YOUR HISTORY DEGREE AT UW-STEVENS POINT GIVES YOU RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS SKILLS FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE
History and social studies education, offered through the Department of History and International Studies at UW-Stevens Point, is an undergraduate program that focuses on the knowledge, skills and dispositions needed to teach social studies in middle and high school. Successful candidates in the program earn a bachelor’s degree and Wisconsin teaching license in social studies grades 4-12.
In addition to specific general education coursework, students complete a variety of courses that provide opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills needed to be successful certified social studies teachers. Students complete a rigorous social science and history curriculum. Additionally, students complete coursework designed to give them hands-on, practical experience in the application of social science concepts. Practicum experiences allow students to observe and teach actual students from the community to prepare for an eventual career in history and social studies education.
For marketability purposes, students interested in teaching any area of social studies are required to complete a major in history and social studies education.
Department of History and International Studies
Why study History at UW-Stevens Point?
The history program at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is designed for students preparing to teach and for those interested in such fields as law and library science. The department requires students to take coursework in U.S., world regional, and global/comparative history. Many of our students also participate in semester abroad programs and international internships.
Student Research Experience
The Department of History and International Studies frequently sponsors student participation in the College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Research Symposium and faculty-led research opportunities with collaboration on projects and publications through the College of Letters and Science Undergraduate Education Initiative.
Scholarships and Awards
The Department of History and International Studies recognizes outstanding students at the annual Humanities and Global Studies Spring Awards Ceremony. In 2026, a total of $42,200 was awarded thanks to our generous donors and endowed scholarships.
WHAT TO EXPECT
The UW-Stevens Point history program equips students to be global citizens who will succeed in a world where people and nations are interdependent, societies are diverse, and life is shaped by science and technology. By exploring institutions, ideas, and values of human societies, students learn essential skills in research, writing, and analysis.
The public internship requirement connects students with local historical societies and their ongoing research and programming.
Many history majors or minors find employment in teaching, but some seek jobs in government. With a few courses in business and economics, students graduating with a history degree can enter the business world, and history is one of the traditional majors for professional study in law, theology, and library science.
GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS
History Club is a student led organization that organizes discussions, film viewings and trips to museums and historical sites for students interested in the discipline.
More student group opportunities can be found on the Stevens Point Involvement Network (SPIN).
MEET YOUR FACULTY
Faculty members in the department cover world history and bring a broad range of specializations to course offerings. Unique courses include: U.S. and global environmental history, the history of science, the history of medicine, public history, the history of the Middle East and the wider Islamic World, the history of the American Midwest, the history of Russia and the Soviet Union, and East Asian history. Meet your professors!
Archives: Faculty / Staff Profiles – Faculty / Staff Directory
Brett Barker
- Professor of History
- Chair, Department of History and International Studies
Valerie Barske
- Professor
- Coordinator, International Studies and Peace Studies