The Department of History has a distinguished and longstanding heritage, as it was one of the two departments upon which King Saud University was founded in 1957, making it the oldest university in Saudi Arabia. In recognition of its longstanding heritage and its academic and political significance, the Department of History had the honor of awarding the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, an honorary degree in Historical Studies in 2016.

The Department of History offers bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in History to both male and female students. The department's programs cover Ancient History, with a focus on the ancient history of the Arabian Peninsula, the history of the Ancient Near East and Far East, and the history of Greece and Rome; Medieval Islamic History, which covers the period from the emergence of Islam to the establishment of the Ottoman Empire in the sixteenth century CE; and Modern History, which encompasses national history, modern and contemporary Arab history, Ottoman history, and European and American history.

Within this framework, the department provides its students at all levels with the skills necessary for historical knowledge and research. Through these programs, students develop critical and analytical thinking skills that enable them to understand the past, comprehend the forces that have shaped the present, and anticipate the future.

The Department of History brings together a distinguished group of professors and specialists in various historical periods. Many of them have received national and Arab awards for excellence in teaching, while many have participated and continue to participate in numerous seminars, conferences, and lectures both within and outside the university. Faculty members have also published numerous historical studies and research papers. As a result of these contributions, many members of the department have received numerous academic awards both within Saudi Arabia and abroad.

Through these achievements, the Department of History has established itself as a distinguished center of expertise and a leading authority on historical matters, serving as an important source of knowledge for both governmental and private-sector institutions.

The Department of History is currently seeking to capitalize on the transformative developments brought about by Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 by further developing its academic programs and updating and introducing specialized courses within the department, as well as supporting and professional courses offered by other departments. Particular emphasis is placed on contemporary media and technologies, including documentaries, historical drama, historical cinema, and digital technology. These initiatives aim to help the department's students develop their academic research skills while also preparing them to meet the evolving needs of the labor market.