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General Information

Undergraduate Studies

• Admissions
• Academic Requirements & Regulations
• Student Finances
• Student Life
• The Core Curriculum
• Fields of Undergraduate Study: Academic Degrees & Course Listings
• Language Institutes
• Study Abroad and Summer Session

Graduate Studies

Research

Continuing Education & Training Programs

Appendix: Personnel & Enrollment

• MODERN HISTORY
• Bachelor of Arts
• Modern Middle Eastern History Minor
• European-World History Minor
• United States History Minor
• Modern History Minor
• History Courses (HIST)

Department of History
School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professor: J. Edwards (Chair)
Associate Professors: D. Blanks, M. Reimer, J. Thompson
Assistant Professors: M. Rieker, S. Winger

The Department of History offers and administers a major in Modern History, and minors in Modern History, Modern Middle Eastern History, European-World History, and in United States History.

Bachelor of Arts

Programs in history administered by the Department of History aim to introduce students to a range of European, American and Middle Eastern history topics.  The choice of course offerings is designed to allow students flexibility within the major, while the emphasis on the modern era seeks to provide students with a sound foundation for the understanding of the contemporary world. Where courses are cross-listed students should register with the department indicated in bold type.

History is based on the conviction that we cannot understand the present unless we understand the past. As the pace of change accelerates, it becomes increasingly important to analyze and understand the origins of new world systems. History therefore is the study of past human endeavor in all its aspects, scientific, artistic, philosophic, as well as political, economic and social. Historians are trained to evaluate a wide variety of differently recorded evidence and to seek new sources in ways that are adaptable to the understanding of history unfolding around us.

The objective of the Modern History major is to introduce students to the practice of history, and to train them in its philosophy and methodology. In doing so this major aims to give students the intellectual tools with which to approach these goals, together with an understanding of the complexity of the past. The skills of analysis, critical thinking and succinct synthesis which the study of history demands, give students a solid foundation both for advanced academic work in a variety of disciplines, and for entry into major professions such as law, diplomacy, and politics, as well as commercial and business enterprises.

A total of 120 credits is required for a bachelor's degree in Modern History.

Core Curriculum (40 credits) as stated on pages 76-81 Concentration Requirements (36 credits) HIST 202 History of Modern American Civilization, 3 cr.   204 The Rise of Modern Civilization, 3 cr.   205 Europe in the Age of Revolution and Reform(1789-1914), 3 cr. HIST/POLS 206 Global Politics in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr. HIST/ARBS 355 History of the Middle East, 1700-1900 A.D., 3 cr.   356 History of the Middle East in the Twentieth, 3 cr.   Four of the following, including one European or American course, and one Middle Eastern history course. The course may be repeated if topic changes HIST 401 Selected Topics in the History of the United States, 3 cr.   402 Selected Topics in European History, 3 cr.   410 Selected Topics in Modern European Imperialism, 3 cr.   411 Selected Topics in British History , 3 cr.   412 Selected Topics in Modern Egyptian History, 3 cr. HIST/ARBS 454 Modern Movements in Islam, 3 cr.   462 Selected Topics in the History of the ModernMiddle East, 3 cr.   Two additional courses from any of the history courses (HIST). Electives: 44 credits, to be selected in consultation with a history faculty advisor.   Modern Middle Eastern History Minor The minor in the field of Modern Middle Eastern History is designed to provide students with a substantive introduction to the making of the modern Middle East from the mid-eighteenth century to the mid-twentieth century. Requirements (15 credits): HIST/ARBS 355 History of the Middle East, 1700-1900 A.D., 3 cr.   356 History of the Middle East in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr. and three of the following: HIST 205 Europe in the Age of Revolution and Reform  (1789-1914), 3 cr.   410 Modern European Imperialism, 3 cr. HIST/ARBS 454 Modern Movements in Islam   462 Selected Topics in the History of the Modern Middle East., 3 cr.

European-World History Minor

The student in this minor gains an understanding of the main themes in the development of European society and culture including its roots in, and relations with, other civilizations from ancient to modern times.

Requirements (15 credits):

Students in this minor will take three 200-level courses as well as two courses at the 300 and/or 400 level. Courses offered include:

HIST 203 Ancient and Medieval Western Civilization to 1300, 3 cr.   204 The Rise of Modern Civilization, 3 cr.   205 Europe in the Age of Revolution and Reform  (1789-1914), 3 cr. HIST/POLS 206 Global Politics in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr. HIST 307 The Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Reformation, 3 cr.   308 Europe in the Age of Reason, 3 cr.   402 Selected Topics in European History, 3 cr.

 

United States History Minor

This minor focuses on the United States and the nature of its democratic development from America's colonial experience in the eighteenth century, through the crisis of the Civil War, to America's position as a world leader in the twentieth century.

Requirements (15 credits):

Students in this minor will take: 

HIST/ECLT 209 Introduction to American Studies, 3 cr. HIST 401 Selected Topics in the History of the United States, 3 cr.

 

plus two of the following courses:

HIST 201 History of American Civilization to the Nineteenth Century, 3 cr.   202 History of Modern American Civilization, 3 cr. HIST/POLS 206 Global Politics in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr. HIST 309 The Pursuit of Liberty, 3 cr.

 

In addition, students should choose one American literature course from the following English and Comparative Literature offerings: ECLT 308, ECLT 311.

Modern History Minor

This minor acquaints students with major forces and events of the American, European and Middle Eastern worlds of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

Requirements (15 Credits):

HIST/POLS 206 Global Politics in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr. HIST/ARBS 356 History of the Middle East in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr.

Plus three of the following:

HIST 205 Europe in the Age of Revolution and Reform  (1789-1914), 3 cr. HIST/ARBS 355 History of the Modern Middle East, 1700-1900 A.D., 3 cr. HIST 402 Selected Topics in European History, 3 cr.   HIST/ARBS 462 Selected Topics in Modern Middle Eastern History, 3 cr.

 

History Courses (HIST)

CourseNum CourseTitle 200 Introduction to Historical Theory and Methodology 201 History of American Civilization to the Nineteenth Century 202 History of Modern American Civilization 203 Ancient and Medieval Western Civilization to 1300 204 The Rise of Modern Civilization 205 Europe in the Age of Revolution and Reform 206 Global Politics in the Twentieth Century 209 Introduction to American Studies 211 History In The Making 246 Survey of Arab History 307 The Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Reformation 308 Europe in the Age of  Reason 309 The Pursuit of Liberty 310 The History of Modern Middle Eastern Cities 355 History of the Middle East, 1700-1900 A.D. 356 History of Middle East in the Twentieth Century 401 Selected Topics in History of the United States 402 Selected Topics in European History 410 Selected Topics in Modern European Imperialism 411 Selected Topics in British History 412 Selected Topics in Modern Egyptian History 454 Modern Movements in Islam 460 Selected Topics in Middle Eastern History, 600-1250 A. D. 461 Selected Topics in Middle Eastern History, 1250-1800 A. D. 462 Selected Topics in the History of Modern Middle East

 

The following history courses are taught in the Department of Arabic Studies (ARBS):