Course Listing

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• HI 314 Ancient History

  Survey of Western Civilization from the dawn of civilization in the Near East to the fall of the Roman Empire. Topics studied include Egyptian and Mesopotamian civilization, Ancient Greece, Hellenism, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire. Special emphasis on the thought systems involved in analyzing ancient history.

• 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.

• HI 324 Medieval History

  Examines the era from the Fall of Rome to the Fall of Constantinople. Emphasis on medieval institutions such as the Papal Monarchy, Feudalism, the Crusades, and the Church. Additional attention is directed to Church-State conflict and the rise of Royal Authority.

• 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.

• 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.

• HI 348 The French Revolution

  Explores the French Revolution as the central political event of modern European history. The forces it unleashed would be crucial in determining the next two centuries of change in Europe and in much of the rest of the world as well.

• 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.

• 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.

• HI 356 The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich

  Examines cultural, ideological, and political origins of National Socialism in Germany; the career and ideas of Adolf Hitler; the National Socialist state system; and the place of the Holocaust in historical and contemporary thought.

• 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.

• HI 367 The Holocaust in Film

  Examines the ways in which the Holocaust has been represented, portrayed, examined and understood through the medium of film. Focuses on the difficulties faced by filmmakers in dealing with this topic and the difficulties faced by audiences in responding to the visualization of the experience.

• 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.

• HI 380 America in Film

  The movies are an important part of the culture of the United States. The films that are made and that we choose to see both reflect and influence the way we perceive our lives, our relationships, our nation, and the world around us. Through the viewing and analysis of movies produced over the last three quarters of a century, HI 380 provides the opportunity to examine American history through the lens of Hollywood’s motion picture industry.

• HI 384 Baseball and the American Experience

  Examination of the development of professional baseball and the role it has played in the American experience. The course asks students to examine a feature of American sport/entertainment/business as a means of understanding societal and cultural developments in general.

• HI 386 Gettysburg

  Drawing on Michael Shaara’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Killer Angels, and the epic film, Gettysburg (adapted from Shaara’s novel), this course chronicles the clash of Union and Confederate arms at Gettysburg July 1-3, 1863. The roles of notable participants such as Lee, Longstreet, Chamberlain, Meade, and Buford are examined, as is the outcome of this critical battle and its influence on the destinies of the Nation.

• HI 387 The Great Commanders

  Examination of military commanders, via a six-part video series. The series focuses on the following leaders: Alexander, Caesar, Napoleon, Nelson, Grant, and Zhukov. Student examine the life and exploits of each commander and focusing on a key battle investigate military command in a world where war proves to be just as much a part of life today as it has been throughout history. (Self-Study available)

• HI 389 The Great War (World War I) and The Shaping of the 20th Century

  This course looks at how “the war to end all wars” shaped the 20th Century. Students examine through an excellent video series and textbook, how weapons such as the machine gun and lethal gas were put to use on World War I battlefields, gauge the depth of suffering through autobiographical accounts of those at Verdun and the Somme, and assess the horror of the war through contemporary paintings and poetry.

• 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 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.

• 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.

• 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.