The History Department has a strong record of student achievement and programing. We host two student run organizations: the History Student Council and Phi Alpha Theta.
History Student Council
The History Student Council is currently inactive. If you are interested in restarting this organization, please contact Department Administrative Assistant Carla Ison at ison@umbc.edu.
Phi Alpha Theta
Phi Alpha Theta is a history-focused academic honor society founded in 1921. It currently hosts 400,000 member nationwide. For more information about the national organization see their website. The UMBC chapter, Psi-Delta, was established in 1977 and currently boasts 12 members. Members host events each semester, including field trips to local historic sites, collaborative Special Collections events at the AOK Library, as well as movie nights and other activities.
Membership offers access to a national network of like-minded historians, as well as opportunities for scholarships and awards, a newsletter magazine, and special regalia for graduation. The Society also hosts national and regional conferences for history scholars each year, which its members are welcome to attend.
To join the UMBC chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, a student must have taken at least 12 credits in history, have a 3.0 overall GPA and a 3.1 GPA in their history classes. Students do not need to be a history majors or minors to join.
Activities
History is not simply about dusty old libraries and rumpled professors wearing tweed jackets – though we love both of those things. In the History Department we take a hands-on approach to understanding the past, eating the foods, walking the streets, and generally immersing ourselves in the worlds of the people we study. We also think creatively about the many ways that historians can communicate stories about the past to a popular audience. These efforts enhance undergraduates learning experience. Check out a few of the ways in which we do this in our classes below.
Turning Board Games into History Lessons
The History of Baltimore with Dr. Melissa Blair