Committed to preserving, exploring, and enhancing knowledge of the human past with a focus on modern Canadian history and Medieval history, the Department of History at St. Jerome’s University focuses on people, nations, landscapes, ideas, events, politics, religion, and social constructs such as race, gender, class, age, and ethnicity.
Our programs and courses are designed and delivered to stimulate students’ intellectual curiosity and critical thinking, leading to a well-rounded education and finely-tuned skill set including research, writing, and analysis.
Research interests and expertise within the department include Canadian foreign and defence policy, with an emphasis on Asia, Medieval environmental history, and the history of gender and the body.
History undergraduate studies
St. Jerome's University's Department of History offers programs and academic plans that include three and four year General History, Honours History, Honours History (Arts and Business Co-op and Regular), Joint Honours History, Specializations in History, and a History Minor. Our academically registered students are co-registered in the Faculty of Arts and obtain their degree from the University of Waterloo.
The courses offered by the St. Jerome's University History department are listed below.
For information on academic plans please visit History on the Programs and Plans section of the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar.
Departmental Awards
The following student was the recipient of the History departmental award:
Departmental Award for Highest Average in the Major
Sinead Costello
Faculty
Steven Bednarski, Professor
Jane Nicholas, Professor
Contract academic staff
Courses
The following courses are offered at St. Jerome's University in the 2026-2027 academic year.
Fall 2026
| Course | Course title | Campus | Instructor |
|---|---|---|---|
| HIST 113 | Canadian Business History: Innovators and Entrepreneurs | STJ | Briggs |
| HIST 115/MEDVL 115 | Crusading in the Middle Ages | STJ | Fulton |
| HIST 210/CLAS 210/LS 235 | History of Ancient Law | STJ | Hutter |
| HIST 260/MEDVL 260 | Medieval Europe c.300-c.1500 | STJ | Bednarski |
| HIST 374 | Canada's Social History | STJ | Nicholas |
| HIST 389 | Canada in World Affairs | STJ | Touhey |
| HIST 391 | Special Topics in History: Canadian Foreign Policy Crisis | STJ | Touhey |
| HIST 422 | Special Topics in History: Gender and Writing of History | STJ | Nicholas |
| HIST 691A | Directed Studies: History of the Modern Body | STJ | Nicholas |
View the complete listing of HIST courses in the Undergraduate Studies Academic Calendar