History

The knowledge of our past is critical to our sense of identity as a community. The study of history makes us aware of different values and perspectives and teaches us sensitivity to other viewpoints. In addition, without an understanding of where we have been, how can we know where we are headed?

College level history is not simply a listing of facts and dates; rather, it is an explanation of real lives lived in the past. As a student in our program, you will examine historical periods with a view to understanding why certain events happened and how the people who experienced them reacted to them. You will also analyse works written by people who lived during these historical periods, enabling you to gain an appreciation of the sometimes very different ways in which they saw the world around them.

Taking our courses will also help you to develop a core of essential skills that employers want and that are vital for being a responsible member of modern society. You will learn to read with understanding so you can critically evaluate conflicting evidence. In an increasingly complex world it is imperative that citizens know how to evaluate data, to assess differing viewpoints, to understand the importance of context in shaping events and attitudes, and to think and reason in a logical manner. Through regular written assignments and discussions you will refine your communication skills as you learn about both our past and our present.

Studying history at Langara

Students at Langara generally take history courses for one or more of three reasons: as part of the Associate of Arts degree at Langara; with a view to university transfer; or as electives to fulfill requirements of other programs. For more on university transfer of courses, see the “Career Pathways” tab. For more requirements for the Associate of Arts degree in History, see the “Courses” tab.

When should I take courses?

While many of our courses are offered at least once a year, this is not always the case. Some courses (especially second-year ones) are offered only once every two years. Thus if there is a particular course that you are interested in and you see it being offered next semester, you should seriously consider taking it if you can. If you want to check when a course is next going to be available, it would be worth your while to email the department chair or coordinator (listed in the orange section above) to find out.

Note that we welcome both first- and second-year students into our second-year courses. Second-year courses address material that is often more complex in nature than that found in first-year courses, or explore a topic that may be less familiar to a modern western audience. If you have questions about whether a particular course may be suitable for you, please email the department chair or coordinator.