The origin of Shaanxi Normal University dates back to the Shaanxi Provincial Teachers'College established in 1944, including the Department of History and Geography when it was first established. The college changed its name to Xi’an Teachers’ College in 1954 and the Department of History became an independent part of the university. Professor Shi Nianhai, the famous historical geographer, was Head of the Department. In 1960, Xi’an Teachers’ College merged with “Shaanxi Teachers’ College” and Shaanxi Normal University was born, the Department of History still maintained its independence. In the mid 1980s, the institutes of Historical Geography, of Tang Dynasty History and of Ancient Books were set up by the Department of History. With the organisational reform and readjustment of colleges in 2000, the three institutes, together with the Department of History, were merged into the College of History and Culture. Making full use of the geographical advantages of Xian, which was the capital of the Zhou, Qin, Han, and Tang dynasties, and adhering to the concept of “freedom, confidence, self-esteem and self-improvement”, the college has made remarkable achievements over the past seventy years. Lots of experts and scholars like Shi Nianhai, Huang Yongnian, Si Weizhi, Zhu Benyuan and others who have attained great accomplishments are emerging constantly from here. In the circle of historians, the college has been recognised as an important place in historical research and personnel training.

Currently, the College of History and Culture has a doctoral degree point of two first-class disciplines: Chinese History and World History; a master degree point of one first-class discipline: Archaeology, and two post-doctoral research stations of Chinese History and World History. Ancient Chinese History and Historical Geography (set up in the Northwest Institute of Historical Environment and Social and Economic Development) are national key disciplines. Ancient Chinese History, Modern Chinese History, World History, Historical Geography, Specialist History, Cultural Heritage and Museology, Classical Literature, Historical Theories and Historiography are all listed as Shaanxi provincial key disciplines. 

The College is equipped with excellent facilities. At present, there are 67 specialist teachers, of which 28 are professors and 18 are associate professors, the number of professors and associate professors accounts for 68% of the total; the number of teachers with doctoral degrees is 58, which accounts for 86.6%. There are two National Essential Courses (Ancient Chinese History and Social Life of the Sui and Tang Dynasties), two Provincial Essential Courses (Medieval World History and Studies of Historical Literature) and the course of Studies of Historical Literature won the first prize and excellent teaching design prize at the higher education group of the 11th National Multimedia Courseware Design Competition, and there are also four School’s Essential Courses (Historical Theory, Archeology, Modern World History and Introduction to Cultural Relics). 

In recent years, the teachers have published more than 100 articles in Social Science in China, Historical Research, Journal of Chinese Historical Studies, World History, Acta Archaeologica Sinica, Philosophical Research, Ethno-National studies, Journal of Literature, History and Philosophy and other national and international well-known academic journals. They have also published more than 30 monographs in nationally important publications. More than 90 national and provincial research programs have been funded, including 3 major tender projects of the National Social Sciences Fund, 1 key project of the Ministry of Education, 28 national Social Science Fund projects and 4 New Century supporting projects by the Ministry of Education. In addition, our teachers have won more than 40 prizes of provincial and minister level or above，which has exerted an important effect on academic circles. Professor Han Xiaomang also won the National Excellent 100 Doctoral Dissertation.

The History Department and Cultural Relics and Museology Department are two departments of our college, and four majors recruit postgraduates, they are history (normal), history (non-normal), cultural heritage and museology and classical literature. The College is able to recruit doctoral and masters students in two first-class disciplines: Chinese History and World History; archaeology is available to academic masters and professional masters majored in Cultural Heritage and Museology. At present, there are 776 undergraduates and 487 graduates and doctoral candidates in the College. Since the founding of the College, it has created its unique style of study and academic atmosphere. Numerous famous scholars have been teachers here and more than 5000 students have graduated from here, with some of them becoming outstanding in academia and elementary education. 

Welcome to the School of History and Civilization!