101. Topics. 2 to 4 semester hours.
Surveys that study some region or civilization of the past. Some sections are writing intensive. May be repeated for credit.
105C/H. The Pre-Modern World. 4 semester hours.
Investigation of significant ideas, people, events and problems in World History from prehistory to 1400. Some sections are writing intensive. Every year.
106C/H. The Modern World. 4 semester hours.
Investigation of significant ideas, people, events and problems in World History from 1400 to the present. Some sections are writing intensive. Every year.
110C/H. Ancient Mediterranean Worlds 2-4 Semester hours.
This course explores major events and themes in ancient history of the Mediterranean world. Themes will include examination of religious and philosophical thought, the evolution of language, the archaeology of urban and nomadic communities, and the political events that defined the empires from the Sumerians and Minoans until the Islamic Caliphate and Byzantium
111H. Medieval Europe. 4 semester hours.
Survey of important historical events, developments and people of Europe from the end of the ancient world to the 14th century. Writing intensive. Every year.
112H. Modern Europe. 4 semester hours.
Survey of significant ideas, people, events and problems in European civilization from the Renaissance to the present. Writing intensive. Every year.
121H. United States History I. 4 semester hours.
Study of the United States from colonial times through Reconstruction. Some sections are writing intensive.
122H. United States History II. 4 semester hours.
Study of the United States since Reconstruction. Writing intensive. Every year
126H. U.S. History from 1877 to 1945. 4 semester hours.
This course will explore major events and themes in the history of the United States from the end of Reconstruction in 1877 to the end of World War II in 1945. This course will satisfy the "H" general education requirement and will also satisfy the HIST 222 requirement for those students in the History/Integrated Social Studies Major. (NOTE: Students may not take both HIST 226 and HIST 222 for credit). No prerequisite. Writing Intensive. Alternate years.
127H. U.S. History since 1945. 4 semester hours.
This course will explore major events and themes in U.S. History from the end of World War II to the present. This course will satisfy the "H" general education requirement and will also satisfy the HIST 222 requirement for those students in the History/Integrated Social Studies Major. (NOTE: Students may not take both HIST 227 and HIST 222 for credit). No prerequisite. Writing Intensive. Alternate years.
130H. African American History. 4 semester hours.
Study of the experience of African American people in the United States. Every year.
135H. Latin American Civilizations. 4 semester hours.
Survey of the history, culture and civilization of Latin America from the 15th century to the present. Writing intensive. Every year.
161C. Pre-Modern East Asia. 4 semester hours.
Survey of the history of East Asia’s three major countries – China, Japan and Korea – from earliest times until the beginning of the 17th century. The focus is on culture and thought, as well as major political developments. Every year.
162C. Modern East Asia. 4 semester hours.
Survey of the history of East Asia’s three major countries – China, Japan, and Korea – from the 17th century to the present. The focus is on the response of these countries to the challenges of an increasingly global world. Every year.
163C. Modern Japan. 4 semester hours.
We often think of modern Japanese history as the history of an exotic culture filled with samurai and geisha. However, who are the individuals that have formed these groups and what do they mean to Japan's modern history? What other kinds of people have lived in Japan and shpaed the evolution of their nation's modern life? In this course, through historical essays, literature, and images we will look at modern Japan as a complex and diverse society filled with individuals who have fought for women's rights, for environmental reform, and who have resisted the attempts of their government to define their identity as Japanese. Student's work will be evaluated through in-class participation, in-class quizzes, presentations and a variety of written assignments. This course is Writing Intensive and may be taken for C credit. Offered in alternate years.
164C. Modern China. 4 semester hours.
Using primary sources, visual media, and scholarly essays, this course examines the sweeping historical changes that have shpaed modern China. In particular, we will examine the ways in which individuals interacted with larger internal and external forces to create dynastic and revolutionary change from the Qing Dynasty (1655-1911), to Republican Nationalism (1912-1949), and into the Mao Era (1949-1976). We will conlude by exploring how this history of change and competing voices has translated into the China of the present. Student's work will be evaluated through in-class participation, in-class quizzes, presentations and a variety of writing assignments. This course is Writing Intensive and may be taken for C credit. Offered in alternate years.
170C. Topics in African History. 4 semester hours.
Exploration of various dimensions of African history. Some sections are writing intensive. Every year.
171C. African Societies to 1500. 4 semester hours.
The goal of this course is to enable you to learn the major themes and issues of African history before the arrival of Europeans and the Atlantic slave trade. Topics covered will range from the African roots of human society, placing Egypt within African history, to its influence on the kingdoms of Nubia and Ethiopia. We will also examine the role of Islam in the rise of Imperial West Africa and the city-states of the Swahili Coast. The course will conclude with the impact that the arrival of Europeans had upon these societies. You should expect to learn the main historical themes of Africa prior to 1500. In particular, this class will explore the role of oral traditions and “myth” in African societies and will attempt to ascertain their usefulness as historical documents.
172C. African Societies Since 1500. 4 semester Hours.
The goal of this course is to examine how African political, cultural, religious, economic and social institutions have responded to the penetration of outsiders throughout the last 500 years. These outsiders include European slave traders, missionaries, and colonizers as well as Arab traders and Islamic scholars. The impact of the slave trade and later European colonization will be explored in depth. Africans were not passive victims in their own history, and we will focus on how Africans responded to these challenges and struggled for their independence, and how these movements helped shape the face of Post-Colonial Africa. The role of Islam in Africa, especially a series of 19th century Jihads, will also be studied. It is this dynamic interplay between Africans and outsiders that has shaped the formation of modern Africa. One of the goals of this class is to provide students with the knowledge to shatter the myths and stereotypes that surround Africa.
173. Settlers and Liberators of South Africa. 4 semester hours.
This course will consider the conflict in Southern Africa from a historical perspective. We will consider the nature of the European colonial societies and the Africans who resisted them. Africans fought not only against a range of inequalities, but also, in their creative resuscitation of a suppressed past, over descriptive languages, social and cultural categories that are themselves the product of domination. Africans used passive, hidden, and violent methods to overcome a variety of difficulties in achieving independence and survival. The main focus of this class will be South Africa, but neighboring countries such as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe will also be considered. Readings will include novels, biographies, and a few manuscripts. Students will be evaluated on class participation, take-home exams, and papers based upon the readings. Writing intensive.
201. Topics in History 4 semester hours.
Topical approach to history. Some sections are writing intensive. May be repeated for credit.
203C/H. The Historian’s Craft. 4 semester hours.
Series of topical courses designed to equip students with the basic skills of research and analysis, in light of the nature and uses of history. Prerequisite: sophomore standing or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Every semester. Recent topics include:
205H. Topics in World History. 1-4 semester hours.
210H. Topics in the History of the Ancient World. 4 semester hours.
Examination of topics of Ancient history, e.g., Greece in the Classical period, the Roman Empire. May be repeated for credit. Writing intensive. Every year.
225H/R. Topics in Religious History. 4 semester hours.
Historical study of the interaction between religion and some other aspect of American Western culture, such as law, film or science. May be repeated for credit. Alternate years.
229A. American Film. 4 semester hours.
Survey of American film and the film industry since the 1890s. Topics include the silent film era; the rise of the studio system and the Motion Picture Production Code; the end of the Code and the studio era; and contemporary American film. Some sections are writing intensive. Alternate years.
231S. American Constitutional History I. 4 semester hours.
Examination of the constitutional issues and the leading figures who helped shape American constitutional development from colonial beginnings to the end of Reconstruction. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
232S. American Constitutional History II. 4 semester hours.
Examination of the constitutional issues and the leading figures who helped shape American constitutional development from Reconstruction to the present. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
240H. Topics in Pre-modern European. 2-4 semester hours.
Exploration of themes and regions in European History up to 1500. Some sections are writing intensive. Possible topics include: The Crusades, Medieval Eastern Europe, England from King Arthur to Queen Elizabeth. No prerequisite. Alternate years.
241H. Topics in Modern European. 2-4 semester hours.
Study of British society since the 18th century with particular focus on the rise and fall of Britain as an industrial and imperial power in Europe. Some sections are writing intensive. Alternate years.
251H/C. Medieval Russia. 4 semester hours.
Russian occupies a unique position between Europe and Asia. This class will explore the creation of the Russian state, and the foundation of the question of is Russia European or Asian? We will begin with the exploration and settlement of the Vikings in Eastern Europe, which began the genesis of the stat known as "Rus'." That state was integrated into the larger medieval world through a variety of means, from Christianization, to dynastic marriage, and economic ties. However, over the course of the twelfth and thirteenth centuries the creating of the crusading ideal and the arrival of the Mongols began the process of separating Rus' (becoming Russia) from the rest of Europe. This continued with the creation of power centers in NE Russia, and the transition of the idea of empire from Byzantium at its fall to Muscovy. This story of medieval Russia is a unique one that impacts both the traditional history of medieval Europe, as well as the birth of the first Eurasian empire. Writing Intensive - No prerequisites. PAST/RCEP credit.
252H/C. Imperial Russia. 4 semester hours.
Russia occupies a unique position between Europe and Asia. This class will explore the create of the Russian state leading into the modern period. We will begin with the Time of Troubles, a sprawling two decade civil ware, series of foreign invasions, internal rebellions, and dynastic strife that sets up the new rulers of Russia - the Romanovs. The three-hundred year reign of the Romanovs is explored here through discussion of internal and external politics, society, and economics. We will devote serious attention to the foreign interactions of Russia s it begins to take its place in Eurasian affairs in this time, and become both a threat to, and savior of Europe, including defeating Napoleon. Gender will also occupy a significant portion of our time as we deal with eighteenth century Russian and its five ruling empresses, as well as such influential figures as Nicholas II's wife, Alexandra. This period of Russian history cements its perception as an "other" to most of Europe, even when it is interacting with the other European powers in the Enlightenment, Seven Years War, Napoleonic Wars, and division of China. Writing Intensive - No Prerequisites. RCEP credit.
253H/C. Soviet Russia. 4 semester hours.
Russia in this period is fully enmeshed in European and world history. Over the course of this class we will see Soviet troops in Berlin, as well as Soviet activity throughout the world. Russia also goes through a series of dramatic changes in this period from the amazing events of two revolutions in 1917 to the conservative reaction under Stalin, and repetitions of those cycles of reform and reaction throughout the twentieth century. The history of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics will change the history of the rest of the world, and as suc, is a vital component in understanding not only the events of the twentieth century, but our twenty=-first century as well. Writing Intensive - No Prerequisites. RCEP Credit
262C. Colonial Korea. 4 semester hours.
This course examines Colonial Korea from 1910-1945. In 1910, Japan annexed Korea as part of its imperialist program in East Asia, and its colonial government was in place in Korea until Japan's surrender to the United States in 1945. This course will not only examine the historical factors that led to the annexation of Korea by Japan, but will also focus on the various views of Colonial Korea from within Korean society through essays and literature. In the latter half of the course, we will look at the Korean resistance movement, Colonial Korea during the Pacific War, and the place of the colonial period in the historical memories of North and South Korea. Student work will be evaluated through in-class participation, in-class quizzes, presentations and a variety of writing assignments. This course is Writing Intensive and may be take for C credit.
263C. Japan's Medieval Past. 4 semester hours.
Japan's Medieval Past is most often viewed through the rise of a ruling warrior (samurai) class. However, long before the age of the samurai, civil officials, aristocratic women, monks, and wandering performers created an unprecendented age of political, social, artistic and literary achievement that drew on rich and diverse traditions from within and without Japan. Through the use of primary historical sources, lieterature,and classic film by directors such as Akira Kurosawa and Mizoguchi Kenji, this course will examine Japan's complex medieval heritage beginning with the rise of a stable imperial rule in the sixth century and ending with the anarchy of the warring states period of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Students will be evaluated according to quizzes, two exams, weekly journal responses, and an analytical paper of five to six pages. This course is Writing Intensive and may be take n for C credit. Offered in alternate years.
270. Topics in African History. 4 semester hours.
Exploration of various dimensions of African history. Alternate years.
281. Modern Middle East. 4 semester hours.
This course is a survey of the history of the Modern Middle East through the reading of primary documents, secondary sources, short stories by Arab novelists, and the viewing of Arab, Farsi, and Hebrew films. Specific attention will be directed toward the topic of religious diversity in the region (Islam, Judaism, and Christianity) and how the various groups have impacted the present configuration of the Middle East. Writing intensive.
301. Topics. 2-4 semester hours.
Topical approach, focusing on a specific theme. Prerequisites vary by section. Some sections are writing intensive. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit. Every year.
302. Topics in Ancient History and Archaeology. 2-4 semester hours.
Examination of physical and textual evidence for the history of ancient communities in Afro-Eurasia from prehistory to Late Antiquity. Possible topics include: Nomadic Archaelogy, New Kingdom Egypt, Homer and the Greeks, The Persian Wars, Alexander the Great. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: One course in history or permission of instructor. Alternate years.
303. Ancient and Pre-Modern Historians. 2-4 semester hours.
Textual analysis of ancient and pre-modern history through the examination of select ancient historians. Possible historians include: Herodotus, Thucydides, Arrian, Plutarch, Eusebius, Procopius, Ibn Ishaq, Tabari, and Baladhuri. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: One course in history or permission of instructor. Alternate years.
304. Topics in Late Antiquity. 2-4 semester hours.
Exploration of selected topics in Late Antiquity in Afro-Eurasia. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: One course in history or permission of instructor. Alternate years.
305. Archaeological Field Methods. 2-4 semester hours.
Introduction to theoretical and practical application of archaeological field methods. Course includes excavation field experience and training in documentation. Prerequisite: One course in history or permission of instructor. Every year.
306. Byzantium: The Mediterranean Empire. 2-4 semester hours.
This course explores major events and themes in the history of the Byzantine Empire in the Mediterranean world. Themes will include examination of Christian thought, the role of women and minorities in the church, the evolution of the canon, the art and archaeology of Christian communities, and the major ecclesiastical events that defined the early church such as the age of martyrs, the adoption of Christianity by Constantine and the divergent Christian beliefs which challenged the authority of the church. Prerequisities: ENGL101 and Junior Standing and one previous history course. Writing Intensive.
309. Eurasian Nomads in the Ancient and Medieval World. 4 semester hours.
Eurasian nomads are part of a variety of histories and historiographies in China, Russia, India, the Middle East, and Europe. But in every one of those cases they primarily exist as an "other," the "outsider" who raids the settled empire, the "barbarian" who ravages civilization. This class will attempt to change that perspective and focus on the nomads themselves as the actors. Over the course of the semester the class will acquire an understanding of nomadic society and traditions, as well as the various cultures involved in the regions and periods under consideration. In class, we will cover four separate nomadic groups (Xiongu, Huns, Turks, and Mongols), and in groups students will do in-depth research on one particular steppe culture or people and presnt that material to the class with the goal of helping to understand who these Eurasian nomads are, why they acted the way they did, and why history and historians traditionally portray them negatively. Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and Junior Standing; one class in History. Writing Intensive. Offered in alternate years.
310. Topics in Pre-Modern European History. 2-4 semester hours.
In depth analysis of themes and regions in European History up to 1500. Possible topics include: The Crusades, The Carolingians, Medieval Women, The Medieval Family. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and Junior Standing; one class in History. Writing Intensive. Offered as needed.
311. The Viking World. 4 semester hours.
The Vikings occupy an important place in European, and indeed Eurasian history. From their first recorded attack on Lindisfarne in 793, the Vikings roamed the Baltic and North Seas, continental Europe, the Mediterranean, the eastern European river systems and even the Caspian and Black Seas. In their travels they met peoples of various faiths and origins, and traded wtih and raided them all equally. This course will explore the initial outburst of Viking expansion beginning in the late eighth century, look at ath eway Vikings lived at home and abroad, and will also examine the effect Vikings had on the various places they visited. We will also address the place of women in Viking society and study the Icelandic sagas that have survived to this day as a view to what they can tell us about Viking life and practices. The course will conclude with the creation of Scandinavian kingdoms and empires, such as those of King Cnut and Harald Hardrada. Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and Junior Standing; one course in History. Writing Intensive. Offered in alternate years.
312. The Age of Cathedrals. 4 semester hours.
Walk inside any medieval cathedral and you are automaticaly transported to a different place and time. The soaring vaults and jewel-like stained glass create a space unlike any other. But cathedrals are more than pretty spaces. They are complex, cultural artifacts and can tell us much about the society that produced them. The goal of this class is to examine the social, political, economic and cultural developments of the society that built such wonderful monuments. Students will learn to "read" cathedrals for insight into the mental, religious and cultural realities of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and Junior Standing; one class in History. Writing Intensive. Offered in alternate years.
313. Living in Medieval England. 4 semester hours.
History consists of the threads of individual lives, woven together to make up the fabric of the past. Historical biography remains one of the most popular forms of history writing. This course concentrates on the biography - individual and collective - of the people who lived in medieval England. Students will examine the lives of medieval people ranging from the humblest of peasants to the mightiest of kings. Not only will the course consider how modern scholars have crafted the lives of medieval people, but it will also examine how medieval people themselves recorded the lives of their contemporaries. Prerequisites: ENGL 101 and Junior Standing; one class in History. Writing Intensive. Offered in alternate years.
314. Renaissance and Reformation. 4 semester hours.
Examination of the political, social and intellectual changes in European society from the 14th to the 17th centuries. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
318. Nazi and Fascist Europe. 4 semester hours.
Exploration of the development of fascism and national socialism and their impacts on European history from 1919 to 1945. Writing intensive. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or permission of instructor. Alternate years.
319. European Women’s History. 4 semester hours.
Survey of major themes in the history and study of European women . Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
320. American Women’s History. 4 semester hours.
Study and exploration of roles of women in American society from the 17th century to the present. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive.
325. Topics in the History of U.S. Foreign Relations. 2-4 semester hours.
Exploration of selected topics in the U.S. diplomatic history and/or the history of U.S. diplomatic relationships with various regions of the world from the middle of the nineteenth century to the present. Prerequisite: HIST 106, HIST 222 or permission of instructor. Other prerequisites may be substituted depending on the topic. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
327. The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. 4 semester hours.
335. Modern Latin America. 4 semester hours.
Introduction to 19th and 20th century Latin America, with a focus on major issues, trends, and themes in the history and development of Latin America since independence. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive.
341. The Victorians. 4 semester hours.
Study of the major social, economic, political and intellectual developments of the period. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
362. Satire, Critique, and Rebellion in Early Modern Japan. 4 semester hours.
Can a samurai exchanging the sword for a pen serve as a metaphor for social change? How did various groups of commoners, peasants, and outcastes in early modern Japan find their political voices? This course examines popular dissent in early modern Japan (1600-1868) through samurai critiques of the government and society, popular art such as ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints), literary genres such as gesaku (satirical stories), as well as peasant rebellions. Student's work will be evaluated through written assignments, in-class presentations and focused discussion. This course is Writing Intensive. Prerequisites: One course in history or EAS 100 or permission of instructor. Offered in alternate years.
370. Topics in African History. 4 semester hours.
Exploration of various themes and debates in African history. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
371. Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Gender in 20th Century Africa. 4 semester hours.
The objective of this course is to provide students with an analytical and historical framework for understanding events on the African continent during the 20th century. Students will be provided the necessary historical background, however, the main thrust of this class will be to investigate the changing notions of nationalism, ethnicity, and gender in modern Africa. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor.
372. Race in the United States and South Africa. 4 semester hours.
This class will focus on the political, economic, and cultural reasons behind the construction of racially discriminatory sytems in the United States and in South Africa. White settlers in both the United States and South Africa turned to the use of slaves; why did they do this and how did they justify it? After the abolition of slavery, each society developed new economic structures along with new forms of institutionalized segregation. By comparing the institutionalization of racism in both countries, students will gain a better understanding of why these systems emerge and how they function. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor.
380. Topics in Public History. 4 semester hours.
Topics in various aspects of public or applied history, such as archival management, historic preservation and museum studies. Prerequisite: one course in history or permission of instructor. Writing intensive. Alternate years.
411. Senior Seminar: the Study of History. 4 semester hours.
As the capstone to the major, HIST 411 requires students to undertake a major research project based upon work undertaken likely in a 300 level history course, along with presentation of the research to the history faculty. Prerequisites: HIST 202, 203, at least 8 hours of 300 level history courses and history major. Writing Intensive. Every year.
490. Independent Study. 1-4 semester hours.
Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission. Every year. This course may be repeated for credit.
491. Internship. 1-4 semester hours.
Prerequisite: Instructor’s permission. Every year. This course may be repeated for credit.
499. Honors Thesis/Project. Variable credit.
Prerequisite: 3.50 GPA and permission of the Department Chair.
