History and Culture

Do you want to discover the past and explain today’s society by analyzing material remains and historical objects? Would you like to specialize in art and cultural heritage? Then a major in Archaeology and Art History is a suitable choice. You will gain a lot of knowledge about how people used to live in the past, which objects they created, and how to analyze these objects through various research methods. If you choose to specialize in Art History, you will learn about these topics within an art historical context.

Interview with an Archaeology and Art History student

PEONG Srey Nuch (26) recently graduated from the Royal University of Fine Arts, majoring in Archeology. This major appealed to her because she wanted to find out more about ancient constructions and art. She chose to study archaeology because this is the study of artifacts left on and in the ground – so it is the perfect fit. Srey Nuch really enjoyed studying about history, culture and art of different countries related to Cambodia. Srey Nuch enjoyed the subjects of History and the History of Khmer Art, because these subjects provide the detailed knowledge you need when visiting temples and sites. She also loved the study tours of the provinces to understand more about customs and religion and to find evidence left at temples or archaeological sites. Doing excavations to find evidence that would reveal things about history was another favourite activity during her studies. What she disliked was the study of Pali and Sanskrit, because it was too detailed and very complicated. For most of the assignments you need to work hard, do research and read a lot of documents, which are mostly in French or English.  So if you are weak at languages, this may take a lot of extra time.

Srey Nuch is now working in the Culture field as planned but hopes to become a researcher in the future when she has gained some more experience.

She mentions that high school subjects that are important for this major are History and Khmer. You need them because these are subjects you are going to study more deeply at university. French and English are also important.

The following universities offer this major:

• National University of Battambang, Battambang
• Royal University of Fine Arts, Phnom Penh

_{Please be aware that the majors offered by universities change over time and that the overview given on this page might not be entirely up to date. We advise you to do your own research on the university’s website or to contact the university’s student affairs office to check that they offer the major of your choice.}

Do you want to gain broad knowledge about human history? After taking a major in History, the history of our society and its important events will no longer hold any secrets from you. During the courses, you will learn how events in history still influence the political and social contexts of the present. Apart from this, you will acquire strong research skills, such as analyzing and interpreting sources from the past. During the major, you can specialize in a certain area of history that interests you.

Interview with a History student

THY Kimhong (21) is a year 3 student majoring in History at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Kimhong chose this major because he loves history and wants to know the history of the Khmer people from their origin to the present. What he likes about the major is that it deals with facts, not legends, so the study is based on original sources. For this major you study in class, but you also get assignments for which you have to do research. Kimhong likes the subject of International Relations best. After his graduation he wants to work in the International Relations field at the ministry.

The following universities offer this major:

• Cambodian University for Specialities, Phnom Penh
• IIC University of Technology, Phnom Penh
• International University, Phnom Penh
• Khmer University of Technology and Management, Sihanoukville
• Paññāsāstra University of Cambodia, Phnom Penh
• Royal University of Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh
• University of Cambodia, Phnom Penh

_{Please be aware that the majors offered by universities change over time and that the overview given on this page might not be entirely up to date. We advise you to do your own research on the university’s website or to contact the university’s student affairs office to check that they offer the major of your choice.}