Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy
An Overview of the Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy
History and the Liberal Arts
History is an important part of a liberal education and important to the education of persons in all walks of life. A major in history prepares students for professional opportunities in many fields.
Wide Range of Courses
The Department supports the mission of the University by providing courses for the core and by providing a wide range of history and philosophy courses in support of its majors and minors, as well as geography courses that can be used as electives for many majors. These courses are also useful for students in other majors, especially those with plans to pursue careers in teaching.
Faculty
The faculty includes scholars who have been honored for their teaching, research and contributions to public history.
Department Mission
An education in history support the aims of a liberal education. Through its offerings in the core, its major, minor, and Master's degrees in history, its minor in geography, and its major and minor in philosophy, the Department of History, Geography and Philosophy has as its mission to provide students with the following: a working knowledge of past and place; an understanding of the connections of past and present; intellectual curiosity and enthusiasm for learning; an ability to conduct historical, geographical , and philosophical research, to examine and analyze material critically, and to communicate knowledge and ideas effectively; preparation for advanced study and professional careers in history or other occupations; and the capacity for lifelong learning and responsible participation as citizens of today's world. Faculty members in the department seek to serve as excellent teachers and as role models of lifelong scholarly pursuit and community service.
The study of history prepares one directly for many occupations and indirectly for many more. History majors often go into work related to history, such as teaching or administration at the secondary or college level or into work at historical societies, archives, museums, parks, or historical sites. Library work, government service, and many other areas not directly related to history are also open to history majors. History is an excellent background subject for those going into the law, the ministry, journalism and media work. Many business positions are open to history majors, especially those requiring breadth of knowledge, research and writing ability, and skill in organizing information. Graduate courses in history can fulfill content requirements for M.A.T., M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees with a concentration in social science. In addition the department offers the M.A. in History.
The study of philosophy with its emphasis on critical reading, writing, and argumentative skills is excellent preparation for law school. Students who wish to go to medical school might major in philosophy while simultaneously doing the pre-medicine curriculum. Philosophy also helps prepare future physicians to discuss the ethical issues so omnipresent in medicine today. Students majoring in English and philosophy, or a foreign language and philosophy are well prepared for the theoretical study demanded in these graduate programs. Students interested in business can combine a major or minor in philosophy with a minor in business. Students who choose a major in philosophy ensure that a significant portion of their education is devoted to the intensive study of reason, argumentation and ethics which are valuable tools for many careers.
Undergraduate Degrees
BA in History
BA in Philosophy
BA in Geography
Graduate Degrees
MA in History
MA in Public History
Contact Information
Department of History, Geography, and Philosophy
Georgia College
Campus Box 47
Milledgeville, GA 31061
(478) 445-5215
ABOUT GEORGIA COLLEGE: Georgia College, the state's designated Public Liberal Arts University, combines the educational experience expected at esteemed private liberal arts colleges with the affordability of public higher education. Its four colleges – arts and sciences, business, education and health sciences – provide 6,600 undergraduate and graduate students with an exceptional learning environment that extends beyond the classroom, with hands-on involvement with faculty research, community service, residential learning communities, study abroad and myriad internships