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History (B.A., Secondary Ed Certification, Minor)

The history concentration offers courses in three general areas. These are American history, European history, and non-Western history. These courses prepare the student for graduate study or, together with the necessary professional education courses, for teaching at the secondary level.

Students, especially if they plan to go into teaching, should choose courses from all three areas. This also is true for those planning to go directly on to graduate school, since there will be plenty of opportunity then to specialize in an area of interest and correspondingly less opportunity to sample other areas.

In addition to these courses, each student takes two required courses, Senior Seminar in History, designed to give familiarity with the professional aspects of history, (i.e., with research, writing, and interpretation) and Problems in History, a reading seminar on changing topics.

For the student who is interested in history as a major but who does not plan to teach, there are a number of alternatives. Students of history develop skills and perspectives (basic research and perhaps statistical skills, the ability to place problems within a broader context, the ability to deal effectively with questions of cause and effect, etc.) that can be widely applied in fields outside the classroom. Liberal arts students with a history concentration may find satisfying career opportunities in such fields as historical administration, historical editing, museum and archival work, government, communications, publishing, law, banking, market research, advertising, and the travel industry.


MAJOR IN HISTORY for Non-Social Studies Certification Students — 36 semester hours

Required Courses: 16 semester hours

HIS1200                American History I (to 1877) (4)
HIS1210                American History II (since 1877) (4)
HIS3400                Problems in History (4)     
HIS4990                Senior Seminar in History (4)

§Selected Courses: Choose 20 semester hours with at least 8 semester hours in Western Civilization/European history and 4 semester hours in non-Western history.

HIS2500                Western Civilization I (to 1200) (4)
HIS2550                Western Civilization II (1200-1789) (4)
HIS2600                Western Civilization III (since 1789) (4)
HIS3050                American Urban History (4)
HIS3100                The African-American Experience (4)
HIS3150                Women in American History (4)
HIS3200                American History Since the 1960s (4)
HIS3250                Illinois History and Government (2)
HIS3300                The American West (4)
HIS3450                Latin American History (4)
HIS3650                Hitler and the Nazi Revolution (4)
HIS3700                History of the Middle East (4)
HIS3750                The Far East (4)


MAJOR IN HISTORY for Secondary Education Social Studies Certification Students — 46 semester hours

In addition to meeting requirements for history, Secondary Education Certification students must also meet the requirements for the Supplemental Major in Secondary Education.

§Required History/Social Sciences Courses: 34 semester hours
HIS1200                American History I (to 1877) (4)
HIS1210                American History II (since 1877) (4)
HIS2500                Western Civilization I (to 1200) (4)
HIS2550                Western Civilization II (1200-1789) (4)
HIS2600                Western Civilization III (since 1789) (4)
HIS3250                Illinois History and Government (2)
HIS3400                Problems in History (4)     
HIS4990                Senior Seminar in History (4)
SBS3820              Secondary Methods in Social Studies (4)

Selected Courses: Choose 8 semester hours with at least 4 semester hours in non-Western history.
HIS3050                American Urban History (4)
HIS3100                The African-American Experience (4)
HIS3150                Women in American History (4)
HIS3200                American History Since the 1960s (4)
HIS3300                The American West (4)
HIS3450                Latin American History (4)
HIS3650                Hitler and the Nazi Revolution (4)
HIS3700                History of the Middle East (4)
HIS3750                The Far East (4)

‡ Supplementary Courses in the Socal Sciences:
SBS1100 Introduction to the Social Sciences (3)
SBS2100 Human Geography (3)
ECN 2010 Foundations of Microeconomics (4)
ECN 2020 Foundations of Macroeconomics (4)
PSC 1100 Politics, Culture and Society (4)
PSC 2110 United States Government (4)
IDS 1600 Culture, Diversity and Expression (4)           

‡This information has been added since the printing of the 06-08 Undergraduate Catalog.
§This information has changed since the printing of the 06-08 Undergraduate Catalog


MINOR IN HISTORY  - 18 semester hours

Students may complete a minor in history by choosing 18 semester hours from the History Program, including either HIS1200 or HIS1210, and excluding HIS4990.

HISTORY COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

HIS1200 American History I (to 1877)                                    4 semester hours
Examines the evolution of the United States from its colonial origins to the end of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Looks at the Columbian Exchange and the exploration of North America, the concept of empire as practiced by Spain, France, and England in the Americas, and the founding of the British American colonies and their differences. Compares the colonial American experience in the 17th and 18th centuries. Analyzes the causes and nature of the American Revolution and the problems associated with the founding of the nation. Examines the development of the American party system and economy, along with the clashing voices of growing nationalism and sectionalism. Analyzes the causes and nature of the Civil War and the problems associated with reuniting the country. (Fall)
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS1210 American History II (since 1877)                            4 semester hours
Surveys the major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the United States since 1877. Considers such political developments as imperialism, the growth in the power of the federal government (especially the presidency), the development of the Cold War, and the emergence of the United States as a superpower, and such economic developments as the maturation of the industrial revolution and the Great Depression. Examines the causes and consequences of six wars (including the two world wars) and the major social reform and liberation movements since 1877 and the conservative reactions produced by them. (Spring)
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS2500 Western Civilization I (to 1200)                               4 semester hours
Surveys the political and cultural history of the ancient classical world from its earliest beginnings in the Near East to the close of the Roman Empire in the West. This course presents the ancient Mediterranean civilizations as forerunners of modern Europe and the Western world. This course covers the early medieval era in Europe and the Middle East and the contributions that these peoples made to modern society.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS2550 Western Civilization II (1200-1789)                        4 semester hours
Considers the development of Europe from the Middle Ages, through the Renaissance and Reformation, the age of religious wars, the rise of absolutism and constitutionalism, and the scientific revolution. Special emphasis in this course will be placed on social change and the impact of events upon the lives of common people.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS2600 Western Civilization III (since 1789)                       4 semester hours
Investigates the religious, intellectual, social, economic, aesthetic and political forces at work in Europe from the late 18th century to the present day. This course will cover the French and Industrial Revolutions, the rise of capitalism and the free market system, imperialism, World Wars I and II, the Cold War and the post-Cold War era.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS3050 American Urban History                                           4 semester hours
Examines American city-building and the diverse populations that inhabited American cities. Compares the preindustrial city of the colonial period and early 19th century with the modern, industrial city in the 19th and 20th centuries. Considers such contributing factors to urbanization as industrialization, the transportation revolution, population growth/immigration, and new types of architecture/city planning. Investigates such 20th-century developments as the emergence of the metropolis, the modern suburb, urban sprawl, and the modern urban planning movement. (Every other Spring)
No prerequisites.

HIS3100 The African-American Experience                         4 semester hours
Surveys the history of the black experience in the United States, tracing the history of African Americans from their African origins through their struggle against slavery and segregation to the drive for civil rights and full legal and social equality.
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS3150 Women in American History                                    4 semester hours
Emphasizes the average woman from the colonial period to the present — her life’s opportunities, values, and culture — and the changing idea of womanhood and the family as reflections of changing socioeconomic conditions in the United States. Examines the origins, development, and major ideas of the 19th- and 20th-century women’s movements. Reviews the status of modern women in the workplace and family as well as the major, current women’s issues. (Every other Fall)
No prerequisites.

HIS3200 American History Since the 1960s                        4 semester hours
Examines the major social, cultural, political, and economic developments in the United States since the 1960s. Emphasizes the social/cultural revolution that swept the United States in the 1960s and its consequences (including a resurgence of conservatism) and the political developments of this era such as the changing relationship between the president and Congress and the United States’ changing role as a superpower, both during and after the Cold War. (Every other Fall)
No prerequisites.
Meets General Education “Knowing Ourselves and Others” Group B requirement.

HIS3250 Illinois History and Government   
                           2 semester hours
Provides an overview of Illinois history and government from the colonial era to the present. Emphasizes the geography of Illinois, the political and economic development of the state, and the various groups of people across the centuries who have made Illinois their home. Surveys the major historical figures in Illinois history. (Every year)
No prerequisites.

HIS3300 The American West                                                   4 semester hours
Examines the Old West of the 19th century, discussing both myth and reality, and the New West of the 20th century. Investigates the exploration and settlement of the Old West, including the mining, ranching, and farming frontiers. Reviews the various Native American cultures in the Old West and their changing relationship with the United States government (including the Indian wars and reservation system). Examines the ways in which the West changed in the 20th century, considering such issues as growing corporate and governmental power, the environmental movement, and urbanization. (Every other Spring)
No prerequisites.


HIS3400 Problems in History                              
                     4 semester hours
A reading seminar that focuses on a major era, issue, or event in history. This course is based on such readings as historical monographs, journal articles, and primary sources. Such issues as interpretation, bias, sources, and documentation will be discussed. There will be extensive reading on the selected topic (which will change each time the course is offered).
Prerequisites: 20 semester hours in history.

HIS3450 Latin American History                  
                           4 semester hours
Examines the establishment of European power and civilization in Latin America, the wars for independence, and the major developments during the 19th and 20th centuries. This course will also cover the contributions of indigenous peoples and those of African descent to Latin American culture. This course emphasizes major trends and developments in the various Latin American countries rather than the details of each of the present republics.
No prerequisites.

HIS3650 Hitler and the Nazi Revolution         
                         4 semester hours
Examines the origins and development of European fascism (including 19th-century racial thought, World War I, and the Great Depression), the nature of European fascism, the rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party to power, and Hitler’s blueprint for the Nazi revolution (and the extent to which it was fulfilled, both domestically and internationally). Reviews the origins of World War II, Hitler’s performance as a war leader, and the nature of the German homefront and the Nazi Empire during the war. Investigates the origins, implementation, and consequences of the Holocaust. Investigates the question of why Hitler’s revolution ultimately failed. (Every other Spring)
No prerequisites.

HIS3700 History of the Middle East        
                                 4 semester hours
Examines the rise of Islam and traces the major developments in the Middle East up to the present day, giving attention to both regional and national concerns. The major emphasis of the course is on the period following World War I.
No prerequisites.

HIS3750 The Far East                     
                                            4 semester hours
Examines the major political developments and personalities in the histories of China, Japan and Korea during the 19th and 20th centuries, with special emphasis placed on the period following World War I up to present.
No prerequisites.

HIS4990 Senior Seminar in History                                        4 semester hours
A capstone course that examines the nature and definition of history and historical truth, research methodology and tests of evidence, synthesis and skill in writing, the evolution of history as a discipline, and the tasks of the professional historian. It treats history as a liberal arts discipline and as a profession and is designed to be useful both to those going on to graduate work and to those who will undertake no further formal study of history. (Fall)
Prerequisites: Open only to senior history majors.

Please Note: The information listed on this page is current according to the 2006-2008 Undergraduate Catalog, unless otherwise noted.

 

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