History

Courses

HI 101: Western Civilizations 13,000 BCE to 1517 CE

Semester Hours 3
This course is a survey of the political, economic, social, cultural, and intellectual origins of Western Civilizations from the Neolithic Revolution to the Protestant Reformation. Emphasis is placed on the importance of agriculture, the rise and fall of civilizations such as Greece and Rome, the growth of Christianity, cultural aspects of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, and the legacies of the Protestant Reformation. Students will also explore the influences of transformational figures from the era that have shaped subsequent history.

HI 102: Western Civilizations 1517 to Present

Semester Hours 3

This course is a survey of Europe and the modern world, from the Protestant Reformation to the present. Emphasis is placed on the historical evolution of the major events and transformations that occurred during the age of absolutism and exploration, the Enlightenment, French Revolution, World Wars and the Cold War. Students will focus on the questions and ideas that have arisen from these transformational periods, and have shaped the politics, social organization, culture, technology and economies of the West. Students will also explore the influences of important figures who have had a lasting impact on history.

HI 103: United States History 1492-1865

Semester Hours 3
A survey course that begins with an overview of United States history from colonial times into the 21st century. The primary emphasis will focus on the development of a constitutional system as well as the social and economic events that helped shape early America. Topics include the Colonial period, American Revolution, the ratification of the Constitution, Jacksonian democracy, the forces that led to the development of the Civil War, and the lingering impact of the war on contemporary America.

HI 104: United States History 1865-Present

Semester Hours 3
A survey course that begins with an overview of United States history from colonial times into the 21st century. The primary emphasis will focus on the major forces that shaped the social, political and economic developments of post-Civil War America. Topics will include Reconstruction, westward expansion, the Industrial Revolution, immigration, the Great Depression, the world wars, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.

HI 108: History of the Hudson Valley

Semester Hours 3
This course will focus on the history of both Columbia and Greene Counties. There are two main areas of study. 1. People, places and events that are representative of the grand themes of American History will be investigated. 2. Identification of remnants and artifacts and the historical sketches they represent will also be covered.

HI 109: Historical and Social Impact of the Automobile

Semester Hours 3
Students will develop a deeper understanding of the positive and negative impact the automobile has had on American society through the study of the following areas: the birth of the automobile, acceptance by the populace, infrastructure changes, early inventors, assembly line production, competition and environmental concerns.

HI 114: World History I

Semester Hours 3
World history seeks a global perspective on the past, one that acknowledges and integrates the historical experiences of all of the world’s people. Only by examining humanity’s shared past is it possible to view today’s world in meaningful historical context. In this class, we will explore seven eras of global history through the lens of traditions: political, social, economic and cultural traditions that have guided the dynamics of societies. In addition, encounters will be explored: mass migrations, infectious diseases, imperial expansion, long distance trade and other human interactions. Topics will include: formation of societies, the development of writing and communication, the rise of religions of salvation, and the creation of empires.

HI 115: World History II

Semester Hours 3
World history seeks a global perspective on the past, one that acknowledges and integrates the historical experiences of all of the world’s people. Only by examining humanity’s shared past is it possible to view today’s world in meaningful historical context. In this class, we will explore seven eras of global history through the lens of traditions: political, social, economic and cultural traditions that have guided the dynamics of societies. In addition, we will explore encounters: mass migrations, infectious diseases, imperial expansion, long distance trade and other human interactions that have impacted the development of the world. Topics will include: exploration and conquest, Columbian exchange, Reformation, absolutism, colonialism, the spread of Islam, revolution, industrialization, world war and globalization.

HI 120: History of the Modern Middle East

Semester Hours 3
An introduction to the emergence of the modem Middle East in the period, roughly from the late 18th century to the present. It deals with reformist attempts to meet the European challenge, Orientalism, the age of colonialism and imperialism, the rise of Arab nationalism, the quest for modernity, the impact of Israeli and Palestinian nationalism, the petroleum factor, the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, the Gulf War, and the war on terror. Consideration will also be given to the Islamic religion.

HI 122: African American History

Semester Hours 3
Students will discover history organized through five principles: oppression and power, agency and perseverance, Africa and the African diaspora, Black culture, resiliency and contribution to trajectory and narrative of the American experience. This course includes an exploration of the history of African American origins in Africa, slavery and emancipation, resistance and revolution in the Atlantic world, migration, religious, artistic, and cultural expression, participation in wars, Civil Rights and Black power movements to present social justice issues. Students will analyze primary sources and participate in learning activities designed to frame questions about social justice, culture, and identity particular to the American experience.

HI 125: U.S. Environmental History

Semester Hours 3
This course will focus on the human impact on the environment since colonial times, the progress of the environmental ethic in American culture, from its roots in the Hudson River School and Thoreau to Rachel Carson and Aldo Leopold, and the development of legal environmental protections.

HI 127: History of Latin America

Semester Hours 3
This course is an examination of race, ethnicity, and gender and how that has shaped Latin American politics and societies from colonial times to the present. Themes include: interactions of Iberian, American, African and Asian peoples; official and unofficial management of multiethnic and multicultural societies; scientific racism; and the relation between theories of race and development of ideas about class, gender, and nation.

HI 209: Europe in the Twentieth Century

Semester Hours 3
An analysis of European development in the twentieth century. Emphasis is placed on intellectual, political, economic, and social factors. Special attention is given to the World Wars I and II, the Cold War, fascism, communism, the rise of the dictators, and possibilities for this century.

HI 219: Women in U.S. History

Semester Hours 3
Introduces the history of women within the western tradition with a focus on the experience of women in the United States. Places the female experience at the center of our historical analysis, examining the various intersections of women’s relations with others: their families, society, and the state. American history is viewed from the perspective of the women who have contributed to its growth and development and who have made significant contributions to the development of society.

HI 220: History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

Semester Hours 3
Explores the origins and development of the Arab-Israeli conflict, as well as its implications presently. Examines the complexities and dynamism of this conflict through a critical examination of its origins, the actors involved, and the key historical and political factors that have shaped it.

HI 221: American Civil War

Semester Hours 3
This course is an in-depth study of the events leading up to the American Civil War and the military and political history of the war. It will also include a short look at the consequences of the war. Students will examine military and political objectives and strategies, evaluate different versions of the same events, and explore alternative resolutions to historical issues. This course will require reading of primary and secondary texts, critical thinking, round table-type classroom discussion, and persuasive writing.

HI 222: Revisiting American Civil Rights

Semester Hours 3
This course will examine the Civil Rights Movement in America. The movement changed those who participated in it, made America a more democratic society, gave rise to a host of other movements that transformed the face of American culture, and influenced a new generation of American leadership. As a critical examination, the period from 1955-1965 receives special attention, but the roots of the freedom struggle in an earlier era and the effect of the movement on recent American history also warrants investigation. This course will use primary source documents, film, interpretive literature, and music in order to fully study the most powerful mass protest movement in modem U.S. history. The course will be presented in a seminar style.

HI 265: History of Modern China

Semester Hours 3
An exploration of the main political and cultural themes in the history of modem China from the late Ming Dynasty to the present day. Topics will include exploring the notion of modernity; the fall of the Ming and Qing Dynasties; the Western imperialist challenge; nationalism; the development of communism; the Second World War and Civil War; the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution; and, after Mao’s death, the economic liberalization of the economy. Concludes with an examination of China in the years after Tiananmen Square.

HI 266: History of Japan

Semester Hours 3
Undertakes a chronological survey of political, economic, social, cultural, religious and intellectual life in Japan from the third century to the present day. Emphasis is placed on both the origin and development of traditional Japanese civilization before the arrival of the modernizing West and the subsequent Japanese quest for international acceptance thereafter. Provides a background against which contemporary Japan might be better understood and appreciated. Stresses the origin and development of various systems and institutions (social, political, economic and religious) within both the traditional and modem Japanese cultural milieu. Explores the modernization process; the Westernization process; and the fate of traditional institutions, systems, and customs. Considers Japan’s quest for acceptance as a major power in the modem world order.

HI 298: History Internship

Semester Hours 3

Designed to provide students with an immersive experience in the field of history, this internship offers an opportunity for students to apply their historical knowledge and research skills in a practical setting as they explore professional opportunities in the field. Through a combination of academic study and real-world engagement, students will gain valuable insights into the discipline of history, while also developing essential professional skills, and working with community partners to increase historical awareness, become actively engaged in the community of practice, and understand the critical importance of historic preservation.