History (HISTORY)
Courses
HISTORY 101. Foundations of Western Culture I. 3 Credits.
Comprehensive chronological survey of major events, people, and ideas that have influenced the history, literature, art, and culture of Western Civilization. This course covers ancient civilization through the Renaissance.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 102. Foundations of Western Culture II. 3 Credits.
Comprehensive chronological survey of major events, people, and ideas that have influenced the history, literature, art, and culture of Western Civilization. This covers the Renaissance up to the present.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 103. World Civilizations I. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of major events, people, and ideas that have influenced the history, literature, art, and culture of various world civilizations. This course covers the origins of civilization to the Age of Exploration.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 104. World Civilizations II. 3 Credits.
Chronological survey of major events, people, and ideas that have influenced the history, literature, art and culture of various world civilizations. This course covers the Age of Exploration up to the present.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 198. First Year Seminar. 3 Credits.
First Year Seminar, topics vary.
Reserved for New Incoming Freshman.
HISTORY 205. American History to 1865. 3 Credits.
This course explores early American and United States history through 1865, with attention to politics, society, economy, culture, and gender. Following an overview of Turtle Island (a Native designation for North America) before European contact, likely topics to be considered include the European colonization process; the creation and expansion of the United States; the evolution of quasi-democratic institutions; Native resistance, accommodation, and resilience; the rise and fall of the institution of African slavery in the Atlantic world; early industrialization; and the causes and outcomes of the Civil War.
Fall Only.
HISTORY 206. History of the United States from 1865 to the Present. 3 Credits.
This course explores the history of the United States since 1865, with attention to politics, society, economy, and culture. Likely topics to be considered include: the African-American freedom struggle during Reconstruction and the Jim Crow era; the conquest of the trans-Mississippi west; industrialization and labor conflict; immigration; the expansion of American military and economic power around the world, including participation in the First World War, the Second World War, and the global Cold War; the growth of state power; urbanization and suburbanization; feminism, women's rights, civil rights, and other social movements; and the rise of conservatism since the 1970s.
Spring.
HISTORY 207. Introduction to African-American History. 3 Credits.
Survey of Black people's experience in America, beginning with African culture through the development of Afro-American culture and institutions; includes political, social, economic and cultural history.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 220. American Environmental History. 3 Credits.
This course offers an introduction to environmental history - the study of the historical relationship between humans and the natural world - with a focus on North America from before European contact up to contemporary times. Likely topics to be considered include: First Nations' relationships with nature and land use patterns prior to European contact; the massive environmental changes that came with the arrival of European colonizers; changing ideas about the proper relationships between humans and nature; and major developments in resource use and management, including the rise of the modern environmental movement in the late 20th century and contemporary environmental problems and challenges.
Spring.
HISTORY 256. Introductory Topics in History. 3 Credits.
A specific topic in an instructor's area of special competence. When offered, the particular topic is indicated in the campus timetable. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ. May be taken 3 times for a total of 9 earned credits.
HISTORY 290. The Craft of History. 3 Credits.
This course introduces students to the various ways in which historians think, debate, and write about the past.
P: None. REC: One or more lower-level History courses, such as 101, 102, 103, 104, 205, 206, 207, and/or 220
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 299. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.
Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.
HISTORY 301. The Middle Ages. 3 Credits.
Examines Western European history from the late Roman Empire to the Renaissance. Focuses on primary sources and the writings of medieval historians.
P: HISTORY 101 or HUM STUD 201
Fall Odd.
HISTORY 302. Problems in American Thought. 3 Credits.
Selected themes and topics in the history of American thought and culture from the 17th century to the present. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits.
REC: HISTORY 205 or HISTORY 206.
HISTORY 309. United States Immigration History. 3 Credits.
This course surveys American Immigration History with a special focus on ethnic and race relations. It emphasizes social issues relating to immigration, immigration laws, and multiculturalism.
REC: HISTORY 205 and HISTORY 206.
Spring.
HISTORY 310. American Colonial History. 3 Credits.
History of pre-European contact Turtle Island and of North America from the sixteenth century through the late eighteenth century, with an emphasis on interactions among First Nations, Europeans, and Africans, and attention to society, politics, economy, gender, and culture.
REC: HISTORY 205
Spring Even.
HISTORY 311. History of Wisconsin. 3 Credits.
Wisconsin history from European exploration to the present; development of Wisconsin as part of the international Great Lakes region and the United States; political, economic and cultural history of the region, territory and state.
REC: HISTORY 205 or HISTORY 206 or HISTORY 220.
HISTORY 312. The Early American Republic. 3 Credits.
This course focuses on the political, economic, social, and religious development of the early United States, from the American Revolution to the eve of the American Civil War. Likely topics include the creation of new governments during and after the American Revolution, federal policy for First Nations and First Nations' responses, the antislavery movement, and the early women's rights movement.
REC: HISTORY 205
Spring Odd.
HISTORY 325. History of Modern Germany. 3 Credits.
Political, social, economic and cultural development of modern Germany from the early 19th century to the early 21st century.
Fall Odd.
HISTORY 326. Global Environmental History. 3 Credits.
This course uses historical and global perspectives to explore the relationship between humans and the living planet, with a focus on 1945 to the present, a period that has been called "the Great Acceleration." Key topics include the rise of the fossil fuel-based, industrial growth economy, globalization, industrial agriculture, population growth and urbanization, the environmental and sustainability movements, and human-caused climate disruption.
REC: HISTORY 220
Fall Only.
HISTORY 332. Europe in the 19th Century. 3 Credits.
Europe in the 19th-century surveys of European history during the 19th century. We will consider the poiltical, economic, social, and cultural developments that occurred in Europe during this time and discuss such topics as revolution, Napoleon Bonaparte, industrialization, liveralism, socialism, nationalism, Romanticism, political and social reform, 1848, Realism, national unification, imperialism, urbanization, modernism, and the road to World War I.
P: None; REC: jr. st.
Fall Odd.
HISTORY 333. Europe in the 20th Century. 3 Credits.
Europe in the 20th-century surveys European history from 1900 until 1999. We will consider the political, economic, social, and cultural developments that occurred in Europe during this time and discuss such topics as World War I, the Russian Revolution, modernism, facism, communism, world War II, the Holocaust, the Cold War, decolonization, the welfare state, 1968, 1989, and the European Union.
REC: HISTORY 102 or HISTORY 104
Spring Even.
HISTORY 334. Contemporary Europe. 3 Credits.
Contemporary Europe explores the significance of European historical events and political, social, and cultural trends during the late 20th and 21st centuries. Topics for consideration may include the Cold War, 1989, ethnic nationalism and "ethnic cleansing", the European Union, globalization, terrorism, the Great Recession, Turkey, Vladimir Putin, immigration, populism, the Ukrainian Revolution, Brexit, the Atlantic Partnership, and the nature of Europe itself.
REC: HISTORY 102 or HISTORY 104
Fall Even.
HISTORY 337. The Rise of Islamic Civilization to 1800. 3 Credits.
Examines the origins of Islam and Islamic civilization and its dispersion throughout Eurasia from 600 to 1800 AD.
P: Hum Stud/History 101 or Hum Stud/History 103, So standing.
Fall Even.
HISTORY 340. Topics in African American History. 3 Credits.
Each semester of the course will explore a significant topic in African American history such as the civil rights movements, Black nationalism, the African American family, alienation, and affirmation. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits.
REC: HISTORY 205, HISTORY 206, OR HISTORY 207
Fall Only.
HISTORY 353. The U.S. and the World. 3 Credits.
This course will explore the United States' interactions with the larger world, including its experiments with imperialism, interventionism, and multilateralism, from 1898 to the present. Through our study of both United States foreign policy and the engagement of Americans with global and transnational issues such as the spread of democracy, free trade, peace, human rights, and environmentalism, we will critical gain insights into the democratic ideals of the United States and their implications for the larger global community.
Spring Even.
HISTORY 356. History of Modern Africa. 3 Credits.
This course explores the history of modern Africa from 1850 to the present, concentrating on the major political issues faced by the various peoples of Africa from European colonialism onward. We will discuss the development of European colonization, the gradual integration of Africa into the global community, the struggle for liberation, the Cold War in Africa, and modern challenges of post-colonial Africa including civil war, genocide, HIV/AIDS, poverty, and the consequences of colonization.
P: none; REC: jr st.
Spring Even.
HISTORY 365. U.S. Labor and the Working Class: Past and Present. 3 Credits.
This course introduces students to the major themes around the history of American working men and women in the nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first centuries. The course examines the social and political place of working people as well as cultural practices and how they impacted workers' political consciousness.
Spring.
HISTORY 370. History of Sexuality in the U.S.. 3 Credits.
Historical introduction to sexual behaviors and attitudes in the U.S. from the period of colonization to the present. Includes analyses of the impact of economic, racial, gender, political, and technological change on sexual norms and behaviors.
REC: HISTORY 205 or HISTORY 206
Spring.
HISTORY 380. U.S. Women's History. 3 Credits.
This course will examine the history of American women from the colonial period to the present. Drawing on historical documents from the period - such as letters, essays, laws, memoir, and images - as well as historical scholarship, we will explore the private lives, work, and activism of women of diverse races, ethnicities, and classes. Throughout the course, we will pay particular attention to the themes of work (paid and unpaid), marriage and family life, political activism, and sexuality.
P: none; REC: jr st and one cse in U.S. history, U.S. lit or Women's Studies.
Fall Only.
HISTORY 399. Public History Methods. 3 Credits.
This course focuses on the theory and practice of public history. Students will examine history in public spaces--such as museums, archives, libraries, historic sites, and national parks, among others--as well as history that is developed for and with public audiences. We will introduce and grapple with difficult questions, such as: Whose history do we collect, document and preserve? How do we resolve the tensions between history and memory? How do we talk about difficult or controversial topics in history? And how do we make history learning exciting and memorable?
P: 6 credits in History. REC: HISTORY 290
Fall Only.
HISTORY 400. Voyageur Magazine Practicum. 3 Credits.
Hands-on experience in the production of Voyageur: Northeast Wisconsin's Historical Review. Responsibilities include editing manuscripts, content creation, and the development of the magazine's public and digital history projects. Course is repeatable for credit; may be taken 2 times for a total of 6 credits.
P: None. REC: Junior Standing, HISTORY 290
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 402. America in the Twentieth Century. 3 Credits.
Examines the history of the United States during the Twentieth Century, emphasizing social, political, and economic themes and issues.
P: none; REC: jr st.
Spring.
HISTORY 421. Topics in Medieval History. 3 Credits.
Examines themes of the Medieval world, such as the Viking Diaspora, Medieval Russia, the Silk Road, and the Byzantine Empire. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits.
P: HISTORY 101.
HISTORY 422. Topics in Early Modern European History. 3 Credits.
The course will explore current topics and themes with European history between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries. Possible topics include the witch persecutions, crime and punishment, British history and the history of society and gender. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 earned credits.
P: Junior standing. REC: HISTORY 101 or HISTORY 102
Spring.
HISTORY 423. Topics in Modern European History. 3 Credits.
This course will examine selected topics in European history since 1789. Sample topics might include the French Revolution, the Bourgeoisie, Existentialism, the World Wars, Nazi Germany, Youth, or Popular Culture. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits.
REC: Junior standing; and HISTORY 102 or HISTORY 104.
HISTORY 424. Nazi Germany. 3 Credits.
This course examines the politics, society, and culture of Germany's Third Reich. Topics include the Weimar Republic, Adolf Hitler, the rise of the Nazi party, Nazi ideology, the "seizure of power," the Nazi state, women and the family, youth, culture and the arts, racism, terror and propaganda, the Second World War, the Holocaust, and the legacy of Nazism.
P: none; REC: Junior Standing, HISTORY 102 or HISTORY 104
Spring Odd.
HISTORY 425. Topics in U.S. History. 3 Credits.
The course will explore topics and themes in United States history from the pre-contact era through to the present. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 earned credits.
Fall Only.
HISTORY 450. War and Civilization. 3 Credits.
Examination of key aspects and debates concerning the nature and role of warfare in society over a broad range of cultures and time periods. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 2 times for a total of 6 credits.
REC: Junior standing; and completion of a 100- or 200-level History course.
HISTORY 470. Studies in Comparative History. 3 Credits.
Selected themes and topics in comparative history crossing geographic and temporal boundaries. Possible topics include empires, nomadic societies, the Silk Road, slavery, the Atlantic World, democracy, modern Germany and Japan, and revolutions. Course is repeatable for credit if topics differ; may be taken 3 times for a total of 9 credits.
REC: Completion of a 100- or 200-level History course.
HISTORY 478. Honors in the Major. 3 Credits.
Honors in the Major is designed to recognize student excellence within interdisciplinary and disciplinary academic programs.
P: min 3.50 all cses req for major and min gpa 3.75 all UL cses req for major.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 480. Seminar in History. 3 Credits.
Theoretical and practical topics and problems such as research techniques, source materials, comparative studies, analysis and interpretation, and the writing of historical inquiries.
P: HISTORY 290 and junior status
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 495. Teaching Assistantship. 1-6 Credits.
The student and supervising teacher must prepare a statement that identifies the course with which the assistantship will happen, objectives for the assistantship, and expectations in order to fulfill the course objectives. Students are not eligible to receive credit in both the course they assist the instructor with and the teaching assistantship in the same semester. Typically student has previously taken the course prior to enrollment in the assistantship. Course is repeatable for credit.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 497. Internship. 1-12 Credits.
Supervised practical experience in an organization or activity appropriate to a student's career and educational interests. Internships are supervised by faculty members and require periodic student/faculty meetings. Course is repeatable for credit.
P: jr st.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 498. Independent Study. 1-4 Credits.
Independent study is offered on an individual basis at the student's request and consists of a program of learning activities planned in consultation with a faculty member. A student wishing to study or conduct research in an area not represented in available scheduled courses should develop a preliminary proposal and seek the sponsorship of a faculty member. The student's advisor can direct him or her to instructors with appropriate interests. A written report or equivalent is required for evaluation, and a short title describing the program must be sent early inthe semester to the registrar for entry on the student's transcript.
P: fr or so st with cum gpa > or = 2.50; or jr or sr st with cum gpa > or = 2.00.
Fall and Spring.
HISTORY 499. Travel Course. 1-6 Credits.
Travel courses are conducted to various parts of the world and are led by one or more faculty members. May be repeated to different locations.
P: cons of instr & prior trip arr & financial deposit.