History Degree

HIST 230. A Cultural History of Science and Technology. 3 Credits.

This course examines the evolution of modern science and technology from the Renaissance through the present day, focusing on the relationship between how cultures describe the natural world and develop the tools needed to manipulate it. The course will investigate how and why science and technology have acquired their privileged places in modern society, their crucial roles in the development of economic and military power, and in our construction of human social, racial, and gender difference. S.

HIST 260. Slaves, Citizens and Social Change. 3 Credits.

Through intense role playing and a highly interactive learning environment, students in this course explore key historic debates in American history about slavery, capitalism, citizenship, and women's roles. Class sessions are student-centered and directed, while professors advise, guide and evaluate oral and written work. On demand.

HIST 301. The Medieval World. 3 Credits.

A survey of the people, cultures, and history of the European middle ages, from the late Roman Empire to the Renaissance. The course will focus on the lives and thoughts of medieval women and men from all social classes and on the foundations of European culture, society, politics, and worldview. Specific topics will include the Crusades, the Black Death, crime and punishment, daily life, war and violence, and religious life. On demand.

HIST 349. The Origins of Modern War. 3 Credits.

The course examines the military, social and technological developments that lead to the emergence of the modern way of war in the nineteenth century, from the advent of firearms and professional armies at the end of the middle ages, through the "Gunpowder Revolution" and the rise of the nation state, to the foundations of European global military dominance and the "nation at war" of the French Revolution and Napoleon. F, odd years.

HIST 424. European Witch Trials. 3 Credits.

An examination of the development and content of European witch-beliefs and persecution, from their origins in antiquity and the middle ages through the dawn of the modern era. Emphasis upon witchcraft as a social, legal, and cultural phenomenon. S, odd years.

HIST 325. American West. 3 Credits.

Explores the lives of diverse peoples living in western North America from the 16th century to the present. Topics include migrations, intercultural interactions, environmental change, and the West in popular culture. On demand.