The Department of History is committed to training scholar-educators. Graduate students who are awarded assistantships participate in a comprehensive program of teacher training. All assistants complete a teaching seminar. The seminar focuses on the basics of the classroom: creating syllabi, lecturing, stimulating class discussion, grading, and other matters. Before teaching their own courses, assistants serve as graders for experienced faculty members. Each teaching assistant has a faculty mentor who offers advice and guidance and remains available for consultation.

The department gives an award for “Best History Teaching Assistant” each year to a teaching assistant who has distinguished himself or herself in the classroom. This honor includes a monetary award.