“Studying History”

Presentation by: Muhamed AminPhD Candidate

Department of HistoryUniversity of Ottawa

Introduction• Welcome!

• Introduction

• What is History?

• How do we study History?

• Why Study History at the University of Ottawa?

• Conclusion

• Questions?

Who am I?• 2nd Year PhD Student • Research Interests?

•Migration / Refugees / Human Rights / European Integration• Why History?

•Undergraduate Studies in Political Science and History•Awareness of Current Events / Trends / Processes•Why are things the way they are?•How did we get to where we are now?

• Curiosity + Self-Awareness•Striving to be the Best!•Expert in my Field!

• Make a Difference in the World•Give a Voice to These People•Personal Attachment

Who are you?• Name?• Background?• What does History Mean to You?

•Different for Everyone!•No Wrong Answers!•Shared Experiences

• What are your Interests?•Attending this Workshop for a reason!

What is History?• Understanding the Present by Looking at the Past

•What does History teach us?• Ex: 2008 Financial Crisis?

•History Repeating Itself?!

• History helps us understand who we are, where we come from and, ultimately, where we are headed.

• Not just about facts and dates?•Search for new Meanings & Interpretations of the Past

How do we study History?

• Freedom and Flexibility?•Any time period

• Thousands of Years!•Any part of the world

• North America / South America / Europe / Africa / Asia / Middle East

•Any subject• War and Conflict / Culture / Society / Ideas / People / Politics / Military / Sport / Women and Gender / etc

•Any Language• English / French / Arabic / Italian / Spanish / Mandarin / German / Russian / Urdu / etc.

• 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes!• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbkSRLYSojo

Studying History at the University of Ottawa?

• Why U of Ottawa?• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fYa9yYZWc4

•Bilingualism (English and French)•Diverse Background of Faculty•Capital City of Canada

• Parliament• National Archives• Museums

•Mentorship• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaMHCl4cwdI&feature=related

Future Prospects?• What can I do with a History Degree?

•Training?–Research Skills–Analytical Skills–Writing Skills

•Career Options?•Education (Teachers College)•Graduate School •Government

•Researcher•Policy Analyst

•Journalism•Museum Studies

•Curator•Exhibit Designer

Conclusion• Humanities?

•Communications / Religious Studies / Visual Arts / Theatre / Modern Languages / Philosophy / Geography

• ALL TOUCH ON HISTORY!

• Post-Secondary Education?•Strive to be the best•Work Hard and Success will Follow!•Satisfaction of knowing you accomplished something that not many people get the opportunity to do

Questions?