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SPRING 2023 CLASSES
Department of History
100 Level | 200 Level | 300-400 Level | AFRI | 500-600 Level
Undergraduate Courses
All classes are on-campus unless otherwise noted.
HIST 101 – Studies in World Civilization to 1500
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Isaac Land
Meets: MWF 11:00-11:50am
Description:
Studies in selected world civilizations from the beginnings to the early modern age. Those themes which have a direct bearing upon contemporary culture and society will be stressed.
Foundational Studies Credit
Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity
HIST 102 – Studies in World Civilization since 1500
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Barbara Skinner
Meets: TR 2:00-3:15pm
Description:
Studies in world history dealing with the modern era and contemporary world problems.
Foundational Studies Credit
Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity
HIST 213 – Topics in History
3 credits
Topics vary by instructor
Instructors:
Dr. Taylor Easum
Dr. Ruth Fairbanks
Dr. Christopher Oldstone-Moore
Dr. Anne Foster
Dr. James Gustafson
Dr. Timothy Hawkins
Dr. Donald Maxwell
Dr. Jessica Fields
General Description:
“Topics in History” helps students explore the discipline of history through focused study of particular topics. Each section provides students with an introduction to reading, writing, and research in history, as well as to the ways in which study of the past helps in better understanding society today. Students learn to analyze and evaluate evidence, make and assess persuasive arguments, and understand multiple causation and the importance of context, continuity, and change over time. History majors may count this course for credit in the major.
Prerequisites
Completion of ENG 105, ENG 107, or ENG 108
Foundational Studies Credit
Historical Perspectives
Atlantic Revolutions
Instructor: Dr. Timothy Hawkins
Meets: TR 11:00am-12:15pm & 2:00-3:15pm
Description:
The societies of the Atlantic World. Inspired by radical political, economic, social, and cultural ideas promoted by Enlightenment thinkers, English Between 1775 and 1825, revolutionary discontent with the traditional order convulsed colonists in North America broke from Great Britain in 1775 and established the first independent nation in the Western hemisphere. Shortly thereafter, the revolutionary spark exploded in France, upending its monarchy and plunging Europe into two decades of war. Encouraged by these events, slaves in the French Caribbean colony of St. Domingue then launched their own movement for emancipation that resulted in the creation of an independent Haiti. Finally, these revolutionary ideals took root in the Spanish and Portuguese colonies of the Americas. The civil wars that shook the region during the 1810s culminated in the establishment of independent republics across Latin America by 1825. By focusing on the connections between these movements, this class will draw a unified picture of the violent and drawn-out process that began the dismantling of traditional western society and set the stage for modern understandings of politics, nationalism, economics, culture, gender, race, and class.
The 1970’s
Instructor: Dr. Donald Maxwell
Meets: TR 12:30-1:45pm
Description:
The 1970s in the United States was a success in many ways. U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War came to an end. Relations with China improved to create one of the United States’ most important trading partnerships. The threat of nuclear war with the U.S.S.R. was reduced. The first Earth Day celebrations brought environmentalism more into the public consciousness. Women gained greater political rights, as did tens of millions of minority Americans, including native Americans, Latino/as, gays and lesbians, and persons with disabilities. In other ways the ’70s were a political disaster, with the Watergate crisis, the resignation of Richard Nixon, the weak Presidencies of Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter, energy shortages, and the Iran hostage crisis. By the advent of the eighties, conservatives coalesced to put Ronald Reagan in the White House in an attempt to provide a new form of leadership to the nation.
The Plague
Instructor: Dr. Jessica Fields
Meets: MWF 11:00-11:50am & 12:00-12:50pm
Description:
The Black Death wrought havoc across Europe and Asia in the 14th Century and remained endemic in many places for centuries to come. Within three years of its arrival, at least one-third of Europe’s population had succumbed to the horrific disease. This led to massive social, religious, and political upheaval that would be felt for the rest of the Middle Ages and well beyond. This class will study those impacts through a historical consideration of primary source materials and will also highlight anthropological and epidemiological perspectives through the latest scientific literature.
Food in History
Instructor: Dr. Anne Foster
Meets: MW 2:00- 3:15pm
Description:
This course explores how food and the history of the modern world are intertwined. Particularly we will explore how major world developments both shaped and were shaped by the food people sought, wanted and needed. Some of the important questions we explore: How did the spread of people around the globe, prompted by European exploration and colonization after 1500, change the foods which people ate? How did that new food lead to differences in cuisine, economics and politics? How did industrialization, including of agriculture, change what people ate? Is access to food a human right or a matter of social justice? How is food related to people’s identity? What happens to food identities when people live under a foreign government or migrate to a new country?
Epidemics in History
Instructor: Dr. Jessica Fields
Meets: MWF 2:00-2:50pm
Description:
Disease is part of the human experience. From ancient civilizations to our modern world, each society has experienced disease. Some of these diseases become epidemics, spreading at rapid, seemingly uncontrollable rates across vast geographic areas. Each would have a lasting impact, leading to social, political, and economic changes. This class will examine several of these epidemics and study the nature of the disease and its impact through a historical consideration of primary source materials, as well as highlighting anthropological and epidemiological perspectives through the latest scientific literature.
Gaming History
Instructor: Dr. Taylor Easum
Meets: MWF 9:00-9:50am & 10:00-10:50am
Description:
You've heard of Homo Sapiens, but what about Homo Ludens? Games have always been a part of human history, from the Royal Game of Ur to Dungeons & Dragons. The marriage of gaming and computers in the mid-20th Century produced the modern video game industry, which is today larger than movies and music combined. Moreover, whether on the tabletop or the console, history sells. The promise of experiencing the past can be a powerful selling point, such as exploring Renaissance Italy or ancient Egypt in Assassin's Creed, or building and commanding Mongol armies in Age of Empires IV. In this course, we'll explore the relationship between games and history in two key ways. First, we'll examine history through games using a variety of methods, perspectives, and case studies. What's the relationship between board games and colonialism? What can a study of card games tell us about migration and culture? What's the original message of Monopoly? Second, we'll examine the power, potential, and many problems in the way games represent and reflect history. Games like Oregon Trail have been used to teach history, but are games an effective way to learn about the past? Outside the classroom, can popular games be developed in a way that does justice to the different voices and perspectives from history? We'll hear from experts in the industry, explore game design as a way to do history, and, of course, we'll examine several games, old and new, through the critical lens of history.
WWI: Crucible of Modern History
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Oldstone-Moore
Meets: TR 11:00am-12:15pm & 12:30-1:45pm
Description:
The First World War was much more than a military conflict. It was an inflection point in modern history, setting Europe and the world on a new course that has shaped our lives today. It was, for example, the first important step for the United States onto the world stage. It was the first technological war, whose traumatic military and social effects afterwards inspired profound changes in every aspect of society and culture. In the aftermath of this catastrophe, empires fell, and old ways were shaken, opening the door to fresh hopes of a new beginning. In this course we will study the causes of this disaster and read eyewitness perspectives on the experience of war and its aftermath. We will also survey new political and cultural developments inspired by the war, including the enfranchisement of women and the development of radically new art, music and literature.
The Persianate World
Instructor: Dr. James Gustafson
Meets: TR 11:00am-12:15pm & 12:30-1:45pm
HIST 313 – Topics in History
3 credits
Topics vary by instructor
Instructors:
Dr. Andrea Arrington-Sirois
Dr. Ruth Fairbanks
Dr. Anne L. Foster
Dr. Christopher Oldstone-Moore
General Description
Topics in History allows students to explore the discipline of history through focused study of a particular topic. Students learn to analyze and evaluate evidence, make and assess persuasive arguments, and understand multiple causation and the importance of context, continuity, and change over time.
Foundational Studies Credit
Historical Perspectives
Topics and Meeting Times:
American Health Policy
Instructor: Dr. Ruth Fairbanks
Meets: MWF 9:00-9:50am
Description:
This is a course on the history of American Health Policy. In this course we will study the rules, regulations, policies and governmental functions and practices meant to reduce disease, promote health or to allow or promote the delivery of medical care. We will examine public health policies and also policies that affect the provision of medical care, like insurance. We will try to understand how the various complicated structures (physical, legal, political and professional) that the United States has built in the past shape the American system of Health Care today.
Long War on Drugs
Instructor: Dr. Anne Foster
Meets: Online Asynchronous
Description:
Until the early 20th century, federal laws in the United States were silent on the topic of drugs, except in taxing them when they were imports. At the end of the 19th century, a prohibitionist movement gained steam, and increasingly strict regulations were passed at the federal level, culminating in the 1914 prohibition of narcotics, 1919 (only until 1933) prohibition of alcohol, and 1937 prohibition of marijuana. In this course, we explore how the United States came to adopt a prohibitionist approach to narcotics and marijuana, and other forms of restriction for alcohol (and later tobacco). We also explore the social, economic, political and legal consequences of this approach to drug regulation. U.S. drugs policy developed in both domestic and international contexts, so we also explore the different layers of influence on U.S. policy. By the end of this course, we will have examined (1) the origins of 20th and 21st century U.S. drugs policy (2) the interactions of personal consumption practice with governmental policy (3) the reasons for and consequences of the “War on Drugs” approach to drugs control (4) the aspects of U.S. drugs policy which have remained relatively constant since the early 20th century and (5) the aspects of U.S. drugs policy which have changed since the early 20th century.
Jim Crow and Apartheid
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Arrington-Sirois
Meets: Online Asynchronous
Description:
This course examines segregation policies and experiences in two contexts, the American South and South Africa. Students will learn more about “Jim Crow” segregation in the U.S. and the apartheid system in South Africa. By studying both of these examples of 20th century segregation, students will be able to compare and contrast the policies and experiences of people living under these policies. In addition to exploring the history of segregation in these two places, students will also consider the legacies of Jim Crow and apartheid in the American South and South Africa today.
The History of Flight
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Oldstone-Moore
Meets: Online Asynchronous
Description
Before the twentieth century, flight was a human aspiration, and little more. In the early twentieth century, however, it became a transformative force in social, economic and cultural life. More than any other activity, it represented a new era of human progress built upon technological innovation. The most revered adventurers of the early twentieth century were pioneers of flight, including Charles Lindbergh, Bessie Coleman and Amelia Earhart. In this course we will survey the development of the airplane from the Wright Brothers to the Stealth Fighter and examine the social and cultural implications of this technology in fighting wars, spurring new movements in literature and popular culture, and in reforming gender norms and race relations.
HIST 302 — United States History
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Donald Maxwell
Meets: TR 11:00-12:15pm
Description:
An intensive survey of United States History for History and Social Studies Education majors; traces major developments and issues through a unifying theme and prepares students for advanced U. S. history courses. Notes: Open only to History and Social Studies Education majors, or with approval of the Department Chair. Prerequisite: Sophomore standing
HIST 336- 1960’s: Counterculture and Protest Movements
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Donald Maxwell
Meets: TR 3:30-4:45pm
Description:
Investigation of the counterculture and social and political protest movements in the United States from 1955--1975. Prerequisite: Upper Division Electives require 45 earned credit hours or more at time of registration. General Education Credits [GE89: C1,D2; GE2000: Historical Studies]
HIST 355 – Early Modern Europe, 1500-1815
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Isaac Land
Meets: MWF 2:00-2:50pm
Description:
Introduces the major themes and trends in the history of Europe from the Renaissance through the Enlightenment. Nation building within Europe is placed in a global context.
HIST 356 – Modern Asia
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Taylor Easum
Meets: MWF 12:00-12:50am
Description:
An interdisciplinary overview of modern Asia, this course will explore the geographical, cultural, and economic foundations of Asia today, from historical foundations in the early modern era, through the rise of imperialism and nationalism, to the political developments shaping Asia's present and future.
HIST 400 — History Capstone Seminar
Instructor: Dr. Daniel Clark
Meets: MWF 11:00-11:50am
Description:
Required of and open only to seniors enrolled in the History Major.
HIST 409 — The Birth of Europe
Instructor: Dr. Steven Stofferahn
Meets: TR 2:00-3:15pm
Description:
This course chronicles Europe’s emergence as a coherent entity in the Early Middle Ages, focusing on Rome’s disintegration; the rise of new institutions and the Carolingian Empire; the challenges posed by Vikings, Byzantines, and Muslims; and the fusion of Germanic, classical, and Christian cultures into a uniquely medieval civilization.
HIST 415 — Gilded Age and Progressive Era, 1877-1917
Instructor: Dr. Daniel Clark
Meets: MWF 10:00-10:50am
Description:
Examines the rise of an urban, industrial, and corporate society and the ways in which the labor, Populist, and Progressive movements responded to and helped shape that society.
HIST 422 — Rise and Fall of the Spanish World Empire
Instructor: Dr. Timothy Hawkins
Meets: TR 9:30-10:45am
Description:
This course is designed as an overview of the history of Imperial Spain, one of the most influential cultures of modern times. Combining both lecture and seminar formats, the class will focus on the following topics: the creation of the Spanish Monarchy; the incorporation of Spain into the European Empire of Charles V and the challenge of the Reformation; the clash between the Ottoman and Spanish Empires in the Mediterranean; the development of the Spanish Empire in the Americas; the flowering of a Golden Age culture; the question of imperial decline; and the role played by Spain in the formation of the Atlantic world. No previous knowledge of Spanish history is required.
AFRI 113 — Foundations of African and African American Studies
3 credits
Instructor: Rev. Terry Clark
Meets: MWF 10:00-10:50am, 12:00-12:50pm, 1:00-1:50pm
Foundational Studies Credit:
Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity
Description:
An exploration of the philosophical, political, historical, and sociological components that form the basis of African and African American studies.
AFRI 212 — African American Cultural Traditions
3 credits
Instructor: Rev. Terry Clark
Meets: TR 9:30-10:45am
Foundational Studies Credit:
Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity
Description:
A focused and analytical examination of Black thought, ideology, and culture, as well as the institutional aspects of Black American life.
AFRI 222 — African Cultural Traditions
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Arrington-Sirois
Meets: MWF 11:00-11:50am
Foundational Studies Credit:
Global Perspectives and Cultural Diversity
Description: An overview of African cultural thought and practices. Emphasis on understanding specific aspects of African cultural life, such as religion, aesthetics, political organization, and social institutions, and how these cultural areas relate to the struggle of liberation
AFRI 312 – The African Diaspora
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Colleen Haas
Meets: Online Asynchronous
Foundational Studies Credit:
Upper Division Integrative Elective
Description:
This course traces the spread of African culture and ideas through the African Diaspora as a result of slavery and colonialism, and the ways that African traditions were re-interpreted and combined with European culture. Topics include: ideas of the Diaspora, religious beliefs, food traditions, music, and kinship traditions in the United States, Caribbean, and South America.
AFRI 340 —Multicultural American Literature
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. James Greene
Meets: MWF 12:00-12:50pm
Description:
Language and cultural diversity in the literature of minority writers in the United States. (Also listed as English 340.)
AFRI 354 – Post-Colonial Africa
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Arrington-Sirois
Meets: MWF 1:00-1:50pm
Description:
This course will encourage students to explore major political, economic, and social issues of post-colonial Africa. Specific attention will be devoted to the impact of independence upon African societies and their peoples, industrialization, communication, urbanization, and Western education. In this course students will master the fundamentals of African geography and politics.
AFRI 383 — Modern Black American Literature
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Keith Byerman
Meets: TR 11:00am-12:15pm
Description:
African American writing from 1940 to the present. (Also listed as English 346.)
AFRI 486—Senior Seminar in African and African American Studies
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Andrea Arrington
Meets: TBA
Description:
An in-depth study of a topic or topics determined by the instructor. This course will provide a culminating experience for students in African and African American studies, building upon previous course work in the discipline. Course work may include research projects, seminars, and service-learning experiences. Prerequisites: completion of 30 hours in African and African American studies, including 390 for majors; completion of 390 for minors; non-majors and minors students admitted by departmental permission only.
AFRI 496 — African Masks
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Colleen Haas
Meet: TR 2:00pm-3:00pm
Description:
Independent study. Open to African and African American studies majors and minors and other students whose proposals have been accepted. Prerequisite: consent of instructor.
All classes are online. Synchronous meeting times are listed below.
HIST 514 — Antebellum America, 1815-1848
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Olsen
Meets: Tuesdays 7:00-10:00pm Online Synchronous
Description:
Westward expansion, the "Market Revolution," immigration, the Second Great Awakening and reform, and the rise of mass political parties and popular politics.
HIST 621 — Research Seminar
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Isaac Land
Meet: Mondays 7:00-10:00pm Online Synchronous
Description:
The course builds on the knowledge of historical research and methods introduced in History 600. Working closely with both the instructor and the master’s committee chair, students identify a research question, the relevant body of secondary literature associated, and appropriate primary sources. By the end of the semester, each student will have engaged in original research and produced a draft of his or her master’s project. The student should take this course only after having taken two other courses at the 600-level Notes: Required of all majors in history.
HIST 660 — Reading Seminar: European Urban History
3 credits
Instructor: Dr. Christopher Fischer
Meet: Wednesdays 7:00-10:00pm Online Synchronous
Description:
How have historians understood the broad contours of European history since 1789? This course seeks to understand the key developments in Europe since the French Revolution. We will look at how historians have understood nationalism, the rise of industry and empires, Nazism and Communism, and the post-1989 world through the lens of urban history. Cities and towns offer us the opportunity to understand how historians define and limit their work, to use specific case studies – the lives of prostitutes in Southhampton, the importance of modernism in Vienna, or the rise of Nazis in the town of Nordheim – to anchor their work in specific circumstances, and, one hopes, to illuminate larger trends. As a final consideration, the works we read this semester will draw from a variety of different methodologies – political, social, cultural, intellectual, and environmental histories will all be on the table as you develop or refine your own approach as an historian.