History Catalog


HIST 111 Introduction to Historical Study (3) A survey of historical methodology emphasizing research aids and techniques, writing skills and historical analysis. Required of all history majors; recommended for social science majors. May not be taken in Senior year.

HIST 113 United States History to 1865 (3) A survey of American History from settlement through the Civil War.

HIST 114 United States History from 1865 (3) A survey of American History from Reconstruction to the present.

HIST 115 World Civilization to 1500 (3) A survey of World Civilization through the Renaissance.

HIST 116 World Civilization from 1500 (3) A survey of World Civilization from the Renaissance to the present.

HIST 117 Colloquium in World History (1) A detailed study of one or more of the issues presented in HIST 115 or 116. Prerequisite: Concurrent registration in HIST 115 or 116. See "special instructions" in current Course Schedule.

HIST 202 Popular History (1) Study of history based on best sellers in history.

HIST 222 American Business and Labor History (3) A survey of developments in business and labor in the 19th and 20th centuries. Topics include early industrial development, the evolution of the corporation, the use of labor unions, the development of welfare capitalism and government participation in the marketplace.

HIST 230 Latin America from the Prehispanic Period to the Present (3) A history of Mexico, South American and the Caribbean from 1492 to the present. The course examines the history of the region as it developed under conditions of European colonization through the emergence of national governments during the 19th and 20th centuries. Issues such as the Atlantic slave trade, Indian/European encounters, revolutionary movements, militarism and economic development will be addressed.

HIST 240 The Canadian Experience (3) A topical survey of Canadian development through the 20th century. Emphasis on geography, the heterogeneity of the Canadian population and the Canadian-U.S. dialogue.

HIST 241 History of Michigan (3) A topical survey of the history of the Territory and State of Michigan from the 17th through the 20th centuries.

HIST 251 History of Sub-Saharan Africa (3) A survey of African civilization. The course traces the development of pre-colonial Africa and the slave trade and examines the results of European colonialism and the significance of independence.

HIST 253 Black People in U.S. History (3) History of Black Americans in the U.S. from 1619 to the present.

HIST 260 History of the Spanish Borderlands (3) A history of the border regions of Spain's empire in America, this course will trace developments in what is now northern Mexico and the southwestern United States from pre-Hispanic times to the present. It will examine pre-Hispanic cultures, the development of the presidio/mission complex, the Mexican-American War and contemporary issues of importance to the border region.

HIST 261 History of Mexico (3) A survey of Mexican civilization from pre-Columbian cultures to the present.

HIST 271 History of Poland (3) A study of Poland from the first partition (1772) to the present. The course will cover such topics as the Partitions, Poland under foreign rule, the re-emergence of Poland and Poland in World War II and the post-war period.

HIST 275 History of East Central Europe (3) An introduction to the study of East Central Europe, i.e., the countries between Germany and Russia from the Baltic Sea to the Balkan Peninsula. A survey of the more important political and social developments from ancient times to the aftermath of World War II.

HIST 281 History of Early England (3) An interpretive survey of English national development and distinctive features from the Roman occupation to the reign of George III. Complements English 281; students may elect to take them concurrently.

HIST 282 History of Modern England (3) An interpretive survey of English national development and distinctive features from George III to the present. Complements English 282; students may elect to take them concurrently.

HIST 290 Selected Topics in History (1-4) A Sophomore level seminar in selected areas of historical study.

HIST 305 History of the Family (3) A topical survey of the Western family since the Middle Ages. Special emphasis will be on the concept of childhood and the effect of economic change on the family unit in England and America.

HIST 307 Early Latin America-Prehispanic Period to Independence (3) A history of Mexico, South America and the Caribbean from the prehispanic period through Iberian conquest and colonization. The course examines the history of the region from the perspectives of the various racial, ethnic and class groups that formed Latin American society and will focus on such topics as the Atlantic slave trade, pre-Columbian societies, the nature of colonial regimes and biological transformations.

HIST 310 United States History in the Colonial Period (3) A survey of the American colonies from their discovery and settlement to 1750.

HIST 311 United States History During the Revolution (3) A study of the origins, course and consequences of the American Revolution through the Articles of Confederation.

HIST 312 United States History During the Constitutional and Federalist Periods (3) History of the New Nation from 1787 to 1815.

HIST 313 United States History During the Era of Andrew Jackson (3) A study of the Age of Andrew Jackson from 1815 to 1850.

HIST 314 United States History During the Civil War and Reconstruction (3) A study of the conflict between North and South from 1850 through the disputed presidential election of 1876.

HIST 316 America and the World: 1900-1945 (3) A history of American war and diplomacy in the first half of the 20th Century.

HIST 317 America and the World: 1945-Present (3) A history of American war and diplomacy in the latter half of the 20th Century.

HIST 318 20th Century American Social Movements (3) A study of public policy toward issues such as economic regulation, civil rights, and welfare and health.

HIST 322 European Intellectual History (3) A survey of modern European thought from the Enlightenment to the Modern Age, studying such European intellectuals as Voltaire, Rousseau, Hegel, Mill, Marx, Darwin, Freud and Sartre.

HIST 323 Ideas and Society in the U.S. (3) The relationship between ideas and the social development of the American people as reflected in material culture from the 17th through early 20th centuries.

HIST 324 Introduction to Women's History (3) An introductory survey that explores the social, economic and political development of women in western history from the medieval period to the present. The course also will look at the basic theoretical issues informing feminist perspectives of history and focus on a variety of topics that reflect the changing roles of women in contemporary society.

HIST 325 American Frontier History (3) A topical survey of the frontier experience of the American people from the 17th through the 19th centuries.

HIST 329 The Vietnam War (3) A study of the origins, development and outcome of American involvement in Indo-China from 1946 to 1975.

HIST 331 History of Tudor-Stuart England, 1485-1688 (3) A study of the growth of monarchial power and shifting relationships during the Age of Expansion.

HIST 332 Modern Britain, 1688-1970 (3) A study of Britain's rise to dominance in the 18th century, world supremacy and demise as a major world power.

HIST 344 France: 1515-1815 (3) Includes Louis XIV, Enlightenment, French Revolution and Napoleon.

HIST 351 History of Modern Germany (3) A history of Germany in the 19th and 20th centuries. The course will cover Prussian-Austrian rivalry, the 1848 revolutions, Bismarck and the unification of German, Germany in World War I, Weimar Germany and the Third Reich.

HIST 352 History of Modern Russia Since 1801 (3) A study of Russia in the 19th and 20th centuries including Napoleon in Russia, the serf problem, industrialization, the 1917 Revolution and the Soviet Union under Lenin and Stalin.

HIST 355 Modern China (3) A survey of modern Chinese history from the Opium War to the present, with special focus in the interweaving imperatives of reform and revolution in China's responses to the challenges of the West and the demands of modernity.

HIST 357 Modern Japan (3) A survey of modern Japanese history from the Meiji Restoration to the present, with special focus on the evolvement of the modern Japanese state and society in response to the challenges of modernity.

HIST 361 Early Middle Ages, 300-1050 (3) Late Roman empire and its transition from a Mediterranean civilization to three new societies: Western Europe, Byzantium and Islam.

HIST 362 Europe in the High Middle Ages, 1050-1350 (3) Medieval civilization at its zenith. Emphasis upon Germany, France, Italy, Low Countries and Spain.

HIST 363 Renaissance, 1350-1515 (3) Western Europe from the Hundred Years War to Erasmus.

HIST 364 The Age of Reformation, 1515-1715 (3) A study of the Reformation in its intellectual, political and social aspects from Luther through Louis XIV. Special emphasis will be given to the impact of reform upon the emerging national state, the expansion of Europe and the crisis of the 17th century.

HIST 365 The Age of Democratic Revolution, 1715-1815 (3) A study of aristocratic Europe and the challenge to it by the Enlightenment and the world-wide impact of the American and French Revolutions.

HIST 366 History of Europe in the 19th Century, 1815-1914 (3) A study of Europe from the fall of Napoleon to the end of the 19th century. The course will cover such political events as the Revolutions of 1848 and the Unification of Germany, such economic developments as industrialism and early socialist theory and such intellectual movements as Romanticism and materialism.

HIST 367 History of Europe from 1914-1945 (3) A study of Europe from World War I to 1945. The course covers both world wars, communism in Russia, fascism in Italy and Germany, political conflict in France and conservatism in England during the interwar period.

HIST 368 History of Postwar Europe, 1945-1970 (3) A study of Eastern and Western Europe throughout the cold war period. An analysis of European recovery after World War II, the Common Market, the Communist bloc, U.S. influence, East European revolts, the major West European democracies and the Soviet Union since 1945.

HIST 372 Ancient Near East to 300 B.C. (3) Study of Mesopotamia, Egypt of the Pharaohs, Greece and Hellenistic world at the time of Alexander. Will include archeology, mythology, pyramids, art, Greek theater, political systems and sports.

HIST 373 Ancient Roman Republic and Empire to AD 300 (3) Includes study of Roman expansion, army, historians, Julius Caesar, art, literature, mythology, technology and early Christianity.

HIST 390 Selected Topics in History (1-4) A Junior level seminar in selected areas of historical study.

HIST 411 Euro-American History in the 20th Century (3) A course studying the history shared by Europeans and Americans in the first half of the 20th century. The course will cover such topics as American involvement in Europe in World War I and II, Wilson at Versailles, American intellectuals ‚migr‚s in Europe, European intellectuals in the United States. United States economic investment in Europe and Dawes and Young plans and American volunteers in the Spanish Civil War.

HIST 431 Art of Historical Writing (3) Analysis of the masterpieces of historical literature and exercises to improve the writing skills of the historian. Open to non-history majors as well as history majors.

HIST 491 Seminar on Selected Topics in History (1-4)

HIST 493 Directed Reading in History (1-4)

HIST 494 Independent Writing in History (1-4)

HIST 496 Cooperative Education in History (1-6) A campus-based individually designed course of supervised field study in historical and job-oriented areas. Completion of an SVSU learning contract and permission of faculty advisor, department chairman and dean required.

HIST 497 Senior Thesis (3)

HIST 499 Senior Seminar (3) A capstone course required of all History majors. The course will integrate knowledge acquired in the student's course of study with advanced research and writing. Students will write a research paper which will be the final component in their assessment portfolio. Prerequisite: 30 hours of History courses.

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