DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY & POLITICAL STUDIES

Information

Jonathan Scriven, D.IR.

INTRODUCTION

Washington Adventist University provides excellent opportunities for students interested in history, law, government and politics. The nation’s capital is home to unparalleled resources, including the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the Smithsonian Institution, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Capitol Hill, advocacy organizations, think tanks, the General Conference Archives and the Ellen G. White Estate.

The university’s affiliation with the Center for Law and Public Policy, in particular, enhances access to the resources of Washington, D.C., through internships, conferences, legislative advocacy and intercollegiate moot court competition. Students who demonstrate scholarly excellence in the study of history may earn membership in WAU’s chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society. The Washington Adventist University chapter is Kappa Epsilon.

MISSION

In keeping with the mission of Washington Adventist University, History and Political Studies plays a two-fold role in producing “graduates who bring competence and moral leadership to their communities.”

First, the programs seek to foster excellent educational experiences in support of the university’s General Education goals, particularly to “explore fundamental concepts of the humanities and social sciences,” “enhance the academic processes of listening, reading, speaking, writing and studying,” and “acquiring knowledge of belief systems, values and ethics.”

Second, through disciplined, energetic pursuit of historical understanding, the programs seeks to nurture majors who are dedicated to excellence, who “embrace the adventure of truth,” who find “pleasure and joy” in learning and who link with their scholarship involvement for the common good.

For history majors, political studies majors and general students, “the challenge and opportunity of the nation’s capital” are seized by placing particular emphasis on utilizing the unique resources in Washington, D.C., for the study of history, government, law and politics.

GOALS

The goals of the History and Political Studies programs are to equip students to:

See themselves and their society from the vantage point of different times and places, displaying a sense of informed perspective and a mature view of human nature.
Read and think critically, write and speak clearly and persuasively and conduct research effectively.
Gain admission to graduate and professional schools and/or find employment in which they can apply the skills and competencies developed in college.
Participate in the affairs of the world around them on the basis of personal faith and values informed by historical perspective.
Excel in careers and activities after graduation that contribute to social justice, peace and human rights.

OBJECTIVES

Students completing the history or political studies major will:

Compare favorably in historical and political understanding with students completing a similar program nationally.
Demonstrate competence in analyzing evidence: be able to gather evidence systematically from primary and secondary sources and interpret the evidence in a coherent, creative, responsible manner in writing or speaking.
Demonstrate competence in the skills of a historian or political analyst by producing a research paper of at least 3,000 words, based on primary sources, that is clearly written, demonstrates individual thought and advances understanding of the topic.
Exhibit sensitivities to human values in their own and other cultural traditions and in turn establish values of their own.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

A major in history or political studies equips the graduate with skills in how to think critically, communicate effectively and participate knowledgeably in society. These transferable skills constitute a strong foundation for success in a vast variety of careers in a rapidly changing employment market. Graduates are thus positioned to enter many different professions, including, law, teaching, politics, archival and museum work, government service, international service, business, medicine and ministry.

HONOR SOCIETY

Washington Adventist University has been a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the national history honor society, since 1965. The purpose of Phi Alpha Theta is to promote the study of history and to bring students and faculty together for intellectual and social exchanges.

The university’s chapter, Kappa Epsilon, is open to all undergraduate students who have completed 12 semester hours in history with a GPA of at least 3.1 in history and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or better. Membership is not limited to history majors.

Programs

Baccalaureate Degree

Minors