HIST 499: RS: Senior Seminar in History

HIST 499-003: Apartheid in South Africa
(Spring 2017)

07:20 PM to 10:00 PM T

Research Hall 202

Section Information for Spring 2017

This seminar—the capstone course of your History major—requires you to write a research paper exploring some aspect of Apartheid rule in South Africa. When we hear the word Apartheid, we might consider Nelson Mandela’s triumphs: his Nobel Peace Prize and long struggle to transform South Africa into a democracy.  In our class we examine Apartheid itself.  This system of legalized racial and “tribal” segregation dominated South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.  We trace historical processes that led to Apartheid and its forms of economic, political and social control.  Along the way, we identify the global ideologies—e.g., Social Darwinism, eugenics, and other pseudo-sciences—influencing Apartheid laws.  We also study the nationalist politics that determined the course of white supremacy in twentieth-century South Africa.  Finally, our course focuses on well-known and unsung leaders, men such as Nelson Mandela and women such as Lilian Ngoyi.  They shaped movements that opposed Apartheid, making anti-racism the cause of international human rights campaigns during the Cold War.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

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.
Mason Core: Synthesis
Specialized Designation: Research/Scholarship Intensive, Topic Varies, Writing Intensive in Major
Recommended Prerequisite: History majors with 90 credits
Registration Restrictions:

Required Prerequisites: (HIST 300C or 300XS) and (ENGH 302C, ENGL 302C, ENGH 302XS, HNRS 110C, 110XS, 210C, 302C or 302XS).
C Requires minimum grade of C.
XS Requires minimum grade of XS.

Enrollment is limited to students with a major in History.

Schedule Type: Seminar
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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