COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY

Chair and Coordinator: John A. Britton
Faculty: Britton, Chapman, Eskridge-Kosmach, Kaufman, C. Kennedy, G. King, Nagata, Venters

MISSION STATEMENT

The overarching purpose of the history program is to train the intellect and to prepare students for lives of personal enrichment and constructive achievement. The study of history comprises the elements of a liberal education: the acquisition of knowledge, the nurturing of understanding, and the development of perspectives on oneself and one's society. The reconstruction of the human past conveys an appreciation of cultural contexts and traditions, and it enhances critical thinking and communication skills. The major in history provides a broad understanding of the development of various cultures throughout the world. History program faculty engage in scholarship and research and serve in various ways the University and the local community.

MAJOR

A major in history requires the following: 

1. History course requirements:
    a) at least 3 hours but not more than 12 hours of 200-level course work
    b) History 301 (which shall normally be taken during the junior or senior year)
    c) 24 hours of additional course work which must include at least one course from each of the following groups: 
     Group A: HIST 308, 309, 320, 329, 330, 331, 332, 351 
     Group B: HIST 305, 306, 321, 324, 340, 341, 342
     Group C: HIST 300, 303, 304, 307, 311, 316, 317, 319, 344, 345, 347, 362, 406
2. Minor/collateral requirements (two options)
   a) two 12-hour collaterals approved by the faculty adviser 
   b) an 18-hour minor approved by the faculty adviser
3. Participation in all required program assessment activities during the senior year
4. *Completion of a foreign language through 202

*Students seeking the Bachelor of Arts Degree with a major in history must complete all the major requirements listed above (1 through 4). Students preparing for graduate studies in history are especially encouraged to complete the Bachelor of Arts degree. Students have the option to earn the Bachelor of Science degree with a major in history by satisfying requirements 1 through 3 of the major requirements listed above.

It is recommended that history majors take Mathematics 134 as part of their General Education Requirements. Students should also consider taking Computer Science 150.

The minimum number of semester hours required in major courses for a major in history is 30. The minimum number of semester hours in all courses (major and nonmajor) required for the major in history is 120.

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MINOR

A minor in history consists of 18 semester hours, no more than nine of which may be below the 300 level.

COLLATERAL

A collateral in history consists of 12 semester hours, no more than 6 of which may be below the 300 level.

Successful completion of a 200-level history course is required of all students enrolling in history courses above the 299 level. In special circumstances, exceptions may be made with the joint permission of the instructor and the department chair.

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HISTORY COURSES (HIST)

201 United States History to 1865 (3) General survey of the United States from the era of discovery until 1865, emphasizing major political, economic, social, and intellectual developments.

202 United States History Since 1865 (3) General survey of the United States from 1865 to the present, emphasizing major political, economic, social, and intellectual developments.

203 European History to the French Revolution (3) General survey of European civilization from its ancient origins to the French Revolution with emphasis on major social, economic, intellectual, and political developments.

204 European History since the French Revolution (3) General survey of European civilization from the French Revolution to the present with emphasis on major social, economic, intellectual, and political developments.

205 Introduction to Modern World History (3) A survey of cultural traditions, political institutions, social structures, economic patterns, and applied technologies in the world. Emphasizes the distinctive features of different parts of the globe, with examples drawn from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, the Americas, and Europe, and the increasing importance of global interactions in the nineteenth century to the present.

300 Economic History of the United States (3) (Same as Economics 300) Development of business attitudes, institutions, organiza­tions, and technology from the world of the colonial entrepreneur through stages of specialization and integration to the establishment of our modern industrial economy. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

301 Historiography (3) Critically studies the nature of history. Deals with the evolution of historical writing from ancient times to the present through consideration of the works of representative historians. Analyzes the methods of historical research and writing, including techniques drawn from the various social sciences, and involves each student in the preparation of at least one formal paper. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

303 United States: Colonial and Revolutionary Periods, 1450-1783 (3) Study of the post-Columbian settlement of North America with particular, but not exclusive, emphasis on the social, political, economic, and intellectual maturation of the English colonies. The stresses that led to the American Revolution are treated in an international context. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

304 The American West (3) Study of American migration across the continent with special emphasis on the Trans-Mississippi West. Topics discussed include explorers, fur traders, miners, cattlemen, Indians, farmers, issues of the 20th Century, and the West in legend and literature. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

305 Empires and Nations in Latin America (3) Study of the rise and fall of the Spanish and Portuguese empires in America, the Latin American independence movement, and the efforts of various Latin American countries to maintain their political autonomy and national identity in recent times. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

306 Latin America: Tradition and Change (3) Study of the clash between tradition and change in Latin America from the colonial period into the 20th Century with emphasis on the social, religious, and economic aspects of conflict. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

307 The History of the United States in World Affairs (3) Study of the history of the United States in world affairs from the early national period to the present with emphasis on the rise of the United States to the status of a world power and on the role of the United States as a world power. European as well as American perspectives will be considered. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

309 Europe, 1814-1914 (3) Examines developments in Europe from the Congress of Vienna to the outbreak of World War I.  Principal topics include the impact of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era, industrialization nd the creation of industrial society, mid-century revolutions, nationalism and the unification of Germany and Italy, spread of constitutional government and democracy, cultural and intellectual developments, imperialism, failure of the Concert of Europe, and the onset of war in 1914.  One 200-level course or permission of the department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

308 Russia and Eastern Europe (3) History of the nations of Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th Centuries, with emphasis on the past 100 years. Major topics include the peoples of Eastern Europe, the Russian Empire, the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the collapse of the empires in World War I, Communist revolution in Russia, new states in Eastern Europe, Stalin's regime, impact of World War II, the Soviet Union and its East European Empire, and the collapse of Communism. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

311 History of Black Americans (3) Consideration of the experience of black people in America, their contributions to the life and character of the nation, and their status in the rapidly changing society of today. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

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316 South Carolina History (3) Survey of the history of the state from its founding to the present with emphasis on political, social, and economic developments and the changing attitudes prevalent among its citizenry. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

317 History of the Mass Media (3) Considers the mass media, concentrating on four aspects of media history: domestic journalism, foreign journalism, entertainment, and sociological values. One 200-level history course or rmission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

318 The Historical Focus (3) In-depth study of one historical subject emphasizing interpretations, bibliographies, and historiography and utilizing the historical method. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level. May be taken twice for academic credit with departmental approval.

319 The United States in the Era of the Vietnam War (3) Considers the tumultuous history of the United States in the 1960s and 1970s, with an emphasis on the Vietnam War and its effects on American society and culture. Topics include the arts and American literature during the 1960s and 1970s, popular culture, anti-war protest, the civil rights struggle, liberalism, feminism, the environmental movement, the counterculture, urban riots, inflation, and the nservative reaction to those developments. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

320 History of Modern Germany (3) Considers the development of the German people, primarily within the framework of the nation-state. Emphasis of the course falls within the period 1870 to 1945. Deals with the internal development and foreign relations of a nation which was at the center of European and world affairs for 75 years. Brief consideration of the period since 1945, including unification. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

321 Family and Gender in World History (3)  A general survey of family and gender history in comparative perspective that addresses family, gender and demographic systems as they vary and change through time and space. The course addresses family, demography and gender roles as they evolved from ancient times to the present in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Americas and considers the interaction of family and gender with economic, religious, political, institutional and demographic change. One 200-level history course or permission of the department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

324 History of Traditional East Asia (3) Survey of East Asian countries: China, Japan, and Korea-from ancient times to the mid-19th Century, with emphasis on the emergence and development of cultural traditions and political institutions in these countries and their interaction. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

329 Europe in the Era of the World Wars, 1914-1945 (3) Considers European developments from an international point of view, including such topics as the transition to the 20th Century, World War I, the search for peace and democracy, the Great Depression, Communism, Fascism, and World War II. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

330 Europe and the World Since 1945 (3) Considers the reconstruction of Europe after World War II; the rise and fall of the Cold War; the democratic west and Soviet east; political and economic developments from the 1940s to the 1990s; the European Community; decolonization; the new Europe: society, technology, and culture; and the collapse of Communism. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

331 Modern British Isles (3) Considers the principal forces that have shaped England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland from the late medieval period to the present.  Major topics include origins and often uneasy evolution of the United Kingdom, the Tudor Reformation, the Stuart struggle with Parliament and the creation of a constitutional monarchy, decline of the aristocracy, rise of British industrial and imperial power, character of the Victorian age, Britain in the two world wars, establishment of the welfare state, and the relationship of Britain to the world of today.  One 200-level course or permission of the department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

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332 British Empire (3) Examines the origins, development, and dissolution of the British Empire from the 1550s to the late twentieth century.  Considers the global reach of British imperial endeavors from Europe to the Western Hemisphere, Far East, Oceania, India, Africa, and the Middle East.  The principal themes include the social, political, intellectual, economic, and psychological consequences of the growth and decline of the empire upon the colonizer and the colonized.  One 200-level history course or permission of the department is prerequisite for all history courses above the 299 level.

340 History of Modern Mexico (3) Emphasis on the transition of Mexico from a rural, oligarchic economy and society to an urban-oriented nation in the midst of industrialization. Special emphasis is placed on the Diaz dictatorship, 1876 to 1910, and the Revolution, 1910 to 1940. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

341 History of Modern China (3) Study of modern China from 1600 to the present, with emphasis on the period since 1840. Focus on China's interaction with the West, efforts at modernization, reforms and revolutions, and changes in political institutions, economic patterns, social relations, intellectual trends, and cultural life. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

342 History of Modern Japan (3) Study of Modern Japan from 1600 to the present, with emphasis on Japanese modernization since 1868. Political institutions, socioeconomic structures, cultural traditions, and the international environment are examined to explain the rise of Japan first as a military power in Asia prior to the Second World War and then as an economic power in the world since the war. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

344 The Old South, 1660 to 1865 (3) Political, social, economic, and intellectual development of the Old South from its colonial beginning to its demise in the Civil War. Historiography of the period will also be covered. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

345 The New South, 1865 to the Present (3) Transition of the Old South into the New South: the Reconstruction period and the South in the 20th Century. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

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347 The United States in the Era of World War II (3) Analyzes the conduct of the United States in the sequence of events that led to the outbreak of World War II in Asia and Europe. Evaluates American military participation in the Allied war effort against the Axis. Discusses the impact of the war on the American home front. Examines the role of the United States in the conclusion of World War II and the initiation of the Cold War. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

351 Medieval Europe (3) Considers the history of Medieval Europe from the fall of Rome through the Hundred Years' War. Special emphasis on the barbarian invasions, the medieval Church, manorialism and feudalism, the Carolingian Empire, aspects of medieval economic history, the 12th Century “Renaissance” and High Medieval thought, the western monarchies, and the crises of the 14th Century. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

362 The United States Between the Wars, 1918-1941 (3) Examination of the nature and legacy of change in American society, government, and values during the boom of the 1920s and the Great Depression and the approach of war. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

406 United States Military History (3) (Same as Military Science 406) Study of military institutions and the military experience in American history from the Revolution ot the present. Topics include causes, conduct, and consequences of war; impact of politics, diplomacy, and technology upon the armed forces in peace and war; and reforms within the armed forces. One 200-level history course or permission of department is rerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level.

497 Special Studies (3), (2), or (1) (Prerequisite: Permission of department) By request. Open only to juniors or seniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in their major courses. A maximum of 3 semester hours may be earned. All individual research projects are reviewed by three faculty members from two different disciplines. One 200-level history course or permission of department is prerequisite to all history courses above the 299 level. May be taken for credit (3 hours) towards the Honors degree by special arrangement.

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