History
Kimberly Schauman Davis, Assistant Professor
Peter C. P. van Lidth de Jeude, Professor
Faculty from other disciplines also support this program.
The study of history provides a depth of perspective that allows us to address the problems of today’s world with an understanding of how they have been shaped by human experience over time and what forces are likely to shape them in the future. It develops an ability to analyze processes of change; to discern causes and effects; to distinguish what is lasting and significant from what is relatively temporary and trivial; to understand multiple forms of data and convert that understanding into clear, comprehensible narrative; and to see beyond the boundaries of our own time and place.
Principia’s history program emphasizes chronology, sequence, and the broader context of human events. It addresses the moral issues raised by these events and the ethics of how we analyze and record them. Because many issues historians focus on today are global and engage the expertise of multiple disciplines, attention is also given to developing a global perspective and an awareness of how multiple disciplines contribute to the historical narrative.
Students in Principia's History Department explore historical thinking, master historical knowledge, engage in historical research and analysis, and learn to communicate effectively within the discipline of history. The History Department offers programs of study in all global regions and across all eras of history to help students make broader and deeper connections with the college’s courses offered in (among others) literature, languages and culture, economics, political science, religion, philosophy, and sociology that enrich and complement the course offerings in history in the spirit of the liberal arts.
To ensure students learn the full breadth of human history, the History Department requires foundational surveys that are then built upon in required courses from multiple eras of history. To facilitate students hearing multiple perspectives, including ones traditionally overlooked, a course in an otherwise marginalized perspective is required. To ground students in the discipline of History, students are required to take multiple courses in historical methodology, with both History majors and minors needing to complete HIST 297 Historical Thinking & Research and HIST 270 History Focus Seminar.
For history majors, this foundational knowledge is then augmented via multiple electives in topics of the student’s choice, as well as two capstone courses, HIST 497 Designing Capstone Research and HIST 498 Capstone Research & Writing, which give students the opportunity to craft and complete a major research project of their choosing. To provide adequate depth, three courses in addition to the capstone sequence must be at the 300-level or above.
It is strongly recommended that history majors know a second language up to the 200-level or equivalent. If a student chooses to study a language not offered at the College, they should consult with the Department of Languages and Cultures and the Registrar about transfer of credit.
Departmental Learning Outcomes
1. Understand Historical Thinking
Students will demonstrate a comprehension of how chronology, contextual influences, and culture shape how historians think as they read, research, and write history.
2. Master Historical Knowledge
Students will demonstrate mastery of core knowledge and advanced knowledge in one or more specific areas.
3. Engage in Historical Research
Students will demonstrate an ability to frame historical questions, access and evaluate sources, and conduct historical research.
4. Communicating Effectively Within The Discipline of History
Students will demonstrate the ability to speak, write, read, and listen effectively in historical contexts.
College Wide Student Learning Outcomes of Principia College: Defining a Liberal Arts Education
The curricular and co-curricular programs at Principia College are designed for students to be lifelong learners, thinkers, and problem-solvers. To accomplish this, the College has established the following outcomes for its graduates.
Guided by Principle, Principia College students will demonstrate:
- Depth and breadth of knowledge
- Critical and creative thinking
- Effective communication
- Intellectual inquiry and engagement
- Active commitment to community and global citizenship
HIST 110 Fndn. of American Liberty 3.0 SH [GEH]
A survey of American history from the colonial era to the present which looks at how the concept of liberty has both changed and been changed through the centuries.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
HIST 111 Historical Perspectives 3.0 SH [GEH]
Develops a particular historical theme or subject for the exploration of the nature and purpose of history and what the historian does. Analyzes the connection between historical study and the modern world. The title will be extended to describe the current topic. May be taken twice provided the topics differ.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
HIST 140 Fndn. of Western Thought 3.0 SH [GEH]
A survey of European history from its earliest roots to the modern era which looks at how Western civilization and culture was formed and has evolved over the centuries.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
HIST 160 U.S. in the 20th Century 3.0 SH [GEH]
The transition from a rural to an urban and industrial society and the emergence of the United States as a world power. Topical treatment of problem areas in modern U.S. history.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
HIST 180 Fndns. of the Globalized World 3.0 SH [GEH]
A survey of global history which looks at the concept of global civilization and studies the patterns and trends found in the emergence, development, and fall of civilizations in an increasingly interconnected world.
HIST 185 World History I 3.0 SH [GEH]
A survey of world history from the origins of humankind to 1500.
HIST 186 World History II 3.0 SH [GEH]
A survey of world history from 1500 CE to the present.
HIST 189 Religious Conflict & History 3.0 SH [GEH]
The course emphasizes the importance of global religions on the world political scene with greater relevance to the historical roots of religious and political disputes in such hotly-contested areas as Israel, India-Pakistan, Northern Ireland, Sudan, and South Sudan.
HIST 195 People of Courage 3.0 SH [GEH]
Course explores people of courage who took dramatic initiatives, often facing tradition, hostility, prejudice, and skepticism, and made a lasting contribution to humanity. Students study the people and their times, the conditions and environment within which they worked.
Class Level Restriction: Freshman and Sophomore only.
HIST 201 Colonial Americas 3.0 SH [GEH]
Since the late 1400s, Europeans from England, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain have colonized parts of the Americas. This course looks at the colonial history of the Americas from the arrival of the first Europeans in 1492 through independence from Europe. By the end of the course, students will have a firm understanding of European colonialism in the Americas.
HIST 202 American Revolution 3.0 SH [GEH]
Discusses the late colonial period, the Revolutionary War, and the emerging republic. Focuses on the issues surrounding the emergence of the new democracy in North America, with emphasis on the period from 1754-1800.
HIST 203 U.S. Civil War Era 3.0 SH [GEH]
The great cultural tragedy of 19th-century American experience. Focus is on the causes and effects of divergent growth patterns of South and North, including a careful examination of American slavery; personalities of the sections; political, social, and military activities of the war.
HIST 216 Ancient Greece and Rome 3.0 SH [GEH]
A study of classical Greek and Roman civilization.
HIST 220 Civilization 3.0 SH [GEH]
The application of historical method to the observation, description, and survey of a culture. Each time the course is taught, it focuses on a particular aspect of civilization and the title will be extended to describe the current civilization studied. May be taken more than once provided the cultures studied are different.
HIST 221 Immigration and Acculturation 3.0 SH [GEH]
Using a historical lens, students are introduced to major periods of immigration in America and the issues of immigration at each point in time. Students examine and use data sets to see how social scientists gather, interpret, and report data on immigration and acculturation at the local, state, and national level.
HIST 222 Latin America 3.0 SH [GEH]
Background and historical development of Latin American countries of South and Central America.
HIST 227 Women in American History 3.0 SH [GEH]
This course examines women's lives in the United States from the colonial period to the present. Themes include the private and family experiences of women, the nature of women's work and education, and the political and civic role of women. The class also looks at how differences of class, ethnicity, and race have affected women's experiences.
HIST 234 Radicalism in Modern America 3.0 SH [GEH]
The course examines radical organizations on both sides of the political spectrum. Focuses on the individuals and groups that decided only radical actions could solve America's problems. The class covers the 19th century to the present, with a focus on the Ku Klux Klan, the Populists, the Communist Party, and the Weather Underground Organization.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
HIST 235 African American History 3.0 SH [GEH]
This course surveys African American history from the Atlantic slave trade through the present day. Students examine the social, economic, intellectual, and political forces that shaped the lives of African Americans, as well as the ways African Americans shaped the course of United States history. A particular focus is African Americans' long fight for civil rights.
HIST 240 Islam: History and Religion 3.0 SH [GEH]
An introduction to the foundation and historical development of Islam, including intellectual trends, varieties of religious practice and belief, the role of issues such as gender, war, and politics in Islam in the past and present, and the emergence of fundamentalist and political Islam in the contemporary period. Also listed as RELS 240.
HIST 255 The Middle Ages 3.0 SH [GEH]
The events, ideas, and people that shaped the foundations of Western civilization. This course covers the period from the fall of the Roman Empire until the Renaissance of the 15th century. Topics include the evolution and legacy of feudalism, the rise of towns, the growth of national monarchies, the medieval church and its influence, the Crusades, and the intellectual contest between faith and reason.
HIST 260 From Renaissance to Revolution 3.0 SH [GEH]
This survey examines the events and changes in thought that shaped the modern European world and its global impact between the end of the Middle Ages about 1400 C.E. and the American and French Revolutions at the end of the 18th century. Major topics include the Renaissance, the Protestant Reformation, the scientific revolution, the growth of nation-states, Europe's global expansion, the Enlightenment, and the movement toward democracy and industrial society by the close of this period.
HIST 264 Revolutionary Europe 1789-1914 3.0 SH [GEH]
This course focuses on the dramatic political, economic, and social transformations of 19th century Europe with special emphasis on France, Germany, and Britain. It examines new thought patterns that took form in the many "isms" of these times and their implications for the contemporary world. Covers the period from the French Revolution to World War I.
HIST 265 20th Century Europe 3.0 SH [GEH]
An examination of the major developments in Europe since World War I with special emphasis on Germany and the Soviet Union. The course investigates the continuing development of new thought patterns, especially those that result from reactions to World Wars I and II.
HIST 270 History Focus Seminar 1.0 SH [ ]
This seminar develops an awareness of major problems/issues in the world today, including a geographical understanding of those problems/issues and an historical understanding of the way in which they are interconnected. May be taken four times up to a total of four semester hours.
Field of Study Restrictions: History Majors and/or Minors only.
HIST 275 South African History 3.0 SH [GEH]
The course explores the complicated pattern of race relations in South Africa, intensifying under the apartheid system and the country's emergence as a fully democratic state in the modern era.
HIST 280 Pre-Modern China 3.0 SH [GEH]
In this course, students will study the major social, political, economic and cultural developments of China from Neolithic times up to 1799 (Qing Dynasty).
HIST 284 Gender, Law, & Religion 3.0 SH [GEH]
This course examines the intersection of concepts of gender, law, and religion historically and in the present. It addresses the importance of varied definitions of gender in religious life and in legal contexts, and the way in which historical, cultural, and religious expectations about gender have affected legal practices and theories. Also listed as RELS 284.
HIST 297 Historical Thinking & Research 3.0 SH [ ]
An introduction to the field of history as a way of thinking and an evolving body of research via exploration of the discipline through the following topics: what is history; an introduction to historiography, the theory and practice of history, locating sources, bridging disciplines, utilizing a multicultural lens with cultural sensitivity, recognizing moral issues, and the ethics of the profession.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior only.
Field of Study Restrictions: History, Religious Studies Majors and/or Minors only.
HIST 301 Social Issues and the Courts 3.0 SH [GEH]
This course looks at current social issues such as free speech, abortion, privacy, affirmative action, crime, hate speech, "taking," and states' rights from the perspective of evolving discussions of the meaning of the United States Constitution/Bill of Rights in society and in the courts. The focus is on legal reasoning in U.S. Supreme Court cases and the attempt to balance historical and evolving interpretations of the Constitution with the contemporary circumstances that generated the legal cases.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
HIST 306 Native Americas 3.0 SH [GEH]
In this course, we explore the history of the Americas through the lens of its indigenous people. By the end of the course, students will have a firm understanding of the cultural diversity of indigenous Americas and the ways in which these people have contributed to the history of the Americas.
HIST 310 The Cold War 3.0 SH [ ]
An examination of the causes, development, and eventual resolution of the U.S. - Soviet confrontation from the breakdown of the World War II alliance to the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Topics include the division of Germany and Europe, the Korean conflict, the nuclear arms race, superpower competition for the Third World, detente, and the reasons for the Soviet Union's ultimate collapse.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
HIST 311 Topics in History 3.0 SH [GEH]
A seminar on a topic in history at the advanced level. The content varies, and the title will be extended to describe the current topic. May be repeated up to a total of three times provided the topics differ.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
HIST 335 Middle East 3.0 SH [GEH]
Past political, social, and cultural circumstances which explain the nature of present problems.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
HIST 350 Fascism and Nazism 3.0 SH [GEH]
This class explores both fascism as an ideology as well as its historical impact through a primary focus on Germany during the Nazi regime. Additionally, students will grapple with the legacy of fascism and Nazism today and the lessons that can and should be learned from this troubling and contentious history.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
HIST 351 God and the Holocaust 3.0 SH [GEH]
This course helps students understand the historical background, context, events, and aftermath of the Holocaust. We will also be addressing the implications and repercussions of the Holocaust on religious practice and theology. Finally, the course is intended to encourage students independently to develop their own prayerful response to examples of violence and evil. Also listed as RELS 365.
Class Level Restriction: Sophomore and Junior and Senior only.
HIST 370 Jews, Christians, & Muslims 3.0 SH [GEH]
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam sometimes interact harmoniously, but at other periods have fought bitterly. This course compares these religions theologically, legally, and culturally; traces the history of the interactions among these religions; and also examines contemporary relations between these three religions. Also listed as RELS 370.
HIST 382 Modern China 3.0 SH [GEH]
In this course, students will study the major social, political, and economic developments in China from the end of the Qing Dynasty to the present.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
HIST 402 Reading in History 3.0 SH [ ]
Individual reading in student-selected and faculty-approved topics in history. Designed for majors seeking to deepen their knowledge of a specific field of history.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
Field of Study Restrictions: History Majors only.
HIST 431 Historiography 3.0 SH [ ]
Critical readings of a selection of historical works focused on a common theme. Seminar conducted by the entire history faculty.
Prerequisite: 3.0 GPA.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
HIST 497 Designing Capstone Research 3.0 SH [ ]
Advanced research methods in history for senior history majors as they initiate their capstone research. Includes topic selection, research techniques including use of Internet resources, bibliographic development, and library skills.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.
Field of Study Restrictions: History Majors only.
HIST 498 Capstone Research & Writing 3.0 SH [ ]
Advanced research methods for senior history majors as they conduct their research and complete their history capstone requirement.
Class Level Restriction: Junior and Senior only.