and foster historically informed, technology-enhanced learning across the university. Support allows us to develop a new general education course that brings historical context to the study of contemporary issues; implement “Common Problems Pedagogy” course pairings that bring students in history and non-humanities courses together with community groups to address issues of pressing concern; add history courses to electives counted toward majors in professional programs and encourage dual majors; expand interdisciplinary undergraduate research symposia; and share resources, training, and technology across disciplines to enhance active, participatory learning.