The Department of History offers two degree programs:

The history major, the academic home of about 100 students, consists of 39 hours (13 courses) in American, European, and non-Western history. Faculty born in Italy, Morocco, the Netherlands, France, Canada, Sudan and Argentina (and some born in the U.S., too) teach courses on every major area of the world, examining Asia and East Asia, Latin America, Africa, Europe, Russia and the United States from a variety of broad historical perspectives, emphasizing critical thinking and writing skills while preparing students for life in a complex, global community. History majors also take a sophomore-level seminar, Doing History, an introduction to the discipline-to reading, writing, and researching the past, as well as, a capstone course in their senior year. Students in the Department's honors program may take a senior honors seminar. History majors may also participate in the activities of the History Club, present their work at local and regional conferences, or take advantage of the Department's growing program of museum internships.

The program in Social Studies Adolescence Education, leading to initial certification, is designed to prepare future high-school and middle-school teachers. This is a "full" program, with 37 hours of coursework in the School of Education (including 5 field experiences) and another 51 hours in Social Studies courses, including many in history as well as offerings in economics, political science, and other disciplines. The Social Studies portion of the major is grounded in the Department of History's pioneering program in world history. Some 160 students currently major in Social Studies Adolescence at Fredonia.

Although the Social Studies major has a vocational focus that the history major does not, both are designed to train students in the fundamental habits of mind of the historian's craft-skills and attitudes that will provide a foundation for excellence in a wide variety of careers and professions, including teaching, law, journalism, business, public history, and government. Committed teachers and scholars join students in a cooperative community with a shared purpose. "The Department," wrote a team of historians visiting Fredonia in March, 2003, "has emerged as a vibrant intellectual community that values the contributions of its individual members. This sense of common purpose has been effectively communicated to students, who understand and appreciate this environment."