The ability to read and understand complex historical monographs

The ability to see and understand key intersections in the American past

A fundamental understanding of some of the key issues in recent American political history

A fundamental understanding of the history of political conservatism over the last century

A fundamental understanding of the historigraphy of the conservative movement

The ability to critically discuss historical work

The ability to conduct archival research

The ability to construct an original research paper from primary sources

The ability to ask and answer pertinent historical questions

The ability to place your argument in a larger set of historical discussions