The study of history prepares its students to make intelligent decisions, to appreciate the characters of the common human experience and to avoid the limitations of provinciality. Courses give students a sense of the past, and acquaintance with the social, cultural, and institutional developments that have produced the world of today as well as an understanding of the nature of history as a discipline. A student of history learns to think critically, analyze data, find and impose order on data and develop interpretation from them. These skills, central to the study of history, are also transferable to many other critical human activities.

The study of history is important, not only for those who intend to teach it, but as a pre-professional program as well. History is one of the recommended majors for pre-law students, and individuals contemplating a career in business often find history a useful adjunct to their other studies. Persons planning to pursue public service, journalism, diplomatic careers, and work in government, museums, or archives, find history to be fundamental.