HIST 501 History of Ancient Greece
Will analyze major political, social, economic, and cultural developments in ancient Greek civilization from the Bronze Age to the death of Alexander.
HIST 502 History of Ancient Rome
Will trace Roman history from early Republic to fall of Empire. A study of a civilization from its inception to its collapse.
HIST 503 Medieval Europe l, 400–1000
History of early Medieval Europe, from decline of Rome to beginnings of High Middle Ages; emphasis on political, social, economic, religious, and intellectual developments.
HIST 504 Medieval Europe ll, 1000–1350
History of late Medieval Europe, from High Middle Ages to Renaissance period; emphasis on political, social, economic, religious, and intellectual developments.
HIST 505 Renaissance and Reformation
History of Europe from ca. 1250; rise of commercial city, kings, and pressures on the Christian Church to 1600. Some consideration of technology and voyages.
HIST 506 Early Modern Europe
Greatness of France under Louis XIV; Sweden; Thirty Years’ War; emergence of modern society; French Revolution.
HIST 507 History of Europe, 1815–1914
Study of Europe in nineteenth century, with emphasis on the emergence of major thought patterns, Romanticism, Socialism, and Positivism.
HIST 508 Twentieth-Century Europe
Political, economic, and diplomatic trends of Europe since 1900, with major emphasis on causes and results of war and search for security.
HIST 511 Rise and Fall of Hitler’s Empire
In-depth study of Hitler and the Nazi Order: offers an analysis of nineteenth-century origins of Nazi ideology and intensively analyzes domestic and foreign policy(1920–1945), including Holocaust, Resistance, and the postwar Nuremberg Trials.
HIST 520 History of England to 1688
Survey of growth of English nation, with emphasis on political, social, and economic developments leading to seventeenth-century conflict between Crown and Parliament.
HIST 521 History of England, 1688–Present
Survey of growth of England as a democratic constitutional monarchy. Attention directed to colonial America and English-U.S. relations, as well as to imperial expansion and England’s role in the twentieth-century world. Cultural history is included.
HIST 522 French Revolution and Napoleon
Development of the Grand Monarchy, brief sketch of Old Regime, concentration on the Revolution and Empire, with emphasis on politics, diplomacy, and economics. Readings and brief papers.
HIST 524 History of Germany to 1848
Study of evolution of German nation from its prehistoric origins, emphasizing medieval and early modern phases to 1848.
HIST 525 History of Germany, 1849–Present
Study of development of modern Germany from the Revolution of 1848, including imperial, republican, and totalitarian phases, to postwar formation of East and West Germany.
HIST 526 History of Russia
General survey of Russian history, culture, and institutions. Special consideration given to study of historical forces formative of revolution in 1917.
HIST 527 History of Soviet Russia
General survey of contemporary Soviet history, culture, and institutions. Special emphasis given to study of communist theory and its place in current Russian historiography.
HIST 530 History of Islamic Civilization
An approach to learning about non-Western culture; Mohammed, Arabs, Muslims as creators to a great civilization from the rise of Islam to 1800; emphasis on cultural institutions and their interrelationships within the Middle East.
HIST 531 Modern Middle East
Survey of changes that have taken place in the Middle East and in Islam since eighteenth century and of contemporary problems in that region.
HIST 540 Colonial America
Survey of original thirteen states from their inception within the British Empire to 1763, the eve of independence. Attention given to their political development, economic position within the empire, relations with Indians, and evolution of their social, educational, and religious lives.
HIST 541 The American Revolution
Study of United States history from beginnings of revolutionary crisis in 1763 through adoption of the Constitution and the administration of John Adams. Special emphasis is given to the causes and civil war aspects of the revolution and the constitutional-political development of the new nation.
HIST 542 The Early Republic
Survey of United States history from 1783 to 1850, with special attention to constitutional, political, and social trends.
HIST 543 Civil War and Reconstruction
Study of failure of American democracy to cope with issues of mid-nineteenth century, followed by political, economic, military, and social developments during war and reconciliation of North and South.
HIST 546 Recent United States History
Study of political, economic, and cultural changes in American life since 1929; examines roots of social problems facing us today. Some recent foreign policy trends also studied.
HIST 560 History of Pennsylvania
Emphasizes the cultural, economic, political, and social development of our state in various periods from colonial to today. Special attention given to diversity of Pennsylvania’s people and their institutions and problems.
HIST 561 History of American Diplomacy, 1775–1900
Traces foreign relations of United States from independence to emergence as a world power. Topics concentrate on themes of commercial relations, political isolation, expansion, and debate over imperialism.
HIST 562 History of American Diplomacy, 1900–Today
Treats primarily our twentieth-century involvement in world affairs and domestic debate over that involvement. Special emphasis will be placed on the role of interest groups and increasing power of Executive Department over foreign affairs.
HIST 563 Thought and Culture in Early America
Selected topics in early American intellectual and cultural growth, with emphasis on Puritanism, Enlightenment, Cultural Nationalism, and Romantic Movement.
HIST 564 Thought and Culture in Modern America
Selected treatment of historical development of modern American movements in social and political thought, religion, philosophy, fine arts, and literature.
HIST 565 History of Black America Since Emancipation
Description and analysis of role of blacks in history of the United States since the Civil War; emphasis on key leaders, major organizations, leading movements, and crucial ideologies of blacks in modern America.
HIST 567 Native American History
An unfamiliar perspective on a familiar tale. This course presents the “new Indian History”—North America from Native American materials and points of view. Identification, analysis, and synthesis of Indian realities and options over time are at the heart of this course.
HIST 569 Women in America
Surveys of religious, legal, political, social, and popular culture perspectives of womanhood in America from colonial times to present.
HIST 572 History of the Early American Working Class
Description and analysis of nature and significance of the U.S. working class in eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Work settings and communities of workers will be examined, as well as unions such as the National Labor Union and Knights of Labor.
HIST 573 History of the Modern American Working Class
Description and analysis of the nature and significance of the U.S. working class in the twentieth century. Work settings and strikes will be examined and analyzed, as well as unions such as the United Mine Workers and United Auto Workers and leaders including Samuel Gompers, John L. Lewis, and George Meany.
HIST 576 Economic History of United States
Historical development of economic institutions in American life since independence; emphasis on farming, labor, transportation, banking, and manufacturing.
HIST 581 Special Topics in History
Each semester, courses are offered in interest areas which are not part of the regular course offerings.
HIST 591 Film as History
This course deals with the cinema as social, cultural, and intellectual history from its origins to the present day.
HIST 600 Readings in History
Directed readings of historical materials, focused on a general topic.
HIST 601 History Seminar
Area research, culminating in a formal paper.
HIST 605 Introduction to Public History
Introduction to the wide range of activities in which public historians engage. Exploration of theoretical and practical issues associated with historic preservation, historical editing, oral history, the management of archival and manuscript collections, and a variety of other public history activities. Broader conceptual issues associated with the concept of public history also are considered.
HIST 606 Topics in Public History
Focuses on one specific field of public history activity (field varies from semester to semester). Extensive reading in the literature of that field and completion of an appropriate project or paper.
Prerequisite: HI 605
HIST 614 Research Methods
Investigation of library systems, reference works, bibliographies, how to compile a bibliography, organizing research, use of statistics, style systems in printing.
HIST 698 History Internship
With departmental approval, students are attached to local or national government or private agencies doing directive, bibliography, archival, or museum work. Advising professor meets with intern regularly and determines what papers or reports will be required.
HIST 699 Independent Study
Student selects topic for individual study with an instructor.
HIST 850 Thesis
