Department of History

HIST 1301. United States History To 1876. 3 Hours.

The colonial origins of the United States and growth of the Republic to 1876.

HIST 1302. United States History Sn 1876. 3 Hours.

Continuing survey of the United States to the present.

HIST 2311. World History to 1500. 3 Hours.

A survey of world history from the dawn of civilization in Mesopotamia, China, India, Egypt, and Mesoamerica through the Middle Ages in Europe and Asia. The Middle Ages, Renaissance, and Reformation, as well as the rise of nation states and the commercial economy are stressed as background to modern history. Recommended as a basic history course for all liberal arts majors.

HIST 2312. World History since 1500. 3 Hours.

A survey of world history since sixteenth century. Special attention is given to European expansion overseas, imperialism and colonization, the Industrial Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, nineteenth century nationalism and democracy, and the colonial rebellions in Africa, Latin America, and Asia. Such 20th century problems as World War I, World War II, the Cold War, and the collapse of the Soviet Union are also considered. Recommended as the second half of a basic history course for all liberal arts majors.

HIST 3075. Independent Study. 1-3 Hours.

A course designed especially for advanced students in history with schedule problems who are capable of independent study. This course may be taken for Academic Distinction Credit. See Academic Distinction Program in this catalog.

HIST 3300. The Historian's Craft. 3 Hours.

Students learn the fundamental architecture and tools of the discipline, including the analysis, interpretation, and contextualization of evidence. Students conduct research in primary and secondary sources, and apply historical writing skills.
Prerequisite: Declaration of major or minor in History.

HIST 3301. Applied Public History. 3 Hours.

Students apply the theories and best practices of public history to develop an original exhibit or event for the general public. The course promotes the collaborative study and practice of history and may be offered with Academic Community Engagement distinction.
Prerequisite: HIST 3388.

HIST 3310. Mesoamerican History. 3 Hours.

Students examine the history of Mesoamerica, a broad geographic area comprised of peoples, including the Maya, Zapotec, and Aztec. Students analyze how the peoples of this region accomplished their achievements in architecture, calendrics, astronomy, art, the sciences, and literature.

HIST 3311. African Civilizations to 1800. 3 Hours.

Students examine the history of Africa between 16,000 BC and 1800 AD. Topics may include the historical roots of Africa?s cultural diversity; evolutions in agriculture and technology; trade and commerce; the Indian Ocean Slave Trade; and the development of social, economic, and political institutions.

HIST 3312. History of East Africa. 3 Hours.

Students examine East Africa?s rich and varied past, from the earliest times to the present. Major themes may include the cultural diversity of the region, the growth of complex societies, the slave trade, East Africa?s place in the wider setting of the Indian Ocean World, colonial conquest and African responses, the regaining of African political independence, and challenges facing modern independent states.

HIST 3317. War & Revolution in China. 3 Hours.

Students examine the profound changes that China has undergone from the early twentieth century until the present day, focusing on the themes of war and revolution. Topics to be analyzed may include the collapse of the old dynastic system, the Japanese invasion of China, the Chinese Civil War, the Cultural Revolution, and protest movements in the late twentieth century.

HIST 3318. Colonial Southeast Asia. 3 Hours.

Students examine European, U.S., and Japanese empire-building in Southeast Asia from the seventeenth century until the mid-twentieth century. Topics may include European maritime empires in the South Pacific, colonial rivalries in Southeast Asia during the nineteenth century, the U.S. Philippines, and anti-colonial movements.

HIST 3322. Black Civil Rights Movement. 3 Hours.

This course examines the black civil rights struggle in the United States from the late 19th century to the present. Topics examined include the black response to Jim Crow laws, the emergence of national civil rights organizations as well as local activism, and historical events that have served as catalysts for change in civil rights legislation.

HIST 3323. History Of American Slavery. 3 Hours.

This course will provide foundational knowledge for students studying American history prior to the twentieth century. Students will engage in a comprehensive examination of slavery as an integral part of America's social, cultural, and economic development as a country and also as a catalyst to the establishment of antislavery and abolitionist movements.

HIST 3325. Era Of Amer Revoltn 1763-1789. 3 Hours.

An intensive study of the issues of conflict between English continental colonies and British imperial policy which led to the movement for independence. Consideration is also given to internal colonial conflicts and attempts to solve the federal problem culminating in the formation of the Constitution.

HIST 3326. The History Of The West. 3 Hours.

A study of the settlement and development of the Trans-Mississippi West and its influence upon national and international affairs.

HIST 3327. Topics in the History of Gender and Sexuality. 3 Hours.

The topic will vary by semester, each offering of the course likely emphasizing how the understanding of gender and sexuality differs historically according to factors such as race, class, ethnicity, religion and/or sexual orientation.

HIST 3328. Mod France: From Rev To Presnt. 3 Hours.

This course examines the history of France from 1789 ? the present. The military, political, and diplomatic history of France in this era are the main focus of the course.

HIST 3329. Contemporary Latin America. 3 Hours.

The development of the South American Republics from their independence to the present. Social, economic, and political development will be closely examined.

HIST 3330. Modern China And Japan. 3 Hours.

This course will focus on the history of modern China and Japan from the last Chinese dynasties to the present, with emphasis on the resilience and weaknesses of China?s imperial system; the challenges posed to China?s traditions by Western economic and cultural penetration; China?s twentieth century experiments in forms of government and in direction of its cultural development; and the political, economic, social, and intellectual history of Japan from the beginning of the Meiji period (1868) to the present.

HIST 3332. Modern Asian History. 3 Hours.

A study of Asian history since the fourteenth century. The emphasis is on the modernization of Asia and the influence of colonization, nationalism, and industrialization on present-day Asia.

HIST 3333. Religion In World History. 3 Hours.

This course will examine the origins, development, and modern manifestations of the major living world religions. It will discuss the peoples, times and places of the founders of each tradition, the classical literature within each tradition and the canonization of these sacred writings, and the significant sects and schisms within the religions that have influenced major events in world history.

HIST 3334. Renaissance Europe. 3 Hours.

This course examines the intellectual, political, social and cultural history of Europe from the 14th to 16th centuries, a period that saw, starting in Italy, a ?rebirth? of the values and culture of Classical Greco-Roman civilization. The primary focus will be on intellectual and artistic movements, and the profound implications these had for European values, worldview, politics, and art.

HIST 3335. Germany & Cen Europe Sn 1815. 3 Hours.

A study of German and Central European history, emphasizing the principal political, economic and social trends since the Congress of Vienna.

HIST 3336. Middle East Since 1700. 3 Hours.

This course will study the political, social, economic, and cultural development of the Middle East since the seventeenth century. The course will study such topics as the decline of traditional empires; the encroachment of Europe; the Eastern Question; the development of nationalism among the Turks, Arabs, and Iranians; Islam and modern ideologies; and the Middle East in the twentieth century.

HIST 3337. The Bible and Reform in Europe. 3 Hours.

This course examines the religious, social and cultural history of Europe from the 16th into the 17th centuries, a period that saw the fracturing of a unified Christendom. The primary focus will be on religious and theological changes and the profound implications these had for European politics, social norms, cultural values, and economic endeavors.

HIST 3338. Eco His: Ind Rev To Present. 3 Hours.

This course examines the Industrial Revolution as it came into being in Britain in the nineteenth century and as leadership passed to the United States in the twentieth. Topics discussed include the relationship between agriculture and industry, the rise of the corporation, the development of the international monetary system, and systems of trade.

HIST 3339. French Revol & Napoleonic Wars. 3 Hours.

This course examines the history of France during the French Revolution Napoleonic Era, 1789-1815. The course is focused primarily on the military and political history of the era, with a detailed examination of the battles and campaigns of the Napoleonic Wars.

HIST 3340. Mexican Americans Since 1848. 3 Hours.

This course considers the history of Mexican-Americans in what is now the United States Southwest. The course begins with the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the war between the United States and Mexico and created a Mexican-American minority within the U.S. It covers such themes as the indigenous background of this population, the Chicana/o perception of the Southwest as a homeland, and the effect of that perception on the history of this ethnic group.

HIST 3342. History of Seapower. 3 Hours.

In this course students examine naval warfare and maritime trade from the mid-seventeenth through the twentieth centuries. The emergence of modern state-based navies, their growing importance in warfare, the role of politics and administration in waging naval war, maritime cultures and societies, privatized war at sea, and major naval campaigns of the era are discussed. The complexities of maritime trade and communication, which the naval forces are committed toward defending or attacking, is also a topic of discussion.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

HIST 3350. Early Christianities. 3 Hours.

This course is an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural examination of central themes in the history of early Christianities beginning with the transformation of the Jesus Movement into a separate Christian religion and concluding with the divisions made permanent by the Fourth Crusade.

HIST 3351. Japan: The Age of the Samurai. 3 Hours.

Students in this course study medieval and early modern Japanese history. Beginning with the emergence of warrior bands, students examine how military men established regimes, managed vendettas, and mobilized resources. Topics to be analyzed include warrior ideology, samurai rule, and the dissolution of the samurai caste.

HIST 3355. Urban and Suburban History. 3 Hours.

This course examines the growth and development of cities and suburbs in the U.S., paying particular attention to public policy, race, class, ethnic enclaves, and connections between American and global cities. Special emphasis will be placed on major metropolitan areas, such as Houston, Texas. Research into the city and its surrounding suburbs and locales will be conducted. Credit 3 .

HIST 3357. World War I (1914-1918). 3 Hours.

In this course students examine World War I from its European origins to its emergence as a global conflict. The formation of political and military alliances, emerging role of the state, role of industrial economies in waging war, homefront cultures and societies, major land campaigns of the Eastern and Western Fronts, and war at sea are discussed. The Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, which emerged out of the war, and the complexity of the peacemaking process is also a topic of discussion.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

HIST 3358. Silk Roads to Atlantic World. 3 Hours.

This course is an interdisciplinary investigation of the contexts, impulses, and implications of long-distance interplay among cultures in both pre-modern and modern times. Students will apply scholarly models of cross-cultural interactions using three specific case studies: the ancient Silk Roads, the trans-Eurasian Mongol Empire, and the trans- Atlantic Columbian Exchange.

HIST 3359. Germany at War and Peace. 3 Hours.

In this course students examine the history of militarism and warfare in Germany, from the rise of the Prussian state in the 18th century through the present. The relationship between warfare and the development of German politics, society, and culture are discussed. Major historical figures include Frederick the Great, Clausewitz, Otto von Bismarck, and Adolf Hitler. How contemporary, pacifist German politics emerged out of two difficult centuries of warfare is examined.
Prerequisite: Junior Standing.

HIST 3361. The U. S. And The Vietnam War. 3 Hours.

The course will focus on the United States involvement in Southeast Asia from 1945 to 1975. In particular, it will deal with the issues of nationalism and communism in Southeast Asia, the first Indochina war between the French and Vietnamese, the United States military effort in Indochina from 1965 to 1975, and the postwar political, economic, and social problems in the region. The course will also deal with the impact of the Vietnam War on American culture and foreign policy.

HIST 3362. The Middle East, 500 - 1700. 3 Hours.

This course will study the political, social, economic, and cultural development of the Middle East from the eve of the rise of Islam through the seventeenth century. The course will address such general topics as the following: the Middle East before Islam; the Rise of Islam; the faith and practices of Islam; the Rightly-Guided Caliphs; Shiiah and Sunni Islam; the Umayyad and Abbasid Caliphates; the Crusades and Islam; Islam and the Steppe Empires; the rise and apogee of the Ottoman Empire; and Islam?s initial response to the encroachment of the west.

HIST 3363. Britain To 1714. 3 Hours.

This course traces the development of the British peoples from prehistoric times to the end of the Stuart dynasty. While English dominance is a theme, the course also covers the peoples of Wales, Scotland and Ireland.

HIST 3364. Modern Britain 1714-Present. 3 Hours.

A continuation of HIS363, emphasizing the effects of industrial change, the enmity of France in foreign affairs, Great Britain?s renewed expansion overseas following the American Revolution, movements favoring social and economic reform, and political trends to the present.

HIST 3365. Russian History. 3 Hours.

Explores the roots of Russia (Kiev, Christianity, the Mongol occupation, Ivan the Terrible, the Times of Troubles), then surveys Russian history from Peter the Great to the present.

HIST 3366. Modern European Military Hist. 3 Hours.

This course examines European military history and its links to political, social, and cultural changes from 1600 to the present day. While emphasis is placed on major wars in Europe, attention is also given to European military conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, especially the wars of decolonization.

HIST 3367. Eur-Age Absoltsm/Rev:1648-1815. 3 Hours.

Europe in the Age of Absolutism and Revolution. A study of significant issues in European history from 1648 to 1815. The course focuses on developments in political theory, natural science and economics as well as the tensions in the old social order which helped instigate the French Revolution.

HIST 3368. European History 1815 1914. 3 Hours.

The history of the principal European powers from the Congress of Vienna to World War I.

HIST 3369. The World In The 20Th Century. 3 Hours.

A study of global politics and diplomacy since World War I.

HIST 3370. Ancient History. 3 Hours.

The history of the civilizations of the Ancient Near East, Greece, and Rome with special emphasis upon their contribution to the cultural heritage of the western world.

HIST 3371. Medieval History. 3 Hours.

A study of the political, economic, social, intellectual, and religious institutions and developments in Europe from the collapse of the Roman Empire in the fifth century to the Renaissance.

HIST 3372. Historiography. 3 Hours.

Special emphasis is devoted to a survey of historical interpretations and to the development of research skills.

HIST 3373. Topc In Hist Of Sci & Medicine. 3 Hours.

This course will examine selected topics in the history of science and medicine. Emphasis will be placed on the development of scientific knowledge across the centuries. Because the geographic regions, time frame, and topics will vary from semester to semester, with departmental approval, This course may be repeated for credit.

HIST 3374. US Religious History to 1865. 3 Hours.

Students examine the history of US religious ideas, practices, and traditions between European first contact and the Civil War. Content may include indigenous religions, colonialism, Puritanism, dissent, the constitutional laws on religious liberty, new religious movements, Catholicism, and the Civil War. Special attention will be given to diverse and competing religious expressions.

HIST 3375. US Religious History From 1865. 3 Hours.

Students examine the history of US religious ideas, practices, and traditions between the end of the Civil War and the present. Content may include the growth of secularism, immigration, modernism and fundamentalism, the religious right, and religion during the world wars and civil rights movement. Special attention will be given to diverse and competing religious expressions.

HIST 3376. Early America To 1783. 3 Hours.

An examination of early American history from the beginnings of European colonization through the American Revolution and the War for American Independence.

HIST 3377. America In Midpassge 1783-1877. 3 Hours.

The course examines United States history from 1783 to 1877 and studies the origins of the U.S. Constitution, the early republic and rise of the two party-system, the nature of Jeffersonian and Jacksonian democracy, the sectional crisis and the Civil War, and the era of Reconstruction.

HIST 3378. Emergence Mod Amerca 1877-1945. 3 Hours.

This course will examine United States history from 1877 to 1945 and will include discussions of the Industrial Revolution, the Populist and Progressive movements, World War I, the era of the 1920s, the Great Depression and New Deal, and World War II.

HIST 3379. Recent America, 1945 To Presnt. 3 Hours.

This course will examine United States history from the end of World War II to the present and will include discussions of the Cold War; the civil rights and environmental movements; the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and the war on global terrorism; the public policy debates surrounding the role of the federal government in the modern economy; and the evolution of American popular culture.

HIST 3380. The American Civil War. 3 Hours.

This course examines the sectional conflicts of the 1850s, the Civil War and Reconstruction. The course focuses on the military, political, social and diplomatic history of the era.

HIST 3381. British Empire & Commonwealth. 3 Hours.

The study of the British Empire and Commonwealth to the present time. Special emphasis is given to the rise of colonial and dominion nationalism, the imperial conferences, and the unfolding of the British Commonwealth of Nations.

HIST 3382. Immigration Ethnicity Amer His. 3 Hours.

A study of ethnic group relations, nativism, and racism in the historical development of American civilization, with special emphasis on the patterns of assimilation and non-assimilation of particular ethnic groups.

HIST 3383. American Women's History. 3 Hours.

An examination of American women?s history, focusing on everyday concerns (including work, marriage, family, sexuality, reproduction, and education) and on the social forces which have aided or blocked change in women?s roles in American society. Particular attention is paid to differences in race, class, and ethnicity.

HIST 3384. Fam & Childhd in Atlantic Wrld. 3 Hours.

This course explores how encounters among Indians, Africans, and Europeans during the early modern period transformed the structure, relationships, and experiences of families and children. Special emphasis is given to primary historical research and the effect of cross-cultural developments on shaping notions of race, gender, and sexuality in the Atlantic World.

HIST 3385. American Diplomatic History. 3 Hours.

A study of selected topics in American Diplomatic History.

HIST 3386. Military & War In America. 3 Hours.

This course is an intensive study of the American military experience from the Colonial period to the present. The course focuses on the military, political and diplomatic history of the great conflicts of the United States.

HIST 3387. World War II. 3 Hours.

A comprehensive study of the inter-war and World War II era from 1919 - 1945, emphasizing the events leading to the war in Europe, the rise of Nazi Germany, the major battles and campaigns in the European theatre, and the aftermath of the war. The course also examines the rise of the Japanese Empire, the events leading to the outbreak of war in Asia and the Pacific, and the major battles and campaigns of the Pacific war through the defeat of Japan.

HIST 3388. Public History. 3 Hours.

This course will explore topics in the field of Public History, including architectural preservation and restoration, museum studies and oral history. The topics will vary from semester to semester, but each semester students will receive instruction on the techniques of analyzing oral sources, primary textual materials and historical artifacts of various types, including architectural dwellings, tools, and local and family records.

HIST 3389. Africa - Past & Present. 3 Hours.

An examination of the problems, potentials, and upheavals of Modern Africa. Emphasis is on such topics as the impact of the slave trade on African society, racial conflicts, apartheid, the emergence of African nationalism, the end of white colonial rule, and the difficulties of achieving economic and political stability in contemporary Africa.

HIST 3390. Conceptualizing History Edu. 3 Hours.

This capstone course will examine conceptualization techniques in Texas, U.S., and World History. The course is designed to enable History students to organize a vast amount of material into a logical framework that will help them to better understand the interactions of individuals, communities, nations, and cultures across time and place. Special emphasis will be placed on subject areas included in the Texas Examination for Educator Standards.

HIST 3391. Colonial Latin America. 3 Hours.

This course is designed to trace the conquest and development of the colonial institutions of Spain and Portugal in the Americas, including the Spanish borderlands as the center of Spanish colonial activity and power in the Americas.

HIST 3392. American Indian History. 3 Hours.

This course examines the history of Native Americans in the United States. Although the emphasis is historical, the course does include ethnographic material.

HIST 3393. African-American History. 3 Hours.

A comprehensive course in the African American experience which explores the various forces shaping race relations in the United States.

HIST 3394. America in the 1960s. 3 Hours.

This course will explore the decade of the 1960s in the United States, paying particular attention to the social, cultural, and political shifts that occurred during these years. Students will develop a nuanced understanding of this pivotal decade in American history and will be able to engage in contemporary debates about its multiple meanings.

HIST 3395. American Environmental History. 3 Hours.

This course focuses on how nature has affected the course of American history, particularly in regards to the role of natural resources, the growth of the economy, responses to environmental crises and challenges, and transformations in the environment resulting from centuries of use.

HIST 3396. The American South. 3 Hours.

This course examines the dynamics and expansive nature of the American South. Key topics include: examining the peoples and varied regions of the South, its economic and political development, literature, race and religion.

HIST 3397. Modern Mexico. 3 Hours.

This course examines the national history of Mexico from the era of independence (c.1810) to the present. It explores the challenges that the Mexican people faced after gaining independence, their resilience during years of political and economic change, and the rich culture that has emerged in the wake of those struggles. Attention is also given to the US-Mexican border as a site of complex cultural interaction.

HIST 3398. Texas And The Southwest. 3 Hours.

As a study of the Greater Southwest, This course examines Spanish expansion and the Spanish-French rivalry in the lower Mississippi region and Texas. Special emphasis is given to geographic factors and cultural developments.

HIST 3399. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.

This course examines various specialized topics in history not normally covered in detail by other upper-level courses.

HIST 4399. History Senior Seminar. 3 Hours.

Students will explore and evaluate specific topics in historical research. They will also be required to write an extensive research paper on the topic using primary and secondary sources.
Prerequisite: Senior standing in history or departmental approval.