History
(413) 662-5342
www.mcla.edu/hist
Chairperson: David Cupery, Ph.D.
Email: D.Cupery@mcla.edu
History Major
The Department of History & Political Science offers a four-year program leading to a Bachelor of Arts in History. Following completion of foundation courses, students pursue different fields of history depending upon their intellectual and career interests. This flexible program furnishes a useful background for careers in public service, education, environmental studies, government, law, journalism, public communication, and business.
Students graduating with a major in History will be able to:
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of subject matter, methodologies and a variety of historiographical approaches;
- Demonstrate the ability to think clearly and critically about history and historical narratives, and to express ideas logically and persuasively in written and oral form;
- Demonstrate familiarity with diverse cultures and chronological periods and capacity for both empathetic and critical understanding of one’s own culture and society as well as those different from one’s own;
- Demonstrate competence in historical research and presentation, including the ability to appropriately access, use and evaluate primary and secondary sources in order to make a coherent historical argument.
History Courses
HIST 103 Pre-Modern World Civilization3 cr
Studies the cultural and historical traditions of the major geographical regions of the pre-modern world up to 1492: Greece and Rome, South and Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and the Americas. Emphasis will be placed on such factors as international trade routes, the spread of ideas and religions, and the formation of state-systems that became the basis of the post-1492 world.
HIST 104 Modern World Civilization3 cr
Provides an introductory historical survey of the major events, ideas and people which have shaped world civilizations since 1500, the beginning of the modern era of history. Takes a comparative, interdisciplinary, and non-Eurocentric approach to historical analysis emphasizing diversity and global awareness.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 110 Introduction to History Major Seminar1 cr
Prepares new history and political science majors to make the most of their college years academically, professionally, and personally. Students will learn about the norms and expectations of history and political science majors and how to thrive in the classes that are offered by each. Explores the career prospects most often available to majors in history and political science and discusses the skills and knowledge necessary to take advantage of these professional opportunities.
Prerequisite: HIST major
HIST 113 United States History to 18773 cr
Focuses on the development of American political, economic, social, philosophical, and cultural values and institutions from Colonial beginnings up to 1877. Sufficient emphasis will be placed on the Massachusetts and Federal Constitutions to meet the state requirement.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 114 United States History after 18773 cr
Focuses on the development of American political, economic, social, philosophical, and cultural values and institutions from 1877 to the present. Sufficient emphasis will be placed on the Massachusetts and Federal Constitutions to meet the state requirement.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 125 World Regional Geography3 cr
Introduces theories, terms and past and contemporary topics in human geography, including how cultures are born and change, how groups of people organize themselves and their activities both spatially and politically, how patterns of activities emerge and change across time and space, and how we interact with our environments. Students in this course will explore demographic, economic, and social trends and issues across the globe in their geographic and historical context.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 125H Honors: World Regional Geography3 cr
Introduces theories, terms and past and contemporary topics in human geography, including how cultures are born and change, how groups of people organize themselves and their activities both spatially and politically, how patterns of activities emerge and change across time and space, and how we interact with our environments. Students in this course will explore demographic, economic, and social trends and issues across the globe in their geographic and historical context.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH), Honors Program (HONR)
HIST 220 Reformers, Rebels, Revolutionaries in East Asia3 cr
Using a "lives and times" approach, this course will introduce to students some men and women whose lives reflect major social, cultural, political and economic developments in the modern history of East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam). These individuals were uniquely positioned to influence history when their society experienced profound transition and transformation through imperialism, industrialization, wars, and social conflicts.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 230 War, Science, and Society3 cr
Using a variety of case studies from European and world history, this course concentrates on increasing students' understanding of how conflict and scientific innovation have combined to change societies. Students will research and analyze a broad range of source materials to develop their ability to construct arguments and interpretations and express them logically and persuasively in speech and writing. Possible topics include atomic energy, medicine, transportation, and weaponry.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 240 Reacting to the Past3 cr
Explores selected periods in American history using elaborate, role playing historical games based in the American past. This course seeks to draw students into engaging the past, developing their understanding and analysis of historical sources, and improving skills in speaking, writing, and leadership. The games covered in the course will vary from semester to semester.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 250 Museums, Monuments & Memory3 cr
Explores the ways that we remember the past. Students will engage with artifacts, museums, public symbols like monuments, and events meaningful to their own histories. They will work with local organizations to learn new methods of preserving history and presenting it to public audiences. Using a variety of case studies, this collaborative course will confront debates about the politics of history and explore how diverse audiences interact with history and historical memory.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 260 Superheroes and American Society3 cr
Explores the history of superheroes and how comic books have helped to reflect and shape American society and popular culture since the 1930s. This course draws on the vast collection of comic book superheroes from Marvel Comics as well as readings from scholarly articles, books, and other resources.
Attributes: Core Human Heritage (CHH)
HIST 290 Historical Methods and Theory3 cr
Introduces the discipline of history, with emphasis in the following areas: how to find, analyze, assess, and utilize primary and secondary source materials; understanding historiography - the study of how history is "made"; the possibilities of digital and public history; how to create written work in upper-level courses that exhibits sound scholarship and meets professional citation standards.
Prerequisite: Sophomore status
HIST 305 Topics in European History3 cr
Focuses on either the histories of particular European nations or a chronological period, issue or theme in European history. Emphasis will be placed on a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter as well as developing skills in reading historical sources, research, writing and oral communication. Possible topics include: Europe in the 20th century; History of Britain; History of Russia; History of France; Ancient Greece & Rome.
Prerequisite: HIST 290 or junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 310 Topics in Asian History3 cr
Focuses on either the histories of particular Asian nations or a chronological period, issue or theme in Asian history. Emphasis will be placed on a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, as well as developing skills in reading historical sources, research, writing and oral communication. Possible topics include: History of Japan; History of India; Chinese Culture and Civilization; and the United States and China.
Prerequisite: HIST 290 or junior status
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 320 Topics in United States History3 cr
Focuses on a chronological period, issue, or theme in the history of the United States. Emphasis will be placed on a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, as well as developing skills in reading historical sources, research, writing and oral communication. Possible topics include: The Civil War; Immigration and Ethnicity; The Civil Rights Movement; US & WWII; New England History.
Prerequisite: HIST 290 or junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 330 Topics in Latin American History3 cr
Focuses on either the histories of particular nations or a chronological period, issue or theme in Latin American history. Emphasis will be placed on a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, as well as developing skills in reading historical sources, research, writing and oral communication. Possible topics include: The United States and Latin America; History of Mexico.
Prerequisite: HIST 290 or junior status
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 340 Topics in the Middle East and Muslim World3 cr
Focuses on either the histories of particular nations in the Middle East or a chronological period, issue, or theme in the Muslim World. Emphasis will be placed on a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter as well as developing skills in reading historical sources, research, writing and oral communication. Possible topics include: The Middle East & the Modern World; The Muslim World.
Prerequisite: HIST 290 or junior status
Attributes: Cross-Cultural and Social Justice (CCSJ)
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 350 Topics in African History3 cr
Focuses on either the histories of particular African nations or a chronological period, issue or theme in African history. Emphasis will be placed on a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter as well as developing skills in reading historical sources, research, writing, and oral communication. Possible topics include: History of Africa; African History in Literature and Film.
Prerequisite: HIST 290 or junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 360 Practicing History3 cr
Focuses on a project, issue, or theme in public history. Emphasis will be placed on completing a collaborative project at MCLA or in the northern Berkshire community as well as developing skills in interpreting historical sources, research, writing, and oral communication. Possible topics include: North Adams History Harvest; Civil War Memory; The Holocaust and World War II; Women in the Berkshires.
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 401 Seminar in Historical Periods3 cr
Examines a particular era in depth. The course will be based around reading and discussion of a variety of historical works with the instructor selecting course materials and methods appropriate to the subject. Emphasis will be placed on analysis, critical thinking and historiography, in addition to mastery of subject matter. Central to the course will be a major research project, with findings presented in both written work and an oral presentation.
Prerequisite: HIST 290, junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 403 Seminar in Issues in History3 cr
Examines in depth a particular issue, concept, topic or theme in history. The course will be based around reading and discussion of a variety of historical works with the instructor selecting course materials and methods appropriate to the subject. Emphasis will be placed on analysis, critical thinking and historiography, in addition to mastery of subject matter. Central to the course will be a major research project, with findings presented in both a written work and an oral presentation.
Prerequisite: HIST 290, junior status
Repeatable: Unlimited Credits
HIST 405 Senior Thesis3 cr
The senior thesis is to be taken under the direction of a professor in the department who will work with senior history majors writing a bachelor's thesis on a selected topic in history. Students will choose a topic and present an outline and proposal to any department faculty member or to the entire department sitting as a thesis committee. The purpose of the senior thesis is to give students the opportunity to do individualized, advanced research in an aspect of history in which they have particular interest and capability.
Prerequisite: Senior status
HIST 450 Career Readiness Workshop1 cr
Provides senior students majoring in History with an opportunity and framework to reflect on their past work in the major and the wider liberal arts as well as look forward to opportunities and challenges after graduation. Students will work with the instructor, career service professionals, and alumni to understand career and graduate school possibilities and prepare strategies for success.
Prerequisite: HIST major, senior status
HIST 500 Independent Study1-3 cr
Open to juniors and seniors who desire to read widely in a given area or to study a specific topic in depth. Written reports and frequent conferences with the advisor are required.
Prerequisite: Department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 12 credits
HIST 510 Teaching Assistant in History3 cr
Offers highly qualified majors or minors in history an opportunity to assist an instructor in the conduct of a course. The student may be held responsible for conducting classes, review sessions, consulting on course materials, etc.
Prerequisite: Department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 6 credits
HIST 540 Internship in History1-15 cr
Qualified students may be placed as interns in governmental and social service agencies, museums, etc.
Prerequisite: Junior status, department approval
Repeatable: Maximum of 15 credits