Bentley’s History Department offers an integrated curriculum designed to expose students to the global past, and to prepare them for the world they will inherit. As a social science department, we seek to facilitate student discovery of our nation and the world so that students are able to think critically, read thoughtfully and write eloquently through objective analysis of social, economic, and cultural material. Courses assist students in building awareness of the ways in which historical events and the development of ideas that have had a lasting impact on contemporary society.
During their freshmen year, students focus on the foundations of global culture, commerce, and politics while studying modern world history. In their sophomore year, students examine United States history, addressing indigenous societies in North America and the colonial origins of the American state through the end of the twentieth century. As juniors and seniors, students choose three trimester-long seminars drawn from a variety of fields in history and the social sciences, allowing students to focus on areas, periods, and special topics tailored to meet their interests.