Department of History & Related Fields

From Ancient Eqyptian excavation to American Political and Military history, there is no dry or dull moment in the History Department!

As a student of history, you'll cover the whole span of history—from the ancient world to current events. 

Beyond the facts, you'll learn to see history in 3-D by studying the political, social, cultural, intellectual and relgious histories of civilizations and time periods.

As a history major or minor, you can take courses in four main areas—History, Economics and Geography and Political Science.

Why Study History at Northwestern College?

Study under full-time history professors, not graduate assistants.
All Northwestern history professors possess Ph.D. degrees and the best of the best in their specialized areas (the Ancient World, U.S. history, Russian and European history, biblical history and more).

Reflect on Christianity throughout history.
Learn to see historical events with the lens of Every history student takes the class "History of the Christian Church."

Gain a lifetime of both practical and scholarly knowledge for your career.
Our graduates routinely contact us with updates on how their history major helped prepare them for their chosen careers. 

Enjoy special classes...like hieroglyphics!
Northwestern is one of a few schools in the nation to offer a study of hieroglyphics! And you can learn it from a professor who found a royal tomb in Egypt!

History Students discuss a Christ-centered worldview and engaging in the world.

 Intern at the Minnesota State Capitol

In the past year, Northwestern has placed seven interns at the Minnesota Statehouse, where they joined several NWC alumni who are working there full-time. 

History in the News

Holy history: Students shine at 2012 Conference on Faith & History

In early October, Scott Anderson ‘12, Rosie Muska ‘13, Adam Saxton ’13, Ricky Seaman ’12 and alum Justin Myhra ’12 filled a booth at America’s oldest restaurant, Union Oyster House in Boston, sitting across from former president John F. Kennedy’s preferred seat.  Over plates of freshly shucked oysters and bowls of clam chowder, they celebrated the end of the Conference on Faith and History , hosted by Gordon College.

At the conference, students got to present papers on their favorite topics, with feedback from panel commentators and professors alike. After some hard earned success, they walked most of the Freedom Trail, a path weaving through sites like Paul Revere’s old north church and Bunker Hill.
 

Dr. Jonathan Den Hartog selected for Princeton University fellowship

During the 2012–13 academic year, American History Professor Jonathan Den Hartog, Ph.D., is a Visiting Fellow with the James Madison Program for American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University in New Jersey.   

Dr. Den Hartog was one of only 15 in the country selected for this prestigious fellowship opportunity.  

And the Rest is History

Find out what motivated Dr. Charles Aling to switch his major from pre-med to ancient history in college...and become one of the world's experts in Egyptology and ancient history.   

Dr. Aling interviewed about unrest in Egypt

Dr. Aling spoke with Faith Radio’s Neil Stavem about Egypt’s current events and biblical history. Listen to the 8-minute interview.

Dr. Aling is known to some on campus as “Indiana Jones.” He served as assistant field director in Egypt on excavation projects in the Valley of the Kings. Among other courses, he teaches “History and Archaeology of Ancient Egypt.”