Current Undergraduate Courses
See course descriptions below or contact Kathy Lillich, Academic Advisor, for more information about course specifics.
Interested in a History Minor? It takes fewer than one course per semester! Check out our History Minor page for more information. The Department also offers a Grand Strategies Certificate with interdisciplinary classes for interested students.
Spring 2027 Course Descriptions
HIST 111: World History to 1450 Taught by Dr. David Graff Major developments in the history of the world from the earliest civilizations to the eve of European expansion in the fifteenth century. Major topics include the origins of civilization in different parts of the world, the emergence of foundational philosophies and belief systems, the rise and fall of empires, and the increasing contact and integration between world regions as a result of trade, conquest, pilgrimage, and exploration. Particular attention will be devoted to comparison of key developments, conditions, and trends across continents and civilizations. HIST 112-A: World History from 1450 Taught by Dr. Nadia Oweidat Major trends in the history of the world from the 15th century to the present. Global patterns of contact, mutual influence, and interdependence. HIST 151-A: History of the United States to 1877 Taught by Kenzie Jansonius (GTA) In this course we will consider the history of the United States from the Columbian and pre-contact eras with native peoples to the era of America’s Civil War and Reconstruction by way of themes and perspectives, paying particular attention to rising political tensions as well as the fundamental importance of America’s rural and agrarian past. HIST 152-A: History of the United States Since 1877 Taught by Dr. Suzanne Orr HIST 152-ZA: History of the United States Since 1877 Taught by Damon Penner (GTA) None. HIST 300-A: Introduction to Historical Thinking Taught by Dr. Suzanne Orr This course provides history majors and other students with an introduction to the ideas, concepts, and skills required to earn a history degree. Enrollment in HIST 300 is open to all interested students; requires Departmental permission to enroll. HIST 301-A: Topics in History: Games and History Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom From Red Dead Redemption to Civilization, or Call of Duty to Hades, many digital games draw on history. Some strive for accuracy or authenticity; others are playful or intentionally subversive. In this discussion-based class, we will explore what games have to say about history, how we learn through games, and ultimately how video games may help us to think about the past. Students will play games, read history, and as a final project conceptualize their own historical game. HIST 301-ZA: Topics in History: The History of Civil Aviation Taught by Dr. Phil Tiemeyer This course analyzes how air travel, especially via airlines, has developed over the last century. What started as a remote dream—that humans could fly—became a miraculous reality by the 1920s and 30s and then gradually became a more mundane but vital resource that minimized distances between far-flung places all around the world. As such, this course traces the dreams and realities tied to aviation technology as it blossomed over the past century. The course also considers how and why the United States became the world’s most aviation-fixated culture in the world, while also examining how aviation took root elsewhere, even in smaller and poorer countries in the Global South. Another important focus is the people tied to aviation—the pilots, flight attendants, tourists, and migrants who filled these planes as they traversed the globe. Overall, the course focuses less on the “what” of aviation (famous aviators and airlines) and more on the “so what”: how and why aviation has become a vital part of the human experience. HIST 301-C: Topics in History: Sister Republics: The United States Through French Eyes Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom HIST 320: History of Technology Taught by Dr. Michael Krysko Explore why Americans have an enthusiasm for technology & see it as a symbol of progress. HIST 340: The Middle Ages, 500-1500 AD Taught by Dr. David Defries An introduction to western Europe during the Middle Ages (c. 500-1500 AD). We will compare the "Three Heirs of Rome" (the West, Byzantium and the Islamic World) and discuss the West from a global perspective. HIST 342: Middle East History 1914-Now Taught by Dr. Nadia Oweidat The history of the modern Middle East & North Africa region, including the pivotal period between World War I to the transformative events of the Arab Spring. HIST 365: World War II in Europe None. HIST 510: World War I Taught by Dr. Andrew Orr HIST 526-ZA: American Revolution Taught by Dr. Louise Breen Online HIST 534: Social History of Medicine Taught by Dr. Heather McCrea HIST 544: U.S. Foreign Relations Since 1920 Taught by Dr. Michael Krysko HIST 586: Advanced Seminar in History Taught by Dr. Louise Breen
Online, Class meets 03/24/2027-05/14/2027
* While the content of this course is offered asynchronously, many of the graded materials (tests, oral exams, conversations) will happen at specific dates and times when a student must be present via Zoom. Class meets from 01/19/2027-03/12/2027.
How does the United States look from France? This introductory history class, open to students at all levels, will answer that question through major French figures such as the Marquis de Lafayette, Alexis de Tocqueville, and Simone de Beauvoir. Why was France so invested in the American Revolution? What did the gift of the Statue of Liberty mean? How did French people make sense of the tidal wave of American culture that swept over France (and the world) in the 20th century, embodied in expat African-Americans such as Josephine Baker or James Baldwin, as well as in the hundreds of thousands of GIs who fought their way through France in the 1940s? The French have been keen and invested observers of the United States since before the country even existed – let us see ourselves through their eyes, and in so doing learn about the shared history of these sister republics.
HIST 301-D: Topics in History
Taught by Dr. Brent Maner
The “long nineteenth century”—from the French Revolution to World War I—was so important for the development of museums. This was an era of democratization, urbanization, and industrialization, as well as national unifications, imperial expansion, and incredible advances in medicine and science. Museums were shaped by these sweeping developments. The democratizing impulse transformed royal (private) collections into public museums. Museums became central sites where a national story could be told. European imperialism included the acquisition (through purchase, power grabs, and theft) of artifacts from around the globe to be displayed in museums for ethnology and anthropology. So, we’ll consider both what we learn about museums by studying Europe, and what we learn about Europeans by studying their museums.
Taught by Zane Whitney, GTA
From Hitler’s rise to power, to siege of Stalingrad, to the Normandy landings, this class will follow the unfolding of WWII on both eastern and western fronts until the meeting of Soviet and American troops on the Elbe River in 1945. In addition to the belligerents’ grand strategies and the unfolding of specific battles, this class will look at the ways the war affected people and societies.
HIST 510 explores the origins, course, and effects of the First World War. The class pays special attention to grand strategy, the role of Nationalism in shaping the war, the social effects of the conflict, and the challenges of ending a total war. Major topics include the history of major military operations, the Armenian genocide, the Communist Revolution in Russia, and the role of the United States in the war.
This course covers the colonists’ protests against British authority; the wrenching process of choosing sides; the violence of war on battlefields and home fronts; the framing of the U.S. Constitution; and the impact of revolutionary ferment and independence on women, enslaved persons, and Native Americans.
This course focuses on the social history of public health, disease, and medicine. Geographically, the course focuses on the Western world. However, the course also integrates regions and peoples from around the globe. After all, disease and human suffering know no boundaries. Thematically, this course highlights class struggle, policymaking, race, ethnicity, sexuality and gender. Plus, we study fantastic stuff like cholera, TB, STD's, Eugenics, Midwifery, Veterinary Science, and more.
This course covers the U.S. military base network from its inception to the present. In doing so we'll address a wide range of topics, from the relationship between U.S. troops and populations of host nations, to imperialism, to the environmental impact of U.S. installations. Students will develop an understanding of the U.S. military presence around the globe through several lenses such as imperialism, environment and gender. They will become familiar with different theories of empire, contextualize the United States' current global presence, and form an opinion about the appropriate terminology to describe it.
HIST 585: Medieval Christianity, 500-1500 AD
Taught by Dr. David Defries
A survey of the development of Christianity in western Europe during the Middle Ages (c. 500-1500 AD). We will discuss what most historians argue about the development of western Christian beliefs, practices and institutions, including medieval interpretations of the Christian Bible.
Fall 2026 Course Descriptions
HIST 101: Western Civilization I: Ancient Greece to Early Modern Europe
Taught by Dr. David Defries
Did Western Civilization exist before 1844 AD? This course is an introduction to what most academic historians say about the development of pre-modern Western Civilization (c. 600 BC - c. 1700 AD). It is for all students.
HIST 111: World History to 1450
Taught by Dr. David Graff
Major developments in the history of the world from the earliest civilizations to the eve of European expansion in the fifteenth century. Major topics include the origins of civilization in different parts of the world, the emergence of foundational philosophies and belief systems, the rise and fall of empires, and the increasing contact and integration between world regions as a result of trade, conquest, pilgrimage, and exploration. Particular attention will be devoted to comparison of key developments, conditions, and trends across continents and civilizations.
HIST 112-A: World History from 1450 (First Year Seminar)
Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom
Major trends in the history of the world from the 15th century to the present. Global patterns of contact, mutual influence, and interdependence.
HIST 112-B: World History from 1450
Taught by Dr. Nadia Oweidat
Major trends in the history of the world from the 15th century to the present. Global patterns of contact, mutual influence, and interdependence.
HIST 151-ZB: History of the United States to 1877 (course runs 10/19/26-12/18/26)
Taught by Kenzie Jansonius, GTA
In this course we will consider the history of the United States from the Columbian and pre-contact eras with native peoples to the era of America’s Civil War and Reconstruction by way of themes and perspectives, paying particular attention to rising political tensions as well as the fundamental importance of America’s rural and agrarian past.
HIST 151-D: History of the United States to 1877
Taught by Dr. Kristen Epps
The goal of this course is to gain a basic understanding of the main events, ideologies, and political and social movements that shaped the region that is now the United States from the pre-contact period through Reconstruction.
HIST 152-A: History of the United States Since 1877
Taught by Dr. Michael Krysko
This course is an introductory survey to American history since 1877. Beginning with the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, we will examine an array of historical events, developments, issues, and trends that continue to influence the world we live in today and the individuals we have become. We will devote considerable attention to numerous historical subjects following the difficult reunification of the U.S. after the Civil War, including: the rise of the modern Democratic and Republican parties, segregation, the economic transformation of the 19th century, the rise of mass consumption and consumerism, education, the Depression, foreign relations (esp. late 19th century imperialism and the wars of the 20th century), the Civil Rights movement, and modern feminism. In the process, I hope you will begin to see how a world we often take for granted is a product of countless decisions made by others who came before us, and that the relationships between peoples, cultures, and nations in this historical past have exerted a tremendous influence over the lives we are able to lead in the 21st century.
HIST 155: Introduction to US Military History
Taught by Charles Sexton (Instructor)
The United States is a nation forged in war, which makes it critical for students to engage with military history in order to gain an understanding of their country’s history. In this class, we will look at American military history since 1775 and ask two overarching questions: What role has the United States played in war? And, conversely, how has conflict shaped the United States?
Military history is a vibrant field that has been evolving to encompass an ever-growing range of studies tied to the armed forces, conflict, and wartime. In addition to operational warfare, military history looks at the ways that nations, institutions, societies, and people prepare for, wage, or recover from war. This class will thus integrate both traditional operational history and larger questions connecting war and society.
HIST 200: Topics in History for Freshmen and Sophomores: Christianity to 1500 AD
Taught by Dr. David Defries
This course is an introduction to what most academic historians say about the development of pre-modern Christianity. In other words, this is not what most people encounter in churches. It is for all students.
HIST 300-A: Introduction to Historical Thinking
Taught by Dr. Phil Tiemeyer
This course provides history majors and other students with an introduction to the ideas, concepts, and skills required to earn a history degree. Enrollment in HIST 300 is open to all interested students; requires Departmental permission to enroll.
HIST 301-A: Topics in History: Modern Middle East, 1500-1914
Taught by Dr. Nadia Oweidat
Would you like to understand what is happening in the Middle East? Take Professor Oweidat’s class on the history of the Middle East, HIST301-A (15863). In addition to her academic experience, Dr. Oweidat was a senior strategist with the U.S. Government.
From the 16th century until the Great War, three powers defined the destiny of the Middle East and North Africa: the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the Arabic-speaking world. This course investigates the origins of that dominance and how it transformed the region.
HIST 301-ZA: Topics in History: U.S. Civil War Viewpoints
Taught by Damon Penner (GTA)
The American Civil War, over 150 years after it ended, continues to stir up controversy in American culture. Though controversy is often associated today with the presence of Confederate monuments in many places throughout the country, it also is seen in popular media. Since the years immediately after the war’s conclusion, artists, authors, and veterans attempted to make sense of the struggle through various means. The aftermath of war produced competing views about the origins of the war from the pro-Union stance that the bloodshed stemmed from the practice of slavery to the pro-Confederate Lost Cause mythos which posited that the Confederacy’s protection of slavery was inherently good. Students in this course will get to see how Americans over the years have come to grips with the events that happened between 1861 and 1865. Those enrolled will read selections from literature about the Civil War, several films about the war, and see the American Civil War’s other influences on American popular culture. Through this engagement with the evolution of popular culture, students will also develop an understanding of how memory is shaped by cultural forces.
HIST 301-B: Topics in History: The Soviet Union
Taught by Dr. Brent Maner
Where did the Soviet Union come from and what made it tick?? In this course, we’ll examine:
- How the Russian Revolution of 1917 exploded the order of the Russian Empire and produced the USSR
- How the Soviet version of Communism produced a worldview that guided everything from politics to education to culture to farming to marriage
- The ideas and careers of leaders you’ve heard of: Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, and Gorbachev
- The Soviet Union as the rival to the US during the Cold War
- The developments and events that led to the end of the Soviet Union
- Connections between Russia today and the Soviet past
HIST 301-ZB: Topics in History: Ben Franklin and His Era
Taught by Dr. Louise Breen
It’s 2026, the nation’s 250th birthday! Learn about the life and legacy of one of our most energetic and charismatic founders, Ben Franklin. We will focus on Franklin’s role in the Revolution, his contributions as an Enlightenment thinker, and the complexities of his personal life during a time of profound social, political and religious change.
HIST 330: History of East Asian Civilizations
Taught by Dr. David Graff
This course introduces the history of East Asia from earliest times to the present, with primary attention to China and Japan. The course is designed not only to familiarize students with the broad outlines of East Asian history, but also to provide a basic introduction to the traditional civilizations of China and Japan, including major developments in religion, philosophy, literature, and the arts. Readings emphasize Chinese and Japanese literature in translation as a means of exploring the social structures, beliefs, and values of earlier times. The last three weeks of the course are devoted to an examination of the impact of Western imperialism and globalization in East Asia. No previous knowledge of East Asian history or culture is required.
HIST 363: A World in Flames: Global World War II
Taught by Zane Whitney (GTA)
Moving beyond the American and Eurocentric narratives, this course discusses the wars beginning and challenges the standard 1939 start date for the Second World War. Examining the wars expansion from Asia into Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the great Pacific region, A World in Flames, brings a global analytical lens to World War II to understand the impacts still felt into the present era.
HIST 388: Nazi Germany & the Holocaust
Taught by Dr. Brent Maner
This course examines Germany’s turbulent history from 1918 to 1945. We will study the rise of the Nazi party as part of the transformation of political life after World War I. Then we will examine the effects National Socialist policies had on politics, society, and culture during the Third Reich. We will consider war and violence as central components of the Nazi world view that manifested themselves in World War II and the Holocaust.
Image: "Then as Now, We Remain Comrades": A propaganda poster claims that Nazi society will keep the bonds forged during WWI alive in a society that provides work for all (May 2, 1933)
Source: German History in Documents and Images, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org)
None.
HIST 520: Death and Dying in History
Taught by Dr. Suzanne Orr
Resting firmly on the premise that attitudes and practices concerning death and dying reflect broader cultural values and changes, the aim of this course is to: (a) familiarize students with attitudes and practices about death and dying in various geographical locations and historical periods, and (b) to undertake study of selected topics, such as epidemics and pandemics, death rituals, the business and planning of death, "good" and "bad" death, mourning and grief. Group discussion and the exchange of ideas rather than lectures will be the primary form of learning.
HIST 525: Colonial America
Taught by Dr. Louise Breen
A “new” world of cultural conflict and cooperation, Imperial ambition, Indigenous cultures, enslavement, Religious controversy, warfare and disease.
HIST 531: The United States in the Twentieth Century
Taught by Dr. Phil Tiemeyer
When the 20th century began, the United States was militarily uncompetitive with European countries and politically disengaged from large parts of the world. At home, racial segregation was the legal norm, and women could not aspire to the same opportunities as men. When the century ended, however, all of this—and so much more—had changed. How and why? This course addresses these crucial questions while examining how the US in the 20th century became a global power and, at times, a beacon of personal freedom.
HIST 558: History of Kansas
Taught by Dr. Kristen Epps
This course will give you a basic understanding of the main events and movements that shaped the history of Kansas from the prehistoric period to the present day. This course will also connect Kansas history to our nation’s history as a whole. As Kansas senator Arthur Capper once said, Kansas has been “in many respects the political and economic experiment station of the American people.” In addition, this course focuses on introducing you to the work of historians and giving you skills essential to a variety of disciplines within the arts and sciences (besides just history), with special attention paid to the needs of future K-12 teachers.
HIST 586: Advanced Seminar in History
Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom
This course focuses on developing the skills, techniques, and methods required to research and complete a major research project (what in former times would have been called your college "thesis"). HIST 586 has broad organizing topics, e.g., Nineteenth-Century America or Imperialism. You will research a subject consistent with the broader topic of your particular 586.
The exact form of the final product varies by professor, but a 25-page research paper is typical. Your research paper will not merely offer a narrative history or explanation of your topic but instead will present and support a new perspective and argument that differs significantly from currently existing scholarship. First, you will be adding to historical knowledge through a new interpretation of your topic. Second, the sources you employ in preparing your paper will be mainly primary sources: documents produced by the historical actors involved. Third, you will drive much of the class's content and discussion. For example, in many 586 courses, you will prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your penultimate draft and will be responsible for formal critiques of your classmates' work.
HIST 595: French Revolution, 1789-1815
Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom
This discussion-based class explores the history of the French Revolution, from the King’s decision to call the Estates General in 1788 through to the destruction of Napoleon’s Europe-wide empire. We will use primary source texts, images, and music, as well as selected recent scholarship, to explore the profound transformations worked in these years and the new possibilities opened – including early arguments over the rights of women and the contemporaneous Haitian Revolution.
HIST 101: Western Civilization I: Ancient Greece to Early Modern Europe
Taught by Dr. David Defries
Did Western Civilization exist before 1844 AD? This course is an introduction to what most academic historians say about the development of pre-modern Western Civilization (c. 600 BC - c. 1700 AD). It is for all students.
HIST 111: World History to 1450
Taught by Dr. David Graff
Major developments in the history of the world from the earliest civilizations to the eve of European expansion in the fifteenth century. Major topics include the origins of civilization in different parts of the world, the emergence of foundational philosophies and belief systems, the rise and fall of empires, and the increasing contact and integration between world regions as a result of trade, conquest, pilgrimage, and exploration. Particular attention will be devoted to comparison of key developments, conditions, and trends across continents and civilizations.
HIST 112-A: World History from 1450 (First Year Seminar)
Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom
Major trends in the history of the world from the 15th century to the present. Global patterns of contact, mutual influence, and interdependence.
HIST 112-B: World History from 1450
Taught by Dr. Nadia Oweidat
Major trends in the history of the world from the 15th century to the present. Global patterns of contact, mutual influence, and interdependence.
HIST 151-ZB: History of the United States to 1877 (course runs 10/19/26-12/18/26)
Taught by Kenzie Jansonius, GTA
In this course we will consider the history of the United States from the Columbian and pre-contact eras with native peoples to the era of America’s Civil War and Reconstruction by way of themes and perspectives, paying particular attention to rising political tensions as well as the fundamental importance of America’s rural and agrarian past.
HIST 151-D: History of the United States to 1877
Taught by Dr. Kristen Epps
The goal of this course is to gain a basic understanding of the main events, ideologies, and political and social movements that shaped the region that is now the United States from the pre-contact period through Reconstruction.
HIST 152-A: History of the United States Since 1877
Taught by Dr. Michael Krysko
This course is an introductory survey to American history since 1877. Beginning with the end of the post-Civil War Reconstruction era, we will examine an array of historical events, developments, issues, and trends that continue to influence the world we live in today and the individuals we have become. We will devote considerable attention to numerous historical subjects following the difficult reunification of the U.S. after the Civil War, including: the rise of the modern Democratic and Republican parties, segregation, the economic transformation of the 19th century, the rise of mass consumption and consumerism, education, the Depression, foreign relations (esp. late 19th century imperialism and the wars of the 20th century), the Civil Rights movement, and modern feminism. In the process, I hope you will begin to see how a world we often take for granted is a product of countless decisions made by others who came before us, and that the relationships between peoples, cultures, and nations in this historical past have exerted a tremendous influence over the lives we are able to lead in the 21st century.
HIST 155: Introduction to US Military History
Taught by Charles Sexton (Instructor)
The United States is a nation forged in war, which makes it critical for students to engage with military history in order to gain an understanding of their country’s history. In this class, we will look at American military history since 1775 and ask two overarching questions: What role has the United States played in war? And, conversely, how has conflict shaped the United States?
Military history is a vibrant field that has been evolving to encompass an ever-growing range of studies tied to the armed forces, conflict, and wartime. In addition to operational warfare, military history looks at the ways that nations, institutions, societies, and people prepare for, wage, or recover from war. This class will thus integrate both traditional operational history and larger questions connecting war and society.
HIST 200: Topics in History for Freshmen and Sophomores: Christianity to 1500 AD
Taught by Dr. David Defries
This course is an introduction to what most academic historians say about the development of pre-modern Christianity. In other words, this is not what most people encounter in churches. It is for all students.
HIST 300-A: Introduction to Historical Thinking
Taught by Dr. Phil Tiemeyer
This course provides history majors and other students with an introduction to the ideas, concepts, and skills required to earn a history degree. Enrollment in HIST 300 is open to all interested students; requires Departmental permission to enroll.
HIST 301-A: Topics in History: Modern Middle East, 1500-1914
Taught by Dr. Nadia Oweidat
Would you like to understand what is happening in the Middle East? Take Professor Oweidat’s class on the history of the Middle East, HIST301-A (15863). In addition to her academic experience, Dr. Oweidat was a senior strategist with the U.S. Government.
From the 16th century until the Great War, three powers defined the destiny of the Middle East and North Africa: the Ottoman Empire, the Safavid Empire, and the Arabic-speaking world. This course investigates the origins of that dominance and how it transformed the region.
HIST 301-ZA: Topics in History: U.S. Civil War Viewpoints
Taught by Damon Penner (GTA)
The American Civil War, over 150 years after it ended, continues to stir up controversy in American culture. Though controversy is often associated today with the presence of Confederate monuments in many places throughout the country, it also is seen in popular media. Since the years immediately after the war’s conclusion, artists, authors, and veterans attempted to make sense of the struggle through various means. The aftermath of war produced competing views about the origins of the war from the pro-Union stance that the bloodshed stemmed from the practice of slavery to the pro-Confederate Lost Cause mythos which posited that the Confederacy’s protection of slavery was inherently good. Students in this course will get to see how Americans over the years have come to grips with the events that happened between 1861 and 1865. Those enrolled will read selections from literature about the Civil War, several films about the war, and see the American Civil War’s other influences on American popular culture. Through this engagement with the evolution of popular culture, students will also develop an understanding of how memory is shaped by cultural forces.
HIST 301-B: Topics in History: The Soviet Union
Taught by Dr. Brent Maner
Where did the Soviet Union come from and what made it tick?? In this course, we’ll examine:
- How the Russian Revolution of 1917 exploded the order of the Russian Empire and produced the USSR
- How the Soviet version of Communism produced a worldview that guided everything from politics to education to culture to farming to marriage
- The ideas and careers of leaders you’ve heard of: Lenin, Stalin, Khrushchev, and Gorbachev
- The Soviet Union as the rival to the US during the Cold War
- The developments and events that led to the end of the Soviet Union
- Connections between Russia today and the Soviet past
HIST 301-ZB: Topics in History: Ben Franklin and His Era
Taught by Dr. Louise Breen
It’s 2026, the nation’s 250th birthday! Learn about the life and legacy of one of our most energetic and charismatic founders, Ben Franklin. We will focus on Franklin’s role in the Revolution, his contributions as an Enlightenment thinker, and the complexities of his personal life during a time of profound social, political and religious change.
HIST 330: History of East Asian Civilizations
Taught by Dr. David Graff
This course introduces the history of East Asia from earliest times to the present, with primary attention to China and Japan. The course is designed not only to familiarize students with the broad outlines of East Asian history, but also to provide a basic introduction to the traditional civilizations of China and Japan, including major developments in religion, philosophy, literature, and the arts. Readings emphasize Chinese and Japanese literature in translation as a means of exploring the social structures, beliefs, and values of earlier times. The last three weeks of the course are devoted to an examination of the impact of Western imperialism and globalization in East Asia. No previous knowledge of East Asian history or culture is required.
HIST 363: A World in Flames: Global World War II
Taught by Zane Whitney (GTA)
Moving beyond the American and Eurocentric narratives, this course discusses the wars beginning and challenges the standard 1939 start date for the Second World War. Examining the wars expansion from Asia into Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the great Pacific region, A World in Flames, brings a global analytical lens to World War II to understand the impacts still felt into the present era.
HIST 388: Nazi Germany & the Holocaust
Taught by Dr. Brent Maner
This course examines Germany’s turbulent history from 1918 to 1945. We will study the rise of the Nazi party as part of the transformation of political life after World War I. Then we will examine the effects National Socialist policies had on politics, society, and culture during the Third Reich. We will consider war and violence as central components of the Nazi world view that manifested themselves in World War II and the Holocaust.
Image: "Then as Now, We Remain Comrades": A propaganda poster claims that Nazi society will keep the bonds forged during WWI alive in a society that provides work for all (May 2, 1933)
Source: German History in Documents and Images, http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org)
None.
HIST 520: Death and Dying in History
Taught by Dr. Suzanne Orr
Resting firmly on the premise that attitudes and practices concerning death and dying reflect broader cultural values and changes, the aim of this course is to: (a) familiarize students with attitudes and practices about death and dying in various geographical locations and historical periods, and (b) to undertake study of selected topics, such as epidemics and pandemics, death rituals, the business and planning of death, "good" and "bad" death, mourning and grief. Group discussion and the exchange of ideas rather than lectures will be the primary form of learning.
HIST 525: Colonial America
Taught by Dr. Louise Breen
A “new” world of cultural conflict and cooperation, Imperial ambition, Indigenous cultures, enslavement, Religious controversy, warfare and disease.
HIST 531: The United States in the Twentieth Century
Taught by Dr. Phil Tiemeyer
When the 20th century began, the United States was militarily uncompetitive with European countries and politically disengaged from large parts of the world. At home, racial segregation was the legal norm, and women could not aspire to the same opportunities as men. When the century ended, however, all of this—and so much more—had changed. How and why? This course addresses these crucial questions while examining how the US in the 20th century became a global power and, at times, a beacon of personal freedom.
HIST 558: History of Kansas
Taught by Dr. Kristen Epps
This course will give you a basic understanding of the main events and movements that shaped the history of Kansas from the prehistoric period to the present day. This course will also connect Kansas history to our nation’s history as a whole. As Kansas senator Arthur Capper once said, Kansas has been “in many respects the political and economic experiment station of the American people.” In addition, this course focuses on introducing you to the work of historians and giving you skills essential to a variety of disciplines within the arts and sciences (besides just history), with special attention paid to the needs of future K-12 teachers.
HIST 586: Advanced Seminar in History
Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom
This course focuses on developing the skills, techniques, and methods required to research and complete a major research project (what in former times would have been called your college "thesis"). HIST 586 has broad organizing topics, e.g., Nineteenth-Century America or Imperialism. You will research a subject consistent with the broader topic of your particular 586.
The exact form of the final product varies by professor, but a 25-page research paper is typical. Your research paper will not merely offer a narrative history or explanation of your topic but instead will present and support a new perspective and argument that differs significantly from currently existing scholarship. First, you will be adding to historical knowledge through a new interpretation of your topic. Second, the sources you employ in preparing your paper will be mainly primary sources: documents produced by the historical actors involved. Third, you will drive much of the class's content and discussion. For example, in many 586 courses, you will prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your penultimate draft and will be responsible for formal critiques of your classmates' work.
HIST 595: French Revolution, 1789-1815
Taught by Dr. Eric Brandom
This discussion-based class explores the history of the French Revolution, from the King’s decision to call the Estates General in 1788 through to the destruction of Napoleon’s Europe-wide empire. We will use primary source texts, images, and music, as well as selected recent scholarship, to explore the profound transformations worked in these years and the new possibilities opened – including early arguments over the rights of women and the contemporaneous Haitian Revolution.
Major or Double-Major: View the current Major and Double-Major requirements or contact Kathy Lillich for more information.
If you are curious how a course you have taken meets the requirements, check out our updated Courses by Category breakdown.