WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
AT WICHITA STATE UNIVERSITY
The Department of History has developed a tradition of excellence since its founding as a part of Fairmount College in 1895. Several of our current major student awards—the Rydjord, the Onsgard, and the Graham awards—are named after outstanding and beloved history professors. Our current faculty continue the tradition of excellence. They have received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Fulbright Foundation and numerous other granting agencies. Many have also received both college and university commendations for their teaching. While our department is relatively small and therefore does not cover the entire range of possible specialties, we have strengths in many areas of American and European history. As should be true of any research university, our professors are publishing scholars in their fields as well as strong and active teachers. We see the two as completely integrated and related. Most of our classes are small (under twenty), all, with a rare exception, are taught by regular faculty with a Ph.D. degree. All interested students may pursue questions with professors outside class. Our graduate teaching assistants do not take charge of classes, but they attend the larger class sections, hold office hours, and are available to help students.
News: FAREWELL TO JUDITH JOHNSON AND PHILIP THOMAS :
This spring, the department says farewell two of its most popular professors, Judith Johnson and Phillip Thomas. Both are retiring after years of service. A medievalist in training, Thomas also researched and wrote about the American West and environmental history. His "Lost Civilizations" course was among the department's most popular offerings. An active speaker in the community, Thomas was known for his portrayals of Meriwether Lewis through the Kansas Humanities Council. Known for her passion for Franklin 
Delano Roosevelt and the Beatles, Dr. Johnson taught classes on Viet Nam, the 1960s, the New Deal, and Mexican history, among others. For the past several years, Dr. Johnson served as the department's chair. Now both professors are relocating to new lives in new parts of the country. Dr. Thomas now spends his time in Creede, Colorado, while Dr. Johnson is enjoying her new life in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
NEW!: To see a video interview with Dr. Craig Miner, click here
OUR MISSION
"The purpose of the Department of History at Wichita State University is to illuminate the forces that have shaped our world and to provide a historical perspective for the future. To accomplish those goals, the department offers a flexible program of study. While students may focus on a specific area of concentration, the program introduces them to a variety of classes that assures the students a foundation for an integrated liberal education. Combined with courses in other disciplines, the study of history prepares students for entrance into a wide variety of career opportunities, including business, government, law, journalism, teaching, communications, public service, and the military."
In addition, our students work with several interdisciplinary programs here on campus. These include the Interational Studies Certificate program and the Asian Studies Certificate program.
OUR PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Program
Graduate Program
Public History
ACTIVITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS
The department has sponsored the District Six History Day for Middle and High School students for more than twenty-five years—an event which now draws about 300 students. In addition, the department hosts the Gamma Rho Chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society and The Society of Public Historians. The Gamma Rho Chapter publishes a student journal, under the direction of Helen Hundley, The Fairmount Folio. We are proud that our majors and graduate students have received regular recognition for their work and succeed well as they further their education elsewhere. Interested in joining Phi Alpha Theta? Check out http://www.phialphatheta.org/ for more information and for downloadable forms.
The department also offers a variety of awards and scholarships. Contact George Dehner for more information.
CONTACT US
Department of History
Wichita State University
1845 Fairmount
Wichita, KS 67260-0045
Phone: 316-978-3150
Fax: 316-978-3473
The new department chair is Robert Owens. To hear an interview with Dr. Owens, click here
For information on undergraduate programs, contact Craig Torbenson.
For more information on graduate programs, contact John Dreifort.
For more information on the Public History Program, contact Jay Price.
For more about Fiske Hall and directions, click here