Conceptual Learning Goals. Students who study history at Rutgers University can expect to develop an understanding of the
following concepts:
1) The role of human agency in bringing about change in
society and institutions. This includes:
- understanding how individuals are shaped by their own past
and by the past of their society and institutions
- the role of diversity and difference in shaping human
experience
2) The operation of large-scale forces responsible for
causing change over time, such as politics, economics, and religion
Practical Learning Goals. Students who study history at Rutgers University can expect to develop the following practical
skills:
1) The ability to understand a variety of
historical primary sources such as archival documents, diplomatic
correspondence, journalistic reports, and private papers
2) The ability to read and understand secondary sources
written in academic prose and to understand the substance of
debates
3) The ability to analyze information effectively and to
use different kinds of historical sources to a historical
argument
4) The ability to write persuasively and communicate
effectively
5) The ability to work independently and to conduct
independent research
Programs of Study and Courses for Liberal Arts and Sciences Students 
