Amherst College

What you'll study

Coursework balances thematic and regional approaches and typically includes offerings in political history, social and cultural history, intellectual history, and the history of race, gender, and power. Students learn research methods—including archival work, textual analysis, and historiography—and practice clear analytical writing. The curriculum encourages breadth across periods and geographies as well as depth through upper-level seminars and a capstone research project.

Entry requirements

Admission to the History programme requires matriculation at Amherst College; applicants are evaluated through the college’s competitive undergraduate admissions process. Successful candidates usually present strong preparation in reading, writing, and critical thinking from secondary-school coursework. For transfer or visiting students, evaluation of prior college coursework and faculty recommendations is typical.

Career prospects

A History degree develops research, writing, critical reasoning, and evidence-based argumentation valued across many professions. Graduates commonly pursue careers in education, law, public policy, museums and archives, publishing, journalism, nonprofit management, and graduate study in history or related fields. The programme’s emphasis on articulated analysis and independent research is especially useful for roles that require synthesizing complex information and communicating it clearly.

Scholarships & funding angle (general)

Financial support for History majors comes from institutional need-based aid and merit scholarships administered by the college, as well as external fellowships and grants for undergraduate research and study abroad. Students are encouraged to consult the college’s financial-aid office and departmental advisors about research grants, summer funding, and national scholarship opportunities that support archival work, travel for primary-source research, or postgraduate study.