History professor teaching in a classroom

Critical Thinking

The History and Politics department teaches you to become a critical thinker and communicate persuasively to become an agent for positive change in the service of others.

Mission

The Department of History and Politics' mission is to offer an exceptional learning experience in the Jesuit tradition of academic rigor and values-centered education. We want our students to acquire the kind of skills, knowledge, and understandings that prepare them for variety of careers and for lives as citizen leaders in pluralistic society. We expect our Majors to think critically and to communicate persuasively, to develop a multi-disciplinary knowledge of the world, and to become agents for positive change in the Service of Others.

Why Study History?

The abilities to describe, understand, and communicate effectively are skills in demand not only by graduate and professional schools but also by employers in business, industry, and government. The study of history develops your ability to read critically, think logically, and write effectively. In addition, by studying human interaction in the past we gain insight into the present and the future. Understanding history helps us to better evaluate current problems at home and abroad and to develop solutions to those challenges.

Why Study Politics?

The study of politics is not a career training program. Like the other Liberal Arts, it assumes that rigorous education is an end as well as a means to practical skills useful through-out life. The questions that the study of politics asks and the analytical qualities that it develops and nurtures are needed in any society. Such skills and understanding are often manifested in leadership abilities, and are reflected in the number of politics graduates in government, education, the legal profession, and business.

The study of politics has value in several ways:

  • First, it develops and nurtures abilities to think and read critically, develop reasoning and analytical skills, and competence in oral and written communication.
  • Second, all citizens of a democracy have a responsibility to understand politics and the political system in which they live as well as those around them. Knowledge of why and how influence is exercised, and how to be involved as a participant, is useful to students regardless of their ultimate career.
  • Third, knowledge of politics is critical to many careers which must interact with politics and government. In particular, those anticipating careers in law, government, teaching, the civil service, law enforcement, journalism, interest groups, and the media have found such preparation especially useful to their careers.

The Department is made up of a dedicated faculty whose highest priority is teaching undergraduate students. Their academic preparation is distinguished and diverse. Each full-time member specializes in a different field of knowledge. This allows the Department to provide a variety of courses over a broad range of substantive Fields. This combination of expertise and experience contributes to our ability to provide our students with a first-rate liberal arts education in History or Politics.

Please check back soon to view the Department of History and Politics faculty profiles. If you need to contact a faculty member, click here.

Activities, Events & Programs

The History and Politics Department sponsors a number of special activities, events, and programs that offer students additional opportunities for out of class learning and interaction. Majors have represented the Department and the University at major national academic competitions such as the Model League of Arab States and the annual Yale University Security Council Simulation.

History Majors have the opportunity to conduct primary source research and/or have an Internship in the archives of the Regis University Center for the Study of War Experience, a nationally recognized repository of personal war narratives and testimonies.

Politics Majors have attended national academic conferences at West Point and the Air Force Academy, and are often on Regis’ nationally recognized Forensics Team, where they have won national championships. In addition, the Department publishes The Regis Review; A Journal of Student Research and sponsors the history and politics' clubs.

History Club

The History club encourage a cross disciplinary approach to history to all Regis University students. The History Club is an informal organization of students interested in history. The club is a loosely structured group which sponsors such activities as sessions on what to do with a history degree, field trips to historical museums, faculty/student panel discussions, and brown-bag lunch-time talks.

Res Judicata

Res Judicata, the Regis University pre-law club, is a place for all students interested in the legal professions to network, prepare, and dialog in order to further their own personal and professional goals and impact the world. In pursuit of this mission the organization conducts regular meetings, speakers, LSAT prep tests, and other activities

Internships

In both history and politics, students apply their academic knowledge and gain practical work experience through required Internship programs. In addition to substantive experience, internships provide a variety of benefits to students, including career sampling, resume enhancement, improvement of job qualifications, development of personal contacts and networks, and personal growth. They may be part of the student’s transition after graduation into the “real world.”

Regis students have worked in all varieties of government agencies, law offices, the Courts, non-profit public interest groups, the media, research institutes, and historical societies in Denver, Washington DC, and in hometowns.

The Department has relationships with local and state historical societies, such as the Colorado Historical Society, which have led to student involvement in youth history programs and serving as Counselors at Living History Summer Camps.

Students also have opportunities to work closely with faculty members on research projects, often connected with conferences and other public history events.

Department Internship Directors work closely with the Office of Academic Internships to find the optimum placement for each student. Internships are available to selected students in Washington DC through the Regis relationship with The Washington Center.

Career Opportunities

What History Majors Do
Our history majors pursue a variety of career paths, including law, politics, business, public history/museum, media, and non-profit positions. They also join the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, teach in inner-city schools, join the Foreign Service, non-governmental organizations, and make a difference as leaders in the lives of others. In addition, History is the core of an inter-disciplinary major and secondary school teaching certificate. Many go on to law or graduate school.

Graduates emerge from our Program with a more comprehensive understanding of how governments, societies, and various groups of people have interacted and evolved over time. This knowledge allows many of our students to pursue careers that will enable them to influence how our country and the world operate.

What Politics Majors Do
Politics Majors learn about political ideas, processes, and the interaction of politics and government with economic and other aspects of society. Accordingly, they are involved in a considerable variety of professions. These include the law, federal, state, and local government, education, interest groups, non-profit organizations, research institutes, and journalism/media. Less obvious but important are positions in business and industry. Many continue on to graduate or law school.