Much of Northern Arizona University's identity has been shaped by its location in the American Southwest. The Department of History at NAU reflects that regional identity in the makeup of its student body, course offerings, and research interests.
Although focusing on the Southwest and Borderlands, the history department offers a full range of courses in U.S., European, Asian, Latin American, and African History. These regional offerings are complemented by newer thematic approaches that focus on race, gender, and ethnicity; issues of nationalism and imperialism; environmental history and theory; women's history; as well as military, diplomatic, economic, and political history.
Thus our students are encouraged to approach the study of history in both global and comparative contexts.