What do students learn in history courses?

The AHA’s Tuning Project (2012-16) asked historians to clarify and demystify the core goals and the key skills pursued in our discipline. Working collaboratively across more than 150 two- and four-year colleges and universities in the United States, accomplished history faculty convened to answer a basic question: when students complete a program in history, what should they know, understand, and be able to do?

With funding from Lumina Foundation, we worked together to develop common language that communicates to a broad audience the significance and value of a history degree. Participants and the AHA wanted students to understand clearly what they take from their studies into employment, further education, and civic life.

Tuning the History Discipline

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The AHA’s Tuning Project

Tuning aims to equip students with clarity about the skills, understanding, and knowledge they will acquire in a given degree program.  The AHA's Tuning project provided a collaborative forum and process for history faculty to articulate the core competencies of their discipline.

A breakout discussion at the Southern California Tuning Workshop in Long Beach, October 9, 2015. Credit: Emily Swafford.
Tuning Participants

The AHA has hosted many events on the Tuning project over the past decade, with participants from all over the country.

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Learning Outcomes in History: Further Reading

Check out articles, podcast episodes, and other media on the Tuning project and its impact.

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Programs of Study

Tuning participants wrote descriptions of history degree programs across the country at different types of institutions. The profiles communicate the purpose and characteristics of each program, what students can expect to learn, and what careers graduates tend to pursue.

Support the AHA

The History Discipline Core and other Tuning resources are part of the AHA's ongoing efforts to advance undergraduate history education. Please join today to support this work and send a message about the value of historical thinking for 21st century students.