Course Descriptions

HISTORY (HI) 

HI 151 World Civilizations I (3)

How did humans become the dominant species on our planet? Who built the pyramids? How was the Buddha's view of the universe revolutionary? How did the Romans build their empire? Why did Muhammad create a new religion? These and other fascinating topics will be presented in this course.

HI 152 World Civilizations II (3)

A multicultural approach to studying the world’s modern civilizations, it examines their political, social, economic and cultural evolutions. It focuses on modern moral and ethical dilemmas such as the colonization of peoples, world wars, genocide programs, women’s rights and the ecological consequences of industrialization. Along with historical knowledge, the course emphasizes the development of reading, writing, speaking, cognitive and collaborative skills crucial to success in college and beyond.

HI 201 America through Civil War (3)

What was America like before Columbus? Who was Pocahontas? What caused the American Revolution? Why did America write a new Constitution in 1787? What role did slavery have in the making of America? Was the Civil War avoidable? These and other thought-provoking issues are covered in this course.

HI 202 America since Civil War (3)

A study of the political, social, economic and cultural history of the United States since its Civil War. It focuses on the moral and ethical dilemmas associated with immigration, industrialization, economic depressions, world wars, the Cold War, the rights of women, African Americans, Native Americans, and other groups. Along with historical knowledge the course emphasizes the development of reading, writing, speaking, cognitive and collaborative skills crucial to success in college and beyond.

English 102 and Communication 101 are prerequisites for all upper division courses.

HI 301 Early America (3)

American history from 1492 to 1815, analyzing the formation and growth of European colonies in America, their break with the British Empire and the formation of the United States of America.
Prerequisites: EN 102, COM 101

HI 302 American Civil War Era (3)

American History from 1815 to 1877, examining the Age of Jackson, the growth of sectionalism, the Civil War, and the Reconstruction.
Prerequisites: EN 102, COM 101

HI 304 American Between the Wars (3)

American history from 1917 to 1945, it examines the Prohibition, organized crime, the Ku Klux Klan, the “monkey trial” over the teaching of evolution, the migration of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North, the Great Depression, the New Deal and the isolationist foreign policy of the 1920s and 1930s. This course integrates history and literature through the writings of Sinclair Lewis, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway, John Steinbeck and Zora Neale Hurston.
Prerequisites: EN 102, COM 101

HI 305 Contemporary America (3)

Analyses of the forced that shaped contemporary American, focusing on the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement and the counter-cultural movements of the 1960s.
Prerequisites: EN 102, COM 101

HI 321 Ancient Europe (3)

Analyzes Ancient Greek, Hellenistic, and Roman history, politics, and culture. Focuses on political leaders such as Pericles, Julius Caesar and Augustus; philosophers such as Pythagoras, Socrates, Plate and Aristotle; poets/dramatist such as Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides. This course also examines how these civilizations viewed and treated women.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 322 Medieval Life and Thought (3)

This course integrates the perspectives of history and religion into the study of medieval Europe (ca. 500 to 1500 A.D.). Religious history combines insight into the nature of religious experiences and structures with a proper understanding of their political, economic, and social setting. This course satisfies the 300-level Religious Studies General Education Core requirement or the Interdisciplinary requirement. Prerequisites: EN 102, COM 101, and any 100-200 level History course and any 100-200 level Religion course.

HI 323 Pre-Modern Europe (3)

Emergence of Europe as the most dynamic region on earth between 1500 and 1815, including subjects such as the Renaissance, reformation, beginnings of modern science and modern nations, and the first global economy.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 324 Modern Europe (3)

Europe from 1815 to the present gained global hegemony and then lost it after World War II. Analyzes developments leading to the world wars and the Cold War, the rise of the European Common Market, and the collapse of communist regimes in Eastern Europe.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

This course examines why the United States went to war in the jungles of Southeast Asia that few Americans knew anything about. Students will examine the nature of the war itself, the tactics and strategies applied by both sides to the conflict, and experiences of soldiers on both sides. Central to the war effort, the home fronts held the keys to success or failure for both sides. Along with historical and political knowledge, the course emphasized the development of reading, writing, speaking, cognitive and collaborative skills. 
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 341 Vietnam War (3)

Why did the United States enter the conflict in Vietnam? How was it related to the Cold War? Why did President Kennedy create the Green Berets? Who Was Ho Chi Minh? How many bombs did the U.S. drop in Vietnam? What caused the My Lai massacre? These and other challenging questions will be examined in this course. Cross-listed with POL 341.

HI 344 Modern India and Southeast Asia (3)

This course surveys the history of Southeast Asia from the nineteenth century to the present. It considers the nature of the traditional communities of Southeast Asia, the imposition and impact of western colonial rules, the emergence and activities of anti-colonial movements, the formation of sovereign states, the effects of the Cold War, and contemporary politics.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 401 U.S. Constitution I (3)

Examines the nature of law and constitutionalism in the United States, with an emphasis on the struggles for power and calls for accountability from various sectors.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 402 U.S. Constitution II (3)

Examines the evolution of civil liberties in the United States, including free speech, religious liberties, rights of the accused and the right to privacy. Cross-Listed with POL 402. Offered alternate years.

HI 403 American Diplomacy (3)

This course is a historical study of America's role in the world. The course emphasizes analyses of complex questions involving U.S. relations with other nations and peoples, requiring the student to investigate primary sources and conflicting historical points of view. We will survey America's international relations from the founding of the Republic to the present, addressing a broad spectrum of foreign policy initiatives - ranging from benign and peaceful (i.e., negotiations) to coercive and violent (i.e., armed conflict) - in a variety of geographical settings.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 405 African Americans and Racial Justice (3)

Were Africans predestined to become slaves in America? What role did blacks play in the American Revolution? Did slavery cause the Civil War? What were Jim Crow laws? What roles did Martin Luther King, Jr., Ella Baker, and Malcolm X play in the Civil Rights Movement? These and other challenging questions will be examined in this course. Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 406 Women in America (3)

This course is designed to explore women’s experiences both as an integral part of American history/politics and as a distinct and exciting perspective on studying those fields. Using a variety of sources including books, letters, diaries, fiction, and film, this course will examine the public and privates lives of American women of divergent class, racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds from the colonial era to the present.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 407 History of Rock-n-Roll (3)

What gave birth to Rock’n’Roll? What gave birth to the “Teenager” and “Family Values”? How are the Blues, Jazz, Country & Western related to Rock? How did Bob Dylan and the Beatles shape the evolution of Rock? How did women influence Rock’n’Roll? What gave rise to Hip-Hop, specifically Rap? These and other mind-opening topics will be examined in this course. Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 418 International History of the Cold War (3)

This course considers problems and issues that affected different regions of the world as those problems and issues related to the Soviet-American rivalry, or the Cold War, between 1945 and 1991. Specifically, it explores the origin of the Cold War; its implications for the United States and the Soviet Union; its impact in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, South and Central Asia, East Asia, and Southeast Asia; and the collapse of Soviet style communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union itself.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 419 Contemporary World Order (3)

This course considers the rapid changes and new challenges facing humanity in the contemporary era. Using the “Rise and Fall of Great Powers” as its conceptual background, this course explores the emergence of a new world order, with special emphasis on the rise of China and other emerging market economies, accelerated globalization (i.e., the economic, cultural, and political integration of global communities), growing economic and social inequalities, as well as new social movements and key security issues.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 422 Pre-Modern Russia (3)

Explores the beginning, flourishing, and decline of the Russian Empire from the first Slaves until the October Socialist Revolution of 1917. The course will provide insights into Russian lifelong hidden behind the “iron curtain” including the history of Russian spirituality, literature, ballet, theater, folk art and other aspects of Russian culture. Classes are augmented by slides and demonstrations of Russian folk arts.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 424 Modern Russia (3)

Explores the history of Russia from the Socialist Revolution of 1917 to the present. The course of historical events and the main trends of life in contemporary Russia will be recounted and analyzed. Great works of Russian philosophers and writers, composers and artists will be interwoven with the historical observations, as well as the customs of Russian daily life, beliefs, traditions, and habits. Classes are augmented by slides, videos and materials from the Russian media and taped interviews with Russian veterans and politicians, housewives, and university students.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 438 Globalization and Capitalism (3)

This course introduces students to the study of political economy. It surveys the thought of political economists ranging from Adam Smith, Karl Marx and Joseph Schumpeter to contemporary thinkers. It also analyzes the contemporary global capitalist system as it affects inequalities, varieties of capitalism, U.S. competitiveness, the dynamics of the international financial system and the sustainability of the globe’s environment.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 439 Global Financial Crises (3)

The international financial crisis that originated in the U.S. subprime mortgage market has deeply affected the global political economy. It indicates a shift in economic power away from the advanced economies of Europe, the United States and Japan to rapidly emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil. Indeed, the crisis is likely to trigger fundamental changes in the institutional architecture of international finance and the geo-economic landscape of globalization. This course aims to provide a macro-perspective on the evolution of the global financial system since 1850, an analysis of the origins of the 2008 Financial Crisis and the likely consequences of this crisis for the global political economy to students.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 441 Dynasties of China (3)

Why did China invade Tibet in 1949, the most peaceful nation in the world?  Was Confucius popular in his lifetime?  What do the Chinese people consider as their best dynasty and why?  Did you know that China had a female emperor?  Her name was Wu Zetain.  These and many more fascinating questions will be answered in this course about the dynastic history of Pre-Modern China.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 442 Modern China (3)

Examines China’s internal and external struggles in the modern world. Including the rise and fall of the China dynasty, the Nationalist period, the civil war and communist rule.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 443 Samurai Japan (3)

What is the mythic origin of Japan? Why were women so valued during the Heian Period? What gave birth to the samurai? Why is the tragic story of Minamoto no Yoshitsune so attractive to the Japanese? Why did tea become a ceremony in Japan? How was popular culture born during the Tokugawa period? Did the ninja really exist? These and other intriguing questions will be examined in this course.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 444 Modern Japan (3)

In four short decades, how was Japan transformed from a medieval society to a modern nation? Why did Japan become imperialistic? What brought on World War II? How did America’s occupation of Japan transform the nation? What brought on Japan’s “economic miracle” after World War II? How did the status of Japanese women evolve during the modern period? Why did Japan give birth to some of the world’s best manga (comics) and anime (cartoons)? These and other fascinating topics will be covered in this course. Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101. Cross-listed with POL-444.

HI 446 Modern Middle East (3)

This course surveys the key processes, events and personalities that have shaped the societies, states and economies of the Middle East since the 18th century, with a brief study of the region prior to that time.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 450 Pre-Modern Hawaii (3)

This course is designed to broaden the understanding and appreciation of Hawaii’s oral tradition and its impact on the development of Hawaii’s history during the pre-Western contact era. Emphasis is placed on the lineal descent of significant heredity chiefs of Hawaii, Maui, O’ahu, and Kaua’i. The student will gain deeper appreciation of the importance of Oral tradition and Oratory.
Prerequisites: EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 451 Modern Hawaii (3)

This course will examine Hawaii and its peoples' pasts, focusing on the rise of the Monarchy and the challenges that led to its overthrow through the issues that confront Native Hawaiians and the people living In Hawaii today. Through these significant moments In Hawaii History we will discuss how the people, Native Hawaiian and not, adapted to these changes and each other. During the first half of this course, through the use of oral histories, cultural mythology, as well as traditional documentation we will examine the core cultural beliefs that shaped, guided and defined the Native Hawaiian people and the Kingdom of Hawaii as they confronted massive changes introduced to Hawaii through the rise of global Imperialism. The second half of this course will focus on the overthrow of the Monarchy, Hawall's subsequent annexation to the United States of America and the Issues confronted by the people of Hawaii as a territory and state within the US. Along with historical knowledge the course emphasizes the development of reading, writing, speaking, cognitive and collaborative skills crucial to success In college and the employment community. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: any 100 or 200 level history courses, EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 452 Pre-Modern Pacific Islands (3)

This course examines the settlement of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia from settlement to their colonial experiences from first contact through the 18th century. This course focuses on the indigenous development of this diverse region as well as the cross-cultural experiences of colonialism. Fulfills Global Awareness and Adaptation and Change General Education requirements. Offered alternate years, Prerequisite: any 100 or 200 level history course, EN 102 and COM 101.

HI 453 Modern Pacific Islands (3)

This course examines the impact and legacy of imperialism and colonialism on the indigenous inhabitants of the Pacific. Examining the Pacific from the 18th century to the present, this course focuses on the emergence of the Pacific as a distinct and influential region in today’s global community and how indigenous islanders have adapted and fared during this post-colonial period.
Prerequisites: EN 102, COM 101

HI 475 History and Politics of Film (3)

This course examines the settlement of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia and their colonial experiences from first contact through today. This course focuses on the indigenous development of this diverse region as well as the cross-cultural experiences of colonialism and the challenges of navigating in the global community in a post-colonial world. Fulfills Education for Adaptation and Change and Global Awareness General Education requirements. Offered alternate years. Prerequisite: EN 102, COM 101, and any 100 or 200 level history course.

HI 480 Special Topics (3)

Selected topics in history to be announced.

HI 490 Directed Study (3)

Individualized study of a topic arranged through the program advisor.
Prerequisite: Consent of instructor.

HI 494 Research Seminar (3)

This is a capstone course that explores the core principles and methodologies of historical and political studies. It also monitors the students’ career preparation. In this course, the student will conduct research in history and political science (learning outcome 4). Utilizing this research, the student will write a research paper and present it in class (learning outcome 4). The research paper written by the student will incorporate the following principles and methodologies: understanding change, continuity and causality (learning outcome 1), comprehension of the workings of politics and governance (learning outcome 2), awareness of perspectives and interpretations (learning outcome 3). During the course, the instructor will review the progress of each student in preparing for his or her career (learning outcome 5). Prerequisites: Students must be in their junior or senior year; will complete a minimum of 18 credits of the major in the semester they enroll in HI/POL 494; and have the permission of the discipline coordinator to enroll in this course.