Dr. Christopher Meyers, Interim Head
Room 1104, Ashley Hall
The Department of History provides an undergraduate program that leads to the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history. The Department also offers a minor in history. A graduate program leads to the Master of Arts degree with a major in history.
The undergraduate major and minor in the Department of History are designed to help students to further and to complete their general education by building upon the foundation that is afforded by the University’s Core Curriculum. The programs also provide students with the basic knowledge, skills, and values required for professional careers in history and for advanced study in the field. The program is a flexible one that presents students with opportunities to supplement the major by taking one or two minors or even a second major.
History’s scope is extremely broad, and people and their institutions form a particular focus of the discipline. The use of language and the ability to communicate skillfully also are concerns of history. Thus, the study of history prepares students for many different occupations and professions in which such qualities are essential.
Traditionally, teaching has been a career possibility, but, as well, graduates of the program in history are prepared to enter graduate school for further study; to seek employment in business or government, in museums and libraries, in publishing, journalism, and advertising; or to enter the military, politics, or theology. A degree in history is excellent preparation for business school or law school.
Students who are interested in the history major or who have questions about the vocational possibilities of the major should consult with members of the Department of History in Ashley Hall.
Requirements for the Honors Track for History Majors
The Honors Track in history allows students the option of pursing the major at a more challenging level. To enter the track, student must be history majors with an overall GPA of 3.0. They must have a 3.0 average in all history courses taken and must have completed HIST 3000 with a grade of “B” or higher. They must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 and a GPA of 3.0 in the major.
Students must complete three courses from among the following options, with at least a grade of “B” in each:
| HIST 3030H | Honors Topics in U.S. History | 3 |
| HIST 3040H | Honors Topics in European History | 3 |
| HIST 3050H | Honors Topics in World History | 3 |
| HIST 4800H | Honors Directed Study: Thesis | 3 |
Students completing the Honors Track in history will have it noted on their transcript.
HIST 1011. History of Civilization I. 3 Hours.
Survey of the development of major world civilizations from antiquity through the 14th century. Emphasis will be placed on the cultural achievements of each civilization.
HIST 1011H. Honors History of Civilization I. 3 Hours.
Survey of world civilizations from antiquity through the 14th century. Emphasis will be placed on the cultural achievements of each civilization; taught in an enriched environment.
HIST 1012. History of Civilization II. 3 Hours.
Survey of early modern world civilizations from the 15th through the 18th century. Emphasis will be placed on the growing interactions of world cultures.
HIST 1012H. Honors History of Civilization II. 3 Hours.
Survey of early modern world civilization from the 15th through the 18th centuries. Emphasis will be placed on the growing interactions of world cultures; taught in an enriched environment.
HIST 1013. History of Civilization III. 3 Hours.
Survey of world civilizations during the 19th and 20th centuries. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of industrialization, global conflict, and the emergence of the Third World.
HIST 1013H. Honors History of Civilization III. 3 Hours.
Survey of world civilizations during the 19th and 20th centuries. Emphasis will be placed on the impact of industrialization, global conflict, and the emergence of the Third World; taught in an enriched environment.
HIST 1111. World History I. 3 Hours.
A survey of world history to early modern times. Students in this course will be expected to participate frequently in class discussions, take 12 unit quizzes, and proctored midterm and final exams.
For more information on this institution's eCore courses, please see http://www.valdosta.edu/ecore/.
HIST 2111. United States History to 1865. 3 Hours.
A survey of the major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the United States and Georgia to 1865. (Either HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 satisfies legislative requirements for U.S./Georgia History.).
HIST 2111H. Honors United States History to 1865. 3 Hours.
A survey of the major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the United States and Georgia to 1865, taught in an enriched environment. (Either HIST 2111H or HIST 2112H satisfies legislative requirements for U.S./Georgia History.).
HIST 2112. United States History since 1865. 3 Hours.
A survey of the major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the United States and Georgia since 1865. (Either HIST 2111 or HIST 2112 satisfies legislative requirements for U.S./Georgia History.).
HIST 2112H. Honors United States History Since 1865. 3 Hours.
A survey of the major political, economic, social, and cultural developments in the United States and Georgia since 1865, taught in an enriched environment. (Either HIST 2111H or HIST 2112H satisfies legislative requirements for U.S./Georgia History.).
HIST 3000. Study of History. 3 Hours.
Prerequisites: ENGL 1101 or 1101H, and ENGL 1102 or 1102H; nine (9) semester hours from HIST 1011 or 1011H, 1012 or 1012H, 1013 or 1013H, 2111 or 2111H, 2112 or 2112H; declaration of a major in history. An overview of the study of history, with emphasis on historiography and historical methods. Must be taken as, or concurrently with, the first upper-division history course.
HIST 3030. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3030H. Honors Topics in U.S. History. 3 Hours.
Special topics in United States history for History Honors Track. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 3040. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3040H. Honors Topics in European History. 3 Hours.
Special topics in United States history for History Honors Track. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 3050. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3050H. Honors Topics in World History. 3 Hours.
Special topics in United States history for History Honors Track. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 3060. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3070. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3080. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3090. Special Topics in History. 3 Hours.
Selected themes of historical and contemporary interest. May be repeated for credit if topics are different.
HIST 3120. History of Cuisine and Culture. 3 Hours.
Overview of food and human society from early human civilization to the modern era. The course will emphasize changes in food production and consumption as well as the development of ethnic and cultural differences in cuisine.
HIST 3201. The Ancient Near East. 3 Hours.
The history of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, with emphasis on political structures, social institutions, and cultural developments.
HIST 3202. Hellenistic Greece and Rome. 3 Hours.
A study of Mediterranean civilizations from the era of Alexander the Great through the fall of the Roman Empire. Greco-Roman contributions to western cultural traditions will be emphasized.
HIST 3203. Renaissance and Reformation. 3 Hours.
A study of the cultural, intellectual, and religious life of Europe in the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries.
HIST 3205. Europe in the Age of Louis XIV, 1648-1750. 3 Hours.
A study of major trends in European history from the Peace of Westphalia to the Enlightenment. Cultural, social, and political achievements of European countries will be stressed.
HIST 3206. Revolutionary Europe, 1750-1815. 3 Hours.
A study of major developments in Europe from the Enlightenment through the defeat of Napoleon. The impact of the French Revolution on Europe will be emphasized.
HIST 3207. Europe, 1815-1914. 3 Hours.
A survey of the leading developments of the period in Europe, including social and nationalistic trends. Emphasis is placed on factors leading to World War I.
HIST 3208. Europe, 1914-1945. 3 Hours.
A survey of the lost generation living in a society broken and disillusioned by World War I.
HIST 3209. Europe Since 1945. 3 Hours.
A study of European domestic and international affairs since 1945 with emphasis upon the major states.
HIST 3220. Medieval Civilization. 3 Hours.
Survey of medieval society, politics, and culture from the disintegration of the Roman Empire to the first currents of the Renaissance and Reformation. The course will emphasize the great diversity of medieval Europe in areas including government, piety, social relations, intellectual life, and economic systems.
HIST 3230. Byzantine Empire and Society. 3 Hours.
Examination of the development of Byzantium between the foundation of Constantinople in 330 and the fall of the city to the Ottoman Turks in 1453. The course will focus on the political, ideological, and cultural features of Byzantine civilization as a synthesis of ancient and medieval models.
HIST 3240. The Crusades. 3 Hours.
Examination of the origin and development of the Crusades between the eleventh and the sixteenth centuries. The course will examine the theoretical foundations of crusading, the diverse character of the movement, and the evolving scope of its objectives.
HIST 3250. Power and Community in Medieval Europe. 3 Hours.
ntroduction to key concepts of public authority and social order that dominated medieval.
HIST 3301. Britain to 1603. 3 Hours.
History of the British Isles from prehistory to the advent of the Stuarts, with emphasis on political, social, economic, and cultural developments.
HIST 3302. Britain Since 1603. 3 Hours.
History of the British Isles from 1603 to the present, with emphasis on political, imperial, social, and economic developments.
HIST 3401. Slavic Europe to 1815. 3 Hours.
History of Slavic Europe from the early Middle Ages to the end of the Napoleonic Wars. The course will examine the history of Russian and other Slavic peoples, with an emphasis on political, religious, social, and economic developments.
HIST 3402. Slavic Europe Since 1815. 3 Hours.
History of Slavic Europe from 1815 to the present. The course will examine the history of Russian and other Slavic peoples in the modern period.
HIST 3500. German History, 1700-1945. 3 Hours.
An in-depth study of German history from the rise of Brandenburg-Prussia to the fall of Nazi Germany. Topic areas include social, political, intellectual, cultural, diplomatic, and gender history.
HIST 3502. Topics in German History. 3 Hours.
An in-depth study of the history and historiographical and philosophical debates of a particular issue or period in German history. May be repeated for credit.
HIST 3601. World Military History to 1618. 3 Hours.
Overview of major developments in military history to 1618. The course examines changes in military strategy, technology, and organization, with a focus on comparing systems in different regions and time periods.
HIST 3602. World Military History Since 1618. 3 Hours.
Overview of major developments in military history since 1618 and the outbreak of the Thirty Years War. The course examines changes in military strategy, technology, and organization, with a focus on comparing systems in different regions and time periods.
HIST 3990. History Teaching Tutorial. 1 Hour.
Prerequisites: Completion of one of the following: HIST 1011, 1011H, 1012, 1012H, 1013, 1013H, 2111, 2111H, 2112 or 2112H; Junior or Senior standing; declaration of the major in history, secondary history education, or middle grades education with a primary concentration area in social studies. An introduction to the process of teaching history at the postsecondary survey level. Under the direction of a history faculty member, students will engage in a variety of activities such as observing classes, conducting study sessions and tutorials, and other activities directly related to a designated lower division (1000-2000 level) history survey course. May be taken three times for credit with a different faculty mentor and a different course in each instance.
HIST 4100. United States Constitutional History. 3 Hours.
Development of American constitutionalism from its origins in England and colonies to the present time.
HIST 4101. American Legal History. 3 Hours.
History of American law from colonial times to the present. The course will examine developments in American legal history, especially the relationship between social and legal changes in such areas as criminal law, the law of slavery, and private law, particularly at the state level. The course also examines the development of such legal institutions as the bench and bar and legal education.
HIST 4105. European Ethnicity in American History. 3 Hours.
A study of European immigration to the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. The course will examine the reason why Europeans came to American, the problems they faced in the assimilation process, and the contributions they made to the growth of the United States.
HIST 4198. Colonial North America to 1763. 3 Hours.
A study of major themes in colonial history in North America to 1763. The course will examine such themes as the origins of European colonization, the development of slavery, gender and race relations, religion and society, the imperial struggle for North America, and intercultural relations among Europeans, Africans, and Native Americans.
HIST 4199. Revolutionary America, 1763-1789. 3 Hours.
A study of the American Revolutionary era from the end of the Seven Years War to the ratification of the Constitution. The course examines political, economic, cultural, social, and military history of the period, with special emphasis on race and gender relations, the origins of American identity, the War for Independence, and the drafting and ratification of the Constitution.
HIST 4202. United States, 1789-1850. 3 Hours.
A study of United States history from the Washington administration through the Compromise of 1850, focusing on political, cultural, social, and economic developments.
HIST 4203. United States, 1850-1877. 3 Hours.
A study of United States history from the Compromise of 1850 to the end of Reconstruction. Focuses on the section crisis of the 1850s, the Civil War, and the Reconstruction process after the war.
HIST 4204. United States, 1877-1921. 3 Hours.
A study of United States history from the end of Reconstruction to the end on the Wilson administration. Emphasizes diplomatic, ethnic, cultural, political, and social developments.
HIST 4205. United States, 1921-1945. 3 Hours.
A study of United States history from the end of World War I to the end of World War II. Focuses on the "Roaring '20s," the Great Depression, and U.S. involvement in World War II.
HIST 4206. United States Since 1945. 3 Hours.
A study of United States history since World War II with emphasis on political, cultural, social, and eocnomic developments and the nation's foreign relatiions.
HIST 4207. United States Diplomacy to 1921. 3 Hours.
A study of United States foreign relations from the Revolutionary period through 1921.
HIST 4208. United States Diplomacy since 1921. 3 Hours.
A study of united states foreign relations since 1921.
HIST 4209. The United States in the 1980's. 3 Hours.
Survey of the history on the United States in the 1980's. The course will provide students with a broad understanding of the major social, political, cultural, and economic trends and developments during the period.
HIST 4211. Georgia History through 1865. 3 Hours.
A study of Georgia's history from its occupation by the Indians through the Civil War, with attention to the state's development in the regional, national, and international context. Satisfies Georgia History legislative requirement.
HIST 4212. Georgia History since 1865. 3 Hours.
A study of Georgia's history from the Civil War to the present, with attention to the state's development in its regional, national, and international context. Satisfies Georgia history legislative requirement.
HIST 4215. Introduction to Public History. 3 Hours.
Overview of the major specializations in the field of public history. The course will provide students with an understanding of museums, exhibit design, archival work, and oral history. Students will develop skills in interpreting history for the public through interating with public history professionals and completing group projects.
HIST 4219. Genealogy. 3 Hours.
A survey of the major uses and methods of genealogical research. The course will explore oral traditions; census, probate, property, and military records; surname origins; legal, biological, and fictive kinship; and the DNA genealogical revolution.
HIST 4220. Local History. 3 Hours.
A study of the methodology of local history research and writing. The course examines aspects of South Georgia history as a means of providing the student with an opportunity to apply the methodology.
HIST 4221. The Old South. 3 Hours.
A detailed study fo the social, economic, cultural, and intellectual life of the colonial and antebellum South, with consideration of the influence of slavery.
HIST 4222. The New South. 3 Hours.
A history of the South since the Civil War, with special attention to political, social, economic, and cultural developments, as well as the problems of southern blacks after emancipation.
HIST 4225. History of the American West. 3 Hours.
History of the American West from Spanish colonial times to the present. The course will consider economic, social, political, and cultural developments of the region.
HIST 4226. Colonial South. 3 Hours.
A study of the American South in colonial times, with special emphasis on the Deep South. The course will examine the interaction of African, English, French, Native American, and Spanish cultures.
HIST 4231. African-American History to 1865. 3 Hours.
Also offered as AFAM 4231. The history of the African- Americans from their origin in Africa to the end of slavery in the U.S., with emphasis on their economic life and social thought.
HIST 4232. African-American History Since 1865. 3 Hours.
Also offered as AFAM 4232. The history of the African- American struggle for equality after emancipation, with special focus on the problems of black leadership from Frederick Douglass to the present.
HIST 4233. African American Cultural History. 3 Hours.
Also offered as AFAM 4233. An examination of the evolution of African American cultural expression from slavery to the present, emphasizing in particular literature, theater, visual art, film, and music.
HIST 4234. African American Intellectual History. 3 Hours.
Also offered as AFAM 4234. An examination of the intellectual history of African Americans from the 17th century to the present. Topics may include the role of black intellectuals in American society, changing conceptions of race, and the global context of African American thought.
HIST 4240. American Social History. 3 Hours.
Analysis of the major trends in religion, culture, social structures, and soical groups in the United States from the Colonial Era until the present. Particular attention is paid to the experiences of the various ethnic groups making up the American people.
HIST 4241. Native American History to 1850. 3 Hours.
Overview of Native American history in North America from the earliest human occupation of the continent to 1850. The course examines the economic, cultural, diplomatic, military, and social history of Native Americans including the development and implementation of Indian policies by non-natives.
HIST 4242. Native American History Since 1850. 3 Hours.
Overview of Native American history in North America since 1850. The course examines the economic, cultural, diplomatic, military, and social history of Native Americans including the development and implementation of United States Indian policy.
HIST 4243. Native People in the American Southeast. 3 Hours.
A study of the native peoples in the southeastern United States from prehistory to Removal. The course will emphasize social and cultural changes as well as relationships among native groups.
HIST 4244. The Hollywood Indian: Native Americans in Film. 3 Hours.
The study of the portrayal of Native Americans in film, particularly in terms of accuracy and the extent to whcih films have created, perpetuated, or corrected ethnic stereotypes. The course will also study how films about Native Americans reflect attitudes prevalent in American culture as a whole.
HIST 4250. History of Religion in the South. 3 Hours.
Overview of general religious patterns and their influence on southern society, with particular attention to mass religious movements such as the Great Awakening, Great Revival, Mission/Antimission Movement, Confederate Religion, African American Religion, Holiness/Pentecostalism, the Charismatic Movement, and the rise of the Religious Right. The course also will focus on the origins and development of the major denominations in the South.
HIST 4261. Women in the U.S. to 1869. 3 Hours.
Also offered as WGST 4261. A study of United States history from the perspective of women. Includes social, cultural, political, intellectual, and economic aspects of the nation's history, and more specifically, the ways women influenced and were influenced by various events and movements in U.S. history from the Colonial period to 1869.
HIST 4262. Women in the U.S., 1869 to the Present. 3 Hours.
Also offered as WGST 4262. A study of United States history from the perspective of women. Includes soical. cultural, political, intellectual, and economic aspects of the nation's history, more specifically, the ways women shaped and were influenced by various events and movements in U.S. history from 1869 to present.
HIST 4270. History of Women in the U.S. South. 3 Hours.
Also offered as WGST 4270. A study of the history of the U.S. South from women's perspectives. An examination of the contributions of women to southern social, cultural, and political developments, and of the ways gender, class, and race influence women's regional identity.
HIST 4280. History of U.S. Women Activists and Social Reformers. 3 Hours.
Also offered as WGST 4280. An examination of women activists and reformers at different periods in U.S. history of the issues that have motivated women to activism and reform efforts, and of the ways women have contributed to, influenced, and been influenced by various social movements in U.S. history.
HIST 4290. U.S. Military History. 3 Hours.
A study of military experiences and issues in American history from the Colonial Era to the present. The course analyzes war, its economic issues, technological developments, politics, and other factors that have influenced military aspects of American history.
HIST 4291. U.S. Political History to 1877. 3 Hours.
A study of U.S. political history to 1877. Special emphasis will be placed on national elections and the parties and issues that have influenced American political history.
HIST 4292. U.S. Political History Since 1877. 3 Hours.
A study of U.S. political history from 1877 to the present. Special emphasis will be placed on national elections and the parties and issues that have influenced American political history.
HIST 4295. Environmental History. 3 Hours.
Overview of environmental history with particular emphasis on North America. The course will examine human impact on the environment from the earliest times to the present as well as the development of conservation policies and the environmental movement.
HIST 4296. History of Contemporary Issues in the U.S.. 3 Hours.
Overview of the longer term historical background of selected contemporary issues in the United States. The course will examine current political, social, cultural, and economic issues and problems including terrorism, economic conditions, and civil rights and liberties.
HIST 4301. Colonial Latin America. 3 Hours.
The founding, growth, and development of Latin America by Spain and Portugal to the wars of independence.
HIST 4302. Republican Latin America. 3 Hours.
Major historical trends in Latin America since the wars of independence.
HIST 4303. U. S. Spanish Borderlands. 3 Hours.
A study of the history of Spanish North America and its influence on the history of the United States and Native Americans, 1513 to 1850. Special emphasis will be placed on the region's diversity of peoples and intercultural relations as well as aspects of social, cultural, economic, imperial, and military history.
HIST 4304. The Caribbean. 3 Hours.
Political, economic, social, and cultural developments of the major Caribbean countries, 1492 to the present.
HIST 4305. History of Mexico. 3 Hours.
Survey of the history of Mexico from pre-Columbian times to the present. The course will examine social, economic, and cultural aspects of colonialism; imperial reform; independence and nation-building; liberalism and monarchism; federalism and centralism; foreign intervention; Mexian Revolution; industrialization; and neo-liberalism.
HIST 4306. History of Central America. 3 Hours.
Survey of the history of Central America from pre-Columbian times to present. The course will examine pre-Columbian indigenous society; Spanish conqest and colonialism; state formation and nation-building; economic underdevelopment; foreign intervention; Cold War and human rights; and the role the Catholic church and Liberation Theology.
HIST 4320. History of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America. 3 Hours.
Examination of the history of indigenous peoples of Latin America from pre-Columbian times to the present. Topics include native agency and antonomy; adaptation and synthesis of indigenous culture to imposed colonial institutions; and post-colonial native activism and politics. Emphasis will be placed on indigenous accounts and perceptions of the region's past.
HIST 4401. East Asia. 3 Hours.
An analysis of the principal historical and cultural developments in China, Japan, and Korea, with special emphasis upon the interactions of these nations among themselves, their responses to western culture, and their roles in regional and world affairs.
HIST 4402. Asia in the Modern World. 3 Hours.
A general overview of the role of Asia in the contemporary world, with special reference to such phenomena as geography population trends, cultural diversity, and regional and world interactions of the Asian nations.
HIST 4403. The Indian Subcontinent. 3 Hours.
An analysis of the 5000-year-old culture of the Indian sub-continent and Sri Lanka, with major emphasis upon the indigenous religinos of the region and the impact of western culture and Christianity. Other topics considered are population, caste, the family, village life, government organization, the impact of British rule, and the independence movements that led to the establishment of the independence of India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
HIST 4404. History of the Vietnam War. 3 Hours.
An exploration of the many interrelated aspects of the conflict in Vietnam. Topics include French colonization, Ho Chi Minh and Vietnamese nationalism, the 1946-1954 war between the French adn the Vietminh, the Cold War policies of the United States, escalating United States intervention in Vietnam, the United States's war in Vietnam (1965-1973), the fall of Saigon, domestic opposition to the war within the U.S.A., and postwar legacies of the conflict.
HIST 4501. History of the Middle East to 1798. 3 Hours.
Overview of the political, religious, and cultural history of the Middle East from the beginning of the Islamic era to Napoleon's invasion of Egypt.
HIST 4502. History of the Middle East Since 1798. 3 Hours.
Overview of the history of the Middle East in the modern period. The course examines the development of modern states, the effects of imperialism, the impact of World War I and II, and the results of the Arab-Israeli conflict.
HIST 4511. Precolonial Africa. 3 Hours.
Also offered as AFAM 4511. An analysis of the 8000-year-old cultures of the Nile Valley including Egypt, Nubia, and Kush; West Africa and its contacts with the Middle East and Europe; the East African city-states and their contacts with India.
HIST 4512. Modern Africa. 3 Hours.
Also offered as AFAM 4512. An examination of the European colonization of Africa and the African response. The course also examines the emergence of African nationalism and the problems of creating new states.
HIST 4800. Directed Study in History. 3 Hours.
Supervised readings in areas of history not normally available in regular course offerings, with regular conferences between instructor and student. May be repeated for up to 9 hours of credit if topics are different.
HIST 4800H. Honors Directed Study: Thesis. 3 Hours.
Directed study in selected areas of history, with regular conferences between instructor and student, leading to the writing of a thesis. For students in the History Honors Track.
HIST 4810. Internship in History. 3-9 Hours.
Supervised practical experience related to the discipline of history in an appropriate agency, combined with a program of academic work. The number of credit hours granted is dependent on the nature of the program, the hours worked, and the academic program approved in advance. (Graded on satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis.).
HIST 4950. Senior Seminar. 3 Hours.
Prerequisites: HIST 3000 and senior Standing. A seminar focused on selected topics and designed to help students synthesize their knowledge and reinforce the skills they have acquired history majors.
