History Courses
His 500 Practicum in College Teaching (1)
Discussion and analysis in a workshop setting of teaching techniques and aims as well as of various aspects of the historical professions, such as job interviews, ethics, departmental responsibilities, and non-academic careers. Required of, and limited to, doctoral candidates. The course will be taken over two semesters for one credit each semester.
His 501 Introduction to Public History (3)
An overview of the field of public history. The philosophical, ethical and practical aspects of the role of historians as employees of archives, museums, and historical societies, and as specialists in historic preservation, public policy analysis and oral history will be explored.
His 503 Introduction to Historical Agency Management and Practice (3)
The history, philosophy, and ethics of historical agencies; organization and duties of personnel; managerial practices; care of collections; exhibitions, publishing, and educational programs.
His 504 Curatorial Practices for Historical Agencies (3)
The organization, functions, and personnel of a curatorial department; acquisition of artifacts; documentation; storage and conservation.
His 505 Interpretation of Historical Sites and Artifacts (3)
Research goals and procedures; exhibition planning, design, and installation; editing and publishing; education programming.
His 506 History Museums (3)
This course will investigate the history and function of American museums, emphasizing the historical contexts of their establishment and their role in the shaping of popular knowledge.
His 507 History and Public Policy (4)
Uses of historical analysis in formulation of public policy; assumptions are methods of the longitudinal approach to governmental planning and decision-making. History as a social science; historical base studies of policy formulation in such areas as law enforcement, social welfare, education, business regulations, civil liberties, or environmental protection. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 508 Material Culture Studies (3)
An exploration of American material culture with an emphasis on architecture and decorative arts. The identification of styles and periods and how objects relate to the society that produced them.
His 509 Introduction to Historic Preservation (3)
An overview of the field of historic preservation, emphasizing the history, evolution, and application of its programs. Significant areas, such as the history of the preservation movement, historic preservation laws and their application, and the identification, evaluation, registration and protection of historic resources will be discussed.
His 514 (Eng 514, Gog 514) The United States: An Interdisciplinary Approach (4)
An introductory review of the history, geography and cultures of the United States, with field trips and special projects on the U.S. Northeast. Designed for international students with an in-depth knowledge of their home countries, but with little experience of the United States, this interdisciplinary course integrates the perspectives of the social sciences and the humanities to analyze major themes and issues. It shows how these themes and issues relate to the unique history of the United States – the first nation to gain lasting freedom from European colonialism, a country mainly populated by descendents of immigrants, and for about a century, the world’s largest economy. In addition to their coursework and assignments, students will be required to do a research project on a course topic of their own choice.
His 515 Topics in Economic History (4)
Intensive study of particular problems, themes, and events in economic history. May be repeated for credit with the consent of the instructor.
His 519 History of American Architecture (4)
A History of American architectural forms from the first settlements to the present, with emphasis on the relationship between architecture and the nation's social and economic development.
His 530 Topics in American History (4)
His 530R Topics in American History (1-4)
Intensive study of a particular problem, theme, or event in American history. May be repeated for credit.
His 531 Topics in European History (4)
His 531R Topics in European History (1-4)
Intensive study of a particular problem, theme, or event in European history. May be repeated for credit.
His 532 (Afs 533) Topics in African History (4)
His 532R (Afs 533R) Topics in African History (1-4)
Intensive study of a particular theme in African history. May emphasize a particular country or group of countries or a selected theme such as labor history, women, or nationalist and national liberation struggles. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 533 Themes in Modern Russian and Soviet History (4)
Problem-oriented study of the development of Russia since Peter the Great, emphasizing such themes as modernization, popular and intellectual reaction to the state, the impact of revolution on culture and society. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 535 Topics in Local and Regional History (4)
His 535R Topics in Local and Regional History (1-4)
A number of local topics and themes are covered by a series of lectures or readings, either by an individual instructor or by several visiting professors. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 543 Topics in Asian History (4)
His 543R Topics in Asian History (1-4)
Intensive study of themes and topics in East Asian and South Asian history. Topics may cover traditional Asian societies or twentieth- century Asia, or themes connecting the periods. Some emphasis on particular countries, such as China or India. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 544 Topics in Middle East History (4)
His 544R Topics in Middle East History (1-4)
Selected topics in Middle East history such as Islam, nationalism, continuity, and change. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 553 History of Eastern Europe (4)
Advanced and concentrated survey of the history, culture, and contemporary affairs of the "unknown" part of Europe (Baltic, Danubian, and Balkan regions), from the earliest times to the present.
His 555 The Diplomacy of Global Conflict, 1890-1945 (4)
Great power relations during the era of the two World Wars, emphasizing underlying forces and rivalries that led to war and attempts to defuse tensions and prevent aggression.
His 556 The Diplomacy of the Nuclear Age (4)
History of international relations since World War II, with emphases on the Cold War and its global impact; the collapse of the Soviet Union and manifestations of American unilateralism; arms control and nuclear proliferation; the end of colonialism and its consequences; ethnic conflicts and terrorism; European economic integration and its problems; the resurgence of Russia; and the rise of China as a global superpower.
His 563 The Byzantine Empire (4)
Survey of the socio-economic, political, ethnic, religious, intellectual and artistic history of the Byzantine civilization from late antiquity to the 15th century.
His 569 History of Mexico (4)
Mexican civilization from its origins to the present: the Indian cultures; the conquest, the colonial period, and the winning of independence. Mexico since independence: the eras of Santa Anna, Benito Juarez, and Porfirio Diaz; revolution and reform in the twentieth century; current social and economic problems; Mexican-American relations.
His 571 Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History (4)
His 571R Topics in Latin American and Caribbean History (1-4)
Intensive study of a particular problem, theme, or event in Latin American and Caribbean history. May be repeated for credit.
His 590 Quantitative Methods in History (4)
Introduction to the use of descriptive and inferential statistics in historical research, including computer applications such as data base management, graphics, and data analysis. Students learn how to read and evaluate articles and monographs employing a variety of statistical techniques and measures, as well as conduct research.
His 594 Practicum in Oral/Aural History (3)
This course is an introduction to the field of oral history and the use of audio composition techniques to construct sound-rich historical narratives for radio, the WWW, and public exhibition. It is both a theory and hands-on, practical course designed to teach students: 1) how to conduct, gather, and interpret oral history testimonies; 2) how to use audio and oral history archives for both textual and media history projects; and 3) how to use audio composition and editing techniques to compose historical narratives in a variety of audio documentary forms.
His 595 History of American Documentary Media (4)
This course surveys a wide variety of American documentary forms, identifying genres as they evolved from the 18th through the 21st centuries — from the epic and ballad forms, through documentary writing, graphic images, photography, film, audio/radio, television, and most recently, hypermedia.
His 596 Practicum in Digital History (3)
This course introduces students to the practice of history in the digital age. It focuses on how the Internet and digital technologies and software have reshaped public and academic history presentation platforms and venues -- as well as historical research strategies and tools. As a hands-on course, it will teach students the fundamentals of digital history. Areas of concentration will vary depending on the instructor, but will include such topics as: narrative and hypertext theory and practice, digital imaging and visualizations, primary- and secondary-source databases, wikis, blogs, augmented reality, digital mapping, virtual museums, historical gaming, GIS and digital mapping, audio and video media processing and editing, and more.
His 597 Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking (3)
This course is a hands-on workshop in historical documentary filmmaking. It will introduce students to all aspects of historical documentary production --from pre-production (planning, media and manuscript archival and field research, writing) to production (filming/videotaping interviews, recording voiceover narration, lighting, filming reenactments), and finally, to post-production (editing and mixing actualities, music, narration, interviews, still photographs).
His 598 Practicum in Historical Narrative (3)
This is a workshop in researching and writing effectively about history for a range of non-academic audiences. Depending on the instructor, the focus might include writing long-and/or short-form historical media for museum, broadcast, or web use, and/or writing opinion pieces and historical literary nonfiction for magazine and book publication, whether in print or online.
His 599 Special Projects in History (1-4)
Supervised work on projects in coordination with local museums and historical agencies. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite: Consent of instructor and department chair.
His 600 Colloquium on the Theory and Practice of History (4)
Discussions and readings on the theory and historiography of the five doctoral fields: Public Policy, International History, Work, Gender, and Culture. Required of all doctoral students in their first semester of doctoral study. By permission only.
His 601 Readings in American Colonial and Revolutionary History (4)
Readings and discussions in selected important branches of the published literature on early American history.
His 602 Readings in Visual Media and Culture (4)
This course examines the history of American and European photography and related visual media, placing major photographic genres and practitioners within the intellectual and cultural context of their era, as well as incorporating analyses of vernacular practices in the medium. As such, the course will provide a chronological overview of the history of photography and uncover the major themes through which popular and critical audiences have understood the medium since the introduction of photography, circa 1826. By looking at photographs, reading photographic and aesthetic theory, and drawing parallels from other disciplines and media, this course will prioritize photographs as documents in cultural history, providing a basis in critical literature on photography, and will function as an introduction to research in the history of photography and visual media.
His 603 Readings in United States History (4)
Examination of problems, periods, issues, and movements in United States history from the American Revolution to the present.
His 604 Readings & Practicum in Oral/Aural History (4)
This course examines the established field of oral history, the developing field of aural history, and the use of audio composition techniques to construct sound-rich historical narratives for radio, the WWW, and public exhibition. It surveys some of the best work in oral and aural history - both textual and media - and explores the use of oral and video evidence/testimony in the documentation of historical processes, eras, and events. It is both a readings course as well as a hands-on practical course designed to teach students concrete research and production skills: how to conduct and gather oral history testimonies; how to use audio and oral history archives for both textual and media projects; how to analyze and reconstruct historical auditory environments from pre-recorded sound eras; and how to use audio composition and editing techniques to compose historical narratives in a variety of audio documentary forms.
His 605 Readings in the History and Theory of Historical Documentary Filmmaking (4)
This course will introduce students to the history, theory, and aesthetics of historical documentary filmmaking. Beginning with a review and analysis of the general history of the documentary film genre and the varieties of approaches adopted by non-fiction filmmakers, we will begin to systematically unravel the various elements that contribute to the creation of informative, moving, and powerful historically-focused documentary films. We’ll look at the various modes or styles that have evolved in the course of the genre’s development and the various techniques documentarians have utilized to effectively communicate historical ideas in cinematic form. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required.
His 606 Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia (4)
This course introduces students to the practice of history in the digital age. The emergence of the World Wide Web has opened up new avenues for researching, analyzing, and presenting the past-but has also raised new questions about producing quality historical scholarship in this open environment. This course will work on two fronts, looking first at the current state of the field of “digital history” from issues of narrative and hypertext theory to some of the best (and worst) practices of current historical websites. At the same time, as a central component of the course, students will work in collaboration to build their own well-researched and historically sound web projects. Previous experience with building websites is welcomed but not required. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required.
His 607 Seminar and Practicum in History and Media (4)
This course is for students interested in developing in-depth historical research and production skills in a variety of media. It will be offered with various concentrations — depending on the content emphasis chosen by the instructor (e.g. “Seminar and Practicum in History and Media: Visual Media”; “Seminar and Practicum in History and Media: Historical Documentary Filmmaking”). The course will be identical in approach to the Department’s thematic area research courses, expect that the research emphasis will be expanded beyond manuscript archives to cover visual and audio archives in depth, and the final project will be a media project (e.g. — documentary, film, virtual museum Web site, radio documentary). Prerequisite: Permission of instructor required.
His 608 Historiography (4)
Our ability to grasp and analyze the importance of historical controversies often depends on a prior knowledge of the way previous historians have approached these subjects. The purpose of His 608 is to provide graduate students with an introduction to the way historians have approached historical problems and the methodological tools they have employed. The course will include readings in cultural, social, and political history, biography, economic history, micro-history, Marxism and other forms of structuralism, and the contribution of gender and historical fiction.
His 610 The Research Seminar in History (4)
Conducting individual research in the historical materials of a particular time and place or theme. Planning, designing, researching, writing, and presenting the scholarly paper. May be repeated for credit provided the paper topic is different.
His 611 Readings in European History (4)
Intensive study of selected topics in European history from a variety of perspectives. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 616 Readings in Late Modern Europe (4)
Intensive study of selected topics in European history in the nineteenth and/or twentieth centuries dealing with such areas as the political, social, diplomatic, and intellectual perspectives on change in an era of industrialization, war, and revolution. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 619 Readings in Eastern Europe (4)
Intensive study of selected works in East European history, emphasizing problems of historical interpretation. Focus on an area or on a specific topic. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 621 Readings in Local and Regional History (4)
Readings in the literature of local and regional history. Investigation of historiographical trends as revealed in case studies and the relevance of interdisciplinary approaches to the subject. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 626 Readings in Global and Comparative History (4)
Studies of historical topics and themes of a cross-cultural and transnational nature, such as concepts of justice, variety of imperialisms, and social stratification. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 628 Readings in Social and Economic History (4)
Examination of selected topics in social history in one or more temporal and geographical settings. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 630 Readings in Public Policy (4)
The development of public policy in the U.S. and/or elsewhere at the local, regional, national, and/or international levels as such policies pertain to the society as a whole or to particular groups and entities or to intra-governmental relationships. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 633 Readings in International History (4)
Intensive study of major aspects, eras and events in international history, emphasizing the various factors which influence the process of decision making in foreign policy and which determine the success or failure of policy choices.
His 639 Readings in Gender and Society (4)
Examination from a theoretical and historical perspective of the ways that gender analysis has shaped discussion of a variety of historical issues. Readings may focus on one or more geographic areas, themes, or historical periods. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 642 Readings in Culture and Society (4)
Examination of particular cultural phenomena in their historical setting and/or of the culture of particular segments of a society or of societies as a whole. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 662 (Afs 662) Readings in African History (4)
Study of selected major works on the history of Africa with emphasis on differing trends in historical interpretation. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 665 Readings in Latin American History (4)
Readings in the historical literature on Latin America. Examination of major historical problems and subjects. May be repeated for credit with consent of instructor.
His 668 Readings in Asian History (4)
Careful examination through readings and discussion of a particular topic in the history of Asia or of one country or region in Asia. The fields usually offered are: Chinese History, Modern South Asian History, Middle Eastern History. May be repeated for credit with permission of instructor. Prerequisite: Graduate standing.
His 697 Independent Study in History (1-4)
Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in history for the M.A. student. Prerequisite: Consent of Instructor and department chair.
His 698 History and Media Masters Project (2-6)
This course provides MA students concentrating in History and Media an opportunity to plan, conduct research, and produce a substantial media project reflecting their area of expertise and interest. Faculty have individual class numbers for HIS 698: Permission of Supervising Instructor Required.
His 699 Master's Thesis in History (2-6)
Independent research leading to an acceptable thesis for a master's degree. Prerequisite: Consent of department chair.
His 699C Master's Thesis Continuation (1)
Course grading is Load Only and does not earn credit. Appropriate for master's students engaged in research and writing of the master's thesis beyond the level applicable to their degree program.
His 797 Directed Reading in Public History (2)
Supervised reading related to the student's project in His 798B. Prerequisite: Registration in 798B and consent of the director of the program in public history.
His 798A,B Internship in Public History (1-6,6)
Full-time internship with an agency concerned with historical and cultural resource policy. All interns are required to participate in regularly scheduled internship colloquium meetings. Interns are expected to undertake and complete a major project. Required of all students in the public history certificate program. Prerequisite: Consent of the director of the program in public history.
His 799 Public History Project Thesis (6)
A major work on an aspect of historical and cultural resource policy, deriving from the project in His 798A,B. Required of all students in the public history certificate program. Prerequisites: Student must have completed or be concurrently enrolled in His 798A,B, and must have consent of the director of the program in public history.
His 897 Directed Reading in History (1-6)
Supervised reading in history to prepare students for the general examinations in the history Ph.D. program. Prerequisite: Consent of the student's advisor and instructor.
His 898 Dissertation Proposal (1-4)
Supervised study in history in which doctoral students prepare the dissertation proposal. Prerequisite: Consent of the student's advisor and instructor. By permission only. May be taken for a maximum of four credits.
His 899 Doctoral Dissertation (1)
Course grading is Load Only and does not earn credit. Appropriate for doctoral students engaged in research and writing of the dissertation. Prerequisite: Admission to doctoral candidacy.
