Undergraduate Catalog

History

Interim Chairperson: Dr. Keith A. Boeckelman
Office: Morgan Hall 438
Telephone: (309) 298-1053; Fax: (309) 298-2540
E-mail: KA-Boeckelman@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/history

Program Offerings and Locations:

  • Bachelor of Arts in History: Macomb
  • Minor in History: Macomb, Quad Cities, Online
  • Minor in Middle Level Social Studies Teaching: Macomb

For student learning outcomes, please see wiu.edu/provost/learningoutcomes.

Faculty: Brice, Chamberlin, Cole, Filipink, Hall, Pamonag, Roberts, Woell.

As the cornerstone of a liberal arts education, the study of History helps us to understand self and society and to appreciate cultures and traditions that have shaped the present. As an academic discipline, its mastery imparts critical awareness, vital skills, and recognition of the essential value gained from pursuing greater knowledge.

The mission of the Department of History is to help students become informed citizens, capable of thinking intelligently about the past and its relevance to the present, while assisting them to develop the analytical, research, and communication skills that will enable them to excel in their chosen vocations. In support of this mission, the department offers a program that prepares graduates for success in teaching and graduate school as well as in a wide array of other careers and professions, including law, business, management, non-profits, and public service.

GradTrac is available to History and Pre-Law majors. See more information about GradTrac.

Honors Curriculum—Academically qualified students in this department are encouraged to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Departmental Honors, or General Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H 299). General Honors includes General Honors coursework. Departmental Honors includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Departmental and General Honors. View more information about honors curricula or visit the Centennial Honors College website at wiu.edu/honors.

Integrated Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Program—An integrated baccalaureate and master’s degree program is available for the Bachelor of Arts in History: Master of Arts in History. An integrated degree program provides the opportunity for outstanding undergraduates to earn both degrees in five years. Please refer to the Graduate Studies catalog for details about the integrated program.

Degree Program

Bachelor of Arts—History

All students seeking the Bachelor of Arts in History must complete I, II, and III.A, III.B, or III.C below, and the foreign language/global issues requirement for the major#. The minimum semester hour requirement for the baccalaureate degree is 120 s.h.

In accordance with the Illinois State Board of Education licensure rule, all candidates seeking a Professional Education License or endorsement are required by Western Illinois University to obtain a grade of “C-” or better in all directed general education courses, all core courses, and all courses in the option. This rule does not supersede course prerequisite requirements in the catalog that specify a letter grade.

Please see the Teacher Education section of this catalog for more information about WIU’s Teacher Education Program.

  1. University General Education and College of Arts and Sciences Curriculum Requirements: 60 s.h.
    Except Teacher Education students must complete the University General Education Curriculum Requirements (including ANTH 110, ECON 100*, GEOG 100*, GEOG 121, PSY 100, and a General Education Math course)— 43 s.h.
  2. Core Courses: 15 s.h.
    HIST 105, 106, 115, 116, 201
  3. Options of Study (Select A, B, or C)
    1. History
      1. Special Course: HIST 491† or 492†: 3 s.h.
      2. Directed Electives
        1. U.S. History (Area I): 9 s.h.
        2. World History (Area II): 9 s.h.
        3. Any additional History course: 3 s.h.
          15 of the semester hours in 2 above must be at the 300 or 400 level; of those, at least 3 semester hours must be at the 400 level.
      3. Any Minor: 16–20 s.h.
      4. Open Electives: 1–5 s.h.
    2. Pre-Law
      1. Special Courses: 15 s.h.
        HIST 491† and any four of the following courses: HIST 303, 333, 350, 351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 414, 426
      2. Directed Electives
        1. World History course (Area II): 3 s.h.
        2. Any 400-level History course: 3 s.h.
        3. Any two of the following courses: ENG 281; PHIL 420; POLS 226, 319, 410 or 411, 448; SOC 355: 6 s.h.
      3. Other: PHIL 205 and POLS 122: 6 s.h.
      4. Any approved minor: 18 s.h.
        5. Note: Must graduate with at least a 3.0 GPA in the major.
        Note: May not count toward the major a grade of D+ or lower in any course         required for this major option.
    3. History—Teacher Education
      1. History Directed Electives: 24 s.h.
        At least 24 s.h. of History courses must be taken, including:
        1. At least 12 s.h. of U.S. History (Area I)
        2. At least 12 s.h. of World History (Area II)
          Of those, at least 12 s.h. must be 400-level courses including HIST 420†
      2. Other Directed Electives: POLS 122, 267: 6 s.h.
      3. Other: 37 s.h.
        1. EDS 202, 301, 303 (2 s.h.), 304 (1 s.h.), 305, 401: 13 s.h.
        2. SSED 439, 449: 6 s.h.
        3. SPED 210, 390: 4 s.h.
        4. ENG 366 or RDG 387: 2 s.h.
        5. STCH 480 (16 weeks): 12 s.h.
        See the “Teacher Education” section for more information about WIU’s Teacher Education Program.
      4. Open Elective: 1 s.h.

* Required for the major.

# The foreign language/global issues graduation requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement [see Foreign Language/Global Issues Requirement]; 2) a General Education global issues course; or 3) a History (HIST) global issues course.

† HIST 491 or 492 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement for the History non-teaching option. HIST 491 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement for the Pre-Law option. HIST 420 fulfills the Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) graduation requirement for the History— Teacher Education option.

Minors

Minor in History: 18 s.h.
  1. Select three courses from: HIST 105, 106, 115, 116: 9 s.h.
  2. History Electives: 9 s.h.

Note: At least 6 s.h. must be earned at the upper division level at a senior institution.

Note: Transfer students may use world history credits to satisfy the major or minor requirements for HIST 115 and 116.

Minor in Middle Level Social Studies Teaching: 24 s.h.
  1. HIST 115, 116; GEOG 100; POLS 267; SSED 390: 15 s.h.
  2. Directed Electives
    1. Two upper-division courses from History Directed Electives Area I (U.S. History): 6 s.h.
    2. One upper-division course from History Directed Electives Area II (World History): 3 s.h.

Note: This minor is offered in conjunction with the major in Middle Level Education. By itself, this minor will not be sufficient for education endorsement purposes.

Course Descriptions

HISTORY (HIST)

105 American History to 1877. (3) (General Education/Humanities) A survey of American history from European backgrounds to the close of Reconstruction. IAI: H2 904.

106 American History since 1877. (3) (General Education/Humanities) A survey of American history from the end of Reconstruction to the present. IAI: H2 905.

115 World History to 1500. (3) (General Education/ Humanities or Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) An introduction to the history of world societies from human origins to 1500 emphasizing social and political institutions, economics, thought, and culture as well as cross-cultural contacts. IAI: H2 906.

116 World History since 1500. (3) (General Education/Humanities or Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) An introduction to the history of world societies from 1500 to the present emphasizing social and political institutions, economics, thought, and culture as well as cross-cultural contacts. IAI: H2 907.

201 Historical Methods. (3) Introduction to the discipline of history, including fundamental research, analytical, and writing skills required of historians. Prerequisites: History major; one of HIST 105, 106, 115, or 116; ENG 180; permission of department advisor.

210 (Formerly HIST 310) Crime, Policing, and Punishment. (3) An exploration of criminal justice in territories now composing the United Kingdom, the United States, and the nations of continental Europe, with emphasis on the integration of nation-state criminal codes and courts, professional police forces, and standardized state punishments. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106 or 115 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

211 Technology and Science in World History. (3) (General Education/Humanities) (Global Issues) An introduction to the history of global technology and science from ancient times to the present. Directed Elective Area II.

217 The History of Sports in the United States. (3) The history of American sports from their origins to the present focusing on college and professional sports as reflecting changes in American culture. Directed Elective Area I.

245 (Formerly HIST 145) History of Asia. (3) (General Education/Humanities or Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A survey of Asian history from ancient times to the present. Directed Elective Area II.

300 Urban America. (3) A survey of the growth and development of American urban society. The course is designed to show both how technological, economic, social, and political forces have shaped our cities over time and how cities have affected American life. No prerequisite. Directed Elective Area I.

302 American Indian History, Pre-Contact to the Present. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) This course surveys the history of American Indians from pre-contact to recent times within the current area of the U.S. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

303 American Legal History. (3) A study of American law, emphasizing the origins and development of fields of law and legal institutions, and the relationship between the law and American society and politics. Prerequisite: 3 s.h. of U.S. History or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

304 United States Military History. (3) (Global Issues) A survey of the military policies and engagements which had significance in America’s independence, expansion, and present world position. Prerequisites: HIST 105 and 106 or enrollment in or completion of MS 311, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

307 U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1898. (3) (Global Issues) A history of American foreign relations with emphasis on the period from the war with Spain to the present, stressing the behavior of the United States as a world power. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

308 American West. (3) The settlement and development of the West from the Appalachian Range to the Pacific Ocean. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

309 American South. (3) A survey of the American South from the colonization period to the present. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

311 History of Flight Culture. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A cross-cultural survey of the origins, development, and representation of human flight from the ancient world to the present. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

312 Technology, Culture, and Society. (3) (Global Issues) A history of key technological developments from the Industrial Revolution to the present, with an emphasis on how these innovations have transformed human culture and society. Directed Elective Area I or II.

314 (Cross-listed with AAS 314) African American History. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) A survey of African American history and culture. Not open to students with credit for AAS 314. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or AAS 100 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

316 (Formerly HIST 422) American Environmental History. (3) A history of Americans’ interaction with their natural environment from pre-contact to the present with special emphasis on the last two hundred years. BGS online writing course. Prerequisites: HIST 105 or 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

317 (Cross-listed with WS 317) Women in American History. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) A multicultural and historical survey of women in the United States, from 1500 to the present. Not open to students with credit in WS 317. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

318 (Cross-listed with WS 318) Women and Gender in European History. (3) (General Education/ Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A study of women and gender in Europe, from antiquity to the present, focusing on changes in culture, society, the economy, and politics. Not open to students with credit in WS 318. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

319 Ancient Near East and Egypt. (3) Intermediate survey covering several ancient civilizations in an area that includes the modern Middle East, Egypt, Persia, and Turkey, beginning with the emergence of civilization in Mesopotamia and continuing to the conquest of Alexander the Great. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

320 Ancient Greece. (3) A study of Hellenic civilization and the institutional and cultural life of the Greeks. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

321 Ancient Rome. (3) A study of Roman civilization from the Republic through the Empire. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

322 Pre-Modern Military History. (3) Intermediate survey of military history from the ancient world through the Renaissance. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

323 The Crusades. (3) A history of the Christian Crusades (1095–1291), emphasizing the historical contexts, causes, and impacts of the conflicts that started in the Eastern Mediterranean and spread to France, Spain, and the Baltic. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

324 Middle Ages. (3) A study of the political, economic, and cultural institutions of Europe from the Germanic invasions and the fall of Rome to 1300. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

325 Early Modern Europe, 1350–1648. (3) Study of political, economic, social, and cultural developments of early modern Europe from the mid-fourteenth to mid-seventeenth centuries, including the Renaissance, the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, the age of religious wars, state-building, witchcraft persecution, and the Age of Discovery. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

326 Old-Regime Europe, 1648–1815. (3) An intermediate survey of European politics, society, economics, and culture; with emphasis on how Old-Regime beliefs, practices, and institutions either culminated or broke down in the French Revolution and the Napoleonic era. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

327 (Formerly HIST 428) Nineteenth-Century Europe. (3) A study of Europe from 1815 to 1914. Prerequisites: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

328 (Formerly HIST 429) Europe, 1914–1968. (3) A study of Europe from 1914 to 1968. Prerequisites: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

329 Great-Power Diplomacy. (3) A history of relations between the great powers from the 1890s to the present. In addition to the major European powers, the course includes the U.S., China, and Japan. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

333 Britain to 1688. (3) A survey of British social and political history, with emphasis on constitutional development. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

334 Britain since 1688. (3) A survey of the political, social, and economic factors behind the rise and decline of Britain as a world power. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

337 (Cross-listed with GER 337) The Holocaust. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) Examines the pre-history, history, and posthistory of the Holocaust and its representations from a German Studies perspective and within the broader context of European culture. Not open to students with credit for GER 337. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or GER 224, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

338 Germany. (3) A survey of German history from beginnings to the present time. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

341 History of Latin America. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) (Global Issues) A survey of Latin American history and culture from the Pre-Columbian era to the present. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

342 (Cross-listed with WS 342) Women and Gender in Asian History. (3) (General Education/ Multicultural Studies) A study of women and gender in Asia from ancient times to the present, with an emphasis on social, political, economic, and cultural aspects of their lives. Not open to students with credit for WS 342. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

345 China. (3) A survey of Chinese history from ancient times to the present, with emphasis from the late dynastic (Ching) period through the Cultural Revolution. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

346 Japan. (3) (Global Issues) A survey of Japanese history from ancient times to the present, with emphasis on the period from the late feudal (Tokugawa) period. Prerequisite: HIST 115 or 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

347 (Formerly HIST 445) Modern East Asia. (3) (Global Issues) A study of China, Japan, and Korea in the 20th century. Prerequisites: HIST 116 or 245 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

349 (Cross-listed with AAS 349) Africa since 1800. (3) (General Education/Multicultural Studies) A study of major themes from 1800 to the present from an African perspective: slave trade and its abolition, European colonialism, independence movements, and problems of independence. Not open to students with credit for AAS 349. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

350 (Formerly HIST 412) American Colonial History. (3) A history of the discovery, settlement, and development of the American colonies to 1763. Prerequisites: HIST 105 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

351 (Formerly HIST 413) American Revolution and the New Nation. (3) An intermediate survey of the social, economic, and political causes of the American Revolution, the War of Independence, the development of a new system of government, and the early years of the new nation to 1824. Prerequisites: HIST 105 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

352 (Formerly HIST 415) Civil War Era and Reconstruction. (3) An intermediate survey of the political, social, economic, military, and diplomatic history of the period 1824 to 1877, with focus on the causes, course, and consequences of the American Civil War. Prerequisites: HIST 105 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

353 (Formerly HIST 416) America in Transition, 1877–1914. (3) An examination of the forces transforming America from Reconstruction to the Wilson administration. Prerequisites: HIST 106 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

354 (Formerly HIST 418) Emergence of Modern America, 1914–1945. (3) A study of American history from World War I to the end of World War II. Prerequisites: HIST 106 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

355 (Formerly HIST 419) Recent America, 1945 to Present. (3) An examination of American History from the end of World War II to the present. Prerequisites: HIST 106 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

380 The Great War, 1914–1918. (3) (Global Issues) A history of World War I emphasizing military, cultural, political, and technological developments and the conflict’s global impact in shaping the twentieth century. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

381 World War II. (3) A history of the Second World War emphasizing the military conflict’s impact in transforming politics, cultures, and societies around the globe and its foundational role in sparking the “Cold War” that dominated the last half of the twentieth century. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

399 Imperial Russia, 1689–1917. (3) A survey of major cultural, intellectual, and political developments within the Russian Empire from the reign of Peter the Great to the fall of the Romanov dynasty. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

402 (Cross-listed with AAS 402) The Civil Rights Movement. (3) An intensive study of the history of the African American civil rights movement concentrating on the post-WWII era. The course also examines the contested historical memory over the long black freedom struggle. Not open to students with credit for AAS 402. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and either HIST 106 or AAS 100; or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

414 Early American Republic, 1800–1848. (3) An intensive study of the development of the United States from 1800 to 1848, emphasizing the development of political culture within the expanding nation, among post-revolutionary Americans. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 105, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

420 Capstone Seminar: Illinois History. (3) Periods and themes in Illinois history including social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental change. Working in a seminar setting, students complete a major historical research project. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: HIST 105, 106, and 201; ENG 280; and at least junior standing; or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

421 Seminar in Global Environmental History. (3) (Global Issues) This thematic seminar is an indepth comparative, historical study of the interactions between humans and the natural environment from 1500 to the present. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 116 or 316, or consent of instructor.

423 The Vietnam War and Its Times. (3) A seminar on the Vietnam War, with particular emphasis on domestic social and political aspects during the 1960s. Research in primary sources will be required. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

426 The Enlightenment, 1721–1784. (3) Advanced study of a cultural revolution in the Atlantic world; a “republic” of philosophers, ideas, and debates; social institutions promoting reform; emergence of new media, mass literacy, public opinion, and private sentiment, and the broader context in which these flourished. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

427 French Revolution and Napoleon. (3) A detailed examination of the period from 1789 to 1815 in Europe. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

430 Topics in Ancient History. (3, repeatable to 6 with permission of department chairperson) Study of a theme or chronological period in Greek or Roman History. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 115, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

431 Alexander the Great. (3) Advanced study of the life, achievements, and historical context of Alexander III of Macedon, with particular focus on his impact outside Europe. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 319 or 320, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

433 Tudor/Stuart England: 1485–1714. (3) Political, economic, cultural, and social history of early modern England during the reigns of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs, emphasizing social structures, cultural movements, religious continuity and change, and constitutional developments. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 115 or 325 or 333, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

434 Topics in British History. (3, repeatable to 6 with permission of department chairperson) Selected topics dealing with the political, social, and economic development of Britain. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 115 or 116 or 333 or 334 (as appropriate), or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

438 Hitler’s Germany, 1919 to 1949. (3) Study of Germany from the end of World War I to its division following World War II, focusing on the Weimar Republic, the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, the Holocaust, and Germany’s postwar breakup. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 116 or 338, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

451 Problems in History. (1–6, repeatable to 6) Research into areas not specifically covered in other courses. Course credit depends on the nature of the problem and the length of time required to complete the project. Only 3 s.h. may be applied to major or minor requirements. Prerequisites: 9 s.h. of History, 3 s.h. of which must be from WIU; junior standing; and consent of instructor.

452 Readings in History. (1–3, repeatable to 3) Prerequisites: 9 s.h. of History, 3 s.h. of which must be from WIU; junior standing; and consent of instructor.

482 Topics in European History. (3, repeatable to 6) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in European history. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 115 or 116 (as appropriate), or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

483 Topics in the History of Science and Technology. (3) In-depth study of a subject or theme in the History of Science and Technology. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: HIST 105, 106, 115, or 116, and at least junior standing; or consent of the instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

485 Topics in Asian History. (3, repeatable to 6) Indepth study of a theme or chronological period in Asian History. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 116 or 345 or 346 or 347, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

488 Topics in U.S. History. (3, repeatable to 6) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in U.S. history, from the colonial period to the present. Topics will vary. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 105 or 106 (as appropriate), or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

490 Honors Thesis in History. (3) The preparation by an honors student of an undergraduate History thesis under the direction of one or more members of the History Department. Prerequisite: Honors major in History with junior or senior standing.

491 Capstone Seminar in History. (3) Historical research and writing in a seminar setting is the primary focus of this course. Students will complete a major historical research project. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: History major; HIST 105, 106, 115, 116, and 201; at least two upper-division History courses; ENG 280; at least junior standing; and permission of department advisor.

492 Capstone Seminar in Public History. (3) This thematic seminar will focus on the theory and practice of public history and introduce students to methodologies and approaches used by public historians. Students will complete a major historical research project. Writing Instruction in the Disciplines (WID) course. Prerequisites: HIST 105, 106, 115, 116, and 201; at least two upper-division History courses; ENG 180 and 280; at least junior standing; and permission of department advisor.

494 Internship. (1-12, repeatable to 12) Supervised experience of work in archives, historical institutions, or other institutions requiring historical expertise. Prerequisites: consent of department chairperson and junior or senior standing.