Currently viewing 2011-12 bulletin
Faculty: M. Rhoades (chair), S. Morillo, Q. Pullen, T. Salisbury, R. Warner
History is the study of the past, a process that produces an ever changing view of the past, not a static picture. The History Department therefore strives to make every student his own historian, a task encompassed in the CORE GOALS of the department:
A. CONTENT: to acquire a degree of mastery of both essential factual material and conceptual, thematic and comparative knowledge in several geographical areas, diverse cultures, and different time periods in human history, with particular sensitivity to the change over time of a diverse, global society.
B. THE CRAFT OF HISTORY: to acquire the habit of the many analytical skills which historians use in recovering, researching and writing about the past; such as, constructing important questions, making inferences from primary sources, putting sources into larger contexts, and making one’s own interpretations of the past.
C. HISTORICAL THINKING: to develop habits of thinking like an historian: e.g., an appreciation for the complexity of both change and continuity over time and in different ages, cultures and areas of the world; an awareness of historical interpretation and historiographical schools of thought; and an understanding of how events and ideas from the past affect the present.
D. SELF-EXPRESSION: to become competent, confident and fluent in the oral, written and group skills necessary to speak and write about and explore historical questions.
E. SELF-DEVELOPMENT: to become an independent intellectual inquirer into the past, as well as a lifelong learner of history; and to locate oneself and one’s family, community and cultural traditions in history.
Comprehensive Examinations: The Written Comprehensive Exam in History is a two-day exam that is designed to evaluate the students’ mastery of the core goals of the department. For one day, students discuss some aspect of history, approach to historical studies, or theories of history with respect to those areas of history the student has studied. The other day generally asks students to act as historians using a selected set of primary and secondary source texts provided ahead of time.
Requirements for a Major: Students majoring in history must complete either History 101 or History 102, both History 497 and 498, and six additional courses, at least two of which must be at the 300 level. Advanced (300 level) courses may include independent studies. Students are advised that their performance in 497, 498 and Comprehensive Exams will be enhanced by their familiarity with a variety of geographic, temporal, thematic and topical areas of the field of history.
In addition, majors must maintain a portfolio of selected papers they have written for history courses (details of which are available on the History Department website or from the Department Chair). Evaluation of portfolios will be an aspect of comprehensive exams in the history major.
History majors, especially those planning to pursue graduate historical studies, are urged to gain a proficiency in a least one foreign language. Proficiency is here defined as the ability to read, without undue difficulty, historical works in the appropriate foreign language. Majors are also encouraged to gain experience with overseas cultures through immersion experiences and study abroad.
Requirements for a Minor: A minimum of five courses including either History 101 or History 102, at least two 300 level courses, and two other courses of the student’s choice.
An Area of Concentration in Education and Middle and High School Teaching licensure (grades 5-12) with this major is administered through the Teacher Education Program. For Education AOC and teaching licensure information, please see the Teacher Education section of the Academic Bulletin. Students are asked to consult with their academic advisor AND the Director of Teacher Education to learn more about course and licensure requirements
Course | Title | Credits | Prerequisites |
---|---|---|---|
HIS 101 | World History to 1500 | 1 | |
HIS 102 | World History since 1500 | 1 | |
HIS 187 | Independent Study | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and the department chair |
HIS 188 | Independent Study | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and department chair |
HIS 200 | Topics in World and Comparative History | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 201 | The World from 1945-Present | 1 | |
HIS 210 | Topics in Ancient History (CLA 213) | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 211 | Ancient History: Greece (CLA 105) | 1 | |
HIS 212 | Ancient History: Rome (CLA 106) | 1 | |
HIS 220 | Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Europe | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 221 | Medieval Europe, 400-1400 | 1 | |
HIS 222 | Early Modern Europe, 1400-1800 | 1 | |
HIS 230 | Topics in Modern Europe | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 231 | 19th Century Europe | 1 | |
HIS 232 | 20th Century Europe | 1 | |
HIS 235 | Topics in Economics History: European (ECO 214) | 1 | |
HIS 236 | History of Economic Thought (ECO 205) | 1 | |
HIS 240 | Topics in American History | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 241 | America to 1877 | 1 | |
HIS 242 | America since 1877 | 1 | |
HIS 244 | African-American History | 1 | |
HIS 245 | Topics in Economic History: American (ECO 213) | 1 | |
HIS 250 | Topics in Latin American History | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 252 | Peoples and Nations of Latin America | 1 | |
HIS 260 | Topics in Asian History | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 261 | Classical and Imperial China to 1911 | 1 | |
HIS 262 | Modern China from 1911 to the Present | 1 | |
HIS 270 | Topics in African History | 1 or 1/2 | |
HIS 271 | African History to 1885 | 1 | |
HIS 272 | African History from 1885 | 1 | |
HIS 287 | Independent Study | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and the department chair |
HIS 288 | Independent Study | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: permission of the intsrtuctor and the department chair |
HIS 300 | Advanced Topics, World and Comparative History | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in world history or permission of the instructor. |
HIS 301 | Craft and Theory of World History | 1 | Prerequisite: previous work in world history or permission of instructor. |
HIS 310 | Advanced Topics, Ancient History (CLA 212) | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in ancient history or permission of the instructor. |
HIS 320 | Advanced Topics, Medieval and Early Modern Europe | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in medieval or early modern Europe or permissionof the instructor. |
HIS 330 | Advanced Topics, Modern Europe | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in modern Europe or permission of the instructor. |
HIS 340 | Advanced Topics, American History | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in American history or permission of the instructor. |
HIS 350 | Advanced Topics, Latin America | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in Latin America or permission of the instructor. |
HIS 360 | Advance Topic in Asian History | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in Asian history or permission of the instructor. |
HIS 370 | Advanced Topics in African History | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Previous course work in African history or permssion of the instructor. |
HIS 387 | Independent Study | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor and the department chair |
HIS 388 | Independent Study | 1 or 1/2 | Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor or the department chair |
HIS 497 | Philosophy and Craft of History | 1 | |
HIS 498 | Research Seminar | 1 |