noun
history (as a field of study); historical studies
Refers to the academic discipline, not to a narrative of past events (which is 歴史). Used in university contexts and scholarly writing.
彼は大学で歴史学を専攻している。
He is majoring in history at university.
歴史学の研究方法には様々なアプローチがある。
There are various approaches to research methods in historical studies.
Compound of 歴史 (history) and 学 (study, -ology). The term is a straightforward Sino-Japanese formation for the academic field of history.