For thousands of years, humans have created communities that align with certain perceived value systems. From these value systems, great civilizations have been cultivated, developed, and brought into conflict with other cultures. This course examines the rise of civilizations throughout the world, tracing the history of human societies from their beginnings through 1000 C.E. After surveying the prehistoric period and early civilization, the course focuses on the religious, political, and cultural characteristics of key civilizations from around the world. Emphasis will be placed on patterns of civilization, human conflict and interaction, and the development of human thought and expression.

This course focuses on the origins and development of issues relevant to Americans today through the examination of the history of the United States from its earliest settlement through the Civil War. Students study themes and events ranging from Native American cultures and their contact with early European settlements, the triumph of British over French and Spanish settlers, the upheavals of the Revolution, the establishment of the United States, its expansion westward, and the development and growth of slavery which culminated in the Civil War. The focus of this class will be making connections between the past and the present day, recognizing historical themes, evaluating areas of conflict, and employing evidence-based historical interpretation.

This course addresses the characteristics of contemporary American society as a product of major developments, policies, conflicts, and legislation that occurred from 1865 to the present. Major topics include: reconstruction after the Civil War, industrialization and its consequences, themes and patterns of American foreign policy, the Progressive era and the New Deal, World War II, the Cold War, America's role in the era of globalism, and domestic and foreign policy developments since World War II. Students will have the opportunity to use primary and secondary sources to explore multiple perspectives and interpretations of this period in history.

This course provides students the opportunity to engage in critical discussions about the foundations of modern western society according to key cultural, religious, and political changes associated with the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the emergence of the modern state. It also examines developments in the sciences, western philosophy, and revolutionary politics in theory and practice, through the nineteenth century, drawing connections between the past and the present day.

The course is a survey of New England’s history spanning a time period from the late 1600’s to the present. Students will assess New England’s role in the economic, political, and military history of our nation. In addition, there is a focus on local New England communities and the important historical events and forces that contributed to their development.

In this course, students develop and employ historical methodology appropriate to the study of events, figures, periods, and cultures of the past. Building on General Education coursework in thinking, research, and writing, the course helps to develop a historical mindset through student practice with methods and processes of the historian, in designing viable projects to explore further, and in substantive written work. The course frames key questions and concepts in the discipline and prepares students for upper-level courses in the major.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Discuss key concepts in the field of history.
2. Develop research questions framed by an understanding of these concepts.
3. Employ historical methods to research events, figures, and cultures of the past.
4. Differentiate among approaches to history.
5. Explore primary and secondary sources, reading them critically.
6. Articulate challenges of studying the past.
7. Synthesize and organize research findings.
8. Write effectively, including proposals, literature reviews, and substantive analyses.
9. Practice effectively constructing an argument in dialogue with sources, citing in keeping with the norms of the academic discipline.

This course examines the political, social, economic, and cultural forces that shaped the development of world civilizations from 1000 CE to the present. The focus of study will move beyond basic geography and historic timelines to ask questions about cultural interactions, conflict, and the varying forces that impacted world history, as well as to evaluate interpretations of the past. Using both primary and secondary sources, students will critically examine connections and patterns of history with a particular focus on globalism, multiculturalism, nationalism, and religious conflict throughout Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

This course explores the causes and consequences of the Second World War from a global perspective. It explores the rise of nationalism and totalitarianism and the impact of colonialism. The course explores the causes of WWI and its aftermath, moves through the decade of the 20's to the Depression and the rise of fascism, to the onset of the war in Europe, Africa, and the Pacific, and finally to the peace agreements and their effect on the future of the world. In particular it looks at industrial, agricultural, and democratic developments and their impact on the war. Military mobilization, gender, race, notions of “the good war,” and cultural conflict will also be studied.

Students will have the opportunity to examine three decades of struggle in Southeast Asia beginning with the history of French Colonial Indochina that led Communist Vietnamese revolutionaries into conflict with France, and then the United States and its Vietnamese allies. The course presents primary sources to examine the impact and significance of the war on American society and to evaluate its causes and consequences. The complexities of the lived human experiences before, during, and after the Vietnam War are studied according to a multitude of perspectives and interpretations.

This capstone course is a field-based internship designed to develop and hone the practical application skills of a History major. The course requires students to integrate the knowledge and skills gained from other courses in the program and to demonstrate the ability to apply their knowledge to new subject matter and practical situations. Students apply for an internship at a self-selected site and negotiate the terms of the internship experience with a site supervisor under the auspices of their GSC mentor. The internship requires documented evidence of eighty hours of supervised experience and practice in a field setting where history-related knowledge and skills are applied. Students will complete a project-based research paper related to their internship work. NOTE: Registration for this course, an internship, is by permission of the Office of Academic Affairs. Early registration deadlines may apply.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Students will have the opportunity to:
2. Apply knowledge of historical methodology and research within the context of an individually developed project.
3. Acquire and complete an in-depth supervised experience in a field setting that is related to their History major and their chosen career path, thus bolstering their professional development.
4. Integrate and apply their historical knowledge, skills, and methods to a specific field setting, client population, or service clientele.
5. Recognize the internship site's mission and identify how the organization and its services serve the community and its designated clientele.
6. Acquire an experientially based knowledge foundation to inform and guide their future career choices in a history-related field.
7. Articulate the nature and importance of ethical practice in the internship setting.
8. Demonstrate professionalism and standards of ethics while working in a field setting.

This capstone course for History majors is designed to integrate learning from the entire major in an individually-customized project. Students demonstrate competency in history by producing a substantive original essay based on in-depth research.

View Course Outcomes:

1. Develop an historical question for extended exploration.
2. Conduct thorough research.
3. Demonstrate critical analysis of sources.
4. Write a major paper employing advanced skills of exposition, argument, and synthesis.
5. Employ responsible quotation and citation practices based on impeccable documentation.