Fort Lewis College

Faculty
Professors Doreen Hunter, Reece C. Kelly, Neil McHugh, and Duane A. Smith;
Associate Professors James K. Ash, Robert R. Bunting, and Michael F. Fry.

The Department of History offers a wide variety of courses that enhance students’ understanding and appreciation of the human past. The study of history promotes tolerance between peoples and helps make the world and our lives more intelligible. We are the wiser for knowing that our belief systems, institutions, and conflicts have their roots in the past. Courses in the history of Africa, East Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East introduce the creative achievements of other civilizations. Through the exploration of our own national experience and the history of western civilization, students gain a deeper understanding of the historic foundations underlying the challenges we face in our own time.

Students of history learn to collect and interpret data, develop logical and convincing arguments, and to write with clarity and economy. A degree in history provides a solid foundation for students seeking careers in teaching, archival management, library science, law, politics, international affairs and governments, as well as the training needed for success in graduate school.

Courses numbered 100 are broad topical courses designed for students seeking to meet their general education requirements. 200-level courses are “survey” courses providing overviews of the history of regions and periods. These are the foundation courses for history majors and ideal courses for those seeking to meet their general education requirements. Courses designated 300 explore more specialized topics and assume background in lower-division history courses. 400-level courses are conducted as seminars and provide the advanced instruction required for the Senior Research Seminar.

The courses described are those offered on a regular basis. From time to time the department offers new courses. Students should check the full list of courses published by the department at the time of registration.

History majors are required to take 14 history courses totaling 44-48 credits. Majors must concentrate in one of the areas listed below. Under special circumstances, a student may propose a student-constructed concentration. This special option requires the approval of the department chair.

Students majoring in history may be certified to teach social studies at the secondary level. To obtain requirements for teacher certification, please contact the Department of Teacher Education.

1. Familiarize students with the history of human experience in at least three regions of the world.

2. Provide students with particular competence in their area of concentration including a factual base of information, familiarity with the important historiographical and interpretive concerns of historians of that area, and an ability to synthesize their understanding around recurrent historical themes.

3. Encourage an understanding of how different societies in different times and places have constructed class, race, and gender.

5. Foster the research and writing skills that enable students to define a suitable topic, conduct thorough and resourceful searches for relevant information, and write up their findings in a clear, persuasive, and interesting fashion.

6. Cultivate in students an understanding of the complex epistemological challenges involved in doing history.

7. Help students appreciate that a historical understanding of the human experience can contribute in vital ways to a responsible and reflective life.

African and Middle Eastern History
Choose from among:
**Hist 140R Survey of African History I
**Hist 141R Survey of African History II
Hist 305 Mesopotamian Myth/Religion
Hist 340 Contemporary Africa
Hist 342 West Africa
Hist 343 Ancient Nile Valley
Hist 344 Northeast Africa
Hist 346 South Africa
Hist 348 The African Diaspora
Hist 349 Islam in History
Hist 440 Advanced Studies in African History

East Asian History
Choose from among:
Hist 170 Survey of East Asian Civilization I
Hist 171 Survey of East Asian Civilization II
Hist 351 U.S.-East Asian Relations
Hist 352 Modern China
Hist 353 Pacific War
Hist 357 World Since 1945
Hist 450 Advanced Studies in East Asian History

European History
Choose from among:
**Hist 160R Survey of Western Civilization I
**Hist 261S Western Civilization II, 1350 to Present
Hist 306 Ancient Women’s Religions
Hist 308 Rise of Christianity
Hist 359 Medieval Europe
Hist 360 Renaissance Europe
Hist 361 Russia in Revolution to 1924
Hist 362 Soviet Union: Stalin to Gorbachev
Hist 363 Collapse of the Soviet Union
Hist 364 Germany, Roman Times to 1919
Hist 365 Germany, 1919 to Present
Hist 366 Hitler and the Holocaust
Hist 367 Medieval England and Ireland
Hist 368 Medieval Women
Hist 381 France and Spain: Middle Ages to Modern
Hist 382 Reformation Europe and Wars of Religion
Hist 465 Advanced Studies in European History

Latin American History
Choose from among:
Hist 175 Introduction to Latin American History
**Hist 270R Colonial Latin America
**Hist 271S Latin America Since Independence
Hist 371 History of Central America
Hist 372 U.S.-Latin American Relations
Hist 373 History of Mexico
Hist 475 Advanced Studies in Latin American History

United States History
Choose from among:
Hist 181 U.S./Southwest Environmental History
Hist 280 Survey of U.S. History, 1600-1877
**Hist 281R Survey of U.S. History, 1877-Present
Hist 311 Colonial and Revolutionary America, 1492-1789
Hist 314 Inventing America, 1789-1850
Hist 315 Irish, Catholic, American
Hist 316 Civil War America
Hist 318 Emergence of Modern America, 1893-1939
Hist 320 Western/Southwest American History
Hist 322 Western American Mining
Hist 324 Colorado History
Hist 326 Baseball and the American Dream
Hist 328 Christianity in U.S. History
Hist 332 Women in American History
Hist 333 America Since 1945
Hist 334 United States and Vietnam
Hist 337 Cultural and Intellectual History in the 20th Century
Hist 338 Modern Women’s Movement
Hist 339 Women and the “West”
Hist 482 Topics in Colorado History
Hist 485 Advanced Studies in United States History

Student-Constructed Concentration
Approval of a History Faculty Advisor and the Department Chair

General Education Credits
Comp 150 or Comp 125/126 ..........4-8
Library 150 ..........1
PE/Wellness (ES 100 plus 1 skills, 1 fitness) ..........3
Thematic Studies I (1 course in each of 4 knowledge areas;
1 must be a science with attached lab) ..........12-16
Thematic Studies II (1 course in each of 4 knowledge areas;
prerequisites: Comp 150, Lib 150, all 4 Thematic Studies I courses) ..........12-16
*Tier II writing requirement is part of the Major

Lower-Division History Requirements:
Survey sequence in the area of concentration ..........6
Three additional survey courses ..........9
Non-U.S. history majors must take at least one U.S. history survey course.
U.S. history majors must take three non-U.S. history survey courses.

Upper-Division History Requirements:
Four courses at the 300- or 400-level in the area of concentration, at least one of which must be at the 400-level, other than Hist 496.
Three additional 300- or 400-level courses taken outside the concentration in a least two areas.
Hist 396W, The Philosophy and Methods (4 credits). This course should be taken in the last term of the sophomore year or during the junior year.
Hist 496 Research Senior Seminar

Writing Course Within Discipline:
Included in Departmental Requirements above.

Auxiliary Requirements:
**=May also be counted toward TS I requirements
Two courses in one modern language ..........6-8
Four courses selected among at least three of the following disciplines:
Anthropology (except Anth 301, 350, 496, and 499)
Art 162, 262R**, 263R**, 265, and 365
Economics (except Econ 201)
English 173R**, 174R**, 175R**, 221R**, 230, 240R**, 280R**, 320, 336,
337, 345, 346, 370, 380, 430, 432, 461
Geography 271R**
Philosophy (except Phil 496 and 499)
Political Science (except PS 350, 450, 496, and 499)
Psychology 157, 387, 425, and 499
Sociology (except Soc 353, 496, and 499)

A total of 6 courses is required from at least two different instructors. Three courses (9 credits) should be lower-division and three courses (10-12 credits) should be upper-division. See the department chair for further information.