Civil War U: The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech: Virginia Center for Civil War Studies (website)
Dr. Paul Quigley, director: pquigley@vt.edu

Fun Fact: The Virginia Center for Civil War Studies is housed in Lane Hall, named for James H. Lane, the Confederate General whose men accidentally shot Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson at Chancellorsville. After the Civil War, Lane became a professor and commandant of cadets at Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College (what’s now Virginia Tech). In this role, he engaged in a fistfight with VAMC President Charles Minor over the importance of military education to the college’s mission.

By Carson Hayek

BLACKSBURG, Va.—Virginia Tech’s Civil War history program extends far past the classroom, giving students hands-on public history experiences.

Through the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, undergraduate and graduate students work with faculty on projects that reach communities in Virginia. That work prepares the students for their careers in history, education, and public service.

Unlike many programs that focus their curriculum in the classroom, Virginia Tech combines hands-on experiences with classroom learning. Although there’s no set curriculum for undergraduates, students who pursue a history degree can explore Civil War-related topics through electives. For graduate students, classes are structured around a group of required specialized courses that can lead to a certificate in public history—which Dr. Paul Quigley, the director of the Virginia Center’s Civil War Studies, highly recommends.

The program also differs by offering scholarships, internship funding, and public engagement opportunities that allow students to build a presence beyond campus.

Those collaborative experiences have led to Quigley’s favorite moments with the Virginia Center for Civil War Studies.

“I have particularly enjoyed working with students on collaborative creative projects, ranging from our own Civil War Driving Tour of Southwest Virginia to a museum exhibit we created in partnership with the American Civil War Museum at Appomattox,” Quigley said. “It’s incredibly meaningful to work alongside undergraduate and graduate students on programs that directly benefit public audiences.”

Public history remains a focal point for the program. Students interested in museum work, archives, or historic sites can participate in the annual Civil War Weekend or complete funded internships with the National Park Service and museums.

Students in the history program also benefit from personalized interaction with faculty. While the university offers a 13-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, master’s-level history classes enroll eight to 10 students, allowing for more individualized learning and experiences.

Quigley recommends that students compare programs before making a decision.

“There are quite a few places that offer the chance to specialize in Civil War history, and each one is different,” Quigley said. “Visiting campuses, speaking with professors and evaluating each program’s opportunities can help students find the best fit for their interests and career goals.”

Virginia Tech graduates leave with a degree in history, and alumni have found careers in higher education, K-12 teaching, museums, and public history.

Students can contact Quigley at pquigley@vt.edu for more information or to set up a campus visit.

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Carson Hayek, a native of Buffalo, N.Y., is a junior journalism student at St. Bonaventure University.

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For a student’s perspective on Virginia Tech’s Virginia Center for Civil War Studies, Emerging Civil War’s Chris Mackowski spoke with Miles Abernathy, an alumnus of the program. The interview was recorded in early summer 2026.