Courses
HIST 110. World History to 1500 (3)
Introduction to major developments in world history from the emergence of complex societies until 1500 c.e. Examines processes of social, cultural, political and economic change throughout this period and emphasizes comparisons of and interconnections between, major world civilizations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 111. World History Since 1500 (3)
An introduction to the major developments in world history from 1500 to the present. The course examines the processes of social, cultural, economic and political change throughout this period and emphasizes the production of global cultures and reactions to them. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 145. African Civilization to Modern Times (3)
Introduction to the history of the societies of sub-Saharan Africa. (Cross-listed with AFRS 171.)
HIST 150. Western Civilization I (3)
Roots of modern civilization in the West as revealed by a study of significant cultures and societies of the past from the earliest times to 1500. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities.)
HIST 151. Western Civilization II (3)
Modern civilization in the West since 1500, with emphasis on the historical development of basic elements of culture and problems of contemporary times. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities.)
HIST 161. Survey of the History of Latin America (3)
Study of certain aspects of the culture and society of Latin America and analysis of the relation of those aspects to the contemporary scene. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.) (IC)
HIST 185. Civilization of the Middle East (3)
Introduction to the history and culture of the Middle East from the rise of Islam in the 7th century to the present. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.)
HIST 191. History of Eastern Civilization I (3)
Survey of early Eastern civilization, from antiquity to the coming of the West.
HIST 192. History of Modern East Asia (3)
A survey of major developments in the history of East Asia from 1800 to the present. Focuses on political, economic, social and cultural transformations in China and Japan during this time period, with some attention to related developments in Korea and Vietnam. (Available for General Education: Subject Exploration, Comparative Cultural Studies.) (IC)
HIST 196. Experimental Topics Courses in History (3)
Selected topics in history with course content to be determined.
HIST 197. Why History? (3)
Prerequisite: EPT score of 151 or better, or eligibility for freshman composition. Seminar that introduces the discipline of History as a craft, and as one of the liberal arts and a social science. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 210. A History of the Jewish People (3)
Study of the Jewish people from their beginnings in the ancient Near East to the establishment of the modern state of Israel. (Cross-listed with JS 210.) (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.)
HIST 270. The United States to 1865 (3)
Survey of the political and social development of the U.S. through the Civil War. (Meets Title 5 requirement in American History, Institutions and Ideals.)
HIST 271. The United States Since 1865 (3)
Survey of the political and social development of the U.S. since the Civil War. (Meets Title 5 requirement in American History, Institutions, and Ideals.)
HIST 296A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses in History (3)
Selected topics in History with course content to be determined.
HIST 301. The Historian’s Craft: Reading, Research and Writing History (3)
Introduction to the search for and criticism of historical sources, the issues and controversies concerning the interpretation of these sources, “schools” of historical interpretation, organizing the materials and data of research, and the rewards and pitfalls of historical writing. Normally open only to History majors and Liberal Studies majors with a History concentration. History majors must pass this course with a grade of “C” or better in order to graduate.
HIST 302. Western Cultural Heritage, Modern Age (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Major records of the modern age that have affected contemporary thought, activity and institutions. Discussion and critical writing supplemented by field trips to museums and performances, and by independent reading and class discussion of both primary and secondary literature. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.) 2 hours lecture, 2 hours field activity.
HIST 303. Themes in Western Civilization Before 1500 (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Intended to introduce Upper Division students to the concepts and unresolved problems that have shaped the development of Western Civilization prior to 1500. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities.)
HIST 304. Themes in Western Civilization After 1500 (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Themes in the institutional, political, socio-economic and cultural development of Western Civilization since 1500. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities.)
HIST 305. Cultural History of the United States (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. American people’s evolving patterns of life in such areas as religion, education, art, architecture and music, reading matter, sports, travel, family life, and, in recent times, motion pictures, radio and television. Emphasis is placed on the values and implications revealed by the range and popularity of cultural choices. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 341. Modern Europe Since 1815 (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Institutions, culture and political development of Europe from the Congress of Vienna to the present day. (Credit will not be given for 341 if credit has already been received for either 446 or 447) (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 342. The World Since 1945 (3)
This course examines the Cold War and its international aftermath, decolonization, revolutionary movements, national development across a variety of cases and trends in the global economy. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 345. War in History and Film (3)
History of warfare since the Middle Ages as reflected in classic war films, literary sources and historical documents. Discusses effects of media on perception of historical events.
HIST 349A. Women in American History Through 1848 (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Survey of women’s roles and status through 1848. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.) (IC)
HIST 349B. Women in American History Since 1848 (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Survey of women’s roles and status since 1848. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.) (IC)
HIST 350. History of Women (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Roles and contributions of women from ancient times to the present. Special emphasis is given to the development of women’s movements from the 18th century to the present. (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 351. History of Sexual Behavior (3)
Historical study of sexual behavior from ancient times to the present.
HIST 355. History of Slavery in the United States (3)
Origin, nature and development of slavery in the U.S. and its effect on American life, politics and people. (Cross-listed with AFRS 376.)
HIST 356. Anti-Semitism in Europe (3)
Anti-Semitism encompasses attitudes, legal formulations, artistic references and actions toward the Jews in the context of European history and in relationship to the evolution of Jewish identity.
HIST 357. History of the Holocaust (3)
Examination of the Jewish experience under Hitler from its historical genesis to its final catastrophe.
HIST 366. Popular Culture and Society in Latin America (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. This course will offer students the opportunity to explore and understand the complexities of Latin American societies in the 19th and 20th centuries through the historical analysis of different forms of popular culture, defined broadly as those religious, artistic, athletic and political expressions arising from different segments of society. (Available for General Education, Lifelong Learning.)
HIST 369. History of American Indians (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Interaction of white and Indian, as well as Indian and Indian, in the U.S. from colonial times to the present. (Available for General Education, Comparative Cultural Studies.)
HIST 370. Problems in American History to 1865 (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Exploration of the political, cultural and social themes of U.S. history prior to the Civil War, with emphasis given to examining conflicting ideas about such issues as the dynamics of colonial settlement, the origins of the Revolution, the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the development of liberal capitalism, the nature of the American democratic political system, the impact of slavery and the causes of the Civil War. (Meets Title 5 requirement in American History, Institutions and Ideals.) (IC)
HIST 371. Problems in American History: 1865 to Present (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Exploration of the political and social themes of the history of the U.S., with emphasis given to examining conflicting ideas about such issues as progressivism, the New Deal, workers in an industrial Age, the immigrant experience, the U.S. as a world power, and questions of gender, race and class over time. (Meets Title 5 requirement in American History, Institutions and Ideals.) (IC)
HIST 374. Hollywood and History (3)
Explores the relationship of classic Hollywood movies to the political, social and cultural history of 20th century America. By placing each film in its historical context and examining it as a primary source, students will learn to evaluate the extent to which American movies have expressed or challenged the dominant political themes and social and cultural values of a particular historical era.
HIST 380. Los Angeles: Past, Present, Future (3)
Multidisciplinary investigation of the Los Angeles urban area — its patterns of population and resources distribution; its historical, economic, social and cultural developments; and policies models designed to cope with its problems — and to develop its potential as an ethnically diverse metropolis on the Pacific Rim. Application of social science methodology. Series of faculty and guest speakers, weekly discussion sessions and field trips. (Cross-listed with POLS and URBS 380.) (Available for General Education, Social Sciences.)
HIST 396A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses in History (3)
Selected topics in history with course content to be determined.
HIST 401. Oral History (3)
Study of the background literature, interviewing techniques and research applications of oral history.
HIST 402. Writing Family History (3)
Application of historical research techniques to the writing of one’s own family history.
HIST 406. The Jews in the Ancient World (3)
Political and social history of the Jewish people, from their nomadic beginnings to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D.
HIST 409. History of the Jews in the Modern Era (3)
A history of the Jewish people from the 17th century to the present. Principal themes include the transformation of the traditional community, the changes in Jews’ political status, the emergence of modern anti-Semitism, and ethnic and gender distinctions within Jewry. (Cross-listed with JS 409.)
HIST 409A-Z. Historical Field-Study (3)
Prerequisites: HIST 301; Completion of Lower Division survey courses. Historical study conducted off-campus at historical locations in the U.S., Europe, Latin America and Asia. This course augments previous classroom work by immersing students in the topic’s environment. Fee required.
HIST 410. The Ancient Greek World (3)
The Mediterranean world from the rise of Greek civilization to the conquest of Greece by Rome.
HIST 411. The Roman World (3)
The rise and decline of the Roman Republic and the Western Roman Empire.
HIST 415. The Byzantine World (3)
Byzantine history and civilization, from the founding of Constantinople in 324 A.D. to the Turkish conquest in 1453.
HIST 417. California for Educators (3)
Prerequisite: Available to Liberal Studies, Pre-Credential and ITEP students. Examination of California, focusing on its political, social and economic growth, its settlement, its population patterns, resource exploitation and human-environment interaction. Spatial and temporal variation of these factors is emphasized. (Cross-listed with GEOG 417.)
HIST 420. Medieval Europe (3)
Political and institutional history of Europe in the Middle Ages. (Credit may not be received for both 420 and 320.)
HIST 424. A History of the Medieval Middle East, 600-1258 (3)
Preparatory: HIST 185. This course will trace the development of religion, government, culture and society in the Middle East in the Early Islamic period (600-1258 CE). This course will first focus on Islamic conceptions of religion, law and government. It will then examine the effect that these conceptions had on the Muslim community and on the communities of conquered peoples in the Middle East during this period. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 425. History of the Early Modern Middle East (3)
Recommended Preparatory: HIST 185. This course will trace the history of the Early Modern Middle East from the Mongol destruction of Baghdad in 1258 to the Napoleonic invasion of Egypt in 1798. It will focus on political events, but there also will be substantial discussions of cultural, economic and social history. The aftermath of the Mongol invasions and the rise and development of the Gunpowder Empires, including the Mamluks, Ottomans, il-Khans and Safavids, will be emphasized. Special attention will be paid to the interaction of these empires and the cultures that developed under their control with each other and with non-Middle Eastern states and cultures. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 426. A History of the Modern Middle East 1798-1979 (3)
Preparatory: HIST 185. This course will trace the development of religion, government, culture and society in the Middle East in the modern period (1798-1979 CE). This course is designed to be an investigation of different perspectives on the history of the Middle East from 1789, the date of Napoleon’s invasion of Egypt, until roughly the Iranian Revolution of 1979. The focus of this class will be on individual and collective reactions to the dramatic changes happening during this period. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 427. Israel’s History and Peoples (3)
A history of the modern State of Israel, from the emergence of modern Jewish nationalism to the present time. The conflicts between Jews, Palestinians, and imperial and regional powers will be examined, as well as the relations between the diverse peoples that constitute Israel’s multicultural, multireligious, and multinational society. (Cross-listed with JS 427.)
HIST 432. Urban History of the United States (3)
Prerequisite: Completion of the Lower Division writing requirement. Cities, as systems of human interaction and service exchange, permit close historical analysis of historical processes and human experience. Study of selected cities, 16th century to present, as illustrations of alternative social, economic, cultural and political patterns of cities in stages of formation; growth; response to industrialization, immigration, transportation technology and suburbanization; and decay and renewal.
HIST 433. Public History (3)
Introduction to the theory, history and practice of public history (the presentation and interpretation of history for the general public). Available for graduate credit.
HIST 434. European Colonialism (3)
Prerequisite: Upper Division standing. Examines the expansion, consolidation, management, disintegration and consequences of the modern European empires, focusing on the ambiguities of identity produced by the encounter between European, American, African and Middle Eastern and cultures. Topics include such cultural constructions as cannibalism, exoticism, orientalism, primitivism, racism and tourism.
HIST 435. African History to the 19th Century (3)
History of the societies of sub-Saharan Africa from the early Iron Age to the 19th century.
HIST 436. African History Since the 19th Century (3)
History of the societies of sub-Saharan Africa in the 19th and 20th centuries.
HIST 438. Traditional India from Antiquity to 1526 (3)
History and culture of the Indian sub-continent from antiquity to the establishment of the Mughal empire in 1526.
HIST 439. Modern India Since 1526 (3)
Study of the evolution of modern India and Pakistan, emphasizing themes of political and economic transformation, socio-religious reformation, cultural dynamism, imperialism, nationalism and modernism.
HIST 440. History of War in the Modern World (3)
Selected topics analyzing the interactions of warfare with social and technological changes since the 17th century.
HIST 441. History of World War II (3)
Study of World War II as a watershed experience in modern history, with coverage of the European and Pacific theatres of war, diplomatic strategies, and the impact of the war on the domestic scene.
HIST 444. Renaissance and Reformation (3)
Europe from the Italian Renaissance through the religious schisms of the 16th century.
HIST 445. Absolutism and Revolution (3)
Europe in the age of colonial expansion and the rise of revolutionary doctrines through the fall of Napoleon.
HIST 446. 19th Century Europe (3)
Europe from the Congress of Vienna to the opening years of the 20th century.
HIST 447. 20th Century Europe (3)
Europe from the onset of World War I to the present day.
HIST 449. Russia to 1917 (3)
Russian History covering the beginnings during the Kievan period and Muscovy to the establishment of the Romanov dynasty, Imperial Russia and the October Revolution in 1917. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 450. Russia Since 1917 (3)
Starting with the collapse of Imperial Russia and the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, the course examines the Soviet period in Russian history, including industrialization, Stalinism, the Great Patriotic War, the USSR as a superpower and the demise of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 452. Medieval and Early Modern Britain (3)
Analytical survey of the political, cultural, social and religious developments and upheavals in Britain during the turbulent period from the Norman Invasion in 1066 to the Glorious Revolution in 1688.
HIST 453. Modern Britain (3)
Chronological and thematic survey of social, political, cultural, economic and intellectual developments in Britain from 1688 to the present. From world power status to national decline, this course covers such topics as industrialization, political reform, sex and gender roles, the impact of war, and the tensions of a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural society.
HIST 454. Hitler’s Germany (3)
Study of the evolution and nature of National Socialism in Germany. Reviews the ideological foundations and traces the rise of the Nazi Party and the Hitler cult in the Weimar Republic; the establishment of totalitarian power between 1933-45; the diplomatic patterns and military climax; and the question of national guilt.
HIST 456. Modern France (3)
Review of French social, cultural, economic, military and political history from the fall of Napoleon to end of the Cold War. Examines in detail the social turmoil caused by France’s many revolutions and major wars during the period. Special emphasis on the effect of class and social conflict on its modern history.
HIST 457. Modern Germany (3)
German social and political development since the time of the French Revolution.
HIST 460. Origins and Consequences of the Spanish Civil War (3)
Analysis of the political, social, economic and religious conflicts engendered by Spain’s delayed modernization and its reaction to crises and failures of the Second Republic, the origins of the Civil War, the emergence of Spanish fascism, and the character of the Franco Regime.
HIST 461. Latin America: The Colonial Period (3)
Formation of the Spanish and Portuguese empires in Latin America, tracing the development of society, government and culture.
HIST 462. 19th Century Latin America (3)
Examination of the struggle for independence and the social, political and economic development of Latin American nations from 1810 to 1914.
HIST 463. 20th Century Latin America (3)
Study of Latin American history since 1914, with emphasis on the impact of modernization upon the traditional order, efforts toward inter-American understanding, and greater interaction with the contemporary world.
HIST 464A. History of Argentina (3)
Examines Argentina’s past to introduce students to the historical factors that have shaped the contours of modern Argentina’s social, political, economic and cultural development. After looking into the colonial background, the course explores the 19th century and covers such relevant topics as caudillismo, the power struggle between Buenos Aires and the provinces, economic growth and the international economy and cultural and social legacies from the colonial past. The final part of the course covers the 20th century, including such themes as populism, labor movement, feminism, military rule and the transition to democracy.
HIST 465. The Caribbean Area Since 1492 (3)
Changing role of the Caribbean area in the affairs of Europe, Anglo-America and Latin America, and the development of the region as a unique political, social and economic community.
HIST 466. Mexico (3)
Internal development of Mexico and how it has affected hemispheric and world affairs. Special attention is devoted to Mexico’s interaction with the U.S.
HIST 468. Social and Intellectual History of Latin America (3)
Study of the principal elements and trends in Latin American Civilization, with emphasis on society, the humanities and philosophy.
HIST 469P. Pirates In the Atlantic World (3)
Pirates were real historical actors on one of the world’s most dramatic stages set against the backdrop of a waving Jolly Roger. In this course, students will explore the myths and realities of pirates to examine the social history of seafaring in the early modern Atlantic world. Why and how did people become pirates? Who became pirates? How did pirates really live and die? What impact did pirates have on history? Available for graduate credit with the professor’s consent.
HIST 469W. The Atlantic World (3)
This course will expose students to the integration of the peoples and regions around the Atlantic Ocean beginning with Christopher Columbus’ voyage of 1492 and ending with the global race for colonies in the mid-19th century. Readings and discussions will focus on the historical process responsible for connecting the four continents surrounding the Atlantic Ocean (Europe, Africa, North and South America) through the flow of diverse peoples, goods and ideas. Readings will encompass the 3 major types of Atlantic history — transnational, international and national. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 470. The United States: The Colonial Period (3)
Origins and development of the 13 American colonies, from the beginning of settlement to the end of the French and Indian War.
HIST 471. American Revolution and Constitution, 1763-1800 (3)
Development of an American nation, from the start of revolutionary activity to the end of Federalist control.
HIST 472. The United States: The Era of Expansion, 1800-1848 (3)
Growth of the nation from the election of Jefferson through the age of Jackson to the completion of continental expansion at the end of the Mexican War.
HIST 473A. The United States: Civil War and Reconstruction (3)
Social, economic and political origins of sectionalism; the Civil War and its legacy to later generations.
HIST 473B. The United States: 1877-1920 (3)
Interpretive survey of the political, cultural, diplomatic and social history of the U.S. during the Gilded Age and Progressive Era through World War I.
HIST 474A. The United States: 1920-1960 (3)
Interpretive survey of the political, cultural, diplomatic and social history of the U.S. from the end of World War I through the election of John F. Kennedy.
HIST 474B. The United States: 1960-Present (3)
Interpretive survey of the political, cultural, diplomatic and social history of the recent and contemporary U.S. from the election of John F. Kennedy to the present.
HIST 475. Women in Modern United States History: 1920-Present (3)
Study of the roles, status and contributions of women in the U.S. from 1920 to the present.
HIST 476. Youth Culture in the 20th Century United States (3)
Examines the phenomenon of “youth culture” as it evolved in the United States during the 20th century. In surveying the experiences of young people from a variety of racial, economic, regional and ethnic backgrounds, it will explore how America’s youth have helped shape both the nation’s political and popular cultures. The course also will focus on how adults have sought to keep various social forces from “corrupting” their children and how young people have responded to their elders’ efforts.
HIST 477. The Popular Arts and American History (3)
Explores 19th and 20th century U.S. history through the lens of the popular arts. By examining mass-produced novels and illustrations, theatrical productions, movies, songs, music, and radio and television programs, the course considers the power of the popular arts to influence politics, cultural developments, social movements and international relations. Instead of approaching these materials as idle diversions to be consumed and discarded, students consider them as works that can repay serious analysis and interpretation.
HIST 478. Economic History of the United States (3)
History of the economic growth and development of the U.S. from colonial times to the modern period, emphasizing the causes and nature of the growth, including analysis of its impact on American society.
HIST 479A. United States Economic History to 1865 (3)
Examines the growth and development of the U.S. economy from colonial times through the end of the Civil War. Among the themes to be considered are the regional variations in economic development; the emergence of a liberal capitalist economic order; the economic significance of new systems of production, transportation, banking and communication; and the impact of economic fluctuations on individuals and groups within the nation.
HIST 479B. U.S. Economic History Since 1865 (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate students must have instructor’s consent. Recommended corequisite: ECON 300. Examines the growth and development of the U.S. economy from the end of the Civil War to the present. Among the themes to be considered are the relationship between the state and the private sector in a free market economy; the rise of big business and corporate capitalism during the Gilded Age; efforts to come to terms with the new industrial economy on the part of government, individuals and such special interest groups as farmers, labor and small business; the origins, effects and economic legacy of the Great Depression and the New Deal; the impact of the Cold War on the U.S. economy; and the social and economic impact of deindustrialization and globalization. Available for graduate credit.
HIST 479L. History of American Working People (3)
A broad overview of U.S. history from the perspective of working people. The course will examine the development of working class cultures and communities; the rise and fall of craft and industrial unions; working people’s contributions to and portrayal in U.S. popular culture; the effects of the industrial revolution and, later, de-industrialization on working men and women; working-class racism, patriotism and religious beliefs; the relationship between labor and the state; and the experiences of working-class immigrants. May be taken for graduate credit.
HIST 481. The American West Since 1848 (3)
Settlement of the last American frontiers from 1848 to 1890 and the evolution of the modern Far West as a distinctly important region during the 20th century.
HIST 482. Constitutional History of the United States to 1877 (3)
The Federal Constitution considered from the point of view of its origins and evolution to 1877.
HIST 483. Constitutional History of the United States Since 1877 (3)
The Federal Constitution and the changing nature of the Union from 1877 to the present time.
HIST 485. Diplomatic History of the United States Since 1914 (3)
Analysis of the U.S. foreign policies since 1914, with emphasis on the origins, nature and results of America’s involvement in the World Wars, the Cold War and global international affairs since the 1950s.
HIST 485A. The United States and the Indochina Wars, 1940-1975 (3)
Analysis of the wars in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, with emphasis on the U.S. involvement.
HIST 485B. The United States and Latin America Since 1898 (3)
Historical analysis of the U.S. involvement with Latin America since 1989, with emphasis on the origins, nature and results of the U.S. interacting with Latin American nations in the Caribbean and South America.
HIST 486A. History of Los Angeles (3)
Evolution of the metropolis of Los Angeles from pre-Spanish days to the present.
HIST 486J. History of the Jews in the United States (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate students must have instructor’s consent. Explores the social, cultural, economic and political history of Jewish people in the U.S. from the colonial era to the present, and the relevance of this history to American culture today. Available for graduate credit. (Cross-listed with JS 486J.)
HIST 488. California (3)
Political, economic, social and intellectual growth of California from Spanish times to the present, with emphasis on current characteristics and problems.
HIST 489. A History of the African-American People in the United States (3)
Examination of basic themes and issues in the history of the African-American people in the U.S. and the relevance of those themes and issues to the patterns of today.
HIST 490. Traditional China (3)
Study of political, economic and social history of China from antiquity to the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644.
HIST 491A. Modern China (3)
Survey of political, economic and social history of China from the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644 to the Republican Revolution of 1911, with special emphasis on early Manchu success, China’s response to the impact of the West and the Manchu decline.
HIST 491B. The Rise of Communist China (3)
Historical analysis of the Chinese Communist movement from its inception to the founding of the People’s Republic of China, with special emphasis on Mao Tse-tung’s early revolutionary thought and strategy.
HIST 493. Modern Japan (3)
Analysis of domestic and international political developments and cultural evolution from the last days of feudalism through the modern century of the Meiji, Taisho and Showa periods.
HIST 494SOC. Internship Program (3)
Pre-professional practicum in a history-based field, open to History major and minors with 3.0 GPA.
HIST 495. The Philosophy of History (3)
Role of selection, facts, theories, causation, explanation, science, art, morality, and the synthetic philosophies of history from Vico to the present.
HIST 495SS. Capstone Seminar for Prospective History Teachers (3)
Prerequisites: AFRS, ANTH, GEOG, POLS or SOC 396SS; Restricted to students in the Social Science Subject Matter Program. Intended as a capstone experience, this seminar will expose students to the practices of historical thinking and guide them to develop the knowledge and skills needed to convey these practices to others. It is recommended that this course be taken in the last 12 units of the Social Science Subject Matter Program. Requires 10 hours of field observation in secondary social studies classrooms.
HIST 496A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses in History (3)
Selected topics in history with course content to be determined.
HIST 497A-Z. Proseminar (3)
General principles of historical research, with application to specific areas of history and historiography. Grade of “C” or better is required to receive credit for this course.
HIST 498. Tutorial in History (1-3)
Reading and discussion in a specific field or on a specific topic in a small group. May be repeated: 6 units maximum. Grade of “C” or better is required to receive credit for this course.
HIST 499A-C. Independent Study (1-3)
Independent Study
HIST 505. Archival Theory and Methods (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Introductory course on the essentials of archival administration. Topics include archival theory, the history of archives in the U.S., the development of collecting policies, techniques for preserving historical materials and arrangement and description of collections.
HIST 506. The Archival Profession (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Topics include management of archival programs, automated archival systems, budgeting, space facilities planning, career opportunities, grant writing, and historic preservation and fundraising.
HIST 508. Practicum in Archival Administration (3)
Prerequisites: HIST 505; Graduate standing or instructor consent. Application of the theory of archival administration, including collection, preservation, arrangement and exhibition of historic materials. Students may complete the practicum at one of several sites, including the Urban and Old China Hands Archives at Oviatt Library, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Natchez Mississippi Courthouse Record Project.
HIST 510. Colloquium in Greek and Hellenistic History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Covers historiographical writings on important developments in Greek and Hellenistic history from the Bronze Age through the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars and the trial of Socrates, and concludes with a discussion of Hellenistic Greece and the influence of Greek culture in the broader Mediterranean world.
HIST 511. Colloquium in Roman History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed historiographical readings and discussion focusing on Roman history from the Republic through the fall of the Empire.
HIST 530. Colloquium in Pre-Modern World History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Examination of major issues and themes in world history from ancient times to 1500. Possible topics include religion, empire, migration, trade and cultural contact. Readings include major scholarly works as well as primary sources in translation.
HIST 531. Colloquium in Modern World History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Designed for students who will one day teach world history, as well as those who are interested in trans-national, trans-regional integrative history. Provides a practical and theoretical approach to world history since 1500 by exploring the vibrant and volatile debate over “The Rise of The West.” Topics include industrialization, imperialism, global trade, environmental change, military technology, migration and slavery, and the role of culture in economic development.
HIST 541. Colloquium in Modern European History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Survey of major historiographical debates in modern European history, including the French Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the rise of bourgeois society, nationalism, imperialism and the First and Second World Wars.
HIST 545. Colloquium in the History of the Middle East (3)
Prerequisite: HIST 185. Recommended preparatory: HIST 424 and 426. This course is an examination of major themes in Middle Eastern history from the Arab/Islamic conquest to the present. Possible topics include examinations of cultural, economic, intellectual, religious and social history. The course will underscore historiography and the effect of modern political debates on the history of the region. Readings will include major scholarly works and primary sources in translation.
HIST 546. The Holocaust and Genocide for Educators (3)
An overview of the Holocaust and the concept of genocide, with a focus on the analysis and evaluation of varied resources for educators, including film, photographs, literature, art, music, documents and other primary source materials. (Cross-listed with JS 546.)
HIST 550. Colloquium in Environmental History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed readings exploring historical relationships between human societies and the natural world from the 15th century to the present, especially in North America.
HIST 560. Colloquium in Latin American Historiography (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Introduction to selected themes of historiographical relevance in Latin American history, with particular attention to the most recent scholarship. Familiarization with the main events, issues and subjects in the field. Surveys and samples important writings to understand both broad trends and specific developments. Exposure to Latin American history. Emphasis on critical reading, in-depth class discussions and the ability to present written analyses of the material covered. Major themes may include colonial economy and society, land and labor, slavery, abolition and assimilation, women and gender, international markets, and revolutions and popular rebellions.
HIST 561. Colloquium in Latin American Cultural and Intellectual History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Exploration of the historical evolution of artistic, intellectual and popular cultural expressions in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. By the end of the semester, students will have achieved a critical understanding of the diversity and complexity that characterize Latin American culture. Emphasis on critical reading, in-depth class discussions and the ability to present written analyses of the covered material. Major themes may include native cultures, syncretism, millenarian movements, African culture, elite and “popular” cultures, mestizaje, machismo and marianismo.
HIST 562. Colloquium in Latin American Social and Economic History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Focuses on the relationship between economic change and social structures in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. By the end of the semester, students will have achieved an understanding of the social and economic events that combined to produce the societies and nations that constitute Latin America today. Emphasis on critical reading, in-depth class discussions and the ability to present written analyses of the covered material. Major themes may include pre-Colombian civilizations, slavery, Latin America and the world economy, growth and development, inequality, import substitution industrialization, neo-liberalism and globalization.
HIST 563. Colloquium in Latin American Political, Institutional and Military History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Examines the historical evolution of the political and institutional structure in Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. By the end of the semester, students have achieved an understanding of the political development of the Latin American states within a broad social and economic context. Emphasis on critical reading, in-depth class discussions and the ability to present written analyses of the covered material. Major themes may include colonial institutions, caudillismo, oligarchic regimes, U.S. interventions, revolution and reform, populism, armed forces in politics, dictatorships and return to democracy, and political neo-liberalism.
HIST 569. Atlantic History Readings Seminar (3)
This reading-intensive course is designed to introduce graduate students to a new analytical framework. Students will study the historical processes responsible for the integration of the peoples and regions around Atlantic Ocean beginning with Christopher Columbus’ voyage of 1492 and ending with the global race for colonies in the mid-19th century. There will be a diverse set of readings that focus on the transatlantic movement of peoples, goods and ideas that connected colonial America to the wider world. Readings may vary by instructor.
HIST 570. The American Revolution (3)
This course will help students come to terms with the late 18th century imperial crisis that brought about the rise of the independent U.S. Readings and discussions will focus on the origins, progress and results of the American Revolution.
HIST 572. Colloquium in 19th Century U.S. History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Examination of the major social, economic, political and cultural themes in the U.S. during the 19th century. Topics include the industrial, market and transportation revolutions; slavery; the Civil War and its aftermath; the rise of the (urban) middle class; the frontier and territorial expansion; and the cultural life of Victorian America.
HIST 573. Colloquium in U.S. History: Gilded Age and Progressive Era (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed historiographical readings surveying major political, social, cultural and economic trends in the United States from 1877 to 1929. Topics include race relations, the rise of big business, immigration, urbanization, progressivism, the emergence of an American empire, the impact of war, nativism and gender relations.
HIST 574. Colloquium in Recent U.S. History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed historiographical readings surveying major political, social, cultural and economic trends in the U.S. from 1832 to the present. Topics include the Great Depression, World War II, anti-communism, the origins of the Cold War, the Civil Rights movement, student unrest, Vietnam, and the Reagan years.
HIST 575. Colloquium in the U.S. and the Cold War (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Exploration of the effects of the Cold War on American intellectual, cultural and social life. Readings focus on the relationship between Cold War diplomacy and domestic politics; the impact of the Cold War on the everyday lives of American citizens; the Cold War’s influence on American intellectuals and intellectual life; the Cold War’s role in fostering conservative and progressive social movements; the Cold War’s effect on American popular culture; and the impact of anti-communism on American political and cultural life.
HIST 576. Colloquium in U.S. Foreign Policy and the Cold War (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Discussion of major topics in the history of the U.S. and the Cold War, including the origins of the Cold War, the Korean Conflict, the Cuban Missile Crisis, Détente and the end of the Cold War, as well as such prominent figures as Stalin, Truman, Eisenhower, Nixon, Kissinger and Reagan. Emphasis is on the reading and discussion of secondary interpretations and historiography.
HIST 577. Colloquium in U.S. Social and Intellectual History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed readings focusing on selected topics in the social and intellectual history of the U.S.
HIST 578. Colloquium in U.S. Economic History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Readings in the institutions, ideas and character of the American economy from the colonial era to the present, with special emphasis on issues of economic growth and development, class conflicts, technological innovations and the strategies and structures of American enterprise.
HIST 579. Colloquium in U.S. Cultural History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. By examination of various aspects of 19th and 20th century U.S. cultural history, this course considers the ways in which different individuals and groups have exercised cultural influence in American life. Areas of focus include the role of race, gender, region, religion and class in shaping cultural production, and an exploration of the issue of cultural power (i.e., who defines “acceptable” and “authentic” culture?).
HIST 581. Colloquium in the American West (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed readings focusing on American expansion into the trans-Mississippi West.
HIST 583. Colloquium in U.S. Political History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Historiographical readings focusing on major themes in U.S. political history. Possible topics include U.S. reform movements, left- and right-wing radicalism, the politics of anti-communism and the presidency.
HIST 584. Colloquium in the U.S. in the 1980s (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Examination of major topics in U.S. history in the 1980s relating to the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Emphasis on reading and discussion of the available memoir literature, secondary interpretations and historiography and use of the exhibits, resources and conferences held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Course is followed in the Spring semester by HIST 674, which involves the preparation of a research paper based in part on the use of the records of the Reagan Presidential library. Students wishing to take the Spring seminar devote some attention to the selection of a research topic while preparing the secondary reading for the course.
HIST 585. Colloquium in U.S. Southern History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Readings in history of the American South from the colonial era through modern times, with special emphasis on issues of regional identity, class and race relations, slavery, popular culture, regional politics and the continuity of southern culture.
HIST 586. Colloquium in U.S. Women and Gender History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed readings on selected topics in the history of women and gender in American society from colonial times to the present.
HIST 588. Colloquium in California History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed readings focusing on selected topics in the history of California, from pre-European settlement to the present.
HIST 590. Colloquium in the Asian History (3)
Prerequisite: Graduate standing or instructor consent. Directed readings focusing on specific areas of Asia, from ancient times to the present.
HIST 595A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses (3)
No course description
HIST 596A-Z. Selected Topics (3)
No course description
HIST 601. Theory and Historiography (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Sophisticated, graduate-level introduction to history as a discipline. Surveys the development of history as a discipline, examines the various genres of historical writing, explores issues and problems of historical interpretation, and considers the how historians use theoretical models from other disciplines to shape their work. Readings include seminal works by major historians.
HIST 610. Research Seminar in Ancient Greek History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Focus on ancient Greek history from Solon to Demosthenes. Topics include Athenian democracy, the Persian and Peloponnesian Wars, Sparta, social and intellectual history, Greek historians and modern historiography.
HIST 611. Research Seminar in the Roman Republic (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar focusing on the late Roman Republic from the Gracchi to the victory and consolidation of power by Emperor Augustus. Topics include the dynamics of Roman politics, the role of the intellectual, private and public life; town and country; women; the Roman mob; whether there was a revolution in Rome; and the image and reality of leading Roman political figures.
HIST 612. Research Seminar in the Roman Empire (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Seminar on the Roman Empire from the Julio-Claudians to the fall of the empire in the West. Topics include social, political and intellectual history, the rise of Christianity, the transformation of the empire, theories about the fall of Rome and studies of individual historians of the period.
HIST 620. Research Seminar in the Middle Ages (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on selected topics in western European, Iberian, Byzantine, and/or Mediterranean history during the period between the fall of Rome and the Renaissance.
HIST 630. Research Seminar in World History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. In addition to discussing the methodological issues involved in studying and researching world history, each student writes an original, primary source-based research paper on a topic in world history that is trans-national, regional or comparative in focus.
HIST 640. Research Seminar in Early Modern European History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on selected topics in European history from the Renaissance through the Napoleonic period.
HIST 641. Research Seminar in Modern European History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on selected topics in European history since the French Revolution.
HIST 642. Research Seminar in Modern European Cultural and Intellectual History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar dealing with cultural and intellectual trends in Europe since the Enlightenment, set in broad historical context. After some common readings by the entire class, each student makes a presentation on a chosen topic and writes a research paper that can be in the history of ideas, literature, the arts, or ideology in socio-political or cultural context (e.g., “The Roots of the Nazi Mind,” “Hegel and the French Revolution,” Wagner and the Anti-Semitic Imagination,” “Nietzsche and Postmodernism,” “The Spanish Civil War as a Lab of Applied Ideology,” “The Fall of the Berlin Wall: The End of History?,” “The End of Humanism in an Age of Genetic Engineering and the Internet”).
HIST 645. Research Seminar in Nazi Culture (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Students write a research paper and make an oral presentation that examines Weimar Culture, especially its avant-garde expressions; Nazi ideology, organizations and cultural policy, focusing on the arts, literature, film, the media and education; and/or German culture in American exile. The class also considers the question of Nazi culture as reactive to modernism, or as an expression of modernism or post-modernism. Students should consider the availability of primary materials in local archives such as CSUN, the Archives of American Art, LACMA, the Getty Center, The Museum of Tolerance, UCLA Film Archives and the Library of the Academy of Motion Pictures.
HIST 646. Research Seminar in Denazification and the Legacy of the Holocaust (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar focusing on the history of the Third Reich, efforts to change German culture in the wake of World War II and the implications and memories of the Holocaust for Germany and other countries. May include a research trip to archives in Washington, D.C., such as the National Archives, the Library of Congress and the National Holocaust Memorial Museum. Students who read German are guided into German records; others focus on American records relating to German topics, such as the OSS, denazification, the Nuremberg trials and the post-war occupation (OMGUS).
HIST 660. Research Seminar in Latin American History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on topics in the history of Mexico, Central and South America and the Caribbean. Students will conduct an in-depth examination employing original (primary) sources on a specific problem or issue in the history of Latin America.
HIST 671. Research Seminar in Colonial American History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on selected topics in American history prior to the American Revolution.
HIST 672. Research Seminar in Early National U.S. History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on selected topics in American history from the Revolution to the Civil War.
HIST 673. Research Seminar in the Civil War and Reconstruction (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on selected topics in the history of the Civil War and its immediate aftermath.
HIST 674. Research Seminar in Recent U.S. History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar concentrating on the U.S. in the 1980s. Students focus on a specific topic within this period or closely related to it that is suitable for primary-source research that can be done at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, the Oviatt Library or other local archives. The main requirement is the preparation of a seminar paper of approximately 25 pages in length.
HIST 675. Research Seminar in Southern History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified Standing. Students conduct an in-depth examination employing original (primary) sources relating to a problem or issue of Southern culture, economic, intellectual, or political history from the colonial era to modern times.
HIST 676. Research Seminar in U.S. Economic History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Students conduct an in-depth examination employing original (primary) sources relating to a problem or issue in American economic, business or labor history from the colonial era to modern times.
HIST 681. Research Seminar in the U.S. West (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Students conduct an in-depth examination employing original (primary) sources relating to a problem or issue in the history of the U.S. West.
HIST 690. Research Seminar in Asian History (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Research seminar dealing with specific areas of Asia, from ancient times to the present.
HIST 693. Directed Research (3-3)
No course description
HIST 694. Practicum for Teaching Assistants (3)
Prerequisite: Classified standing. Working under the close supervision of Departmental faculty and assigned to a specific undergraduate History course, students gain experience in creating assignments, grading papers and exams, leading discussion and review sessions, and giving lectures. Students have the opportunity to discuss issues and problems in teaching. May be repeated once for credit.
HIST 695A-Z. Experimental Topics Courses (3)
No course description
HIST 697. Comprehensive Examinations (3)
This course consists of two written examinations taken during or following the semester in which students complete all their other requirements for the Degree, including 30 units of coursework. Students may register for this course only once.
HIST 698. Thesis (3)
Students may enroll after they have completed 30 units of coursework and had their formal program approved. Students work on their thesis and take the written Proficiency Exam in their second area of study. Students have a 2-year limit in which to finish their thesis from the time they enroll in this course.
HIST 698D. Graduate Culminating Project (3)
Prerequisites: HIST 601 and two Graduate Level History Research Seminars. This culminating graduate course requires students to demonstrate their mastery of the historian’s craft. Students will revise an existing research paper that they produced in one of their graduate research seminar classes and transform it into a piece that could be submitted as a conference paper, a scholarly writing sample, and/or an article for publication. Students will prepare a cogent twenty-minute oral presentation of their work. This course is to be taken in the student’s final semester
HIST 699A-C. Independent Study (3)
Independent Study