The teacher-scholars of the Department of History at Texas State University-San Marcos are dedicated to the study, interpretation, and teaching of the human past. The department's principal mission consists of providing an introduction to the study of history as part of the liberal arts foundation required of all Texas State University undergraduates and of offering a well-developed program of historical study to advanced undergraduate and graduate students, including those training to be secondary-level history and social studies teachers in the public schools.

Faculty members also undertake significant research projects to advance historical knowledge and contribute to the constant reinterpretation of historical phenomena. They share their research with the national and international scholarly community through the presentation and publication of historical studies. Department historians thus understand teaching and research to be the single most important aspects of their professional activity. Departmental members engage the community and general public in numerous historical programs and activities to increase general interest in history and to broaden understanding of past human activity.