Made in God's image, humans are blessed with historical consciousness. Unlike animals, we have a sense of becoming. When we think historically, we consider what we have been, who we presently are, and how we want to live our lives in the future. The study of history trains students to think historically, both collectively, as we examine evidence of the past, and individually, as we analyze our own lives. Students learn to evaluate change and continuity over time. Aware that the past was contingent, that people made history by their choices, students gain empathy for the struggles of others. Few subjects offer such opportunities for personal enrichment.
At Freed-Hardeman University, we stress that history is not what happened in the past. Instead, history is created. It is a process that involves historians analyzing and selecting evidence and writing their conclusions with reason and clarity. This process of reading, analyzing, and writing hones students' critical thinking skills - preparing them to live, learn, and work in the challenging twenty-first century.