First Year
Welcome to the History Department! 
Kristen Neuschel, Director of Undergraduate Studies
On behalf of all of the faculty in the department of history I want to welcome you to campus. The excitement you bring is something that is particularly special to us in the History Department. As your neighbors in Carr Building , we love the enthusiasm and curiosity to learn everything about Duke and your new life as a Dookie.
My invitation to you: Make East Campus, Carr Building and the History Department itself your own. History, I feel, is a vital part of the education that Duke has to offer you. Questions about how history might fit your education plans? You will want to consult with the Academic Advising Center and your academic advisor, of course, but feel free to come next door and see me as well. My office is in 233 Carr Building. My email address is kneusche@duke.edu . You'll find your history professors, as instructors, approachable as well.
Why take a history class? There are many reasons. Our department has some of the most dedicated and inspiring teachers you will encounter at Duke. In the last few years alone four professors have been honored by the university with distinguished undergraduate teaching awards: Claudia Koonz (European History), Edward Balleisen (American History), Seymour Mauskopf (History of Science) and Tom Robisheaux (European History). It's no accident then that students consistently rate the quality of history courses and history professors higher than the average course experience at the university. The reason for this is simple. As teachers we try to bring to the classroom exciting topics and questions, ones that make you think in new ways about issues of great current interest. We try to inspire you to learn how to make sense out of complicated human events, how to think about your world in challenging new ways, and how to write critically. You will therefore find a history major can be a gateway to almost any life path that interests you.
So check out our professors and classes! Note that most history courses are open to all undergraduates, including you as a first year student. Few have pre-requisites. You may enroll in any history courses numbered 1 – 189 (with only a very few exceptions).
Interested in history as a possible major? You can find all of the information about the requirements for a history major on the history department website: http://www-history.aas.duke.edu/undergrad/ugmajor.php .
For other information – events, news, announcements about internships, awards, fellowship opportunities, etc – just go to the undergraduate section of the history department website. There's always something going on in history!