Catalog

History Courses

HIS 175R Topics in History (3)
Topics in history.

HIS 210 Western Civilization I (GE) (3)
Survey of Western civilization from ancient Greece through the early modern period focusing on politics, religion, and culture. Includes primary texts from major authors of the Western tradition.

HIS 215 Western Civilization II (GE) (3)
Survey of Western civilization from the modern period through the twentieth century focusing on major ideological shifts and specific periods of especial importance to the development of the West and the world. Includes primary texts from major authors of the Western tradition.

HIS 223 American History to 1877 (3)
One-semester survey highlighting some of the major political and social events and developments in American history. Recommended for students intending to teach in the public schools, history majors whose primary interest lies in the United States, or non-majors with an interest in American history.

HIS 253 Asian Civilization (3)
An examination of the major societies of Asia from ancient times until the sixteenth century A.D. The focus is primarily upon India, China, and Japan, and coverage includes political social, religious, economic, and cultural developments.

HIS 275R Topics in History (3)
Topics in history.

HIS 303 Historical Methods (3)
Introduces students to the historian’s approach to her/his work. Included are discussions of matters such as: primary and secondary sources, library tools, the critical reading of sources, questions of truth and objectivity, historical interpretation and approaches, historiography, and selecting a paper topic. During the latter part of the semester in this course each student draws upon this new knowledge to produce significant works as an historian–a historiographic essay and research paper.

HIS 321 Survey of American Religious History (3)
An introductory overview of the widely-varied religious beliefs and practices from pre-colonial times to the present. Major themes include the appearance and development of religious traditions on American soil; the evolution of freedom of religion; and the abiding influence of religious expressions on American life and culture. Pre-requisite: HIS 215, LIB 120, or consent of instructor.

HIS 322 Race in America (3)
A survey examining the origins and evolutions of ethnic and racial identity throughout the growing country, with particular attention to the post-Civil War, Civil Rights, and present eras. It will also consider the influence–or lack thereof–of the fundamental ideas and ideals of the nation and how they both challenge and inspire American culture, past and present. Pre-requisite: LIB 120 or equivalent.

HIS 323 The American Century (3)
The twentieth century has been called “The American Century,” when the United States moved from being a side-show on the international scene to the dominant world power economically, militarily, and culturally. This course will trace its evolution in all its diversity, from the Spanish American War to 9/11.  Pre-requisite: LIB 120 or equivalent.

HIS 325R Topics in American History (3)
Topics in American History. Consent of the Instructor.

HIS 326 American Civil War- Reconstruction (3)
Seminar offering an in-depth examination of the American Civil War. Topics include origins of the war, political organization of the Union and the Confederacy, the military conflict, the effect of the war on African-Americans and women, post-war Reconstruction, and the legacy of the Civil War. Prerequisite: one of the following: HIS 210, 215, 220, or 225, or sophomore class standing and consent of instructor.

HIS 327 The American Presidency (3)
The President of the United States has been called the most powerful person in the world, and the most influential citizen of the country. this course explores both the stories, goals, accomplishment and failures of those who have held the office, and also how that office developed from the Framers’ vision to the present day. Pre-requisite: LIB 120 and one of the following: HIS 223, POL 215, POL 223, or an equivalent.

HIS 328 American Politics and Foreign Policy (3)
A broad overview of American politics and foreign policy from World War II to the present. Major topics include FDR’s presidential leadership, Truman’s decision to use the atomic bomb, the origins of the Cold War, MacCarthyism, the Civil Rights Movement, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Johnson and the War on Poverty, the Vietnam War, Watergate, the Energy Crisis, the Reagan Revolution, the end of the Cold War, and America in the 1990s. Prerequisite: one of the following: HIS 210, 215, 220, or 225, or sophomore class standing and consent of instructor.

HIS 329 American History from 1877 (3)

HIS 331 History of Great Britain 1066-1688 (3)
British history from the Norman Conquest until the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688. It aims at an understanding of the chronology and character of this time and place, to know the figures who influenced this development and understand the arguments surrounding the major and minor events during this period. The object of the course is to sharpen the critical and analytical skills of students in history and to broaden their aesthetic tastes and intellectual sympathies of this era.

HIS 332 History of Great Britain 1688-pres (3)
British history from the “Glorious Revolution” of 1688 through the Industrial Revolution until the present. Major themes will include the transformation of Britain from an agrarian society to a great industrial power, life in the Victorian village as well as biographies of great politicians.

HIS 335R Topics in European History (3)
Topics in European History.

HIS 336 The Reformation Era (3)
The period from 1500-1688 affected every aspect of life, especially religion. The course considers the changing religious ideas, structures, cultures, and practices which swept Europe and influenced the growth of America to this day. Pre-requisite: HIS 210 or consent of instructor.

HIS 346 History of the Holocaust (3)
Introduction to history of the Holocaust and some of the main controversies surrounding it including pre-Nazi anti-Semitism, the intellectual and practical machinery of annihilation, the motivations and behaviors of perpetrators, bystanders, victims and rescuers, remembrance, and the use of the Holocaust in the broader field of genocide studies.

HIS 347 Gender in Modern Europe (3)
Exploration of the changing and contested ideals of masculinity and femininity, gender relations, and the different ways that men and women experienced some of the major events and developments in Europe from 1700 through the twentieth century.

HIS 353 Early Christianities (3)
Introduction to the early history of the Christian movements (approximately 100 BCE – 600 CE). Major themes include in-depth examinations of its historical, political, and social contexts, the major intellectual figures and theological controversies, the development and diversity of the Christian movements, and the impact of Christianity on the Ancient and Late Antique World. Suggested prerequisite: HIS 210.

HIS 354 Medieval Christianities (3)

In-depth examination of Christianity within the Medieval Mediterranean world (approximately 600-1500 CE). Topics include the development of Christian doctrine, piety, and praxis, the spread of Christianity across Eurasia, monasticism and the Cult of Saints, the Church as an institution, major theological controversies, inter-religious contacts with Islam and Judaism, and the efforts of reformers throughout the period. Suggested prerequisites: HIS 210; HIS 353.

HIS 355R Topics in Asian History (3)
Topics in Asian History

HIS 357 Japanese Cultural History (3)
Japan’s culture and arts from early times (approximately the 5th c. A.D.) through the 19th century. Topics include architecture, sculpture, the art of tea, ceramics, castle and military arts, wood-block prints, etc.

HIS 374 History of the Performing Arts (3)
A selective history of western music and theater beginning with Greek tragedy and ending with the American musicals of Twentieth-Century Hollywood and New York. Students will study why each of these cultures favored certain progressive art forms and themes over others. Among other things, students will consider the use of artistic productions as primary sources for historical study. Cross-listed with THE 333.

HIS 375R Topics in History (3)
Possible topics include historiography, World War II and the Cold War, American Foreign Policy, and the American West. Prerequisite: one of the following: HIS 210, 215, 220, or 225, or sophomore class standing and consent of instructor.

HIS 385R Directed Study in History (3)
Directed study in history. Prerequisite: HIS 210, 215, 220 or 225, and consent of instructor.

HIS 475R Advanced Topics in History (3)
Runs concurrently with the Senior Paper class for those interested in the topic being covered who are not yet ready to take HIS498. Producing an original, primary-source driven essay somewhat shorter than the 498 paper is the main assignment for this class. Students must be at least a Junior to enroll in this course.

HIS 498 Senior Paper (3)
Broad overview of the current state of historical research in a selected field of American, European or World History, culminating in the student’s production of an original, primary-source driven, article-length essay that conforms to the norms of professional writing in history.