History Minor - Academic Experience

Phi Alpha Theta is the national honor society for students in the field of history, with 860 chapters on college and university campuses across the nation. Membership is mark of intellectual accomplishment and commitment and brings with it participation in local, regional, and national Phi Alpha Theta events.

Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours (4 courses) in History, achieve a minimum GPA of 3.1 in History and a GPA of 3.0 or better overall. A maximum of 3 credit hours of online, transfer or AP credits may be applied to the membership eligibility requirements.

Public History Internships

Majors in History have the opportunity to undertake a public history internship — whether in Western New York or elsewhere. Through internships in museums and cultural institutions, our students develop public outreach programs, lead student groups through projects, help to install and curate exhibitions, and gain valuable behind-the-scenes knowledge of the operation of cultural and historical organizations.

The history department encourages history majors and minors to participate in study abroad programs. Study abroad is a natural fit for History students, giving them the chance to observe areas they have otherwise studied and to engage with university students in another country. The department supports study abroad for majors with scholarships, outlined below.

Students in history regularly attend lectures and presentations made by prominent national and international scholars invited to UB. Besides departmental-based lectures, the department collaborates with the Early Modern Reading Group, the Humanities Institute, Asian Studies, the Graduate Group for German and Austrian Studies, the Center for Disability Studies, the Institute for Jewish Thought and Heritage, and other departments and groups on campus to plan a stimulating calendar of events for students and faculty alike.

See the UB Student Association webpage.

Horton Undergraduate History Essay
Each spring the History department awards the John Horton Prize, named after a late faculty member, for the best essay written by an undergraduate in a history course during the previous calendar year.