Undergraduate Catalog

History

Chairperson: Dr. Timothy M. Roberts
Office: Morgan Hall 438
Telephone: (309) 298-1053
Email: TM-Roberts@wiu.edu
Website: wiu.edu/history

Program Offerings and Locations

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

Learning Outcomes

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

Faculty

Chamberlin, Cole, Filipink, Hall, Pamonag, Roberts, Woell.

GradTrac

GradTrac is available to History majors with an option in History or Pre-Law. See more information about GradTrac.

Honors Curriculum

Academically qualified students in this department are encouraged to complete an honors curriculum in University Honors, Honors in the Major, or General Honors. All Honors students must complete the one-hour honors colloquium (G H 299). General Honors includes General Honors coursework. Honors in the Major includes honors work in the major. University Honors combines Honors in the Major 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 Catalog for details about the integrated program.

Department Information

As the cornerstone of a liberal arts education, the study of History provides perspective on present-day problems and helps us to understand past cultures and society. As an academic discipline, its mastery requires recognition of the uniqueness of as well as patterns in past human experiences.

The mission of the Department of History is to prepare students to become informed citizens, capable of thinking critically about the past and its relevance to the present. We help students develop the analytical, research, and communication skills necessary to excel in their careers, particularly in teaching, law, business, public history, and public service, as well as in graduate school.

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 or Multicultural Perspectives 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)—37 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, 310, 333, 350, 351, 352, 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.
      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)
          3. Of those, at least 12 s.h. must be 400-level courses including HIST 420†
      2. Option Courses: POLS 122, 267: 6 s.h.
      3. Other: 36 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 390: 3 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 Electives: 2 s.h.

* Required for the major.
# The Foreign Language/Global Issues graduation requirement or Multicultural Perspectives Requirement may be fulfilled by successfully completing one of the following: 1) a designated foreign language requirement; 2) a General Education Global Issues (GEGI) course; or 3) a History (HIST) Global Issues (DSGI) 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.

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.

  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.

Dual Program

A dual program in Arts and Sciences and Law is available for History majors. Please see the Dual Programs section of this catalog for a detailed description of the program.

Course Descriptions

HISTORY (HIST)

105 American History to 1877. (3) (General Education/Humanities) A survey of American history from the first encounter of American Indians and Europeans to the Civil War era.
IAI: H2 904.

106 American History since 1877. (3) (General Education/Humanities) A survey of American history from the end of the Civil War era to the recent past.
IAI: H2 905.

115 World History to 1500. (3) (General Education/Humanities) (Multicultural) 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) (Multicultural) An introduction to the history of world societies from 1500 to the recent past 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.

211 Technology and Science in World History. (3) (Multicultural) An introduction to the history of global technology and science from ancient times to the recent past. Directed Elective Area II.

241 (Formerly HIST 341) History of Latin America. (3) (Multicultural) A survey of Latin American history and culture from the Pre-Columbian era to the recent past. Directed Elective Area II.

245 History of Asia. (3) (Multicultural) A survey of Asian history from ancient times to the recent past. 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 Recent Past. (3) (Multicultural) This course surveys the history of American Indians from pre-contact to recent times within the current area of the United States. 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) (Multicultural) A survey of the military policies and conflicts that shaped the independence, expansion, and recent world position of the United States, and the U.S. military’s role in government and society. Prerequisites: HIST 105 and 106 or enrollment in or completion of MS 311, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

306 Vietnam War. (3) A survey of the origins of the Vietnam War and of its social, diplomatic, and political impact in the U.S. Directed Elective Area I or II.

307 U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1898. (3) (Multicultural) A history of American foreign relations with emphasis on the period from the war with Spain to the recent past, stressing the development 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.

310 (Formerly HIST 210) Crime, Policing, and Punishment. (3) Exploration of the modern history of criminal justice in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe with emphasis on comparative development of criminal codes and police forces, rules of evidence, and applications of punishments, with a focus on incarceration. Prerequisite: HIST 105 or 106 or 115 or 116, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

312 Technology, Culture, and Society. (3) (Multicultural) A history of key technological developments from the Industrial Revolution to the recent past, 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) (Multicultural) A survey of African American history and culture. Not open to students with credit in AAS 314. Prerequisite: HIST 106 or AAS 100 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

316 American Environmental History. (3) A history of Americans’ interaction with their natural environment from pre-contact to the recent past 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) (Multicultural) A multicultural and historical survey of women in the United States, from 1500 to the recent past. 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) (Multicultural) A study of women and gender in Europe, from antiquity to the recent past, 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.

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

328 Europe, 1914–1968. (3) A study of Europe from 1914 to 1968. Prerequisites: 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.

337 (Cross-listed with GER 337) The Holocaust. (3) (Multicultural) Examines the pre-history, history, and post-history 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 in GER 337. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or GER 224, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

342 (Cross-listed with WS 342) Women and Gender in Asian History. (3) (Multicultural) A study of women and gender in Asia from ancient times to the recent past, with an emphasis on social, political, economic, and cultural aspects of their lives. Not open to students with credit in 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 recent past, 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) (Multicultural) A survey of Japanese history from ancient times to the recent past, 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 Modern East Asia. (3) (Multicultural) 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) (Multicultural) A study of major themes from 1800 to the recent past from an African perspective: slave trade and its abolition, European colonialism, independence movements, and problems of independence. Not open to students with credit in AAS 349. Prerequisite: HIST 116 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

350 American Colonial History. (3) A focus on the continuities and changes in the Americas after 1492 wrought by interaction of Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans to 1763. Prerequisites: HIST 105 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

351 American Revolution and the New Nation. (3) A study of the social, economic, and political causes of the American 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 Civil War Era and Reconstruction. (3) A study 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.

354 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 Recent America, 1945 to the Recent Past. (3) A study of American History from the end of World War II to the recent past. Prerequisites: HIST 106 or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I.

380 World War I. (3) (Multicultural) A study 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.

385 History of Drugs. (3) Examination of the history of drugs, in historical and modern contexts, in both the United States and globally, with a focus on cannabis and other “recreational drugs.” Prerequisite: sophomore standing or permission 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 in 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 a new political culture within the expanding postcolonial nation. 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) (Multicultural) An intensive, comparative study of the interactions between humans and the natural environment from 1500 to the recent past. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 116 or 316, or consent of instructor.

423 The Vietnam War and its Times. (3) An intensive study of the Vietnam War, with particular emphasis on domestic social and political aspects during the 1960s. Prerequisites: at least junior standing and HIST 106, or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area I or II.

426 The Enlightenment, 1721–1784. (3) Intensive 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) An intensive study 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.

431 Alexander the Great. (3) An intensive 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.

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 (as appropriate), or consent of instructor. Directed Elective Area II.

438 Hitler’s Germany, 1919 to 1949. (3) Intensive 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 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.

485 Topics in Asian History. (3, repeatable to 6) In-depth 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 recent past. 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.