BSU Catalog Home | History Program | All-University Courses and Descriptions

History (HST)

College Program Codes: 2-27. Check with department for semester when these courses are offered. Read each course description for prerequisites.

1115 UNITED STATES HISTORY II, SINCE 1877 (3 credits) A survey of United States history since Reconstruction, including social, economic, and cultural changes of the Gilded Age; Populism and Progressivism; internationalism and imperialism; 1920s Normalcy; 1929 Crash and 1930s Depression; New Deal; Cold War; conservative renaissance; Fair Deal; New Frontier and Great Society; and contemporary society and conditions. Includes discussions of the increasingly diverse make up of the American population (male and female) and emphasizes the development of analytical skills focusing on reading, oral presentation, and writing. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 7

1304 WORLD HISTORY I, PREHISTORY-1500 (3 credits) A global and cross-cultural study of the early period of world history, including ancient civilizations and empires, classical China, India, Greece, and Rome, interaction of civilizations, influence of Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam as world religions, the Arab world and culture, Medieval Europe, African and American pre-contact cultures and civilizations. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 8

1305 WORLD HISTORY II, 1500-PRESENT (3 credits) A global and cross-cultural study of the modern period of world history, including the major cultural/continental areas which existed in 1500, the influence of European expansionism and colonialism, interaction of nations and peoples, reform and change in religious patterns, the French Revolution and Napoleon, the development and spread of the Industrial Revolution, Marxism and Communism, global rearrangements of the twentieth century, decline of European colonialism, and contemporary conditions. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 8

2208 GREECE AND ROME, 1500 BCE-500 CE (3 credits) Survey of Ancient Greek and Roman civilization to the Fifth Century CE. Emphasizes political, intellectual, and cultural issues. (Might not be offered every year)

2218 MEDIEVAL EUROPE (3 credits) Survey of political and intellectual history in Europe from the collapse of Roman power in Western Europe to the fifteenth century. Topics include the rise and growth of the Christian Church and the Papal Monarchy; the Byzantine Empire; the Frankish Kingdom; the Investiture Contest; the Crusades; the twelfth-century Renaissance; the emergence of secular, regional monarchies; representative institutions; and the panoramic crises. (Might not be offered every year)

2228 RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION EUROPE (3 credits) Survey of European history from ca. 1400 to 1648 with emphasis on the rise of humanist culture; the growth of stronger "national" governments in England, France, Spain, and Italy; the disintegration of Christian unity and the emergence of rival Christian churches; the emergence of the mercantile, pre-capitalist economic system, and the intensification of conflict made possible by greater resources and religious rivalries. (Might not be offered every year)

2500 CANADA (3 credits) An exploration of the development of the Canadian peoples and nation, studying the social, political, economic, and environmental history of Canada from colonial times to the present. Liberal Education Category 8

2510 MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (3 credits) A study of Anglo-Saxon monarchy, the Norman conquest of 1066, the development of feudalism and common law, evolution of the "Freedom of the Church," and the growth and development of Parliament. (Might not be offered every year)

2520 TUDOR AND REVOLUTIONARY ENGLAND, 1485-1714 (3 credits) A study of Tudor royal administration, the development of the national Church of England, Parliament and Tudor absolutism, seventeenth century revolution, and England as a great European power. Liberal Education Category 5 (Might not be offered every year)

2530 VICTORIAN ENGLAND, 1815-1914 (3 credits) Landed and industrial society, franchise reform, modern parties and Parliamentary politics, social reform, great power rivalries. (Might not be offered every year)

2540 TWENTIETH CENTURY BRITAIN (3 credits) A study of the major developments in Great Britain since 1900, including politics and the growth of the Liberal and Labour parties, evolution of the national economy, imperialism and the empire, influence of the wars of 1914 and 1939, decline of the aristocracy, breakup of the empire, national institutions and culture. (Might not be offered every year)

2550 CULTURE OF ENGLAND (3 credits) An introductory survey of the primary cultural dimensions and patterns characteristic of England, including art and architecture, literature and drama, music, religion, social classes, parliamentary democracy and the monarchy, and landscape. (Might not be offered every year)

2560 GERMANY BEFORE HITLER (3 credits) Wars of unification, Bismarckian power politics, William II and Weltpolitik, Germany and the Great War, and the rise and fall of democracy during the 1920s and 1930s. Liberal Education Category 5 (Might not be offered every year)

2570 HITLER'S GERMANY (3 credits) Origin, nature, and history of the development of the Third Reich, including the revolutionary aspects of Hitler's conquest and reorganization of Germany, and his bid for domination of Europe. (Might not be offered every year)

2580 RUSSIA (3 credits) Survey of the development of the Russian peoples and nation, from the principality of Kiev through the rise and dominance of Muscovy, to the revolution of 1917 and the establishment of the Soviet Union, the collapse of the Soviet Communist federation, to the present, with stress upon political, dynastic, economic, social, and cultural patterns. Liberal Education Category 8

2600 TOPICS IN HISTORY (1-4 credits) Study of a specific historical topic or development, person, or time period, with the specific title being announced in each semester's class schedule.

2610 MINNESOTA HISTORY (3 credits) An introductory survey of the Minnesota area over time--its environments, its people, and its cultures. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 7

2617 FILM AND AMERICAN HISTORY (3 credits) This course focuses primarily on how historical events and eras are interpreted and reflected in popular films. Students learn how to watch a film critically and how to decipher historical and cultural codes used by film makers. Students also analyze narrative styles, comparing and contrasting written narrative as well as its development in film. (Might not be offered every year)

2620 U.S. ETHNIC AND MINORITY HISTORY (3 credits) A survey exploring the historical development of cultural diversity in the United States. (Might not be offered every year)

2630 RELIGION IN AMERICA (3 credits) Consideration of religion as a historical institution in the United States, from the colonial period to the present day, including patterns of establishment, revivalism, responses to specific historical developments, influence of science, rise of a national "civil religion," changes in denominational structures and theology, secular accommodationism, and cycles of denominational growth and change. Liberal Education Categories 7 & 9 (Might not be offered every year)

2640 U.S. DIPLOMATIC HISTORY (3 credits) Consideration of the development of United States diplomacy and foreign policy, from the early new nation to the present, including initial national recognition, involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, Manifest Destiny and the Monroe Doctrine, isolationism, involvement in international wars, imperialism, relations with the developing world, the Cold War, and contemporary patterns. (Might not be offered every year)

2650 WITCHCRAFT AND MAGIC IN EARLY AMERICA (3 credits) This course focuses on the role of witchcraft and magic in early America. It examines the religious and social context of witch-hunting in Europe and America in the early modem era with a close look at the primary sources available to historians seeking to understand this phenomenon in American history. Part of the semester explores the Essex County outbreak, more popularly known as the Salem witch trials. It then surveys what happened to the world of witches and magic in the Age of Enlightenment and the Romantic Era of the nineteenth century. (Might not be offered every year)

2660 WOMEN AND HISTORY (3 credits) Introductory survey of the role of women in history, approached thematically and topically. Based on the feminist critique of history, a cross-cultural approach emphasizes a comparative critique and evaluation of women in various historical contexts. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 8

2667 MEN AND WOMEN: GENDER IN AMERICA (3 credits) This course seeks a close-up view of American culture from the colonial era to the modem era through the stories of individuals. In order to better understand these stories, the class first develops an interpretive framework using gender as the central theme. All individuals are shaped by the conventions of gender in any given time period. Those expectations change over time, and students will explore those changes and how individuals respond to them. Individuals are looked at in a variety of historical settings, including urban areas, the frontier, and a variety of middle landscapes. (Might not be offered every year)

2670 WAR AND HISTORY (3 credits) A study of the causes and results of war as a historical institution, with focus upon specific wars, strategy and tactics, and military technology. (Might not be offered every year)

2680 PEACE AND HISTORY (3 credits) A study of the role the concept of peace plays in the evolution of peoples, cultures, and societies, with an emphasis on the historical factors that shaped pacifism and defined alternatives to aggression, considered within broader political, social, economic, cultural, and religious frameworks. Specific topics include the idea and philosophy of peace, social activism, international peace movements, and conflict resolution. (Might not be offered every year)

2690 INDIANS OF NORTH AMERICA (3 credits) A survey of North American indigenous people and their descendants in what are now Canada, Mexico, and the United States. Issues to be discussed include stories and theories of ancient North American origins, the variety of Indian cultures, changes in recent centuries, and the historical roots of current political and social situations. (Might not be offered every year)

2700 WORLD RELIGIONS (3 credits) A survey of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, from their historical beginnings to the present. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 8 (Might not be offered every year)

2772 THE CRAFT OF THE HISTORIAN (3 credits) The methods of history and how historians past and present have practiced their craft. Library and archival research, use of computer-based information, interdisciplinary approaches, textual analysis, and quantitative methods.

2800 REACTING TO THE PAST (3 credits) Consists of elaborate games, set in the past, in which students are assigned “roles” with “victory objectives” informed by classic texts in the history of ideas. Class sessions are run entirely by students; instructors advise and guide students and grade their oral and written work. Liberal Education Categories 9 and 11

2810 INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HISTORY (3 credits) Introduction to several aspects of public history, including archival management, site surveys, oral history, document editing, inventory, and web sites. Includes practical hands-on experiences at area public history sites. (Might not be offered every year)

2925 PEOPLE AND THE ENVIRONMENT: THE ENVIRONMENT AND HISTORY (3 credits) An examination of past interactions between human society and the natural world in what is now the United States. Issues to be discussed in the course include Native American resource management; the ecological effects of the arrival of Europeans, Africans, and Asians in North America; resource exploitation in the industrial era; the preservationist and conservationist movements; and the historical roots of current environmental problems. Liberal Education Category 10

3107 COLONIAL AMERICA, 1492-1763 (3 credits) Comparative study of the American colonial empires created by Spain, Portugal, France, England, and the Netherlands in the Western Hemisphere, beginning with the pre-contact conditions prior to 1492 and concluding with the Great War for Empire in 1763. (Might not be offered every year)

3117 AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY ERA, 1763-1800 (3 credits) Consideration of the redefinition of the British Empire following the Great War for Empire in 1763, the rise and development of colonial rebel opposition, evolution of political philosophy and ideology culminating in the 1776 Declaration of Independence, the war for independence, the new nation under the Articles of Confederation, the writing and ratification of the new 1787 Constitution, and the contribution of the Federalists during the 1790s. (Might not be offered every year)

3127 AGE OF JEFFERSON AND JACKSON, 1800-1844 (3 credits) Consideration of the Revolution of 1800 and the dominance of the Jeffersonian Republicans, the demise of the Federalists, development of the role of the national government, economic growth, influence of the larger Napoleonic Wars in the War of 1812, breakup of Republican consensus, rise of Jacksonian Democracy, symbolism of Andrew Jackson, and social and cultural experimentation. (Might not be offered every year)

3128 TESTING DEMOCRACY: REFORM IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY AMERICA (3 credits) Nineteenth-century Americans repeatedly examined and interpreted the ideals of the Revolution. Periodically, as grass roots movements tried to expand the benefits that founding fathers originally guaranteed for elite white males, powerful reform movements arose that challenged established authorities, compelling them to either accommodate popular demands or coerce a restoration of the status quo. This course investigates the resulting clashes that characterized reform efforts throughout the century, including those centered on anti-slavery, women's suffrage, temperance, labor, and a host of other causes. (Might not be offered every year)

3137 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION, 1844-1877 (3 credits) Consideration of the development of national sectionalism beginning in the 1840s, the influence of Manifest Destiny and frontier expansionism, the growth of southern nationalism, the focus issues of states' rights and slavery, southern secession and establishment of the Confederate States of America, military and economic dimensions of the war, and restoration of the Union or reconstruction of the south. (Might not be offered every year)

3147 REFORM, REACTION AND INTERNATIONALISM, 1877-1929 (3 credits) Consideration of the larger "Gilded Age" including the post-Civil War economic expansion as associated with the Robber Barons and laissez-faire capitalism, cultural excesses, the new immigration and its relationship to industrialization and urbanization, larger reform pattern associated with Populism and Progressivism, internationalism and imperialism of the 1898 Spanish-American War, the development of the Great War of 1914, and social and cultural reactions of the 1920s. (Might not be offered every year)

3157 FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT ERA, 1929-1945 (3 credits) The nature and influence of the 1929 economic crash and the social dislocation of the 1930s, attempts of the Hoover administration to correct these conditions, the New Deal reform and recovery programs, especially as related to the larger Progressive Movement, social and cultural changes, World War II in both military and home front terms, larger results of the 1945 victory. (Might not be offered every year)

3159 THE WORLD AT WAR, 1931-1945 (3 credits) This course covers the history of global war and its consequences. Beginning with the development of fascist and totalitarian states in Europe, nationalism in Asia, and the impact of economic depression, the course follows the war by considering issues on the home front and battlefield, debates over strategy and diplomacy, and decisions leading to the Holocaust and the development of atomic weaponry. (Might not be offered every year)

3167 UNITED STATES SINCE 1945 (3 credits) The Age of Affluence and Anxiety, developments since World War II in political, economic, constitutional, military, diplomatic, social, and cultural areas. (Might not be offered every year)

3169 HISTORY OF THE VIETNAM WAR (3 credits) Despite its retreat into the chronological past, the Vietnam War remains at the forefront of American life today. The news media often connects it to current policy, and it continues to stir the memories of people from that generation. This course examines a variety of themes that encompass the war from its initial French phase through the end of American involvement. Topics include policy decisions, the role of soldiers on the battlefield, the impact of the anti-war movement, and the war's legacy in American culture. (Might not be offered every year)

3177 AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY, TO 1877 (3 credits) Study of early American intellectual trends based in critical analysis of selected texts. Major shifts in philosophy, religion, science, and literature are analyzed in their historical context. Particular attention is paid to the diversity of authors and texts available during the early modern, Enlightenment, Romantic, and Civil War eras. (Might not be offered every year)

3178 AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL HISTORY, SINCE 1877 (3 credits) Study of modern U.S. intellectual trends based in critical analysis of selected texts. Major shifts in philosophy, religion, science, and literature are analyzed in their historical context. Particular attention is paid to the diversity of authors and texts available among the Darwinists, Pragmatists, Progressives, radicals, feminists, Marxists, Freudians, neo-conservatives, and post-modernists. (Might not be offered every year)

3187 AMERICAN WEST (3 credits) The American West is both an idea and a place, and although it is difficult to define, it is central to an understanding of how Americans see themselves and are viewed by people around the world. This course focuses on the trans-Mississippi West, but recognizes these are imposed boundaries and that the region is shaped by decisions and policies imposed by Easterners. This study moves across time, examining the lives and cultures of the earliest peoples, the effects of immigrants who competed for land and resources, and the legacy of this westward experience for modem society. The West, too, is real and imagined, and the course will consider its impact on American popular culture. (Might not be offered every year)

3228 RENAISSANCE AND LATER MIDDLE AGES, 1300-1500 (3 credits) The rise of modern political and economic institutions in Europe and the intellectual and cultural transformation of Italy and northern Europe as a result of the Humanist Revolution. (Might not be offered every year)

3238 LUTHER, CALVIN, AND THE REFORMATION 1500-1700 (3 credits) The religious revolutions of the sixteenth century and the rise of modern religion and churches, growing commerce and secular power politics, the beginning of modern liberalism. (Might not be offered every year)

3248 FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON, 1774-1815 (3 credits) Causes of the revolution, the outburst of liberty, nationalism and radicalism, and the transformation of French society from 1789 to 1799, nationalism and dictatorship in France and Europe under Napoleon. (Might not be offered every year)

3258 FOUNDATIONS OF THE WESTERN LEGAL TRADITIONS (3 credits) Study of the two main traditions of European law, Roman Civil Law and English Common Law, as they developed from Ancient Rome to the European Middle Ages and the Early-Modern period through to the nineteenth century. Prerequisite: HST 1304 or HST 2208 or HST 2218 or consent of instructor. (Might not be offered every year)

3268 THE ROMAN REVOLUTION, 200 BCE-CE 14 (3 credits) Explores the failure of the Roman Republic and its transformation into a more autocratic system. This course is conducted on the basis of students' reports on various "classic" problems and historians' interpretations of the problems charting the path .from the Gracchan Reforms of 133-122 BCE to the end of the reign of Augustus Caesar in CE 14. Prerequisite: HST 1304 or HST 2208 or consent of instructor. (Might not be offered every year)

3277 READINGS AND RESEARCH IN EUROPEAN HISTORY (3 credits) This is a junior/senior-level topics course on European history. The unifying principle of the course is that students are required to participate in a colloquium format in which they present, analyze, and discuss various readings over the semester and that they produce a research paper of 4000+ words on some specific aspect of the course subject. Prerequisite: HST 1304 or HST 2208 or HST 2218 or HST 2228 or consent of instructor. (Might not be offered every year)

3409 COLONIALISM AND MODERNIZATION IN THE NON-WESTERN WORLD (3 credits) A survey of African, Asian, Latin American, and Middle Eastern civilizations featuring the impacts of modernization introduced through colonialism on the traditional societies of these civilizations. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 8

3419 CHINA (3 credits) Political, economic, social, and cultural institutions of Chinese civilization, from the ancient period to the present. Special consideration will be given to the development of China as a people and as a nation. Liberal Education Categories 5 & 8 (Might not be offered every year)

3429 SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST ASIA (3 credits) Historical, political, social, economic, and cultural developments from ancient civilizations to contemporary nations, including the influence of European colonial activities, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Kampuchea, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Philippines.(Might not be offered every year)

3439 JAPAN AND KOREA (3 credits) Political developments and the evolution of nationalism, cultural patterns, social institutions, roles in the larger Asian areas, and relationships with non-Asian nations and cultures will be considered. (Might not be offered every year)

3449 MIDDLE EAST (3 credits) Introductory survey of selected themes and problems in the historical, economic, social, and cultural development of the Middle East. Consideration will be given to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Iran, and adjacent areas, including both the Arab and non-Arab dimensions. (Might not be offered every year)

3459 LATIN AMERICA (3 credits) Introductory survey of selected themes and problems in the historical, economic, social, and cultural development of Latin America. (Might not be offered every year)

3469 AFRICA (3 credits) Introductory survey of selected themes and problems in the historical, economic, social, and cultural development of Africa. (Might not be offered every year)

3772 READINGS IN HISTORY (3 credits) In-depth readings in selected historical topics to be announced in the class schedule. Prepares History majors for writing their senior thesis. Prerequisite: HST 2772.

4782 PRE-THESIS SEMINAR (2 credits) Students develop, with a departmental faculty member serving as the thesis supervisor, an independent thesis project giving consideration to a specific topic and demonstrating the use of the tools of scholarly research. Students develop a thesis proposal and preliminary bibliography. Prerequisite: HST 3772.

4783 SENIOR THESIS (3 credits) An independent thesis project giving consideration to a specific historical topic, and demonstrating the use of the tools of scholarly research. The student will develop a thesis proposal with a departmental faculty member, who will serve as the thesis supervisor. The completed thesis will be presented to the entire department. Prerequisites: HST 2772 and HST 3772, or consent of instructor.