History Courses
Introductory | Advanced Topics | European | Asian | American | Advanced/Special

Introductory Classes

101 East Asian Civilization I (China). An introduction to the history and culture of China from its beginning to the present, including highlights of philosophy, literature, religion, science and technology, political, economic and social life. (May be used toward fulfillment of the Asian history requirement.) Fall.

102 East Asian Civilization II (Japan). An introduction to the history and culture of Japan from its beginning to the present, including highlights of philosophy, literature, religion, science and technology, political, economic and social life. (May be used toward fulfillment of the Asian history requirement.) Spring.

103 Western Civilization I. An introduction to the history and culture of Europe from 3000 BCE to 1650 CE, emphasizing ancient civilizations, medieval Europe, the Renaissance, and the Reformation. (May be used toward fulfillment of the European history requirement.) Fall.

104 Western Civilization II. An introduction to the history and culture of Europe from 1715 to the present, emphasizing the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, industrialization, nationalism, imperialism, fascism, World Wars I and II, the Cold War, and contemporary intellectual, political and social changes. (May be used toward fulfillment of the European history requirement.) Spring.

105 U.S. History to 1876. An introduction to the history and culture of America from 1600 to 1876, including colonization, the formation of the American republic, race and gender relations, social reform, industrialization, foreign relations, the Civil War and Reconstruction. (May be used toward fulfillment of the American history requirement.) Fall.

106 U.S. History since 1865. An introduction to the history and culture of America from 1865 to the present, including Reconstruction, urbanization, social reform, World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, Cold War, Vietnam and race and gender relations. (May be used toward fulfillment of the American history requirement.) Spring.

111 Islamic Civilization (Humanities, Non-Western). An introduction to the history and culture of Islamic soceities starting with Muhammad in Arabia up to the present when one-quarter of all humankind follows Islam. Two periods will be emphasized: when Damascus and Baghdad were the capitals of Islam, and the twentieth century.


Advanced Topics Classes top

205 The Novel as History. A study of a particular novel as it relates to the historical events in which it is set. The novel studied will change regularly. (May be repeated for a total of three semester hours.) Fall, spring.

295 Historical Theories and Methods. An introduction to historiography and historical methods for history majors. (Prerequisite: one previous history course.)

301 Topics in History. In-depth study of topics in various fields of history. Topics may include History of Medicine, the French Revolution, Victorian Britain, U.S. since 1945. (Prerequisite: History 295.)

332 World Civilizations in Comparison. Major civilizations compared in terms of origins, politics, religions, philosophies, technologies, art, social structures, education, gender, recreations, economics and war. Chinese, Western, Indian, Islamic, Meso-American and African civilizations investigated. (Prerequisite: History 295.) Fall.


European History Classes top


213 Women in Modern European History. Experiences and representations of
women in Europe since 1789. (Prerequisite: History 295.)

305 History of the Soviet Union. Rise and fall of the Soviet Union. Topics include revolutions, wars, economic and cultural transformation, Stalinism, reform, dissent. (Prerequisite: History 295.)

320 Germany in the Twentieth Century. A focus on understanding the Nazi era.
Topics include World War I and its impact, the Weimar Republic, the Nazi regime,
the Holocaust, and divided Germany during the cold war. (Prerequisite: History 295.)


Non-Western Historytop

212 Modern Terrorism. Modern terrorism has deep historical roots, which we will examine, Emphasizing the nineteeth and twentieth centuries. Because understanding 9/11 is so important for all of us, we will recount the events of 9/11 as well as delve into the events and dieas that nurtured the al-Queda.

221. History of Women in East Asia. Topics in the history of East Asian women including family life, culture, sexuality, politics, work and education. Comparisons of Japan, China and Korea.

239 Cultural History of Japan. Cultural developments in Japan from early history to the present. Emphasis on forms of popular culture, such as drama, painting, literature, cartoons and cinema.

302 Studies in Eastern Religion. Intensive study of the history of one of the cultures or religious traditions of Asia. This course is usually team-taught and cross-listed as Religion 302.

350 History of Chinese Philosophy. Chinese philosophy is one of the great streams of philosophy: Indian, Chinese and Western (European and Islamic). The three dominant systems of ideas and values in Chinese philosophy (Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism) will be examined in terms of Chinese values and in comparison with Western philosophy.

355 History and Memory of Hiroshima. Readings and discussions of the development, use, and legacy of the first atomic bombs. Particular attention paid to comparing the social, cultural and political impact in Japan and the U.S. (Prerequisite: History 295.)


American History Classes top

231 Survey of Latin American History. An examination of Native American history from European colonization to the present. Topics include cultural practices, relations with non-native peoples, removal and resistance, and the reformation of Native American identity across various tribal groups.

260 Survey of African American History. The varied experiences of Africans and people of African descent in America. Topics include: slavery, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Great Migration, and the Civil Rights movement and beyond. Spring

265. U.S. Women’s History. Women in U.S. history, with a focus on how differences of class, race, region and ethnicity have shaped American women’s history. (Prerequisite: History 295.)

371. U.S. Popular Culture. An examination of the rise of popular culture including
movies, television, advertising, sports, and music, and its significance in American
society from the late 19th century to the present. (Prerequisite: History 295.)

373. U.S. History since 1945. An examination of the postwar American response to
the prospect of living in an uncertain world, including political and cultural perspectives.
(Prerequisite: History 295.)


Advanced and Special Classes top

199 Exploratory Internship.

299 Experimental Course.

399 Professional Internship.

407 Capstone: Seminar. Research seminar on selected problems in American, Asian, European or Comparative History. Required of history majors. Fall.

451 Independent Study. Individual work, under faculty supervision, involving readings, reports and research.

499 Advanced Experimental Course.