The Specifics

History Major and Courses

The department offers a major option, as well as minor in history. The major requires a rigorous core of required classes plus a wide selection of elective options.

Requirements

Major in History

Thirty hours in history above the general education courses (HIST 121-122), including U.S. History I and II, at least one course in area studies, and the senior seminar course (HIST 450) which is to be taken during the junior or senior year. The student will consult with the advisor in the selection of elective courses to complete the major in history.

Minor in History

Eighteen hours in history above the general education courses are required for the minor. Courses to complete the minor may be selected from any HIST 200-, 300- or 400-level courses.

Requirements for Certification to Teach High School Social Studies

Students who want to be certified to teach social studies in the high-school setting must meet the requirements for the major in history plus the following courses: ECON 201, 202; EDUC 201, 391, 392, 393; EDSD 301, 302, 400, 401, 402, 403; EDUC 371; GEOG 301; HIST 337 or PLSC 201 or 202; PSYC 201 or 213; SOC 201 or 207; EDMS 350. Students must complete all courses required for teacher certification and meet the criteria for acceptance into the Teacher Acceptance Program.

General Education Requirements

Certain general education courses are required of all students as prerequisite to the degrees conferred by the college. Students should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure proper selection of general education and other courses.

Complete Departmental Course Listing

History (HIST) Survey Courses

121. Rise of World Cultures and Ideas (3)
A study of the emergence and development of great ideas and cultures in the ancient and medieval worlds.

122. The Modern World (3)
A study of human history and the development of modern civilizations, focusing on the major economic, diplomatic, military, political, religious, and social components of human activity since 1500.

211-212. American History (3 each sem)
Required of history majors. An account of the political, economic, military, diplomatic, and social development of the United States from the founding of the colonies to the present.

252. Encounters Afar (2)
Offered during the spring semester, this course involves students in an intensive study of a particular city's or region's history. The course culminates in a one-week study tour of the designated locale during Spring Break. (Extra fees for travel may apply.)

258. Special Topics (3-6). See page 29.

American Chronological Courses

321. History of Colonial and Revolutionary America, 1600-1800 (3)
A study of American social and political history including early European settlement in North America, issues leading up to the American Revolution, and the establishment of the new nation.

322. Young America, 1800-1865 (3)
A study of the issues confronting a new nation, including the rise of democracy, the exploration of the frontier and westward expansion, slavery and the South, benevolence and reform, and sectionalism and the Civil War.

323. Emergence of Modern America, 1865-1920 (3)
A study of the evolution of the United States from Reconstruction to the end of the First World War, selected through readings.

324. Modern America, 1920-Present (3)
A study of the development of the United States from the end of the First World War to present day, selected through readings.

Focused Courses

333. American Military History (3)
A survey of the military history of the United States from its European backgrounds to the contemporary age. Special attention will be given to the Revolutionary War, Civil War, World Wars I and II, Korean War, and Vietnam War.

334. Women in American History (3)
This course will introduce students to major themes in American women’s history. It will examine the lives of women as workers, as family members, and as active participants in the public arenas of voluntary association and political activism. It will further explore the diversity of women’s experiences in terms of race, religion, class, and ethnic identity while also touching on the lives of specific notable women in American history.

336. United States Diplomatic History (3)
A survey of American foreign relations from 1890 to the present. Particular emphasis is given to America's emergence as a global power and the Cold War.

337. History of the South (3)
A survey of the history and culture of the South from the period of early settlement to the present. Special attention will be given to the Old South, the institution of slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the New South, the Civil Rights movement, and the South in the Modern Era.

Religious History Courses

355. Religion in America (3)
(Crosslisted with RELG 355) A survey of the American religious experience from colonial times to the present, with particular emphasis on the interaction of religion and American life. This course provides depth to the religious and social facets of American history. For history majors and minors who prefer to study American history, this course offers a desirable elective.

356. The African-American Religious Experience (3)
(Crosslisted with RELG 356) An examination of the African-American contribution to the religious life of the American people from the period of slavery to the present. Particular emphasis on the relationship of African-American religion to American history and culture.

357. History of Christianity (3)
(Crosslisted with RELG 357) A historical survey of Christianity from its beginnings to the present. Particular emphasis on the development of Christian thought and its expression in the church.

European- Focused Courses

361. English History to 1688 (3)
A survey of English history from pre-Roman Celtic times to the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Special emphasis is placed on the cultural, religious, and political development of the kingdom.

362. English History Since 1689 (3)
The development of the United Kingdom and the British Empire since 1689. Areas of particular emphasis are the expanding empire, Victorianism, imperialism, and the cultural, religious, and political contributions of the kingdom.

366. Modern Russia (3)
A study of Imperial and Soviet Russia. Concentration will be upon the 19th and 20th centuries, with emphasis on tsarist autocracy, emerging revolutionary movements, the Bolshevik Revolution, and Soviet Union to its dissolution in 1999.

367. Modern Germany (3)
A study of developments in German history in the 19th and 20th centuries with emphasis on nationalism, unification, Bismarckian and Wilhelminian Germany, World War I, Nazi Germany, and World War II, and the Cold War to German reunion in 1990.

368. History of Scotland (3)
A survey of the history of Scotland from earliest times to the 18th century. Principle themes of the study include how the Scottish interacted with the greater European world and in particular with England and how the Christian tradition developed culminating in the Presbyterian Church.

369. History of Ireland (3)
A survey of the history of Ireland from the age of St. Patrick to the struggle for independence. Principle themes of the course include religion and culture, colonization and national identity, and crisis and immigration.

European Chronological Courses

371. Ancient Western Civilization (3)
A survey of the political, social, economic, and intellectual development of ancient Western civilizations from c. 3500 B.C. to c. 500 A.D. Emphasis is placed on the contributions of Greco-Roman civilization to the West.

372. Early Medieval Europe (3)
A survey of the rise of Europe as a center of civilization from the late Roman period to c. 1300 A.D. with special attention given to the development of governmental and religious institutions as shapers of Western civilization.

373. Late Medieval and Renaissance Europe (3)
A survey of the closing centuries of Europe's medieval period, c. 1300 to 1500. Attention will be directed to the crises of the late Middle Ages, the cultural revitalization of the Renaissance, and the beginning of Europe's global dominance through overseas exploration and colonization.

374. Early Modern Europe (3)
A study of Europe from c. 1475 to c. 1675 and its shift from its medieval past into the modern era. Among the topics of study will be the rise of new monarchies, the Reformation and the Scientific Revolution.

376. Enlightenment Europe (3)
A study of the political and intellectual trends of Europe from the English Glorious Revolution through the French Revolution. Also considered are the effects of these trends on religion, economy, society, and the arts.

377. 19th Century Europe (3)
An examination of European society, its institutions and movements, and its accomplishments from 1815-1914. Special emphasis is placed on such topics as Nationalism, Social Darwinism, and Imperialism, especially in Great Britain, France, and Germany.

378. 20th Century Europe (3)
Europe from World War I to the present. The focal point of the course is the destruction of the old European systems by WWI and the various efforts to replace those systems. Special attention is given to Germany, Italy, and Western Democracies.

Area Studies

380. Early Russia (3)
A study of Russia from ancient times through the reigns of the early Romanovs. Particular attention placed on the influence of non-European forces, such as Byzantine and Mongol, and on the development of Russian institutions and culture.

382. History of Africa (3)
A survey of African history, including a brief overview of the development of African civilizations and a more in-depth look at the development of colonial and independent Africa. Special emphasis will be placed upon the distinctive qualities of African culture, the interaction with Europeans, colonial rule, and the struggle for independence.

383. History of India (3)
A survey of the history and culture of India from ancient times to the present with an emphasis on the basic institutions of Indian life, the influence of British colonialism, and India's experience since independence.

384. History of Latin America (3)
A survey of the history and culture of Latin America from its European background to present day. Special attention will be paid to the colonial period along with the national histories of Argentina, Brazil, and Mexico.

386. Middle Eastern History and Civilization (3)
A survey of Middle Eastern History from the rise of Islam through the Iranian Revolution. This course explores the culture and history of the Islamic world with particular focus on the evolution and spread of Islam from the 7th century onward; the rich literary, artistic, and architectural heritage of the Islamic World throughout this period; and the rise of nationalism/regionalism in response to the increasing European and American presence in this region throughout the 20th century.

389. Traditional China (3)
Survey of ancient and traditional China up to the impact of the West in the 19th century. After a brief coverage of pre-historic and ancient developments, particular emphasis will be given to the classical philosophies, the imperial and bureaucratic state, and to the dynastic cycles.

390. Modern China and East Asia (3)
Survey of historical developments and politics of China in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly in the period since 1949. Briefer treatment of recent histories and contemporary politics of Japan and Korea.

392. Family and Gender in Chinese History (3)
This course explores the familial and gender roles that have dominated Chinese society since traditional times. Consideration will be given to the historical influence of Confucianism, and primary emphasis will be placed on the 20th century intellectuals who have sought to reform these traditionally conservative elements of Chinese society.

397. Violence and Terror in Modern History (3)
This course will pursue a comparative examination of violence and terror in modern history. The class will explore the use of violence and terror in modern conflicts as well as the means through which marginal political and religious groups (Irish Republican Army, PLO, and al Qaeda) have used violence and terror to call attention to their respective causes.

398. Honors Research (3-6). See page 25.

442. Directed Studies (1-6). See page 28.
Designed to allow the student to pursue a topic of special interest under the direction of a history department professor. The scope of the project and the hours to be earned will be determined in consultation with the supervising professor. A maximum of six-hours credit may be earned in directed study.

444. Internships. See page 28.

446. Reading. See page 28.

448. Research. See page 28.

450. Seminar. See page 29.
(Students admitted on approval of department; designed for junior and senior history majors) Readings, discussion, and oral and written reports on a topic selected by the department faculty.

452. Special Projects (3-6). See page 29.
(Students admitted on approval of department; designed for junior and senior history majors) This course is designed for the spring and/or summer semesters and will normally involve student participation in an off-campus project.

458. Special Topics. See page 29.

Geography (GEOG)

301. Geography of the Developed World (3)
A survey of the technologically advanced nations emphasizing the resources, cultural characteristics, and economic activities of each region. (Alternate years)

302. Geography of the Less Developed
World (3)
A regional survey of the less technologically advanced nations emphasizing the problems of economic developments and socio-demographic patterns. (Alternate years)

Visit campus

Call our office at 1-800-960-7583. An admissions counselor will be glad to help you arrange a visit and meet with faculty, sit in on a class, or stay overnight in a dorm.
Email or call for more information - we look forward to hearing from you!