Earlier this year, the National History Center (NHC) created the Teagle Foundation Project, through a grant from the Teagle Foundation, to examine the role of historical study in liberal learning.

The American Association of Colleges & Universities defines liberal education as “a philosophy of education that empowers individuals with broad knowledge and transferable skills, and a strong sense of value, ethics, and civic engagement.” The Teagle Foundation Project will examine how a history major prepares students for diverse career paths and for avocational interests that enhance civic engagement in their communities.

A working group of leading scholars and educators, led by James Grossman and Stan Katz, will carry out the project, and consider the goals of liberal learning and the undergraduate history major. In an effort to collect data for this project the National History Center is asking history departments to fill out the History in Liberal Arts Education Survey or to participate in discussions at H-Teach. The final report will be presented in 2008. For more information, please see the National History Center’s Teagle Foundation Project page.

This post first appeared on AHA Today.