History Degree - Bachelor of Arts

College of Arts & Sciences

Curriculum

Major Requirements (36 credit hours)

(Click a course name below to view course details)

Introductory Courses (100-level) – 12 credits (all courses) required

• HI 151 American History to 1877

  This course examines the major developments in America from the founding of the early colonies through the Reconstruction Era. Primary focus is placed on those concepts that have shaped the nation such as Constitutionalism, slavery, individualism, and Covenant among others.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 152 American History from 1877

  This course examines the major developments in America from the period of the Industrial Revolution through modern times. Primary focus is placed on those concepts that have shaped the nation such as the free market, civil rights, Cold War, the role of government, and conformity among others.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 101 History of Western Civilization I

  This course examines the evolution of Western Civilization from ancient times to 1715. It seeks to provide a comprehensive background for subsequent studies through emphasis on the social, political, economic, intellectual, and cultural development of Western Civilization.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 102 History of Western Civilization II

  This course examines the evolution of Western Civilization from 1715 to the present. It seeks to provide a comprehensive background for subsequent studies through emphasis on the social, political, economic, intellectual, and cultural development of Western Civilization.
  Course Syllabus

Thematic Courses (300-level) – 15 credits (5 of 8 courses) required

• HI 313 Era of the American Revolution

  Detailed examination of the critical era between 1763 and 1789, when Americans severed their ties with the British Empire and launched an experiment in self-government. Primary emphasis is placed upon the conflict with Britain and the emergence of a unique philosophy of government.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 323 Civil War and Reconstruction

  This course provides an in-depth examination of the sectional conflicts which resulted in the Civil War, the War itself, and the period of Reconstruction which followed. Primary emphasis will be placed on the causes and impact of the War and the problems associated with the post-war settlement.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 334 Renaissance and Reformation

  This course examines the broad political, economic, social, intellectual, and cultural developments in Europe from the invention of the printing press to the end of the Thirty Years War. Key topics covered will include the Secularization of Culture, the Rise of Protestantism, and the Counter Reformation.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 343 The Jazz Age and the Great Depression

  This course provides a detailed study of the primary developments in America between the end of World War I and American involvement in World War II. Primary emphasis will be on cultural conflict, the disillusionment of the wartime generation, isolationism, the Jazz Age, the collapse of American capitalism, and the emergence of the welfare state.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 353 America Since 1945

  This course provides a detailed study of the significant developments in America from the end of World War II to the end of the Cold War. Primary emphasis will be placed on the Cold War, McCarthyism, the Civil Rights Movement, Viet Nam, and the Counter Culture.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 366 The Holocaust in History

  This course provides an in-depth analysis of the attempt to exterminate an entire people. Significant attention is directed to the Holocaust experience, the context of that experience, the response to the Holocaust, and its implications for our understanding of the human condition.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 375 The Second World War

  This course provides an intensive examination of World War II from an international perspective. The course focuses on such topics as collaboration, resistance, economic mobilization, social change, diplomatic relations, the Holocaust, and the course of the War. Greater emphasis is placed on the European theater.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 355 Contemporary History of Western Civilization

  This course will examine the modern history of Western Civilization since the end of the Cold War. Its goal is to further develop the ability of students to apply historical methodologies and research programs to their understandings of recent history from the perspective of Western Civilization. Key events and topics that will be discussed are the end of the Cold War, the rise of US hegemony, post-Cold War conflict, the global economic recession, and 9/11 and the Global War on Terror.

Government and Politics Courses (400-level) – 6 credits (2 of 4 courses) required

• HI 411 Social and Political Movements in Western Civilizations

  This course is designed to introduce students to the broad social and political movements that have helped shaped the evolution of Western civilization. The class will include examination of industrialization, the enlightenment, and the technological revolution, with a focus on their impact on social and political development. Concepts such as democratization, gender and race relations, the social contract, and the Just War Tradition will also be explored.

• HI 416 Hegemony and US Foreign Policy

  This class will examine the rise and current state of the US hegemonic position in international affairs. It will specifically focus on US foreign policy theories and philosophies since the end of WW II and how they have impacted the development of the national interest. Current US policies and behaviors will be critically compared to those of historical hegemons in order to ground the “US Century” in a broader historical context, and allow for direct analysis of the future of the US position.
  Course Syllabus

• HI 413 Economic Traditions in Western Society

  The study of international political economy is critical to understanding broader historical trends in western society. This course seeks to develop a firm understanding of how economics has intertwined with politics and international relations to develop a rich history within Western civilization. Concepts and issues examined will include capitalism, free trade, sustainable development, the Bretton Woods institutions, and orthodox vs. alternative development strategies.

• HI 414 Political Systems in Western Society

  This course is designed as a critical study from a historical perspective of the variety of political systems that exist in Western societies. Systems to be examined include democracy, socialism, fascism, and dictatorships. While the philosophical foundations of these regime types will also be examined, the primary focus will be on the development and interactions of these systems viewed from a historical perspective.

Required

• HI 418 Senior Thesis

  This course culminates in a major research paper in a subject matter of historical interest. Research leads to the production of a research proposal, an abstract, and with direction and consultation provided by the instructor through the course of the term, a polished draft of a major paper. This course is offered only as an Independent Study and has a prerequisite of 27 hours of history.
  Course Syllabus