Courses and Syllabi
The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes.
History Spring 2024
Undergraduate
History of Western civilization from ancient Mediterranean origins through medieval and modern development of Europe to contemporary world. Notes: Students who take HIST 100 may not receive credit for HIST 101 or HIST 102. Equivalent to HIST 101, HIST 102.
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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
History of the United States since 1877. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
By focusing on historical experiences that reflect the diversity of Mason’s student body, students will be able to see how their families and communities fit within, and contribute to, global history from the pre-modern period to our present day. This course offers a long-term historical perspective on structural issues challenging our world today, including demographic and environmental changes, national and global inequalities, and the underrepresentation of marginalized groups. Students will gain an understanding of how interconnections and inter-dependencies have been forged through the global movement of people, pathogens, goods, and ideas. Limited to three attempts.
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28 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Surveys development of independent Latin America since 1825. Emphasizes interactions of United States, Latin America. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Survey of Middle Eastern history from rise of Islam to present, emphasizing processes that led to emergence of economic, cultural, social, and political institutions that characterize region today. Surveys medieval period to present. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces research skills and methods, as well as historical interpretation, culminating in written and oral presentations. Notes: Topics vary according to instructor. History majors strongly urged to take HIST 300 as soon as possible after reaching 30 credits. Grade of C or better is required to graduate with BA in history. Students may repeat HIST 300 only with permission from the Department of History and Art History and repetitions are limited. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Political, social, economic, and cultural history of classical Rome from founding of the city through fall of Roman republic. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Survey of development of European society from collapse of Roman rule in 5th century to advent of Black Death in 14th century. Emphasizes political, social, cultural, and intellectual growth of society that developed from Roman, Catholic, and Germanic roots. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Russia and the Soviet Union from the early 20th century to the present. Focuses on the Russian Revolution and the political, social, cultural, and economic developments of the Soviet and post-Soviet eras. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
In this course, students will analyze texts that Americans have treated as “scripture.” Students will read texts that present themselves as scripture, such as selections from the Book of Mormon and a Holy Sacred and Divine Roll and Book (a Shaker text). They will also read texts that have attained a sort of canonicity within American culture, such as the Declaration of Independence and Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” Students will thus gain more than a valuable familiarity with a variety of American religious traditions. They will also reflect on the way that, even in a digital age, texts continue to shape American identity. Equivalent to RELI 334.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
History of African American life in post-slavery America, and rise and consequences of racial segregation in 19th and 20th centuries. Examines African American response to continued racial inequality and repression. Covers great migration, urbanization, black nationalism, and civil rights era, as well as contemporary debates about race. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines the roots of American sport in colonial play and recreation, the emergence of organized and national sports, issues of gender and race in the sporting world, and the intersection of U.S. sport with events such as the Civil Rights Movement and the Cold War. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
China from earliest times to period of modern Western intrusion. Development of traditional Chinese culture, society, and government. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines forms of conquest and colonization practiced by Aztec, Inca, Spanish, and Portuguese in what is now Latin America. Includes role of ideology and religion in imperial rule, use of warfare to create empires and colonies, and implementation of political and economic systems to rule subject people. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Analyzes the history of the American Civil War from its origins in the late 18th century to the withdrawal of federal troops from the south in 1877. Examines the political, social, and economic issues that led to war; the home fronts, war leadership, diplomacy, combat motivation, and grand strategy; problems associated with reconstituting the nation's political institutions; and the integration of millions of newly freed slaves. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Exlpores the history of Christianity around the world in the context of political and social structures as well as religious beliefs and practices. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of historical topics or periods of special interest in global, Latin American, African, Asian, or Middle Eastern history. Notes: Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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7 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Study of historical topics or periods of special interest. Notes: Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Study of historical topics or periods of special interest. Notes: Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Teaches the fundamentals of information technology within the context of a history course. Students learn fundamentals and skills as well as how our society became so enamored of and dependent on these knowledge and information tools. Understanding a new technology requires understanding how new technologies transform the societies that embrace them. Emphasizes the use of free and open-source software whenever possible. Limited to three attempts.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Introduces students to issues and methods in preserving history and presenting historical information to a variety of audiences through museum exhibits, websites, public commemorations, and other means. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 9 credits.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Approved work-study programs in cooperation with specific organizations including area museums; archives; historic sites; and local, state, and federal agencies. Notes: Credit determined by department. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Study of formative years of new republic from Treaty of Paris of 1783 to election of 1820. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Research on specialized historical topic culminating in seminar paper and oral presentation. Synthesis course; students expected to integrate knowledge and skills acquired in Mason Core courses. Notes: Subject determined by instructor. Student may present no more than 3 credits for graduation credit. Must receive passing grade to graduate with BA in history. Limited to three attempts.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Study of historical topics or periods of special interest in global, Latin American, African, Asian, or Middle Eastern history. Notes: Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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7 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Study of historical topics or periods of special interest. Notes: Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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5 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Study of historical topics or periods of special interest. Notes: Topics announced in advance. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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3 Sections Currently Scheduled
Graduate
Introduces historical study of world beyond Europe and United States. Students read major theoretical works and case studies of particular regions. Examines imperialism, national identity, and various forms of popular resistance; familiarizes students with range of scholarly approaches, including world systems theory and subaltern studies. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Investigates selected problems in global and comparative history, covering multiple countries or world regions. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Addresses specific topics in applied history selected by the instructor, with emphasis on combining theoretical analysis and readings with attention to practices and skills of applied history. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 15 credits.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Methodology of the historian including techniques of research, use of documentation and other sources, development of bibliography, and synthesis of material. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Readings and discussion of bibliographies, interpretations, and research trends in topics selected by instructor. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Examines Reconstruction as an era in which the federal government became increasingly powerful, but also one in which people on the ground, including former slave and rebels, western settlers, and Natives were able to resist or overthrow its actions. Addresses the rise of liberal individualism and the freedom of contract, as well as the way events on the ground resulted in more regionally focused, pragmatic understandings of rights. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Investigates selected problems. Readings, discussions, development of bibliographies. Primary sources used where possible. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Readings and discussion of bibliographies, interpretations, and research trends in U.S. religious history. Topics selected by the instructor. Notes: May be repeated when topic is different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the evolving relationship between the elected civilian government and the military charged with protecting it. Draws on history, political science, and sociology to explore the theory, practice, pitfalls, and tradeoffs involved in maintaining a military system to defend a democratic state. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Covers specific topics in history and new media selected by the instructor, with an emphasis on combining theoretical analysis and readings with hands-on projects and problem-solving. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 12 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces principles and practices of managing records and administering archival and manuscript collections, public and private. Designed for graduate students with special interest in historical sources as well as for those specializing in applied history. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
General introduction to museums of history and museum studies in the United States, intended for interested citizen as well as for assistance to students in course and career choices. Explores development, present state, and future possibilities of U.S. Museums, with some reference to international developments. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
All internship placements must be approved by the department to ensure suitability to student's program. Introduces applied history through work and study at historical museum, site, library archive, editing project, or other approved agency. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Research in specialized topics using primary sources. May be repeated for credit when topic is different, or with same topic with permission of the department. Equivalent to HIST 711.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Introduces array of scholars and scholarship through discussions of innovative historical events, important theories, and significant methodological breakthroughs in history. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Students pursue research projects in their areas of specialization. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Investigates selected problems in global and comparative history, covering multiple countries or world regions. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Readings and discussion of bibliographies, interpretations, and research trends in topics selected by instructor. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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4 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Investigates selected problems. Readings, discussions, development of bibliographies. Primary sources used where possible. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
