Contact Persons: John Cox, Ph.D., (Chair)
                        David Kilroy, Ph.D.
                        Joseph Laker, Ph.D.
                        Leslie Liedel, Ph.D.
                        Donna Simpson, Ph.D.
                        John Wack, Ph.D. (Emeritus)

The individual who neglects the study of history is trapped in the “prison of the present,” unable to understand how humankind has arrived at its present condition and often uncertain of the changes which the future may bring. For this reason, a knowledge of history has long been one of the hallmarks of an educated person. Students are encouraged to approach their studies from a comprehensive background of materials, avoiding narrow interpretations. Thus, a major or minor in history is excellent preparation for a student who seeks to work in such fields as law, foreign service, journalism, international business, or government at all levels, as well as those who seek such professional areas as education, museum management, or archival work. Our courses stress systematic research and considerable reading and writing.

Upon completion of the history program, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

1. Analyze contemporary events and problems in historical perspective.
2. Demonstrate knowledge of major events, trends and personalities of the western tradition.
3. Search effectively for information on current and past topics using contemporary research tools.
4. Write factually accurate and insightful explanations of historical events.
5. Communicate factual information and research findings in a concise and articulate oral manner.

Requirements for a History Major
Bachelor of Arts Degree

Required:

HIS 110	The Twentieth Century	(3 crs)
HIS 120	Historical Methods	(3 crs)

In addition to the core curriculum requirements of this catalog, history majors will complete 30 credit hours of the following courses:

HIS 211, 212	History of the American People	(6 crs)
HIS 351, 352	The Western Tradition	(6 crs)
HIS 486	Senior Seminar	(3 crs)
--	Two non-western history courses  (one of which might be a historical method)	(3-6 crs)
--	Three or four free history electives	(9-12 crs)
TOTAL:		(30-36 crs)

>Requirements for a History Minor

Minors must complete seven courses including HIS 110 and the history proseminar HIS 120, one elective in each of the three areas of European, American and Non-western and two history electives.

Core Fulfilling Course

The core requirement in history may be fulfilled by taking the following courses:

HIS 110 -- The Twentieth Century
HIS 120 -- Historical Methods

HISTORY - Recommended Course Sequence
Freshman		Sophomore		Junior		Senior
FALL		FALL		FALL		FALL
FYS 101	1	HIS 211	3	HIS 351	3	Electives	6
HIS 110	3	HIS Elective	3	RST Elective	3	IS 486	3
NG 105 or 110	3	PHI 105	3	Science	3	HIS Elective	3
MOL 102	3	MAT/CSC	3	HIS Elective	6	RST/PHI 305	3
SSC	3	LIT 250	3
FAS 101	1
Semester total	14	Semester total	15	Semester total	15	Semester total	15
SPRING		SPRING		SPRING		SPRING
HIS 120	3	HIS 212	3	HIS 352	3	HIS Elective	3
MOL 111	3	HIS Elective	3	Global Persp.	3	Electives	12
Electives	6	PHI 205	3	FAS 20X	2
LIT 120	3	RST 106/107	3	Electives	9
		Science	3
Semester total	15	Semester total	15	Semester total	17	Semester total	15
TOTAL CREDITS	29	TOTAL CREDITS	30	TOTAL CREDITS	32	TOTAL CREDITS	30
Total Credits = 121

Course Descriptions

HIS 110 The Twentieth Century (3 crs)

This course begins with an examination of Europe’s position of political, economic and military dominance in the world in the decades before World War I. After a thorough treatment of the causes and effects of the Great War and the rise of Japan to great power status, our emphasis shifts to the international economic and political problems of the interwar era. We analyze the rise of authoritarian regimes of the right and left in Europe, the civil war in China and the imperialist powers’ weakening grip on their colonies in Africa and Asia. World War II and the Holocaust figure prominently in the second half of the course, as do the decolonization process, the Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union and post-Cold War issues such as ethnic conflict and responses to globalization.

HIS 120 Historical Methods (3 crs)

The content of these courses (in terms of both geographic area and historical period) varies from instructor to instructor. All are designed to familiarize students with the methods and procedures used by historians in researching and writing about important historical trends and events. Course activities include using primary and secondary sources; developing a sense of interpretation grounded in creative, but responsible scholarship; improving writing skills in analytical, response and research papers; and giving oral presentations.

AMERICAN

HIS 211, 212 History of the American People (6 crs)

A two-semester survey of the history of the United States emphasizing the social, cultural, political and intellectual development of the American people.

HIS 213 The Indian in North America (3 crs)

First half of the course deals with the society and culture of our native Americans and is anthropological in nature; the second half is about Indian-White relations.

HIS 214 History of Appalachia (3 crs)

An introduction to the history of the institutions and people of the Appalachian mountain region from the earliest years of exploration to the present.

HIS 312 The American Revolution, 1763-1783 (3 crs)

Covers the causes of revolution, the major events of the war for independence and the emergence of the new government of the United States.

HIS 313 The National Period of the U.S., 1783-1815 (3 crs)

Social and political history of the period; formation of the federal government; the development of the political party system.

HIS 314 Contemporary America (3 crs)

This course examines the major political, social and cultural issues in U.S, history since 1945 and seeks to identify the major influences that have shaped contemporary America. Topics covered include the domestic impact of the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement and its legacy, the social and cultural revolution of the 1960s, Vietnam, Watergate and the emergence of the New Right.

HIS 315 The American Civil War, 1850-1868 (3 crs)

A brief examination of the major causes and events of the war between the Union and the Confederacy.

HIS 316 (INS 316 and POS 316) Rise of the United States as a World Power (3 crs)

This course examines the emergence of the U.S. as a world power in the first half of the 20th century, its conduct as one of the world’s two superpowers during the Cold War and its role in international affairs as the world’s dominant power since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

EUROPEAN

HIS 216 The Ancient World: Greece and Rome (3 crs)

A survey of the most important aspects of Western culture from the time of Heroic Greece to the fall of the western half of the Roman empire in the 5th century A.D.

HIS 217 (INS 217) History of the Holocaust (3 crs)

An examination of Hitler’s policy of genocide against the Jews of Europe. Includes related phenomena such as the roots of anti-Semitism, fascist ideology, non-Jewish victims of the Nazis, Holocaust denial and other examples of genocide in recent world history such as Armenia, Rwanda and Bosnia.

HIS 220 (WST 220) Women in History (3 crs)

A study of women in Western society from antiquity to the present. The course will examine principal events, trends and ideas affecting women in selected periods, including the Icelandic Society, the Troubadour civilization, the 17th century salon ladies and the feminist and suffrage movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. Prerequisite: completed history core.

HIS 250 (POS 250) Revolution and Ideology (3 crs)

This course encourages students to come to terms with revolutionary ideas and thinkers in a number of ways. First, the instructor provides the historical background to the epochs when ideas such as Marxism and fascism appeared. Then students study revolutionary writings to analyze the writers' criticisms of society, suggested methods of change and ultimate goals.

HIS 300 (INS 300) Modern Ireland (3 crs)

This course examines the major political and social developments in Irish history in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the 19th century, the focus is on the rise of Irish cultural and political nationalism, the nature of British rule in Ireland, the issues of land and famine and the role of religion in Irish culture and politics. In the 20th century, the focus shifts to the independence movement, partition, the parallel development of the Irish Republic and Northern Ireland and the “Troubles” in Northern Ireland.

HIS 310 (INS 310) Eastern Europe Since Napoleon (3 crs)

The lands of Eastern Europe, such as Serbia, Slovenia and Poland, are examined in terms of their relationships with both Western Europe and Russia. The key processes of nation-building, industrialization and political modernization form the analytical framework of the course.

HIS 324 The Medieval World (3 crs)

This course examines the social, political, religious, intellectual and artistic development of Medieval Civilization from the fall of Rome to the fifteenth century.

HIS 331 (INS 331) Modern Russia (3 crs)

A survey of the social, political and military challenges facing Russia as a great power from 1850 to the present. Topics include serfdom, industrialization, the Bolshevik Revolution, the Stalinist terror and the glasnost and perestroika of Gorbachev. Concludes with analysis of the prospects of Yeltsin’s post-communist Russia.

HIS 340, 341 History of England (3 crs ea)
(HIS 341 available for credit as INS 341)

A two-semester survey; part one studies England from the coming of the Anglo-Saxons to the end of the Wars of the Roses in 1485; part two deals with England from the reign of Henry VIII to the present.

HIS 345 (INS 345) Modern France (3 crs)

This course explores the development of Modern France from the Revolution of 1789 to the present. It examines the principal political economic, intellectual and cultural developments of the period.

HIS 351 The Western Tradition: Antiquity To Religious Reformation (3 crs)

This course is a broad survey of Europe’s political, social, economic and cultural traditions with a stress on selected problems viewed from conflicting historical interpretations. Students will make use of both primary and secondary literature and make oral and written reports on the problems they have studied.

HIS 352 The Western Tradition from 1650 to the Present (3 crs)

This course is a broad survey of European political, social, economic and cultural traditions and how those traditions have been spread throughout the world. Stress will be placed on selected problems viewed from conflicting historical interpretations. Students will use primary and secondary sources and make oral and written presentations on the problems they have studied.

HIS 371-374 History Through Films (3 crs ea)

This semester-length history seminar will use feature films on historical topics as focal points for discussion and lecture in various areas of history. The area chosen will depend on the instructor.

HIS 371: American History
HIS 372: Early European History
HIS 373: Modern European History
HIS 374: Non-Western History

NON-WESTERN

HIS 219 East Asia: The Great Tradition (3 crs)

This course treats the origins and development of East Asia until 1800, focusing on the religious and philosophical systems of Buddhism, Confucianism, Taoism and Shintoism. Consideration also of political traditions and social and cultural development.

HIS 221 (INS 221) Japan Since 1800 (3 crs)

Surveys Japan’s native traditions, assimilation of Chinese and Western culture and transformation into an Asian political and economic power.

HIS 222 (INS 222) China Since 1800 (3 crs)

Covers China’s development from the 19th century with emphasis on traditional institutions and beliefs and their transformation under Western influence.

HIS 223 (INS 223) India and South Asia
(Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal) (3 crs)

A survey of the traditional cultures and institutions and the rise, development and consequences of Western imperialism in South Asia.

HIS 224 (INS 224) Southeast Asia (3 crs)

This course concentrates on the nature of traditional Southeast Asian societies arrayed between China and India before 1870, the seizure of these lands by Western imperialist nations from the 1870’s into the mid-twentieth century when nationalists regained their independence and finally how well each country has done since independence. Forty percent of the course focuses on Vietnam.

HIS 228 (POS 228 and INS 228) Latin America in 20th Century (3 crs)

Chronological survey of Latin America from 1890 to the present. Stress will be on the development of Latin American nations, their problems and their relationships with the United States.

HIS 336 (INS 336) Africa (3 crs)

This course offers a survey of African history, with an emphasis on the rich diversity of its peoples and cultures, from antiquity through the pre-colonial, colonial and post-colonial periods. Topics that receive particular attention include civilization and state formation in pre-colonial rule on Africa, the Apartheid state of South Africa and the problems of civil war, military dictatorships, underdevelopment, famine and disease that have plagued independent Africa.

SEMINARS

HIS 384 Readings Seminars (3 crs)

A combination of assigned readings, lectures and discussions; titles and content may change from semester to semester since they are designed by faculty members for the areas of their special interests.

HIS 486 Senior Seminar (3 crs)

Participants read on a common seminar topic, write and orally defend their research papers on an aspect of the topic.