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History Course Descriptions

(HST) College-Program: 12-27. Check with department for quarter when these courses are offered.Read each course description for prerequisites.


100 UNITED STATES HISTORY AND LIFE, 1890-1929 (4 credits). A survey of American civilization from 1890-1929. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

101 UNITED STATES HISTORY AND LIFE, 1929-1945 (4 credits). The Depression, the FDR Era and World War II. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

102 UNITED STATES HISTORY AND LIFE, 1945-PRESENT (4 credits). A survey of American history since World War II. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

120 WORLD HISTORY I (4 credits). The ancient empires, Greece, Rome, the rise of Christianity, Medieval Europe. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

121 WORLD HISTORY II (4 credits). The Renaissance, the Reformation, the expansion of Europe, the French Revolution, and Napoleon. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

122 WORLD HISTORY III (4 credits). The Industrial Revolution, Karl Marx and Marxism, Imperialism, World War I, World War II, the world since 1945. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

200 17th-18th CENTURY AMERICA (4 credits). Evolution of colonial life, the achievement of independence, the formation of the union and the early years of the republic. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

201 19th CENTURY UNITED STATES (4 credits). Territorial expansion, sectional conflict, and the evolution of urban and industrial America, 1815 to 1901. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

202 20th CENTURY UNITED STATES (4 credits). The Progressive Movement, two World Wars, normalcy, and the New Deal, and global politics. United States growth since 1900. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

210 MINNESOTA HISTORY TO 1900 (4 credits). Growth of Minnesota from the age of the fur trade to the modern state. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ). (May not be offered every year.)

211 20th CENTURY MINNESOTA (4 credits). A study of the political, economic, social and cultural development of Minnesota from 1900 to the present. (May not be offered every year.)

212 AMERICAN INDIANS IN THE 20th CENTURY (3 credits). Survey of the continuity and change in Indian tribal culture as a result of the federal-Indian relationship, events of the 20th century, and forces for assimilation. (May not be offered every year.)

213 INDIANS OF CANADA (4 credits). A survey of the events, legislation, treaties, and federal policy affecting the Canadian Indian. (May not be offered every year.)

214 INDIANS OF THE UNITED STATES (4 credits). The story of the American Indian with special emphasis on the history of the Ojibwe and Sioux nations. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ). (May not be offered every year.)

215 U.S. ETHNIC AND MINORITY HISTORY (4 credits). Introduction to the historical development and the social, cultural, religious, intellectual, economic and political contributions of various ethnic and minority groups in the United States. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ).

216 RELIGION IN AMERICA (4 credits). Religion as an historical institution in the United States, from the colonial period to present day. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ). (May not be offered every year.)

217 UNITED STATES DIPLOMATIC HISTORY (4 credits). American foreign policy from 1776 to the present. (May not be offered every year.)

219 TOPICS IN HISTORY (1-4 credits). A mini-course on a single topic, phase, or person in history.

220 WOMEN AND HISTORY (4 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. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ).

222 WAR AND HISTORY (4 credits). A study of the causes and results of war as an historical institution, with focus upon specific wars, strategy and tactics, and military technology.

228 GERMANY BEFORE HITLER:FROM BISMARCK TO THE FUEHRER (4 credits). Wars of unification; Bismarckian power politics; William II and Weltpolitik; Germany and World War I; the rise and fall of democracy between world wars. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ). (May not be offered every year.)

230 HITLER'S GERMANY (4 credits). Origins, nature, and history of the Third Reich. The revolutionary aspects of Hitler's conquest and reorganization of Germany, his bid for domination of Europe. (May not be offered every year.)

234 IMPERIAL RUSSIA, 1682-1905 (4 credits). Social, religious, and political institutions of imperial Russia and their transformations. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

235 COMMUNIST RUSSIA (4 credits). The history of Russia and the Soviet Union from 1905 to the present. Absolutism, revolution and the political, cultural and economic institutions of the Soviet Union. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

236 MEDIEVAL ENGLAND (4 credits). Anglo-Saxon monarchy; Norman conquest; feudalism and common law; "Freedom of the Church," evolution of parliament. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

237 TUDOR AND REVOLUTIONARY ENGLAND, 1485-1714 (4 credits). Tudor royal administration; Church of England; Parliament and Tudor absolutism; 17th century revolution; England as a great power. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V )

238 VICTORIAN ENGLAND, 1815-1914 (4 credits). Landed and industrial society; franchise reform; modern parties and Parliamentary politics; social reform; great power rivalries. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ). (May not be offered every year.)

239 20th CENTURY BRITAIN (4 credits). A study of British history in the 20th century. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ).

240 CULTURE OF ENGLAND (4 credits). An introductory survey of the primary cultural dimensions and patterns characteristic of England. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VI ).

246 HISTORY OF CANADA (4 credits). French colonial period, British period, confederation, and contemporary scene. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ). (May not be offered every year.)

250 COLONIALISM AND MODERNIZATION IN THE NON-WESTERN WORLD (4 credits). A survey of Asian, African, and Middle Eastern civilizations featuring the impacts of modernization on the traditional societies of these civilizations. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

251 WORLD RELIGIONS (4 credits). A survey of Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Confucianism, Taoism, and Shinto from their historical beginnings to the present. (May not be offered every year.)

260 20th CENTURY CHINA (4 credits). The political, social, and economic history of Communist China.

264 INDIA, PAKISTAN, AND BANGLADESH (4 credits). Pre-Hindu civilization, Hindu India, the Muslim conquest, British India, independence, the problems of contemporary India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. (May not be offered every year.)

265 JAPAN AND KOREA (4 credits). Political developments and the evolution of nationalism, cultural patterns, social institutions, roles in the larger Asian area, and relationships with non-Asian nations and cultures. (May not be offered every year.)

268 MODERN MIDDLE EAST (4 credits). History, problems, and prospects of modern Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Turkey, Persia, and adjacent areas. The Arab world and Israel. (May not be offered every year.)

269 LATIN AMERICA BEFORE 1900 (4 credits). Introductory survey of selected themes and problems in the historical, economic, social and cultural development of Latin America from the pre-1492 indigenous patterns, through the contact, conquest, colonization, revolutionary and independence periods to 1900.

270 20th CENTURY LATIN AMERICA (4 credits). Introductory survey of selected themes and problems in the historical, economic, social and cultural development of Latin America in the 20th Century. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ).

280 20th CENTURY AFRICA (4 credits). Introductory survey of selected themes and problems in the historical, economic, social and cultural development of Africa in the 20th Century. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V, Area VII ) (May not be offered every year.).

285 COMPUTER USE FOR THE HISTORIAN (2 credits). An introduction to computer use for the historian. Focus is on how historians use the computer in research and the classroom. Introduction to quantitative methodologies and the computer construction and accessing data banks.

300 THE STUDY OF HISTORY (4 credits). Historiography and historical interpretation; the development of history as both an academic discipline and a profession; theories and philosophies of history; contemporary dimensions of historical research; and, potential future directions of history. Prerequisite: HST 285 or consent of instructor. (Applies to Liberal Education Area V ).

301 SENIOR THESIS (4 credits). An independent thesis project giving consideration to a specific historical topic and demonstrating 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 285 and HST 300.

305 HISTORY OF THE OJIBWE (4 credits). The story of the Ojibwe people from mythical origin to their contemporary situation. (May not be offered every year.)

310 COLONIAL AMERICA (4 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. (May not be offered every year.)

311 AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY ERA (4 credits). The American Revolution and the new nation, 1763 to 1800. Structure of colonial society, British imperial policy, military and diplomatic phases, the social consequences, period of the Confederation. (May not be offered every year.)

312 AGE OF JEFFERSON AND JACKSON, 1800-1844 (4 credits). Growth of the nation between 1800 and 1844, emphasizing economic, political, and social developments. (May not be offered every year.)

313 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION (4 credits). Designed to give students an intensive view of the sources, conduct, and outcome of what has been, perhaps, the single most important incident in our history. (May not be offered every year.)

314 BIG BUSINESS AND REFORM, 1877-1914 (4 credits). The increase in the rise of big business as a post-Civil War phenomenon and the rise of minority protest to this phenomenon. (May not be offered every year.)

315 THE GREAT CRUSADE AND BUSINESS CIVILIZATION 1914-1932 (4 credits). The response of the United States to the problems arising from international power politics, technological revolution, the growth of a strong nation, and mass culture. (May not be offered every year.)

316 THE FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT ERA 1930-1945 (4 credits). The New Deal reform and recovery programs, effects of the depression and World War II on U.S. society and economy. Problems of foreign policy. United States in World War II. (May not be offered every year.)

317 UNITED STATES HISTORY SINCE 1945 (4 credits). The Age of Affluence and Anxiety, developments in recent times in the social, economic, constitutional, political, military, and diplomatic areas. (May not be offered every year.)

320 GREECE AND ROME, 1500 BC-500 AD (4 credits). The beginnings and development of the Greek and Roman worlds; political, economic and cultural life. (May not be offered every year.)

321 MEDIEVAL EUROPE, 300-1300 (4 credits). Medieval church and papacy, feudal and manorial institutions; towns and commerce; the beginnings of national monarchies. (May not be offered every year.)

322 THE RENAISSANCE AND THE LATER MIDDLE AGES (4 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. (May not be offered every year.)

323 LUTHER, CALVIN, AND THE REFORMATION (4 credits). The religious revolutions of the 16th century and the rise of modern religious and churches; growing commerce and secular power politics; the beginning of modern liberalism. (May not be offered every year.)

324 THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON, 1774-1815 (4 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. (May not be offered every year.)

410 AMERICAN INTELLECTUAL AND SOCIAL HISTORY(4 credits). A study of the major trends and movements in American thought and their relationships to cultural and social patterns. Focus will be upon Puritanism, the Enlightenment, Nationalism, Romanticism and Transcendentalism, Slavery and Sectionalism, Evolution and the "New Sciences," Pragmatism, Progressive Liberalism, Radicalism, and Neo-Conservatism.

414 THE AMERICAN WEST (4 credits). The western story covering mountain men, ranchers, farmers and miners. (May not be offered every year.)

475 SENIOR SEMINAR (2 credits). The capstone experience in the major, this seminar will focus on the development of an integrated sense of history as a discipline, contemporary problems in the discipline, and potential future directions of the discipline. Prerequisites: Senior standing or consent of instructor.


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