Why study history?
The study of history begins with questions, not answers. We seek to know what happened in the past, and we also seek to understand why.
As our present-day context raises new challenges for our communities, historians are inspired to ask new questions about the past, seeking understanding of a broad variety of human experiences. Historians explore questions about past politics and economics, intellectual developments, social concerns shaped by race, gender and class, and facets of culture ranging from arts and languages to human spaces and emotions. As a result, the study of history is dynamic, rather than static, and those trained in this discipline develop valuable skills in gathering, evaluating, connecting and interpreting factual information, and in the use of evidence to argue persuasively for their conclusions.
Learn more about what historians do and why employers value these skills.
News
April 10, 2026
VCU history alum honored for museum curation and more
From tenures at Wilton House, DAR Museum and North Carolina’s Old Salem – and from scholarship on Black artisans – William Strollo wins the History Graduate Alumni Achievement Award.
History Spotlight
Meet Heldana
Heldana Fufa knows that being a history student opens your mind. Visit our 'Meet a Student' page to read more about why this this native of Ethiopia selected VCU, and what she plans to do with her bachelor's degree in history.
