History Course Descriptions

This global history course will examine important developments in the civilizations of Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Western Hemisphere from prehistory to the rise of globalism in the 21st century. Themes to be investigated will include: Politics and government, art and ideas, religion and philosophy, family and society, science and technology, earth and the environment, and interaction and exchange. An emphasis will be placed on showing how these meta-themes are manifested in cultures throughout the world. This course will also serve as an introduction to the methods historians use in the field. Three hours.

The cultural and physical elements of human habitats, the significance of the elements of the earth to humans, and the use of maps and their importance. Three hours.

This survey course includes major themes and tensions in American history with attention to citizenship, concepts and processes of historical/social studies inquiry, chronological thinking, and principles related to interpreting primary and secondary sources. It includes politics, major people, events, and movements in the history of the United States as well as Paleo-Indian cultures. This course also explores the relationship between the US and other nations. 3 credits.

This introduces students to how the political system in America functions. It focuses on the actual workings of the American government and starts with the cultural and constitutional contexts of American politics. Three hours.

This team-taught and interdisciplinary seminar is among students’ final educational experiences before degree completion. As such, its components allow students to showcase the academic abilities they have acquired through their degree program (through a thesis or project) and to think about and prepare for the next steps in their professional careers. Students participate in both interdisciplinary plenaries and discipline specific seminars. Students give a final presentation of their theses or projects at an interdisciplinary symposium. Prerequisite: COM 3500. Three hours.

This full-semester course provides the framework for – and implementation of – experiential learning for students working in a museum and/or archives setting on campus (The Winona History Center, the Billy Sunday Historic Home, or the Morgan Library). It is essentially an internship experience but conducted with a substantial degree of structure, training, and oversight; and students will gain real-life practice working with museum patrons, processing archival collections, digitizing historical documents, and/or conducting research for the production of finding aids or museum exhibits. Three hours.

Students are to observe and participate in the activities of an organization that promotes professional development. Students may choose from a wide range of organizations including museums, libraries, archives, or state and national parks. Credit is awarded based upon the intensity and length of involvement and also upon the number of learning objectives accomplished. Students are to meet in a seminar format once a month with an instructor for encouragement and personal development and assessment. Three hours.

Students are to observe and participate in the activities of a museum or other public history organization. Credit is awarded based upon the intensity and length of involvement and the number of learning objectives accomplished. Students meet regularly with an instructor for encouragement, personal development, and assessment. Three to six hours.

In this upper-level course, students will be introduced to European colonization, especially within North America, including the social, economic, cultural and political development of the Atlantic System. It also examines the divisions in colonial society, the causes, context and progress of the American Revolution, as well as the unifying features of American patriotism. Topics also include indigenous civilization, New England society, diversity in the Mid-Atlantic region, Christian missions, and the Atlantic slave trade. The course will conclude by focusing on the construction of the American political system along with the limits of democracy. Three hours.

This covers the period of 1848 to 1877 and examines the causes, nature, and consequences of the American Civil War. Topics to discuss will include the nature of slavery, the rise of abolitionism, the collapse and reconstruction of the American political system, and the causes and effects of the Civil War on American society. Three hours.

This is an in-depth investigation of the geography, history and mythology of the American West. The effects of this Western image on Americans as a whole, as well as global reactions to this image will be examined. Three hours.

This course is designed to give students an appreciation of the North American continent, within the context of social, physical, and historical geography. This includes a module on Indiana geography and history. Three hours.

This course begins with the world’s first populist movement and continues to the end of World War II. Students will see how a rural and agrarian United States was transformed into an urban industrial world power. Three hours.

This course covers major themes in post-World War II American history with special focus on foreign policy and American involvement throughout the globe. Three hours.

From major world religions to a host of small religious movements, the variety of religious expression in America is almost endless. Indeed, religious pluralism and diversity has become one of the defining features of American society. Naturally, this diverse religious landscape has not taken shape overnight. Rather, it has developed over centuries and has included a complex spectrum of theological approaches, ethical positions, charismatic men and women, ordinary citizens and even political involvement. This course is meant to provide students with an introduction to the religious diversity in America while emphasizing its historical context and development. Three hours.

A survey of the history of the ancient roots of civilizations beginning c. 3000 B.C. at the river valleys of Mesopotamia and Egypt and ending at the fall of the Western Roman Empire, A.D. 476. The remarkable contributions of the ancient civilizations of the Near East, the Greek citystates, China, India, Sub-Saharan Africa, Mesoamerica, and of the Roman Empire will be discussed. Three hours.

HUM 3210 Irish Studies This seminar-style course offers an interdisciplinary approach to Irish literature, history, politics, and culture. This course may be organized around a particular period or theme, or it may be taught as a general survey. Three hours.

This course offers an interdisciplinary study of the political, literary, and intellectual development of European civilization from the decline of the Roman Empire to the Reformation of the sixteenth century. This course may be organized around a particular theme or taught as a general survey. Three hours.

A study of the era of transition from the Later Middle Ages to the rise of science in the early modern era, c. 1300-1700. Major themes include the Italian and Northern Renaissances; the Continental, English, and Catholic Reformations; religious wars such as the Thirty Years’ War; and the rise of science. Special attention will be given to the relationship between social change and shifts in European intellectual life and spirituality. Three hours.

A study of European culture, society, and politics from the French Revolution into the twentyfirst century. Students will investigate the growth of modern nation-states, constitutional governments, empire and the fall of empire, and the great wars of the twentieth century. Students will also study great themes such as political revolutions and reforms, the effects of industrialization and urbanization, changing class structures, family and gender relations, and the importance of religion in an age of modernity. The concept of Europe in the age of postmodernity will also be discussed. Three hours.

This course is an introduction to the history of England from the Later Middle Ages through the Stuart era. Major themes include social, religious, and economic change and how those changes influenced politics and culture from the Wars of the Roses through the Elizabethan Age, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution. This can be used for Political Science credit. Three hours.

This is a course designed to give students an appreciation of the African continent. Discussion will center on understanding the context of the physical, cultural, political, and historical geography of its peoples. Three hours.

This is a course designed to give students an appreciation of Asia – specifically, China, India, and Japan. Discussion will center on understanding the context of the physical, cultural, political, and historical geography of its peoples. Students will also discuss and analyze the growing importance of Asia to the global economy. Three hours.

This course is an introduction to the cultural, political and geographical history of Latin America and the impact of Spanish and Portuguese colonization. As such, it examines the culture and history of Central and South America and to a lesser extent, the Caribbean. It examines the region’s indigenous civilizations, society under colonial rule, independence movements and Latin America’s role in political events during the modern era. The course will have a special focus on Mexico and may be integrated with an on-site tour to Mexico City and the surrounding region. Three hours.

This course introduces students to best practices for the identification, cataloging, care, and display of historical artifacts. It covers the causes of physical deterioration of artifacts and the relevant methods and theories of preserving materials for future generations. The course also introduces students to the process of interpreting and curating material culture for the purpose of educating the public. This course is designed for those interested in careers in the field of public history, which can include Museum Studies, archival work, archaeology, and historical preservation. Three hours.

This course examines the religious origins, political development, and geographic expansion of the Islamic World and its relationship to western society. It addresses the relationship between Islam, Judaism and Christianity, examines the Crusades, the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict as well as recent political tensions between the United States and the Middle East since the 1970s. It also examines perceptions of Islam as well as the rise of Islamic fundamentalism and Jihadist movements. Three Hours.

This applied course includes direction in research and will normally involve a field-trip experience. Topics covered may include Brethren History, Family History, The India of Gandhi, Return to the Roots of the Civil Rights, Mexico, Scotland, India, and Tudor England. Three hours.