History Courses

HIS115 American History Survey (2)
Introduces main political, constitutional, social and economic developments in American history from time of discovery to present. Prerequisite: education major.

*HIS121 Historical Perspectives on Culture, Belief and Civilization (4)
Examines culture building, development and change, and interaction of diverse peoples across a broad swath of history. Explores Christianity from its Middle Eastern roots through Renaissance/Reformation to global cultures of contemporary world in political, technological, social and cultural contexts. Investigates Christian traditions, missionary endeavors, reform movements, and relationships between adherents of different world religions. Introduces critical evaluation of historical  evidence.

HIS213 History of Egypt and the Ancient Near East in the Bronze Age (4)
Explores growth and interaction of first “international world” in Ancient West: Fertile Crescent, Mesopotamia, Egypt, Hittite Asia Minor, Minoan Crete, Mycenaean Greece. Examines fall of these cultures after 1200 B.C.; interconnections between biblical and Bronze Age history. Various readings from original sources.

HIS214 History of Ancient Greece (4)
Explores Greek history from Minoan and Mycenaean cultures through Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic ages. Examines place of Greek culture in world of Rome; Greek political and social experiments, art, cultural life, athletics, warfare. Various readings from original sources. (Alternate years.)

HIS216 History of Ancient Rome (4)
Surveys Roman political and cultural history from earliest Latin settlements through Etruscan and Republican periods to Roman Empire. Emphasizes origins of modern Western culture; multicultural, unified Mediterranean setting in which Christian Church emerged. Various readings from original sources.

HIS219 Medieval Europe (4)
Surveys European history fourth–14th centuries; transition from Mediterranean to European civilization, growth of the Church, revival of towns, Crusades, empire and feudal monarchies, scholasticism, Romanesque and Gothic art and architecture.

HIS221 Renaissance and Reformation Europe (4)
Studies 14th–16th centuries; changes in medieval institutions and ideas, rebirth of culture in Italy, role of art in society, Reformation movements within the Church and overseas expansion of Europe.

HIS223 The Formation of Modern Europe 1555–1789 (4)
Studies origins of modern Europe including Scientific Revolution, absolutism, constitutionalism, religious wars and Enlightenment. (Alternate years.)

HIS224 Premodern China (4)
Offers introduction to Chinese history and culture from antiquity to early 18th century. Topics include dynastic history, Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Tang and Song poetry, Yuan plays, Ming and Qing novels, painting, architecture and culinary techniques. (Not currently offered.)

HIS225 Premodern Japan (4)
Focuses on history and cultural heritage of premodern Japan. Topics include Shinto, Bushido, Buddhism, tea ceremony, poetry, aesthetics and art. (Not currently offered.)

HIS230 Revolutionary Europe 1789–1914 (4)
Studies 19th century, which opened with flurry of revolutionary optimism that humankind’s problems could be solved through such ideologies as liberalism, nationalism, socialism and Darwinism. But imperialism and materialism led to ultimate disillusionment of World War I. (Alternate years.)

HIS231 Introduction to African American History (2)
Surveys history of Blacks on North American continent; African origins and background; history and problems of Afro-American in the United States from 17th century until present. (Alternate years.)

HIS232 America 1492–1846 (4)
Explores American history including Age of Exploration, European colonization of North America, birth of American slavery, Native American relations, religious developments, American Revolution, new national government, market and industrial revolutions, reform and revivalism, development of political parties and movement to abolish slavery.

HIS234 America 1846–1941 (4)
Studies American history including War with Mexico, crisis over slavery, Civil War and Reconstruction, growth of industry, labor strife, Spanish-American War, progressive reform, World War I, 1920s, Great Depression, and New Deal and World War II.

HIS237 America 1941–Present (4)
Explores American history including World War II, Cold War, Korean War, postwar culture, major Supreme Court decisions, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, 1960s counterculture, Watergate scandal, economic difficulties of 1970s, Reagan revolution and problems of post–Cold War superpower
status, and roots of global “war on terrorism.”

HIS238 A Century of Ideology and Bloodshed: Europe 1914–Present (4)
Studies 20th-century Europe, focusing on World War I, rise of Fascism and Communism, World War II, Holocaust, Cold War, intellectual and cultural trends, European unity, decolonization and collapse of Communist Bloc and U.S.S.R.

*HIS240 Christianity and the Modern World: A Historical View (4)
Examines changes and continuities in Christian belief, theology and practice since the Enlightenment, Age of Democratic Revolution and Industrial Revolution. Particular emphasis placed on modern Western civilization, but emergence of “global Christianity” and general impact of modernity on religious traditions also considered. Fulfills core Global Understanding theme. (Alternate years.)

HIS241 Modern China (4)
Explores transformation of China from dynastic system to modern state, roughly from late 17th century to present. Focuses on political, economic, cultural and diplomatic developments of China in effort to increase understanding of dynamic changes taking place today. (Not currently offered.)

HIS242 Modern Japan (4)
Offers a comprehensive introduction to history of Japan from early modern period to present. Considers major topics in Japan’s political, social and economic development, and seeks to provide students with historical background necessary for analyzing contemporary Japan. (Not currently offered.)

HIS245/FRE245 History of Africa (4)
Studies three major themes of sub-Saharan history: indigenous cultures, foreign influences (Arab and European) and emergence of modern nation states; interaction of these themes in comtemporary Africa.

HIS247 Britain and America in the Middle East (4)
Explores British and American involvement in modern Middle East, focusing on period since 1900. Significant attention given to Zionism and rebirth of Israel in 1948, the Arab-Israeli conflict, Iran hostage crisis, beginnings of anti-American terrorism and 9/11 Commission Report. (Alternate years.)

HIS250/SP250 History of Latin America (4)
Surveys Latin American experience from pre-Columbian days to present; formation of political institutions, pattern of economic development and role of religion and church.

HIS291 International Seminar: History of Ancient and Modern Greek Culture and Christianity in the Aegean (4)
See department information.

HIS315 Ancient Belief and the Earliest Christian Church (4)
Explores history of religious faiths, intellectual life and cultural transitions of Israel, Greece and Rome before and after the coming of Christianity. Surveys growth of Christian Church through breakup of Roman world. Emphasizes readings from original sources. (Alternate years.)

*HIS321 American Thought and Society (4)
Surveys great texts by American thinkers from Puritans to postmodernists. Writers include John Winthrop, Benjamin Franklin, R. W. Emerson, H. D. Thoreau, Mark Twain, William James, John Dewey and Richard Rorty. Themes include individual in relation to society and problem of cultural relativism. Fulfills core Human Person theme. (Alternate years.)

HIS331 History of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales (4)
Surveys region from end of Roman period to Reformation. Themes include Christianization, medieval kingdoms, constitutional developments, Reformation and church history, cultural achievements and gender roles. (Alternate years.)

HIS332 Modern Britain (4)
Examines British history, 1800–present, focusing on industrialization, Victorian society and culture, development of parliamentary government, two world wars and modern welfare state. Special emphasis on rise and fall of British Empire. (Alternate years.)

HIS334 Modern Russia and the Soviet Union (4)
Explores development of modern Russian politics, society and culture. Introduces students to tsarist Russia. Particular emphasis placed on 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, Stalin years, Cold War, and dissolution of Soviet Union. (Offered periodically.)

HIS335 Modern Germany (4)
Introduces students to history of modern Germany, 1871 to present. Topics include national unification, World War I, Weimar and Nazi periods, Holocaust, World War II, postwar division, and reunification. (Alternate years.)

*HIS341 Eastern Europe, Byzantium and the Caucasus (4)
Explores cultures and societies in Eastern Europe and Western Asia, including Balkans, Georgia, Armenia and Byzantine Empire from founding of Constantinople to emergence of Muscovy (fourth–15th centuries). Examines ethnic and religious identities, structure of political authority, literary and artistic expression, and life in rural and urban communities. Fulfills core Global Understanding theme. (Alternate years.)

*HIS344 Medieval Islam and the Middle East (4)
Explores context for rise of Islam, its expansion, intellectual flourishing in Middle Ages, and encounters with Westerners during crusades. Special attention paid to religious, cultural, social and economic environment of early and medieval Islam and relationship of Islam and Christianity as Abrahamic religions. Students read and analyze the Qur’an, visit local mosque for Friday prayers, meet and interact with Muslims. Fulfills core Global Understanding theme. (Alternate years.)

HIS351 Christianity in China (4)
Explores history of Christianity in China. Emphases given to following themes: general Christian activities in China; role of Western missionaries; Christian interaction with Chinese politics, culture and society; and indigenization and diverse manifestations of Chinese Christianity. (Not currently offered.)

HIS371 Selected Topics (2–4)
Explores various historical themes or periods. Designated as repeatable with different topic.

HIS375 The Darwinian Revolution (2)
Examines advent and impact of Charles Darwin’s evolution theory. Surveys life and earth sciences, religion and views on human origins before, during and after upheaval brought about by Darwin’s On the Origin of Species (1859). Includes recent debates on intelligent design and teaching of evolution. (Alternate years.)

HIS390 Public History and Museum Studies (4)
Explores professional applications of historical methodology to archives, museums, document conservation, government and corporate record management. Includes lectures by professionals in field, on-site observations and possible internships.

HIS391 Museum Management (4)
Introduces operations of a museum and challenges faced by contemporary museum administrators. Students study local museum operations, identify issues and challenges and evaluate museum’s response based on texts and readings from current field of public history. Prerequisite: HIS390.

HIS425 Internship (2 or 4)
Supervised internship in a library, archival or museum location combining on-the-job work experience with related academic study. Ordinarily involves 8–10 hours per week at off-campus field assignment. Must be prearranged and approved by instructor and Registrar’s Office. Prerequisite: minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.

HIS471, 472 Research I, II (4, 4)
Research into topic of mutual faculty and student interest. For honors program, students present thesis, methodology, annotated research bibliography and plan for project in middle of fall term. Oral presentation and defense of thesis as well as final written paper required in spring term. Prerequisite: permission of instructor.

HIS490 Advanced Seminar: Asian History (2 or 4)
Research in modern Asian history. Topics concentrated from 16th century to present and focus on political, social, intellectual and cultural themes. Topics vary; check with instructor. Designated as repeatable with different topic.

HIS491 Advanced Seminar: American History (4)
Reading and research in American history using both historiographic and primary sources. Offered fall
term. Topics include Postwar Presidents, 1945–1974 and Post-Watergate Presidents, 1974–2000. Check with instructor. Designated as repeatable with different topic.

HIS492 Colloquium in Historiography (4)
Explores way humans have approached writing and understanding of history from Greco-Roman historians to contemporary schools of historical inquiry. Focus on worldviews of historians and ways worldview shapes perception of past and how the past is used to influence the present. Open to advanced students and junior and senior history majors.

HIS493 Advanced Seminar: Modern History (2 or 4)
Readings and research in special topics in modern European and Western history. Topics vary; check with instructor. Designated as repeatable with different topic.

HIS494 Advanced Seminar: Medieval and Early Modern History (2 or 4)
Reading and research on special topics of medieval and early modern history. Topics vary; check with instructor. Topics include: Desert Spirituality, Medieval Celts, Medieval Pilgrmiage, Art and Spirituality in Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages and Jews in the Medieval World. Designated as repeatable with different topic.

HIS495, 496 Advanced Seminar: Ancient History (2 or 4)
Reading and research on special topics in ancient history. Two of these two-credit courses meet requirement for senior research and writing project. Designated as repeatable with different topic. Topics include: Writing Ancient History, Ancient Celts, Citizenship in Antiquity, Travel, Trade and Education, History of Science, Technology and Medicine in the Ancient World; Military History, Strategy, Leadership and Cost in the Ancient World.

GEOGRAPHY

GEG210 Principles of Geography (2)
Stresses location of nations and cities, rivers and seas; history and current political situation of each major area of world; basic geographical terminology. Topics include language, population, migration, energy and environment. (Alternate years.)

* Fulfills Core Curriculum requirement.