University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown

History

student raising her hand to ask the professor a question

Dr. Paul Douglas Newman engaging his students.

Major Curricula Minor Curricula | Certificate in Public & Applied HistoryAll History Courses | All Education Courses | Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and History Club | Student Profiles | Alumni Profiles (Coming Soon)

Welcome to the History Program at the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown!

We offer a Bachelor of Arts in History, as well as a Certificate in Public & Applied History, and two Minors: History and Art History. With the Education Division, we also offer Bachelors of Arts degrees in Middle Level Education Social Studies and Secondary Education Social Studies--History.

Faculty

All our faculty have advanced degrees in History and all are advisors to our majors and minors. We all have research agendas and actively engage with our professional organizations. You can see more of what we do and who we are in links below.

Dr. Mark Conlon, Secondary Education, Social Studies--History

Dr. Valerie Grash, Art and Architectural History

Dr. Robert Matson, European History and Religious Studies, Film and Media Studies

Dr. Paul Douglas Newman, Early America, Indigenous America, and Public History

Dr. Veronica Wilson, Recent America, Womens' History, Cold War

Dr. Katherine Reist, Emeritus, Asia, U.S.-Asia Diplomatic

Career Options and Alumni

Some of our majors have gone on to do graduate work in History and teach at colleges and universities around the country. Others have pursued graduate degrees in Museum Science and Library Science and work at museums, historic sites, and archives; and some have pursued law degrees and work in the legal profession. Still others have gone straight into history professions in the National Park Service, state parks, and local historical societies. Many of our graduates teach History and Social Studies in middle and high schools. Many utilize the analytical, writing, and organizational skills they have acquired to work in government, non-profits, banks, and corporations. You can check out some of our alumni stories in the Alumni link above (under construction as of 11/15/2023).

The Certificate Program in Public & Applied History is an excellent way to work toward a career in museums, archives, historic presevation, national and state parks, as well as film, writing, and web content creation.

Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in History and the History Club

The History Club posed with the Mountain Cat Statue.

The History Club crowding the Mountain Cat.

The History Department is also proud to have an affiliate chapter of Phi Alpha Theta International Honor Society in History. All members of the Department are members of this prestigious organization, the second such international honor society formed in the United States after Phi Beta Kappa. Annual inductions are in April. Students often present their academic work at Phi Alpha Theta regional conferences each year.

The History Department also offers a History Club. History Club is one of the most active academic clubs on campus. They take several field trips each year, hold weekly meetings with history-related activities, and volunteer on and off campus in philanthropic efforts.