History (HIST)

This course will introduce students to the basic skills of historical analysis and understanding. These skills will then be used in playing a sequence of carefully designed role-playing games that allow students to adopt diverse perspectives and explore primary and secondary sources to better understand those past time periods. The games will help students explore the past, but with a careful eye on how this knowledge impacts the present and future. Students will be guided in developing a response to the core question: How does developing a historical consciousness allow us to understand and navigate the complexities of the contemporary world.

Anytime we retell a historical story, such as through movies, video games, books, etc., we reinterpret the significance of the story based on historical sources and in light of historical context. This course will introduce students to understanding history as interpretation, not just a list of facts. Historical storytellers use historical sources to represent the past and alter historical stories. Students will learn how historical retellings shape interpretation. Students will compare official accounts with personal narratives or alternative viewpoints and sources. Students will learn how to connect past events to current questions and evaluate the positive and negative consequences of historical retellings. Students will also be trained to engage retold historical stories to comprehend their historical significance and their modern relevance. Students will be guided in developing a response to the core question: Why do we continue to tell historical stories in new and creative ways?

A survey of the United States from its beginnings through post-Civil War Reconstruction. This course is designed for History majors, prospective History majors, and for non-majors interested in historical research, writing, and textual analysis.

Survey of United States history from the end of Reconstruction to the present. This course is designed for History majors, prospective History majors, and for non-majors who are interested in historical research, writing and textual analysis.

An introduction to the history of the Atlantic World tracing the interactions and increasingly inter-connected experiences of the peoples of the Americas, Africa and Europe from the early 15th century through the mid 19th century.

Survey of European History from ancient civilizations through the Medieval period until the Renaissance and era of Exploration. Designed for History majors, prospective History majors, and non-majors interested in historical research, writing, and textual analysis.

Survey of European History from the era of Exploration through the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Designed for History majors, prospective History majors, and non-majors interested in historical research, writing, and textual analysis.

Survey of regional world history beyond Europe and the United States. Regional focus may vary. Designed for History majors, prospective History majors, and non-majors interested in historical research, writing, and textual analysis.

Examination of a focused topic or period (ex. Jacksonian America) in United States history prior to 1877. Course may be repeated as necessary with different content.

Examination of a focused topic (ex. women) or period (ex. United States since 1945) in United States history since 1877. Course may be repeated as necessary with different content.

Examination of a focused topic or period in European history (ex. Ancient Greece) prior to 1500. Course may be repeated as necessary with different content.

Examination of a focused topic (European Revolutions) or period in European history (ex. 19th Century Europe) since 1500. Course may be repeated as necessary with different content.

Survey of regional world history beyond Europe and the United States. Regional focus may vary. Designed for History majors, prospective History majors, and non-majors interested in historical research, writing, and textual analysis.

Addresses fundamental skills of historiography, historical analysis, research, and writing. Focus on selection of a research topic, development of research plan, and exploration of preliminary arguments in preparation for HIST 410: Capstone Writing and Presentation.

Students synthesize and hone skills developed in previous history courses by writing an original piece of historical research in consultation with a full-time faculty member of their choice. Research must be based on primary sources and presented at a departmental conference.