testimonials

Emily Hunter (Current SUNY Oneonta History Major)

“My name is Emily Hunter and I am a senior and a history major here at SUNY Oneonta. Over the course of the last three years, I have had the opportunity to take a wide range of wonderful courses in American, European, and World history with professors who are deeply committed to their dual roles as researchers and educators. In many of my college history classes, I learned to take my researching, writing, and critical thinking skills to a new level with the guidance of attentive professors who were extremely generous with their time and insights. My professors consistently utilized a variety of effective teaching strategies, from class discussions to research and writing workshops to thought-provoking lectures and essay questions, to encourage students to approach the subject matter from the perspective of an historian. In addition to its wonderful courses, the history department also directs an internship program which places SUNY Oneonta students in a variety of history-related venues. Through the internship program, I was able to work in the special collections departments of two local libraries: the New York State Historical Association Library and our college’s Milne Library. When I was a senior at Cooperstown High School, I chose to apply to SUNY Oneonta because I wanted to attend an academically strong university in beautiful upstate New York; the college’s outstanding history program was an additional important factor that convinced me that this school was the right fit for me. Three years later, I am happy to say that I made the right decision and that SUNY Oneonta and the history program have actually exceeded my high expectations. This fall, I am applying to several graduate programs in history and library science; my ultimate goal is to run an historical special collections department at a university or museum. Whenever I contemplate my aspirations for the future, I feel very grateful for the wonderful foundation that my college history courses and professors have given me. My experience in SUNY Oneonta’s history program has been thoroughly enjoyable and has given me the skills, perspective, and confidence that I will need to pursue the next level of my history career."

Ethan Horgan (SUNY Oneonta History and Philosophy graduate, 2012. History MA Student at the University at Buffalo, SUNY)

“I graduated from SUNY Oneonta in May 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in History and Philosophy. I entered Oneonta as a transfer student from a small community college located in my hometown and was not sure what to expect. However, my anxiety was quickly abated by my experiences there. I found the faculty to be extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and approachable. They are the kind of people that will go out of their way to say hello, always willing to answer my questions or help with research. I came to Oneonta to develop skills in history that would allow me to turn my love for history into a career. Oneonta’s History department offered a top-notch degree program with top-notch faculty members. The department’s course offerings were both plentiful and interesting. My Senior Seminar experience was especially exceptional. During the class I was able to conduct archival research for my seminar paper. I also really loved the department’s ability to offer “special topic classes.” These classes are more specialized and offer students an insight into their professors’ research interests. Two of my favorite history classes at Oneonta were special topic classes. In the spring of 2011, for example, I took Baltic Field Experience. In this class I learned the history of the Baltic States of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, and was offered the chance to go on a two-week study abroad trip to Lithuania. I found it exceptionally interesting to see the culture and history of Lithuania first hand after learning its history. I would suggest this class to anyone that has the opportunity. During my senior year I was also a Teaching Assistant for a class on the History of the French Revolution and Napoleon. I assisted the professor with the development and implementation of the course. This experience was very fulfilling as I learned some of the ins-and-outs of being an historian, and developed my personal skills as well as my knowledge of the subject matter during weekly office hours with students. The professor was very open to my suggestions and always willing to have a conversation about the class. This experience helped me prepare for a future career in history by advancing my oral, research, and tutoring skills. After graduating from SUNY Oneonta I went on to pursue an MA in History at the University at Buffalo, SUNY. I feel extremely well prepared for graduate school.”

Toby Smith (SUNY Oneonta History graduate, 2010. History MA student at University College Dublin, Ireland)

“I graduated from SUNY Oneonta with my Bachelor of Science in History in May 2010.  I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to study at Oneonta after a long period of time out of school.  I came to the Oneonta campus with the goal of taking up my love of history in a more serious manner and with plans of making a career of it.  During my time there, I was amazed at the quality of the history faculty and diversity of subject matter available through the SUNY Oneonta Department of History.  As a result of my degree earned, I am now pursuing a Masters degree in Medieval History at University College Dublin, Ireland.  The focus of my research is Norman Italy, particularly the conquest period that occurred from the mid to late Eleventh Century.  After completing my MA I hope to enter into PhD level study and to continue in this research area.  I plan to eventually teach history at the college or university level, and my experiences at Oneonta were instrumental in helping me to get started on my way towards this goal. During my time at SUNY Oneonta, I had the pleasure of studying under numerous professors in the Department of History and took courses ranging from American, Ancient Middle Eastern, Ancient European, Asian, British, Canadian, Latin American, Medieval and Russian history.  I found the entire history faculty at SUNY Oneonta to be helpful, engaging, and always willing to take time to give advice on issues ranging from essay assignments to advice on graduate schools and the options that were available.”

Junadrea Bates (SUNY Oneonta History graduate, 2006. History PhD candidate at the University of Texas at Austin)

“During my time as a History major at SUNY Oneonta between 2002 and 2006, I took several history classes including history of New York City, history of Slavery, Colonial and Modern Latin American history, and Borderlands history. These classes showed me that history was much more than names and dates. They taught me to think critically and analytically, instructing me in the craft of argumentative writing. From my first year at Oneonta, professors encouraged me to question the obvious and created classroom environments that fostered thoughtful discussions. Professors at SUNY Oneonta also helped me delve into history outside the classroom. The summer after my sophomore year, I obtained a summer internship with the Colonial Albany Project where I worked with primary sources. The next fall I became a teaching assistant for a Colonial Latin American class, where I got experience working with students. The next summer, I won a fellowship at the Gilder Lehrman Institute for Historical Studies and spent eight weeks in New York City conducting research in some of the city’s premier libraries and archives. During my senior year, I became profoundly grateful for the one-on-one attention that History majors receive at Oneonta in regard to writing grant proposals, going over sources, and preparing a senior thesis. During that time, I researched over 1200 police indictments and wrote a thesis exploring the intersections of economic fluctuations, violent crimes and concepts of masculinity in New York City between 1800 and 1860. The skills I learned at Oneonta served me well when I entered the University of Texas’ number one ranked Ph.D. program in Latin American history. Since the fall of 2006, I have researched a variety of topics such as bestiality in Colonial Mexico, masculinity among Puerto Rican immigrants to NYC, and the professionalization of the Buenos Aires police force. I am currently planning a research trip to Argentina to complete my dissertation research. After graduation, I will become a professor and try to instil in my students the same love for history that SUNY Oneonta gave me.”

Meagan Butler (SUNY Oneonta History graduate, 2008. History PhD candidate at the University of Glasgow, Scotland)

“I am currently a postgraduate student studying at the University of Glasgow, Scotland, where I am working towards an MSc in Social History. I felt well prepared for studying in another country from my fours years at SUNY Oneonta. I declared a major in History by the end of my freshman year and spent the remaining three years taking as many history classes as I could. The variety of courses allowed me to figure out my favorite subject, which I ultimately realized was British history. The two most beneficial courses I took at Oneonta were the Junior and Senior seminars, whose topics were historiography, and imperialism and popular culture in Victorian Britain. Junior seminar was a skills course to teach students the importance of historiography and source analysis. For my senior seminar we had to write a critical review essay, give lecture presentations, and write our senior thesis. My final product, which focussed on education in imperial Britain, was the culmination of the Junior and Senior seminar. This paper became my main writing sample for graduate school applications.

            Since being in graduate school I have applied what I learned from my seminar classes at SUNY Oneonta: Reading historical texts critically, whether primary or secondary, and applying and citing historiography. Most importantly the seminar classes from Oneonta introduced me to an alternative form of education: Sitting around a table and having open discussions on the readings. I enjoyed history so much at SUNY Oneonta that it encouraged me to continue studying it in graduate school. Everything I have learned since supports my decision.”