Bachelor Degree Courses

General Survey of American History from its European origins to 1865.  Required of all baccalaureate students.

Survey of American History since 1865

General Survey of American History from 1865 to the present.  Required of all baccalaureate students.

Survey of Western Civilization 

An examination of the traditions which contributed to the intellectual background of modern Western society.  The course spans the period beginning with the early civilization of Egypt and Mesopotamia through classical Greece and Rome to the Western Middle Ages concluding with the Renaissance and Reformation and the dawn of the modern era.

World Civilizations to 1500

This course is an introductory overview of the major events and trends in world civilization from the emergence of homo sapiens to c. 1500 CE.  It differs from Western surveys by also covering the history of peoples on the continents of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.  

Survey of Western Civilization

An examination of the traditions which have directly contributed to the formation of the intellectual and cultural structure of modern western society.  The course begins with the Scientific Revolution and the emergence of modern nation states and examines the development of democratic movements and the Industrial Revolution continuing through the wars and disorders of the twentieth century.

World Civilizations since 1500

This course is an introductory overview of the major events and trends in world civilization from c. 1500 CE to the present.  It differs from Western surveys by also covering the history of peoples on the continents of Asia, Africa, and Central and South America.  

Survey of Texas History

This course examines Texas history from the time of discovery to the late twentieth century.  Topics examines include the Spanish colonial period, Anglo colonization, the Texas Revolution, early statehood, the Civil War and Reconstruction, the cattleman's frontier, the oil industry, and modern Texas politics.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of American History.

Natives and Newcomers: Colonial North America

This course considers how exploration and colonization transformed North America from roughly 1500 to 1763.  As peoples, microbes, goods, and ideas circulated in this newly-connected world, European colonists, enslaved Africans, and indigenous peoples forged new cultures, reckoned with environmental changes, and adapted to the social and political realities of life in North America.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours or consent of the chair.

Medieval England

A survey of the forces and events which dominated English development from the times of the Romans to the advent of the Tudors to the throne in 1485.  The course focuses on the constitutional development of England and discusses the contributions of the Anglo-Saxons and Normans as well as others.

*Prerequisite(s): HIST 1333 and three additional hours of history or consent of the chair.

American Indian History

A survey of American Indian history that considers early migrations through European contact, relocation, acculturation, termination, self-determination, and the civil rights movement of the 20th century.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Early Modern England

A survey of English history during the reign of the Tudors and the Stuarts, from 1485 until the death of Queen Anne in 1714.  The course covers the English Reformation and the Elizabethan era as well the English Civil War and Glorious Revolution.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Comparative World Religions and Cultures

A study of the major world religions and cultural traditions with an emphasis on Hinduism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Greece, Rome, and the Mediterranean World

This course surveys the major classical civilizations of Greece and Rome from their inception to their decline.  In examining these larger civilizations, this course also takes into consideration smaller peripheral states (such as that of the Phoenecians) located along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the Arabic states (including the Persians and the Sassanids) that were often in conflict with both the Greeks and the Romans.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Early Russia and Tsardom

A survey of Russian history from earliest times to the peak of Romanov power and prestige.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The Modern Russian State and Empire

Russian history from 1801 to the present.  The crisis and collapse of autocracy, the revolutions, reaction, superpower status, and the decline and fall of empire are some of the major topics covered in this course.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Colonial Latin America

This course investigates the various cultures and ethnicities during the colonial period in Latin America.  The discovery, conquest, and settlement of Ibero-America are covered in detail as are the roles of the church, encomienda, and military.  The course concludes with a discussion of the impact of the reforms of Charles the Third as they affected Latin America and initiated the independence movements.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Latin American History, Republican Period--Nineteenth Century

This course traces the independence of Ibero-American Nations and explains the factionalization caused by the collapse of Spain's empire and the power struggles that resulted.  Institutions such as caudillismo, church, the military, and their impact are discussed as they developed during the nineteenth century.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Environmental History

An introduction to the ever-evolving field of Environmental History, this course aims to explore the mutual influences man and nature had on one another.  It will encompass not only human impact on the environment and how nature influenced culture, but issues ranging from conservation and preservation to deforestation and pollution.  Among the myriad subjects covered are invasive species, extinction, soil conservation, national parks, and wilderness.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The Writing of History

This course, required of all history majors who are not seeking teaching certification, is designed to further develop and refine the student's aptitude for historical investigation, analysis, and presentation.  Particular emphasis is placed on improving the student's ability to write history and conduct in-depth research at the undergraduate level, thus giving the student a strong foundation in the skills necessary for practicing the craft of history.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

History Internship

A supervised, monitored internship that introduces students to historical research in a professional setting.  May involve archival research, training in historical methods, or application of historical research to industry.  A written report is required.  May be repeated for credit.  

*Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor.

The Old South

This course traces the growth of southern culture, economics, and politics from the establishment of the first southern colonies to the Civil War.  Emphasis is placed on such topics as social organization, slavery, states' rights, and the creation of the Confederacy--always relating developments in the South to events in the nation at large.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Civil War and Reconstruction

The bitter sectional conflicts touched off by slavery and westward expansion provoked a mounting crisis in the 1850s--ending in the election of 1860.  The course then turns to the battlefield and the question of why the South lost.  It concludes with an examination of the attempt to reintegrate the South into the Union and the angry social and political clash that was precipitated. 

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Revolutionary America

How did American colonists go from being proud British subjects to revolutionaries in a mere decade?  This course considers the causes, course, character, and consequences of the American Revolution--an event that ushered in vast political, social, and economic transformations for some members of American society wile entrenching inequality for others.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The Jacksonian Era

Using Andrew Jackson as a symbol of his age, the course traces the acrimonious partisan conflict which gave birth to mass democracy and a new two-party system.  This is related to such crucial issues as to the bank war, minority rights, and the Mexican War, questions fostered by rapid industrialization and the migration of pioneers to the Pacific.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Interwar America, 1918-1939

This course explores the Interwar Period (1918-1939), specifically American life from the eve of World War I to the dawn of World War II.  It examines the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, and the New Deal, providing students with contextualization, specifically as it relates to race, class, and gender.  Subjects discussed include segregation, the Harlem Renaissance, flappers, the Equal Rights Amendments, organized labor, and nativism.  By semester's end, students will have a solid grasp of the social, economic, political, philosophical, and cultural significance of the myriad events, many with ramifications into the present.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The New South

The development of the New South from the legacy of the Civil War and Reconstruction.  Southern politics, economics, cultural and industrial development.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

U.S. History since 1945

This course will examine the social, cultural, economic, and political aspects of the United States since World War II.  Subjects covered include, but are not limited to, the following: Cold War, McCarthyism, Korean War, Civil Rights Movement, Second Wave Feminism, Gay Liberation Movement, counterculture, Vietnam War, Environmental Movement, Reagan Revolution, Iraq War, War in Afghanistan, and globalization.  While placing an emphasis on race, class, and gender, this course will show the various transformations that transpired in this country after 1945.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

History of Mexico

A survey of Mexican History from Pre-Hispanic times to the present with emphasis on the National Period (1820-1967), which includes the age of Santa Anna, La Reforma, the Diaz Dictatorship, and the Revolution of 1910.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Latin American Nationalism in the Twentieth Century

Course will emphasize Vargas in Brazil, Peron in Argentina, Castro in Cuba, Allenda in Chile, and such currently popular problems as those found in Central America.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Vietnam Wars: A Vietnamese Story

Unlike most Vietnam War courses that are taught from the American perspective, this approach will be based mostly on Vietnamese sources and viewpoints.  The course examines the Vietnam Wars, starting with the Vietnamese war for independence from the French and then with the United States (1965-1975).  Though this class is mostly focused on the modern-era, students will learn Vietnam's history and culture to gain a better understanding of Vietnamese behavior and attitudes.  Students will gain an understanding of how colonialism and war had a large impact on the country and people.  We will discuss the wars from a number of perspectives including, but not limited to, the U.S.-backed Saigon government, the Hanoi-allied National Liberation Front, and the Viet Cong.  Some overall themes for the course include imperialism/colonialism, nationalism, communism, and anti-communism.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of instructor.

Caribbean History

This course explores the history of the Caribbean and its place in the world from ancient times to the modern era.  Paying close attention to the diverse peoples who inhabited the region--including indigenous peoples, European powers, and enslaved Africans--it will consider the Caribbean as a center of globalization, especially since the early modern era when sugar production dominated the region.  Themes will include (but are not limited to) early migrations to the Caribbean by native peoples, European colonization and subsequent imperial rivalries, the rise and fall of African slavery, the age of Revolutions, emancipation, independence, natural disasters, tourism, and legacy of colonial rule.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Europe in the Middle Ages

A study of the social, political, and intellectual traditions of western society as they developed after the Germanic invasions.  Emphasis will be placed on the evolution of feudal society and its interaction with the community of the Christian church.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Renaissance and Reformation

A study of the development of European society in the ear of the Black Death, of overseas discoveries, of the Renaissance and Reformation.  The emphasis of the course will be a topical study of Renaissance humanism and a detailed analysis of the impact of the Reformation on the doctrines and structure of western Christianity.  

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Modern France

A study of French History from the sixteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century.  The course will focus on such topics as the Age of Louis XIV, Napoleon, and the Dreyfus Affair.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Modern Germany

This course details the development of Germany from a region of multiple independent states during the Reformation to a strong and united World Power by the end of the nineteenth century.  Highlights include the Thirty Years' War, Frederick the Great, Otto von Bismarck, and the roots of modern German nationalism.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Twentieth Century Europe

Development of Europe from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present with emphasis on developments since World War I.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Topics in Eastern European and Balkan History

An examination of the various Eastern European and Balkan states and nations from the rise of the Ottoman Empire to the present.  Particular emphasis will be placed on nineteenth and twentieth century political, economic, and military trends and institutions.  The course includes discussions of nationalism, imperialism, the rise and collapse of communism, and regional conflicts.  Specific topics will change each time the course is taught and may include studies of individual states (such as Poland or Yugoslavia), empires (Prussia/Germany, the Hapsburgs, and/or the Ottomans), or national groups of the region (the Serbs, Croats, Poles, etc.)  May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of instructor.

History of the Middle East

Includes a survey of pre-Islamic society, the rise and spread of Islam, the rise of the Ottoman and Safavid Empires, European Imperialism, and the contemporary Middle East.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The Age of the Vikings

This course examines the Scandinavian peoples of Europe in the central Middle Ages.  Although traditional medieval history courses consider the Viking, Magyar, and Muslim invasions of the eighth and ninth centuries (beginning c. 750 CE) conventional courses tend to overlook the Scandinavian countries themselves and their culture.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The Crusades

This course surveys the period of the "Crusades" from its inception in the late eleventh century, to its maturity in the twelfth and thirteenth century, and through its final demise in the later Middle Ages.  The examination of the development of the idea of crusade throughout these periods proves crucial to understanding the Crusades themselves, as the idea of crusade changed dramatically during each period.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours or consent of the chair.

Imperialism in Asia

Empire building was not exclusive to the West, and Asian peoples engaged in imperialism before and after Western intervention.  This course examines the development, growth, and demise of Asian empires and their evolution into modern states with China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam as case studies.  We will look at empire building before the arrival of Westerners, the Western Age of Imperialism, and neo-imperialism, in which wealthy, powerful states influenced less-developed ones through legal agreements, economic leverage, cultural dominance, and military means.  In the 21st century, states, like the four covered in this course, still seek to expand territorially , politically, economically, and influentially.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

The American West, 1803-1890

This course surveys westward expansion from the Mississippi River to the Pacific.  From Lewis and Clark to Wounded Knee, from the fur traders' frontier to the farmers' frontier, this course surveys the sweeping movement of the American people across the trans-Mississippi West.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

United States-Latin American Relations

Survey of the relations of the U.S. with Latin America from independence to the present.  The course keys on the Monroe Doctrine and U.S. policy from the Latin American perception of that policy.  The course also covers in some detail U.S. relations with Argentina, Chile, Cuba, and Mexico.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

History of Women in the United States and Great Britain

This course examines the lives of women in the United States and Great Britain from around 1600 to the present.  Its central focus is how the factor of gender, along with other factors such as class and race, affected the historical experience of women.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Special Topics in Military History

An analysis of political and military actions leading up to and during armed conflict.  Emphasis will be placed on tactical and strategic decision making, personalities, forces structures, the experience of the combat soldier, and the application of technological innovations to warfare.  Conflicts to be studied vary from semester to semester, but may include the Roman and Viking ways of war, medieval warfare, the Military Revolution(s), Napoleonic Warfare, the world wars, the Chinese Revolution, the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s, armed insurrections, and/or comparison of armed conflicts as determined by the professor.  May be repeated for credit when topics vary.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Special Topics in History

Topics may vary.  May be repeated with different content.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history.

Independent Study in History

This is an undergraduate independent reading course available on a limited basis to advanced students.  Topics will be selected by the student and his/her advisor.

*Prerequisite(s): Six hours of history or consent of the chair.

Capstone in History

The Capstone in History is the culmination of all history majors; it is where the student will do real historical work.  All history majors must take at least one Capstone in order to graduate.  Students must take the Capstone during their last 30 hours and must have completed 18 hours in history before taking the class.  The Capstone in History is writing intensive.  The topics vary by instructor.  May be repeated for credit.

*Prerequisite(s): Senior standing and 18 hours in history to include HIST 1133, HIST 1233, HIST 1333, HIST 1353, HIST 1433, or HIST 1453, and HIST 3903.