Course Descriptions

2322. Fundamentals of Modern American History, 1877 to Present (2302)
3 hours
An examination of world civilizations with emphasis upon the United
States, from the Age of Exploration to the present.

3301. World History to 1648 3 hours
A survey of human experience to the seventeenth century with emphasis
upon the growth of Western institutions and concepts.

3319. The Sixties: The Critical Decade 3 hours
A study of the decade which significantly altered the social fabric of the
United States, in order to view the youth rebellion as more than stereotype
and to understand the social, economic, and political roots and consequences of widespread dissension.

3322. History of Texas 3 hours
A study of the political, economic, and social growth of Texas from the
Spanish origin to the present.

3331. History of England 3 hours
The history of England from the Roman invasions through the Glorious
Revolution of 1688, with special emphasis on the growth of the English
Constitution.

3332. History of the British Empire 3 hours
The history of Britain and the British Empire from the Glorious Revolution
to the present Commonwealth of Nations.

3335. Europe: Renaissance through Napoleon 3 hours
This course will investigate the evolution of Europe from the Italian
Renaissance through the Napoleonic Wars.

3336. Europe: Congress of Vienna to the Present 3 hours
This course will investigate the evolution of Europe from Napoleon’s
defeat.

3344. Development of British and American Democracy (POL 3344)

3 hours
This course is an intensive study of the development of democratic
institutions in the two best-known examples of working democracies. The
course will compare the parliamentary and presidential governmental
systems and emphasize the development of representative government,
constitutional theory, growth of the common law, and expansion of
suffrage.

3345. Colonial and Revolutionary America 3 hours
This course will examine the history of North American colonies that in
1788 became the United States of America. On a comparative basis, we
will also look at Spanish, French, and British Caribbean colonial
experience. Course readings and class time will give special attention to the genre of cultural history, and to the topics of family and gender, slavery, and revolution. Three themes will be important to our study: 1) cultural
encounters, 2) colonialism and empire and, 3) nationalism and national
identity.

3346. From Union to Disunion: The United States Between 1787-1865

3 hours
This course will be divided into two parts. Part One will address the
creation of government of the United States after the adoption of the
Constitution. Part Two will discuss the American Civil War as a defining
moment in American history.

3347. Industrialization and Imperialism in Post-Civil War America: 1865-1920 3 hours
The industrial age of the late 19th century brought considerable changes to
American culture and society. In this course, students will study the major
events, issues, organizations, and personalities that emerged during this
period of American history.

3348. The United States as a World Power: 1920 – Present 3 hours
This course provides an in-depth look at recent United States history from
the end of the First World War through the Clinton years, concentrating on
the major themes and events of the twentieth century, when the United
States became the world’s dominant economic and military power. The
impact of this global reach on the peoples of the United States is the major
concern of the course.

3352. Internship 3 hours
Prerequisite: Junior or senior standing and departmental approval
Provides the student with experience in a supervised environment to explore interests in archival research, historical preservation, public and business history, and museum or academic library science, and the opportunity to analyze that experience.

3361. Women in the Western World Since 1500 (WST 3361) 3 hours
This course will survey the main themes in women's history since 1500,
concentrating on the experiences of European and American women of all
social classes. Work, sexuality, family, gender, and politics will be
examined within three chronological periods: the Early Modern World, the
Liberal and Industrial West, and the twentieth century.

3362. Women and Reform (WST 3362) 3 hours
This course will explore the participation of women in reform movements,
concentrating on individual and collective leadership of women in
individual rights, legal entitlement, suffrage, social issues (such as
temperance), reproduction, and health care.

3380. Workshop in Historical Methods 3 hours
Designed as a workshop in historical methods for history majors, this course will guide students through the research process. Students will gain
knowledge in and apply the Turabian documentation style (Chicago Manual
Style) and learn the uses of informational technology in history. The use of
oral history and its methods will be explored.

4310. The Great Depression: History through Writings, Film, and Literature 3 hours
This course will focus on the changes in the social fabric, politics, and
economy of the United States during the years preceding and following the
Great Depression through historical writings, film, and literature.

4311. World War II 3 hours
A history of the origins, events, and outcomes of World War II through
primary documents, texts, internet research, movies, discussion, and
lectures. Topics include the Versailles Treaty, the international relations of
the 1920’s, the Weimar government and the Nazi takeover, the major
battles, the winning of the war, and the emergence of the Cold War.

4321. The American West 3 hours
A study of the United States west from the Mississippi River to the Pacific
Ocean, focusing upon the entry of the first Europeans, the Indian tribes, the
Mountain Men, the Cattleman's Frontier, the Mining Frontier, and the Sod
House Frontier and the influence of the region on the national character.

4322. Foreign Policy of the United States (POL 4322) 3 hours
A study of the diplomatic relations of the United States from its pre-
Revolutionary foundations to its present international posture.

4336. Russia and the Commonwealth (POL 4336) 3 hours
An analysis of the rise and fall of the Soviet state and party system and the
contributing factors to institutional and economic alignments.

4340. Latin America 3 hours
A study of Latin America from Colonial beginnings to the present with
particular attention to economic, social, and political developments and
cultural achievements.

4343. History of Mexico 3 hours
A study of Mexico from ancient civilizations to the present, stressing the
political, economic, and social development of the Republic.

4351. International Relations (POL 4351) 3 hours
The study of the political relations of the world of states with particular
attention being given to recent problems of international politics.

4355. History and Politics of the Middle East (POL 4355) 3 hours
A historical and political approach to the study of the Middle East from the
Islamic era to the contemporary period.

4362. History of the Old South 3 hours
This course examines the history of the Old South from 1600 to beginning
of the Civil War, but focusing on the period from 1800 to 1861. The
lectures and readings cover a variety of topics, including myths and facts
about southern society and culture, slavery and the strengthening of
southern distinctiveness, and political events that eventually led to the
creation of a separate (short-lived) southern nation in 1861.

4363. Race and Gender in American History 3 hours
This course is intended to introduce students to recent historical work on
race, class, and gender in the context of United States history. Central to
this course is the understanding that these “social categories” are the
products of history, not stable, unchanging “facts.” This makes studying
their historical development particularly important to understanding their
current manifestation. Equally important is the recognition that
membership in these categories has historically shaped the extent to which
individuals.

4366. Religious History of Scotland (REL 4366) 3 hours
A study of the religious history of Scotland. This course uses historical sites
in Scotland as a laboratory for study.

4367. Religious History of Ireland (REL 4367) 3 hours
A study of the religious history of Ireland. This course uses historical sites
in Ireland as a laboratory for study.

4371. United States-Spanish Borderlands 3 hours
A survey of the Spanish and Anglo encounter with the indigenous groups of
the American Southwest and Northern Mexico during the Colonial period
and the subsequent melding of cultures to the present. Topics include Native American groups, Spanish and Anglo incursions, and cultural assimilation and resistance, as well as twentieth century ethnic movements in the region.

4372. History of the New South 3 hours
This course will focus on the changes in the social fabric, politics, and
economy of the American South and Southwest (The Sunbelt) since the
Civil War with an emphasis on civil rights, labor issues, rural-urban
transition, agriculture and manufacturing, defense industry, and ethnic
groups.

4380. Historiography and Senior Research 3 hours
Designed as a capstone for history majors, the course explores major trends in historiography, tracing the major interpretations from the ancient to the modern world. The current focus on micro over macro history, the attack of postmodernism on historical research, and the struggles to incorporate those on the margins into the story of man will be examined. The student also will research, write and edit a senior thesis.