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 Fall 2020
Undergraduate
100-Level Courses in HIST
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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16 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Social, political, economic, and intellectual growth of American institutions from colonization through Reconstruction. Notes: Students may not receive credit for HIST 121 if they have taken HIST 120. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
History of the United States since 1877. Notes: Students may not receive credit for HIST 122 if they have taken HIST 120. Limited to three attempts.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
Analytical approach to world history overview that surveys major features of principal existing civilizations of world, as originally formed and as altered by key global processes including forces of modernity. Limited to three attempts.
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27 Sections Currently Scheduled »
200-Level Courses in HIST
Focuses on skills, methods of learning, and subject matter to introduce discipline of history. Notes: Topics vary. Equivalent to SYST 202.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Surveys history of China and Japan from prehistoric times to ca. 1600. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Focuses on the sub-Saharan region and examines evolving systems of kinship power, spirituality, and slavery. Explores the interactions between Africans and global influences from the religions of the book and colonialism to the politics of development and continuities and changes in production. HIST 261 surveys African history from the earliest times to 1800. HIST 262 surveys African history from 1800 to the present. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Surveys colonial era to 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 period from rise of Islam in 570 to medieval period (ca. 1258) Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
300-Level Courses in HIST
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 Greece from development of the city-state through 5th century. 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
History of Europe from Congress of Vienna to outbreak of World War I. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Political, diplomatic, economic, social, and cultural development of Germany from dissolution of Holy Roman Empire to present. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Analyzes the Soviet Union, the Cold War "enemy" of the United States, from victory in World War II under Joseph Stalin through collapse in 1991. Studies the fifteen independent countries that emerged from the Soviet collapse, including Russia, the Baltic States, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Central Asia, and the Caucasus, which continue to influence world politics and culture today. 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
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
History of South during Reconstruction, Redeemer era, and New South, with particular emphasis on race relations. Covers political, economic, cultural, and intellectual development from aftermath of war. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
China from 1644 to the People's Republic of China. Emphasizes coming of West and various stages of Chinese reaction. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Japan from Meiji Restoration to World War II. Emphasizes Japan's modernization in face of challenge. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines war and American society from the colonial period to the post-Cold War era, including how military institutions, war, and the preparation for war have affected American society, and how Americans have thought about military service, experience war, and made peace through their history. Special emphasis on civil-military relations and the role of war and militarism in American culture. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Focuses on career choices and effective self-presentation for soon-to-be graduating students with majors in the humanities. Explores how skills typically learned in humanities majors can be leveraged for a successful transition to post-graduation employment. Equivalent to ENGH 303, FRLN 309, PHIL 393, UNIV 420.
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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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2 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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6 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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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Discovery and settlement of Virginia. Colonial period with emphasis on development of representative government and race relations, Golden Age of Virginia dynasty, and coming of Civil War. Limited to three attempts.
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1 Section 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
400-Level Courses in HIST
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
Topics in HIST
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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2 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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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Graduate
500-Level Courses in HIST
Discussion of readings and historical interpretations and compilation of a comprehensive bibliography on given theme. Notes: Topics announced by instructor. May be repeated for credit when topic is different. May be repeated within the term.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Explores the interaction between the Christian East, the Muslim World and the Christian West. Examines primary sources (in translation) and secondary sources that render a wide spectrum of ideologies and scholarship on the crusading movement. Emphasizes cultural interaction and transmission, warfare and coexistence between competing societies from Western Europe, Byzantium, and the Middle East. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
600-Level Courses in HIST
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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2 Sections 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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6 Sections Currently Scheduled »
Examines history of United States from 1877 to 1918, with attention to history of reform movements and politics, and social history of the period. Familiarizes with major issues and historical literature of the period. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Examines history and historiography of revolutionary era, with special emphasis on social and ideological interpretations of period. Includes events leading to War for Independence, war itself, and social and political effects of war on American society. 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
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
Students with limited computer competency should consult department before enrolling. Introduces changes that new media and technologies are bringing to how we research, write, present, and teach about the past. Students explore theoretical and historical issues as well as learn hands-on skills in digital history. Notes: Students with limited computer competency should consult with department before enrolling. May not be repeated for credit.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
700-Level Courses in HIST
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, HIST 731, HIST 751.
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2 Sections Currently Scheduled
800-Level Courses in HIST
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
900-Level Courses in HIST
Work on research proposal that forms basis for doctoral dissertation. May be repeated within the degree.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Doctoral dissertation research and writing under direction of student's dissertation committee. May be repeated within the degree.
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1 Section Currently Scheduled
Topics in HIST
Discussion of readings and historical interpretations and compilation of a comprehensive bibliography on given theme. Notes: Topics announced by instructor. 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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6 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
