HISTORY DEPARTMENT/Fall 2008

Graduate Course Offerings

in History

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

 

HIST 502-61               Historical Geography

(x-listed with HIST  394-61)

T         6:00-8:40

Prof. Charles Wilf

The objectives of this course in geography are to a) develop an appreciation of the physical, social, and economic make-up of the earth; b) explore the historical aspects of these relationships; and c) develop and understanding as to why and how physical and human systems have resulted in the “world as we know it.”

 

HIST 519-61               19th Century Europe

T         6:00-8:40

Prof. Joseph Coohill

This course is an examination of the European experience between 1815 and 1914, with emphasis on political, social, and cultural trends.

 

HIST 525-61               Archival Studies

T         6:00-8:40

Mr. Tom White

This course will provide and understanding of the nature and characteristics of archives and manuscript collections and the work of archivists in both theory and practice.  Students will learn the history of archives as well as the role of the archivist in appraising, arranging, describing, and preserving archival materials.  Students will cover issues such as copyright, disaster planning, management, reference, and security.  Recent issues and debates in the field will be addressed.  Time will be spent discussing these issues in relation to the various types of archives, such as business, university, historical society, religious, and governmental.  The technical aspects of archival processing, Machine Readable Cataloging (MARC) and Encoded Archival Description (EAD) will be covered so that each student has a basic understanding of each process.  Recent trends in the digitalization of archives and online access will be examined.

 

HIST 543-61               American Decorative Arts

(x-listed with HIST 443W-61)

Th       6:00-8:40

Prof. Michael Cahall

A survey of the decorative arts in the United States from the seventeenth to the mid-twentieth centuries. In addition to considering style and production techniques, this course will investigate the social and cultural context within which such works were created and displayed.

 

HIST 561-61               African American History

(x-listed with HIST 461W-61)

Th       6:00-8:40

Prof. Tsekani Browne

An examination of the experiences of African Americans in the United States beginning with antebellum slavery, the Civil War and Reconstruction, turn-of-the-century America, the Civil Rights movement, and their continuing struggle to attain true equality in American society. This course will examine these topics primarily through the exploration of key political and autobiographical texts including the works of David Walker, Frederick Douglass, Anna Julia Cooper, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Marcus Garvey, Maya Angelou, Malcolm X, Assata Shakur, and Elaine Brown, among others.

 

HIST 563-61               Colonization to Revolution: American History, 1607-1789

W         6:00-8:40

Prof. Holly Mayer

A survey of the major trends, events, and persons in early American history. This course will begin with a comparison of native and European cultures in the New World and end with the establishment of the United States.

 

HIST 583-61               Mexico & the U.S.

(x-listed with HIST 483W-61)

W         6:00-8:40

Prof. John “Jay” Dwyer

This course focuses on U.S.-Mexican relations since the 19th century and covers the Texas rebellion and annexation, the U.S.-Mexican War, American economic penetration during the Porfiriato, U.S. military intervention in the Mexican Revolution, the expropriation of American-owned lands and oil companies in the 1930s, Mexican migration to and repatriation from the U.S., the Mexican foreign debt crisis, the narcotics trade, NAFTA, and the Mexican immigrant community in the United States.

 

HIST 599-01               Directed Reading—Selected History Topics

1.00—3.00 credits

Days/Times: TBA

Instructor: TBA

With permission from the Department and close consultation with a faculty member, students can undertake an in-depth exploration of a topic of their choice that culminates in a lengthy primary-source research paper.

 

HIST 627-61               Commemoration & Preservation—U.S. History

M        6:00-8:40

Prof. Perry Blatz

This course uses careful study of the history of commemorative and preservation efforts in the United States as a platform from which students will conduct research on topics vital to the future of Public History and Public History institutions, including historic sites, monuments, history museums, historic homes, and archival institutions.

 

HIST 657-91               Editing Internship

Days and times TBA

Perry Blatz

To be discussed with instructor

 

HIST 658-91               Archival Internship

Days and times TBA

Joseph Rishel

To be discussed with instructor

 

HIST 659-91               Museum Internship

Days and times TBA

Michael Cahall

To be discussed with instructor

 

HIST 699-61               Introduction to Graduate Study—History

M        6:00-8:40

Prof. Joseph Rishel

This course is a research seminar for both senior honors history majors and graduate history students.  The main goal of this class is for students to prepare and write an original piece of historical research and to present it to the class in the form of an oral report and to the instructor in the form of a lengthy and in-depth paper.  An additional goal is to introduce students to the historiography of U.S. international relations.