Department of
History and Geography

The Department of History and Geography has a decades-long record of teaching excellence because teaching and mentoring students are our top priorities.  The current faculty members have won dozens of teaching accolades including nine university and TAMU System teaching awards.  If you are interested in taking classes from the most dynamic and engaged faculty on campus, professors who will not only make history come alive but who will take a personal interest in your success, you have come to the right place.

Our department maintains a scholarly agenda that compares favorably with the scholarship one would expect to see at major universities.  Faculty members regularly present at professional conferences in the United States and overseas and hold positions in national and international organizations in their respective fields.  Two members of the department are recent Fulbright scholars.  In the past ten years the department has published numerous single-authored articles in academic and professional journals and no less than eight books. We believe scholarship and teaching excellence go hand in hand.  Please check out our faculty link (in right frame) to find out more about us.

History is multi-disciplinary in nature.  We encourage our students to take classes in a variety of subjects as they complete their degree programs.  Our bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history are very flexible and can be customized to suit your individual interests.  Whether you are interested in a career in teaching, working in a museum or archive, or in some other aspect of public history, or attending professional or graduate school, we have something to offer you and will do whatever it takes to get you there.

We have high expectations of ourselves and of our students.  If you become one of us you will be challenged.  But we will help you meet those challenges.  Our students are among the most engaged on campus, and our graduates often go on to attend law school or enter MA and  Ph.D. programs in history or other disciplines. Check out our success stories (link in right frame) to see what some of our recent graduates have achieved.

So take some time to explore who we are and what we have to offer you. You are always welcome to contact me or anyone in the department if you have any questions or comments. And remember, you cannot know who you are and where you going until you understand where you have already been.  I look forward to speaking with you.

Byron Pearson, J.D., Ph.D.
Department Head
bpearson@wtamu.edu

Here are some helpful links from the American Historical Association:

Careers for History Majors

Careers for History Graduate Students

History Doctoral Programs in the US and Canada

Directory of History Journals

Here are some of the faculty accomplishments for 2008-2009

• Dr. Byron Pearson received the University Magister Optimus Award for 2009 and will be the Provost Professor for 2009-2010.
• Dr. Bruce Brasington received the University Excellence Award from the Alumni Association and the Teaching Award from the Texas A&M University System Chancellor.
• Dr. Steve Bogener was the Winner for Best Paper in U.S. History from the Southwest Historical Association for Violence in the West Revisited, Again: New Mexico's Pecos Valley.
• Dr. Bryan Vizzini received the University Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching.
• Dr. Elizabeth Clark began the research abroad portion of her TWO Fulbright Awards
• Drs. Bruce Brasington, Marty Kuhlman, Paul Clark have just published or are on the verge of publishing books.
• Drs. Maritza De La Trinidad & Steve Bogener received a Killgore research seed grant as the first step in applying for NEH funding to Preserve Hispanic Heritage on the Llano Estacado.
• Dr. Jean Stuntz ascended to the presidency of the WTAMU Faculty Senate and became President-elect of H-Net: Humanities and Social Sciences Online in addition to her active scholarly agenda.