History and Philosophy
As a History and Philosophy major at Ï㽶ÊÓƵ you’ll gain the ability to appreciate the interconnections between place, time and thought. You’ll be pushed to read critically and think clearly while analyzing arguments and sharpening your communication skills.
Use the strengths of the two disciplines
You’ll track the relation between historical events and the traditions of thought and investigate the relation between ideas and the milieu in which they emerged — or trace the development that contemporary concepts have followed over time and within and across traditions and locales.
You’ll be encouraged to develop your own questions regarding these interconnections, and to take the lead in exploring possible answers to them by mining the rich resources of these complementary disciplines in your own creative and nuanced ways.
The coursework in this major boosts your ability to study all subjects in the humanities and social sciences, including language, literature, cultural studies and law.
Create your future
See for yourself how we tailor your education to your talents and your goals.ÌýSchedule a visitÌýand we’ll demonstrate how Hastings will inspire you to reach your potential, or if you’re a high school senior,Ìý.
Go further with a Hastings education
Thanks to our small class sizes (most have fewer than 20 students!), and a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, you’ll work closely with faculty and your advisor to complete your degree in four years. In fact, most students who graduate from Hastings do so in four years!
°¿³Ü°ùÌýblock-style semester structure means you’ll take just one or two classes at a time — which really lets you focus more intently on each class. It also lets faculty devote more time to every student because they’re only teaching one or two classes in a block!
Graduate with experience
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ students take advantage of internships, research opportunities and other real-world experiences that help build a portfolio to prepare for your career or graduate school!
At every stop along your path, you’ll appreciate the stepping stones of teaching, counseling, inspiring, supporting and guiding from our engaged faculty. It’s an experience that’s true to Ï㽶ÊÓƵ, and you won’t find it anywhere else.
Your experience matters
Maximize scholarships — Yes, you’ll get an academic scholarship. But you’ll also get a “plus one” scholarship from the group, team or area you’re part of. It’s a great way to help pay for school — but also to find your people.
We’ve thought a lot about the ways students learn and built a four-year plan to help you navigate it all. From finding your place and in Year 1, to showing the world you’re ready for what’s next four years later.
Your transition from college to a career begins your first semester. Every class, internship, research study and activity adds up. We love to celebrate all the ways you shine — your experience matters!
Get involved beyond the History and Philosophy classroom
- Alpha Chi (Academic Honor Society)
In addition to Alpha Chi, there’s always something to do at Hastings. Student clubs, service learning, Greek life, recreation and more make Hastings a great campus for student life.
Find scholarships for History and Philosophy majors
Your high school achievements can both fuel and fund your success at Hastings. We offer a range of generous and renewable academic scholarships based on your GPA. Then there’sÌý“plus one” scholarships — an additional scholarship for participating in anything from athletics to the arts to media (it’s a long list!).
It all adds up to making Hastings an great choice for you and your family.
Faculty
Dr. Glenn Avent
Professor of History
Dr. Robert S. Babcock
Professor of History
Dr. Ali Beheler
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Co-Chair of the Department of History, Philosophy, & Religion, Program Director for Philosophy
Dr. Catherine Biba
Associate Professor of History
Dr. Dorothy Dean
Associate Professor of Religion, Program Director for Religion
Success in History and Philosophy
Ï㽶ÊÓƵ sophomore Sam Acosta Castellanos stepped into his position as a quality and lab intern at Nova-Tech Inc. to help ensure the quality and safety of animal medicine the company makes. This real-world experience over the summer pushed him to grow as both a scientist and a person. “I go into the lab and […]
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Kylie (Luth) Christenson ’19 leads a visitor up the elegant curving staircase of the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer in Grand Island, Nebraska. On the second level, she gestures toward a few artifacts lining the stark white walls — a printing press once used at the Hastings Tribune, a dog-powered treadmill that operated a […]
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What happens when theories of religion, geography, modern life and nature are combined? Ï㽶ÊÓƵ students Emma Morelli and Claire Fuqua went to a five-week Summer Youth Internship (SYI) at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary (PTS) this past summer to find out. Fuqua, a sophomore wildlife biology and philosophy & religion major from Woodland Park, Colorado; […]
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Dr. Brian Whetstone ’18 knows that history lives well beyond textbooks and traditional classrooms. It exists in the museums we visit, the trails we hike, the documentaries we watch, the events we commemorate and the landmarks we treasure. As a public history consultant living in Dunstable, Massachusetts, Whetstone preserves and advocates for our collective connections […]
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Megan Arrington-Williams ’09, executive director of Prairie Loft Center for Outdoor and Agricultural Learning, spends her days connecting people of all ages to the wonders of the natural world. On field trips to the farm-based center west of Hastings, preschoolers scamper down tree-lined trails, collect seeds and make pies in the outdoor mud kitchen. First-through-sixth […]
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History major and recent Ï㽶ÊÓƵ graduate Maggie Price got involved with different organizations as soon as she stepped on campus. From choir to theatre (even directing a show!) to presenting at a history conference, she found community by being involved. “This is a reason why I chose to come to a smaller campus,” she […]
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When Ï㽶ÊÓƵ junior Anya Myers studied abroad at Dundee University in Scotland for the spring semester, she stumbled upon and joined a Medieval Reenactment Society, a club whose members reenact historical battles using accurate replica weapons from the time period. Myers, a history major, found herself wielding axes while donning armor to protect herself […]
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Studying Turkish in Ankara, Turkey, last summer confirmed for Ï㽶ÊÓƵ junior Betsy Miller that travel and a career in international policy are in her future. “I would love to go back to the region somehow, and I now know that Turkey, or Eurasia more broadly, is the area of the world that I would […]
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The continued connection between Ï㽶ÊÓƵ and the nonprofit organization Prairie Loft helped Sam Johnson ‘22 foster his love for connecting people with the environment and helping people interact with it. The summer before his senior year, Johnson was looking for a job opportunity that could provide him with experience in his field. Covid-19 made […]
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