“Juniata’s history professors have been so willing to give me opportunities to pursue what I am passionate about. They show so much enthusiasm in what they do and have a genuine interest in helping me succeed.”
—Christy Atland ’18
HISTORY & MUSEUM STUDIES
A Distinct Experience
Click on the banners below and learn more about what makes a history experience unique at Juniata College.
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Learn from the best. Five Juniata history and art history professors have received the Gibbel award for Distinguished Teaching, two have received the Beachley Award for Distinguished Teaching. One was named Pennsylvania Professor of the Year.
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Take part in campus communtiy traditions, such as fall cookout, senior roast, excursions to the swamp, and hall golf. History students and faculty form close relationships, attending dinner parties together, even being invited to one another's weddings.
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Visit Washington, D.C., and other national sites like Harpers Ferry National Historical Park and the Flight 93 National Memorial—they're only a short drive. Or, enjoy Huntingdon County historical sites, from colonial forts to industrial landmarks. Huntingdon is the county seat and offers a wealth of research opportunities for genealogical research and public history. Gettysburg and Antietam, two historic battlefields, are two hours away.
- New York City - 5 hours
- Philadelphia, Pa. - 4 hours
- Washington, D.C. - 3 hours
- Pittsburgh, Pa. - 2.5 hours
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Dig in for success. Students and alumni have interned on campus, at local historical societies and courthouses, at museums such as the Smithsonian Institution, and with the National Park Service at sites such as Glacier National Park, Shenandoah National Park, and Lincoln Home National Historical Site.
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Complete a thesis with the guidance of a historian, collaborate with faculty in other disciplines, and present your research on campus at Juniata’s Liberal Arts Symposium or at a professional conference such as Phi Alpha Theta.
Outcomes
Some Juniata history graduates attend graduate school to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in history, art history, and museum studies. Some pursue lively careers in the field at a wide variety of organizations including the National Park Service and various museums. Some find their professional homes in business and computer-related fields.
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- Madison Caso ‘17
- works in academic publishing with the Pennsylvania State University Press.
- Sara barclay '21
- is finishing her MLIS degree at the University of North Carolina.
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- ben shupp '20
- is an expert at Morphy Auctions, Denver, PA.
- kaden zellers '21
- is in medical school at the University of Rochester.
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- christina altland '18
- is an object conservator at Colonial Williamsburg.
Faculty
In the history department, 100 percent of faculty have earned Ph.D.s, and they serve, first and foremost, as professors. But, they keep their instruction fresh by publishing award-winning scholarship regarding poet-nuns, healers, freedom songs, Madeira wine, and more, written in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Russian. They have presented at conferences in Huntingdon, Pa., and in Moscow, Russia, at Harvard University, and Berkeley. They even play “hall ball,” indoor golf in Founders Hall, with their students.
“I enjoy studying history at Juniata because my peer group is small. We have the opportunity to get to know one another and to work closely with our professors.”
—Andrea Zilch ’19
Student Opportunities
Study Abroad: Enrich your understanding of other cultures and their histories. Juniata has programs on every continent except Antarctica. In recent years, history students have studied abroad at Leeds University, St. Johns University, and Lincoln University in the United Kingdom, Cork University in the Republic of Ireland, Glasgow University in Scotland, and Otago University in New Zealand. They have also interned in France, studied abroad in China, taken short-term study abroad courses to Rwanda, Japan, and China.
Internships: In the past five years, Juniata history students have interned at the nearby Johnstown Heritage Discovery Center, U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, President James Buchanan’s home, the U.S. Department of Justice, Center for Immigration Studies, the Smithsonian, the National Park Service, and at attorneys’ offices throughout central Pennsylvania.
Undergraduate Research: Conduct research in a topic of your choosing with the guidance of a faculty member. Then, present at conferences—like Juniata’s Liberal Arts Symposium, the National Conferences on Undergraduate Research, or seminars specific to historical times or themes.