Exploring History Programs at the University of Charleston

The University of Charleston (UC), a private institution in Charleston, West Virginia, offers a variety of history programs designed to equip students with critical thinking, analytical skills, and a deep understanding of the past. Founded in 1888, UC has a rich history of its own, evolving from the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church to a comprehensive university with undergraduate and graduate programs. These programs provide students with a versatile skill set applicable to diverse career paths.

A Foundation in History: The Undergraduate Program

The Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in History program at UC provides students with a broad understanding of historical events, cultures, and ideas. The curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking, research skills, and effective communication. Students learn to analyze historical sources, construct coherent arguments, and understand the broader implications of past events.

Curriculum Overview

The history major encompasses a diverse range of historical periods, from ancient Greece to modern-day Africa. West Virginian and Appalachian history is a particular strength of the department. The program emphasizes the best practices of historical research, enabling students to discover new meaning in the past, present, and future.

Personalized Studies

All history majors declare a minor to personalize their studies, or they may pursue another minor or a second major based on their long-term goals. This allows students to tailor their education to their specific interests and career aspirations.

Dual Major in History and Political Science

UC offers a dual major degree in History and Political Science, providing a dynamic gateway to a multitude of compelling professional avenues. Students delve into the multifaceted practice of governance, spanning local, state, national, and international levels. By embracing both history and political science, students embark on a holistic journey that enriches their intellectual depth and widens their career horizons.

Admission to History Programs

Freshman applicants with a 2.5 or higher high school GPA and transfer students with a 2.0 or higher cumulative college GPA are eligible for general admission to UC and will gain direct entry into this program.

Experiential Learning and Internships in History

The Department of History offers guidance for undergraduate and graduate students seeking internships and offers paid internships with several National Park Service sites and the WV Division of History and Archives in Charleston, WV. Several graduate students complete the internship requirement through a Graduate Assistantship or as an Americorps member. The program requires students enroll in 6 internship credits and complete 300 hours.

Graduate Studies in Humanities

The Graduate Humanities Program is a multidisciplinary program bringing together students and faculty from a variety of backgrounds to collaboratively explore the interdisciplinary intersections of the arts, historical, cultural, and literary studies within an open, exploratory, and experimental graduate-level educational environment. The Program provides students with varied undergraduate backgrounds in humanities the opportunity to continue their studies at the graduate level with an integrated and interdisciplinary perspective on human inquiry.

Program Objectives

Students working toward an M.A. in the Humanities;
Students seeking professional development (such as in Appalachian Studies, per the Program’s certificate program)
Lifelong learners.

The program thus strives to enhance students’ abilities to deal critically and flexibly with intellectual, social, political, historical, literary, or artistic issues through a broad humanistic perspective.

Public History Program

Established in 1980, the Public History Program at West Virginia University admits eight to ten students each year. The program offers an MA in Public History and a Cultural Resource Management Certificate. Approximately one hundred and twenty students have graduated from the program, with a current average of eight students graduating annually.

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From Seminary to University: A Historical Overview of UC

The University of Charleston has a storied past, marked by periods of growth, challenges, and transformation.

The Early Years: Barboursville Seminary

Founded on September 12, 1888, as the Barboursville Seminary of the Southern Methodist Church, the institution aimed to provide educational opportunities in a religious setting. The first campus was located in the courthouse complex that was abandoned when Cabell County moved its seat of government to Huntington.

The Morris Harvey Era

A substantial gift from a Fayetteville coal operator, Morris Harvey, helped the struggling school eliminate its substantial debt. In 1901, the school was renamed Morris Harvey College in his honor. Under the guidance of Leonard Riggleman, the school’s 19th president, the college went from the depths of the Depression to a fully accredited institution located on a growing campus.

Relocation and Expansion

September 8, 1947 - The University moved to the south bank of the Kanawha River, the current location, before a crowd of hundreds. Buildings were ferried across the river to the new location. The next several years saw many changes. Enrollment soared, and Morris Harvey College affiliated with Kanawha Junior College and the Mason College of Fine Arts and Music. Enrollment increased to over 1,500 by 1941. The college continued to build its campus, including the completion of Riggleman Hall in 1951. UC continued to grow, with the Geary Student Union, Cox Hall and Gorman Physical Education Building all being completed. John F. Kennedy addressed a full-capacity crowd in Geary Student Union in 1960 to kick off his presidential campaign in West Virginia.

Independence and Transformation

In 1940, the college became independent of the Methodist Church. The college fell on hard times after the end of the military draft and college deferment during the Vietnam War and offered itself to the state in 1975, which refused the gift. In December 1978, the school changed its name to the University of Charleston.

Modernization and Growth

In 1989, the University of Charleston welcomed Dr. Edwin H. Beginning with the inauguration of President Dr. Edwin H. Welch in 1989, the school has undergone a physical and academic transformation. On September 7, 1997, fifty years after Morris Harvey College first occupied the current location, the Clay Tower Building was dedicated. UC continued to experience growth and significant changes. In 2000, the University initiated the Independent College Enterprise which provides shared academic and administrative computing hardware to eight schools in four states. The main entrance to campus was moved to improve traffic flow. Football returned to campus in 2003, and new structures were built, including Brotherton Hall, Ratrie Hall, Middle Hall, East Apartments and the parking garage. New programs were also introduced, including the school’s first doctoral program, with the opening of the School of Pharmacy in 2006.

Recent Developments

In 2012, UC established locations in Beckley and Martinsburg through a teach-out agreement when Mountain State University lost its accreditation and closed. UC established campuses on Mountain State University's former Beckley and Martinsburg, West Virginia, locations on January 1, 2013. In 2014, the Eddie King Gym - the oldest building on campus - was closed in preparation for the construction of the Martha and Russell Wehrle Innovation Center. The Center opened in 2017 and is home to an array of opportunities for students to create, build, dream and discover. The Center also houses the H. In 2017, Dr. Edwin Welch announced he would graduate with the Class of 2018, and retired as President after 29 years. The University named Dr. On December 15, 2017, the board of trustees named Martin S. Roth to succeed Dr. Edwin Welch as the president of the university. He began on June 30, 2018.

A Vibrant Campus Life

UC’s athletic teams, known as the Golden Eagles, mostly compete in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) in NCAA Division II. In June 2012, UC was one of nine members of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) that announced their plans to leave to form a new Division II conference. Two months later, the new conference was unveiled as the MEC, with UC as one of 12 charter members. In 2005, UC entered into a partnership with the local school board to refurbish the school board-owned Laidley Field, which was renamed University of Charleston Stadium.

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