Department of History
Dr. Audra Jennings, Head
Email: Audra.Jennings@wku.edu
Cherry Hall, Office 200
Phone: (270) 745-3841
Website: http://www.wku.edu/history
History is the record of the collective experience of humanity. It provides perspective and knowledge which helps us understand the present and it provides hope that we may avoid past mistakes. As the broadest of all academic disciplines, history appeals to the curious mind which is not content only with understanding the present. History equips students with the skills to collect, analyze, and use data and the ability to apply those skills to construct arguments and use evidence to support them. Because of its breadth, the study of history prepares students for numerous occupations and professions. Many of our majors pursue careers in education from the elementary through college level. There are, however, a variety of other areas open to the student of history: local, state, and federal government, the Foreign Service, law, professional library work, the national park service, banking, journalism, politics, and a host of others. In addition, many businesses seek candidates with a strong background in the liberal arts because of their critical thinking, analytic, and writing abilities in all areas in which history students excel.
The Department of History offers a variety of courses to students in any major, as well as courses meeting Colonnade requirements for all students. Students who complete a co-major in social studies and who complete the professional education requirements may be certified in the teacher education program.
When planning a program of study in this department, each student should be aware of the university’s academic requirements and regulations contained in this catalog in the chapter “Academic Information.” Specific attention should be given to the chapter subsections entitled “Academic Requirements and Regulations,” “Academic Programs,” and “Colonnade Requirements.” Students should be aware that some academic programs may require additional scholastic regulations and standards not specified in the catalog. To obtain a copy of these regulations, students should contact the Department Head.
Departmental Honors Program
The Department of History offers an honors program for superior students that provides opportunities for a challenging and intensive investigation of historical topics in informal, small-group settings. Students with grade point averages of 3.4 or above are eligible to enroll in history honors courses. Those who fulfill designated requirements may earn a transcript notation indicating that they have graduated with honors in history. Full details of the program may be obtained by contacting Professor Patricia Minter, Office 206 in Cherry Hall.
Pre-Law
Pre-Law Advisor and Coordinator: Dr. Patricia Minter (History)
Email: patricia.minter@wku.edu
Cherry Hall, Office 206; Phone: (270) 745-5098
Website: http://www.wku.edu/history/careers/pre-law.php
Pre-law preparation is not a curriculum as in the case of pre-medicine or other programs that follow a specific pattern of undergraduate courses. Both the American Bar Association and the American Association of Law Schools recommend a broad liberal arts program of courses for potential law students. Pre-law students will best prepare for law school by pursuing a rigorous course of study during their undergraduate years. No specific major is required for admission to law school, but students should select major and minor fields which they find both interesting and promising for superior academic performance.
Admission to law school is on a competitive basis, and the number of openings at each school is limited. The main criteria for admission to most recognized schools are a high grade point average (GPA) in undergraduate work and a high score on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). A Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required for admission to law schools accredited by the American Bar Association.
Law school admission directors and independent studies of the factors which contribute to success in the study of law conclude that undergraduates should develop a core group of skills during their programs of study. It is important that students select courses that develop strong vocabulary and reading comprehension skills, effective writing ability, analytical/logical reasoning, and an understanding of societal institutions and values.
Students should pursue a challenging course of study that emphasizes reading, writing, and analytical ability. Courses which can develop the requisite skills and abilities for legal study include: ENG 100, ENG 200, ENG 300, ENG 301, and English electives; PS 110, PS 220, PS 326, PS 327, and PS 328; HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 445, HIST 446, and history electives; PHIL 215, PHIL 350, PHIL 415 and philosophy electives. Based on individual interests, students may also pursue elective courses in accounting, economics, sociology / criminology, foreign language, and speech communication. The following courses, while not mandatory for pre-legal study, offer undergraduate students a useful introduction to various aspects of public law and legal history: PS 326, PS 327, and PS 328; HIST 445 and HIST 446; BCOM 301 or JOUR 301; MGT 200; ECON 390. Please note: Recommended courses are based on WKU’s assessment of specific professional school requirements. Students should, in consultation with their advisor, review the requirements at the professional school of their choice.
Each student who intends to study law after graduation should make initial contact with the Pre-Law Advising program. Afterwards, students are encouraged to meet with a pre-law advisor in addition to his/her major advisor during their tenure at WKU. Pre-law advisors will provide assistance in obtaining information about law schools, the Law School Admission Test and other pertinent information. Aspiring pre-law students should plan to take the LSAT in June following their junior year. During the senior year, the pre-law advisor will also be available to assist students in the preparation and submission of applications to law schools of their choice. Applications are usually accompanied by letters of recommendation from faculty members who can comment on the student’s ability and promise for the study of law. Aspiring candidates should conduct their undergraduate studies that they can, with confidence, ask at least three faculty members to serve as references.
Pre-Theology
Advisor: Dr. James Barker
Email: James.Barker@wku.edu
Cherry Hall, Office 300
Phone: (270) 745-3136
Theological seminaries, accredited by the American Association of Theological Schools, require for entrance the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited four-year college or university. Pre-theological students should seek to attain a broad background in liberal arts subjects in their university studies. In selecting majors, serious consideration should be given to the fields of English, history, philosophy, and religious studies. Minors and free electives should be chosen from the areas of English, history, mass communication, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, sociology, and communication.
Entry requirements for specific theological seminaries and for different programs within these institutions vary. Students should consult seminary catalogs and the pre-theology advisor. Special attention should be paid to the language requirement made by some seminaries.
The courses recommended below to be taken in fulfilling Western Kentucky University’s general education guidelines are not mandatory but include every basic recommendation of the American Association of Theological Schools:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ENG 100 | Introduction to College Writing | 3 |
| ENG 300 | Writing in the Disciplines | 3 |
| HIST 101 | World History I | 3 |
| HIST 102 | World History II | 3 |
| Natural Science (Chemistry, Physics, Biology, or Geology) | ||
| PHIL 101 | Enduring Questions: Truth and Relativism | 3 |
| PHIL 102 | Enduring Questions: The Good and the Beautiful | 3 |
| PHIL 103 | Enduring Questions: The Committed Life | 3 |
| PSY 100 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
| or PSYS 100 | Introduction to Psychology | |
| RELS 100 | The New Testament | 3 |
| RELS 101 | The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures | 3 |
| RELS 102 | World Religions | 3 |
| RELS 152 | Biblical Languages I: Introductory Hebrew | 3 |
| RELS 153 | Biblical Languages II: Intermediate Hebrew | 3 |
| RELS 154 | Biblical Languages III: Introductory Greek | 3 |
| RELS 155 | Biblical Languages IV: Intermediate Greek | 3 |
| COMM 145 | Fundamentals of Public Speaking and Communication | 3 |
| Social Sciences (six hours from Sociology, Economics, Political Science, Anthropology) | ||
| Math (three hour elective) | ||
Please note: Recommended courses are based on WKU’s assessment of specific professional school requirements. Students should, in consultation with their advisor, review the requirements at the professional school of their choice.
Faculty
Professor
Anthony A. Harkins PhD (History), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1999
Glenn W. LaFantasie PhD (History), Brown University, 2005
Patricia H. Minter PhD (History), University of Virginia, 1994
Isabel Mukonyora PhD, University of Oxford, 1999
Eric S. Reed PhD (History), Syracuse University Main Campus, 2001
Associate Professor
Sophia R. Arjana PhD (Religious/Theological Studies), University of Denver, 2011
James W. Barker PhD (Religion), Vanderbilt University, 2011
Charles T. Borders MA (History), Western Kentucky University, 1989
Dorothea Browder PhD (History, Distributed), University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2008
Robert L. Dietle PhD (History), Yale University, 1991
Selena S. Doss PhD (History), Vanderbilt University, 2010
Marko Dumancic PhD (History), University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, 2010
Marc V. Eagle PhD (History), Tulane University, 2005
Paul A. Fischer PhD (East Asian Languages and Civilizations), University of Chicago, 2007
Audra R. Jennings PhD (History), The Ohio State University Main Campus, 2008
Eric Kondratieff PhD (Ancient History), University of Pennsylvania, 2003
Jeffrey D. Miner PhD (History), Stanford University, 2011
Alexander I. Olson PhD (American Studies), University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, 2013
Juan L. Romero PhD (History), University of Texas at Austin, 2008
Andrew J. Rosa PhD (Afro-American Studies), University of Massachusetts, 2005
Tamara Van Dyken PhD (History), University of Notre Dame, 2009
Assistant Professor
Katherine E. Brown PhD (History), University of Virginia, 2015
Pedagogical Associate Professor
Jennifer A. Hanley PhD (History), University of Kentucky, 2009
Instructor I
Melinda M. Johnson PhD (History), University of Kentucky, 2015
David A. Serafini MA (History), Western Kentucky University, 1997
Visiting Instructor
Kathryn M. McClurkin PhD (Public History), Middle Tennessee State University, 2019
African American Studies (AFAM)
AFAM 190 African American Experience 3 Hours
African American life and experiences in the United States viewed from a cross-disciplinary perspective. Seven core subjects are surveyed: African American history, religion, politics, creative productions (music, dance, theatre), economics, social organizations and psychology. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-SB | SB
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
AFAM 329 Black Intellectual History 3 Hours
An examination of the contributions of Black intellectuals to an understanding of the modern world. Emphasis is given to the intersection of historic claims to human rights, citizenship, and independence to promote an awareness of this tradition's multiple geographical nodes, collaborations, and solidarities. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102) or AFAM 190
Equivalent(s): HIST 329
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 333 Hip Hop and Democracy 3 Hours
Examines the various and sometimes contradictory views of Hip Hop as a musical form, a forum for political activism, and a voice for articulating and refiguring the democratic values of today's youth. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.
Prerequisite(s): AFAM 190
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 343 Communities of Struggle 3 Hours
Examines the relationship between distinct communities of struggle in Africa and the African Diaspora and the impact of African American social movements on a range of liberation struggles within this context. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Equivalent(s): HIST 343
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; spring 2020
AFAM 350 Peoples and Cultures of Africa 3 Hours
Survey of the cultures of Africa, with emphasis on historical development and contemporary cultural diversity.
Equivalent(s): ANTH 350, FLK 350
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 353 Radical Blackness 3 Hours
Interdisciplinary study of contemporary Black radical thought through an examination of African American material culture, i.e. symbols, art, music, literature, performance, and cultural studies.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
AFAM 358 Blacks in American History to 1877 3 Hours
A chronological study of African American history and culture from 1619 to 1877 with an emphasis on African American contributions to American life and thought.
Equivalent(s): HIST 358
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 359 Blacks in American History Since 1877 3 Hours
A chronological study of African American history and culture from 1877 to the present with an emphasis on African American contributions to American life and thought.
Equivalent(s): HIST 359
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 360 History of Africa 3 Hours
A survey of the history of sub-Saharan Africa from the earliest times to the present.
Equivalent(s): HIST 360
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 368 African Governments & Politics 3 Hours
Examines sub-Saharan African political and economic development. Focuses on several selected countries and explores the common political and economic problems and opportunities confronting African states. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.
Prerequisite(s): PS 250 and PS 260
Corequisite(s): GOVT 250, GOVT 260
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 377 African American Folklife 3 Hours
Oral, written, and material folk traditions of African Americans, with emphasis on the United States and the Caribbean.
Equivalent(s): FLK 377
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 393 African American Literature 3 Hours
Study of literature by African American writers.
Prerequisite(s): Foundations Literary Studies
Equivalent(s): ENG 393
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; fall 2021
AFAM 410 African American Music 3 Hours
A survey of selected musical styles created and developed by African Americans from the 17th to the 20th century: spirituals, blues, popular music forms (e.g., soul, reggae, rap music). Emphasis will be placed on the historical factors and sociocultural trends that influenced the development of African American music.
Equivalent(s): FLK 410, ANTH 410
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 466 Geography of Africa 3 Hours
A geographic survey assessing the relationships of the physical and cultural patterns to actual and potential economic development. Note: Permission of instructor required.
Equivalent(s): GEOG 466
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 480 Directed Independent Study in African American Topics 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Designed primarily for advanced students. This course will permit students to pursue selected topics dealing with the life and times of the people of African ancestry in Africa and America. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.
Prerequisite(s): AFAM 190
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
AFAM 490 African American Seminar 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Designed primarily for advanced students. This seminar will include topics dealing with the African American experience, present or past. Note: Permission of instructor may be required.
Prerequisite(s): AFAM 190
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019; spring 2020
Asian Religions and Cultures (ARC)
ARC 100 Introduction to Asian Studies 3 Hours
Survey of the cultures of one or more regions in Asia. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019
ARC 401 Topics in Asian Religions and Cultures 3 Hours
A seminar course focusing on a specific element of Asian religions or cultures.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
ARC 498 Study in Asian Religions and Cultures 3 Hours
Directed study and research in Asian religions and cultures.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2021
ARC 499 Senior Seminar 1 Hour
A capstone course designed for senior Asian Religions and Cultures majors. Students will complete projects that demonstrate their research, writing, and analytical skills. Content areas of the seminar will vary by semester and instructor. Note: Consent of instructor may be required.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman, Junior or Sophomore may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students in Asian Religions and Cultures (615)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; spring 2021
History (HIST)
HIST 101 World History I 3 Hours
A comparative historical survey of the major political, religious, and cultural developments in Asia, Africa, and the Mediterranean basin, Europe, and the Americas from ca. 3000 BCE to 1500 CE. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code F-SB | SB
Equivalent(s): HIST 119
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2019; spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; winter 2020; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; winter 2021; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 102 World History II 3 Hours
A comparative historical survey of the major political, religious, and cultural developments in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas from 1500 to present. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code F-SB | SB
Equivalent(s): HIST 120
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; winter 2020; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 110 Introduction to Asian Civilization 3 Hours
A survey of the histories and cultures of the civilizations of Asia, emphasizing the traditional values which have shaped their development from ancient to modern times.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 119 Western Civilization to 1648 3 Hours
A survey of the political, social, cultural, and economic phases of western civilization to 1648. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code SB
Equivalent(s): HIST 101
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 120 Western Civilization Since 1648 3 Hours
A survey of the political, social, cultural, and economic phases of western civilization since 1648. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code SB
Equivalent(s): HIST 102
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 175 University Experience-History/ Social Sciences 3 Hours
Transition to university experience. Topics include study skills, critical thinking skills, library education, exploration of majors and careers, iCAP reports, campus resources, and personal development. Special attention is given to educational requirements, careers, and resources in history and social studies. Note: For beginning college freshmen or transfer students with fewer than 24 semester hours of credit.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 200 Latin American Society: Past and Present 3 Hours
A broad interdisciplinary introduction to the study of Latin America, emphasizing its regions, peoples, and cultures. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Equivalent(s): PS 200, ANTH 200, SPAN 200, GEOG 200
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019; fall 2019; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
HIST 240 The United States to 1865 3 Hours
A survey of the political, social, cultural, and economic phases of American life to the Civil War.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 241 The United States Since 1865 3 Hours
A survey of the political, social, cultural, and economic phases of American life since the Civil War.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 280 Techniques / Hist Research 1 Hour
An introduction to the study and techniques of historical research and writing. This course must be taken before the last 12 hours of history course-work.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 299 Introduction to Military History 3 Hours
A study of the development of warfare from the earliest times to the present with emphasis on the modern period and the development of weapons, tactics, and strategy.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 300 Contemporary Chinese Society and Culture 3 Hours
Examines contemporary Chinese society and culture from 1949 to the present, focusing on both macro-level development and the daily experiences of ordinary citizens. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 304 Ancient Identities 3 Hours
Survey of ancient theories on and experiences of race, ethnic identity, and otherness in the ancient Mediterranean world. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021
HIST 305 Ancient Greece 3 Hours
A survey emphasizing the political, cultural, social, and economic aspects of Greek civilization. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY | AH
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021
HIST 306 Ancient Rome 3 Hours
A survey emphasizing the political, cultural, social, and economic aspects of Roman civilization. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY | AH
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 307 The Middle Ages 3 Hours
A study of political, cultural, social, and economic institutions from the fifth century to the fourteenth century. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY | AH
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019; summer 2020; fall 2020; summer 2021
HIST 308 Conflict, Culture and Commerce in the Medieval Mediterranean 3 Hours
Explores the developing relationship between religion, culture and power in medieval kingdoms with substantial Christian, Jewish and Muslim inhabitants. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020; fall 2021
HIST 310 Comparative Slavery 3 Hours
Examines slavery among people of African descent emphasizing the origins, politics, economics, and legacies of African slavery in the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; fall 2021
HIST 316 The American Civil War in Film 3 Hours
Examination of how the American Civil War has been portrayed in film, including the social, political, and military aspects of the war. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102 or HIST 240)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019
HIST 317 Renaissance Europe 3 Hours
A study of the impact of Renaissance culture and thought among various social, intellectual, and political groups in Italian cities and princely courts, and the diffusion of the movement in Western Europe from the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC | AH
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 318 Age of the Reformation 3 Hours
A study of the religious reform movements in Europe from the late Middle Ages to the end of the religious wars in 1648, with particular attention paid to the cultural, intellectual, political, and social responses to Reformation ideas. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code AH
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 320 American Studies I 3 Hours
An interdisciplinary course designed to examine the diverse origins and the decisive elements in the development of American culture. It seeks to provide a wide cultural appreciation and a greater understanding of the mainstream of American thought through the coordinated application of numerous viewpoints drawn from the contributing disciplines of English, Political Science, and History. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Equivalent(s): PS 320
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 321 American Studies II 3 Hours
An interdisciplinary course designed to examine the diverse origins and the decisive elements in the development of American culture. It seeks to provide a wide cultural appreciation and a greater understanding of the mainstream of American thought through the coordinated application of numerous viewpoints drawn from the contributing disciplines of English, Political Science, and History. Note: Permission of instructor.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 322 Age of Enlightenment 3 Hours
A detailed study of social, political, cultural, intellectual, and economic events from 1648 to 1789 with primary emphasis upon the development of Absolutism during the Old Regime.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 323 The British Isles to 1688 3 Hours
A study of the British Isles from earliest times through the Medieval and Early Modern periods. Examining the participation both of elites and of ordinary men and women, this course explores the social, cultural, political and economic development of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Major themes include the early Celts, Roman conquest, religious changes, the establishment of regional kingdoms, the expansion of England, the origins of English constitutional law and Parliament, and the changing relationship with continental Europe.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019
HIST 324 Modern Britain Since 1688 3 Hours
A study of the British Isles from the end of the seventeenth century to the present. Examining the participation both of elites and of ordinary men and women, this course explores the social, cultural, political and economic developments of the United Kingdom in modern times. Major themes include nationhood and empire, industrialization and class formation, gender relations the expansion of suffrage and the rise of mass politics, the impact of the World Wars and the Great Depression, the development of the welfare state, Britain's shifting relationship with Europe and the politics of ethnicity and race in post-colonial Britain. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 325 Blacks in the Civil War and Reconstruction 3 Hours
Examines black experiences during the Civil War and Reconstruction emphasizing anti-slavery, black soldiers, emancipation, postwar labor, political challenges, and the experiences of women. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2019
HIST 329 Black Intellectual History 3 Hours
An examination of the contributions of Black intellectuals to an understanding of the modern world. Emphasis is given to the intersection of historic claims to human rights, citizenship, and independence to promote an awareness of this tradition's multiple geographical nodes, collaborations, and solidarities. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102) or AFAM 190
Equivalent(s): AFAM 329
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
HIST 330 History of Africa Before 1500 3 Hours
Examines African history chronologically from the origins of humanity to 1500 with emphasis on major political, economic, cultural and geographical themes within a regional context.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; spring 2021
HIST 331 History of Africa Since 1500 3 Hours
Examines African history chronologically from 1500 to the present with emphasis on major political, economic, social, and geographical themes within a regional context.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2020
HIST 333 History of Genocide 3 Hours
This seminar analyzes and compares the origins, developments, and forms of mass violence and genocide, focusing especially on the 20th century.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019
HIST 334 Nineteenth Century Europe 3 Hours
A study of political, intellectual, and socioeconomic developments with special emphasis on nationalism, the rise of socialism, and the causes of World War I.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 335 Twentieth Century Europe 3 Hours
A survey of Europe during the twentieth century that covers developments in social, cultural, political, intellectual, and gender history. Note: Permission of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 338 Russia to 1900 3 Hours
A study of the development of Russia from its beginnings to the pre-Soviet era with special emphasis on the centuries of isolation which separated Russia from the mainstream of European development.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021
HIST 340 History of Popular Culture Since 1500 3 Hours
Examines popular culture from 1500 to the present, focusing especially on how popular culture evolved in reaction to social, economic, political, and technological change and from local, national, trans-Atlantic and global perspectives. Students engage the questions, debates, mehtods and approaches of popular culture history. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and ENG 100 and (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2021
HIST 343 Communities of Struggle 3 Hours
Examines the relationship between distinct communities of struggle in Africa and the African Diaspora and the impact of African American social movements on a range of liberation struggles within this context.
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Equivalent(s): AFAM 343
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
HIST 347 Social History of the United States Since 1800 3 Hours
A topical study of the institutions and influences that have shaped American society in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020; spring 2021
HIST 348 United States, 1900-1945 3 Hours
A study of the period 1900-1945, with special emphasis on the Progressive Movement, the Republican era, and the New Deal. Foreign affairs are related to domestic events and policy.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019
HIST 349 The United States Since 1945 3 Hours
A study of all phases of United States history since 1945.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2021
HIST 352 American Borderlands and the West 3 Hours
An exploration of borderlands/frontiers in American history with a particular focus on the trans-Mississippi West in the nineteenth century.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 353 Indian Peoples of North America 3 Hours
A study of the indigenous people of North America from precontact to the present, with an emphasis on Indian peoples in the United States. Note: HIST 240 or HIST 241 recommended, but not required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
HIST 358 Blacks in American History to 1877 3 Hours
A chronological study of African American history and culture from 1619 to 1877 with an emphasis on black contributions to American life and thought.
Equivalent(s): AFAM 358
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
HIST 359 Blacks in American History Since 1877 3 Hours
A chronological study of African American history and culture since 1877 with an emphasis on black contributions to American life and thought.
Equivalent(s): AFAM 359
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 360 History of Africa 3 Hours
A survey of the history of sub-Saharan Africa from the earliest times to the present.
Equivalent(s): AFAM 360
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 364 Colonial Latin America, 1400-1825 3 Hours
Political, social, and cultural development of Latin America since 1400, focusing on the Maya, Aztec, and Inca civilizations, the period of conquest and three centuries of Spanish and Portuguese colonization. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019
HIST 365 Modern Latin America, 1800-Present 3 Hours
A study of the political, social, economic and cultural development of Latin American republics from their independence in the early 19th century to the present. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; fall 2021
HIST 370 Modern South Asia: from Empires to Nations 3 Hours
A study of South Asia from the mid-eighteenth century to the present, focusing on the development of colonialism, capitalism, nationalism and feminism. Major topics include the collapse of the Mughal Empire, the rise and fall of the British Raj and the development of the nations of India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 379 Gandhi: The Creation of a Global Legacy 3 Hours
An exploration of the full range of Gandhi's political, spiritual, and moral concerns, beginning with his early years in South Africa and tracing Gandhi's transformation from a local activist to a leader with global influence. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019
HIST 380 Human Rights in History 3 Hours
This course examines the historical origins of human rights, key disputes surrounding the content and legitimacy of human rights, and the enforcement of international humanitarian law in theory and practice. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
HIST 390 Blacks in the American South 3 Hours
Seminar exploring the history and culture of blacks in the American South. Topics will include slavery, resistance, labor, literature, religion, inequality, leadership and the Civil Rights Movement. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019; fall 2019
HIST 391 History of Sport 3 Hours
A study of topics and themes in the history of sport, as well as the historical context in which sport evolved. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019
HIST 395 A CULTURAL HISTORY OF ALCOHOL 3 Hours
An examination of the role that alcohol plays in historical development among various world cultures over time. Instructor may choose to focus on a specific region and/or time period. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Equivalent(s): ART 395
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 402 Pirates in World History 3 Hours
Myths and realities of piracy across the globe and throughout history using movies, novels, and historical narratives. Note: Permission of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
HIST 404 History of Ancient Egypt 3 Hours
A study of ancient Egyptian civilization with attention to the rediscovery of ancient Egypt by modern scholars and the development of the discipline of Egyptology.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 407 The Crusades: West Meets East 3 Hours
A study of the idea of holy war and political, social, and cultural interaction in the Mediterranean World from 1000 to 1300. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2021
HIST 419 Tudor-Stuart England 3 Hours
A study of the principal political, economic, social, religious, and cultural developments in British history from the beginning of the Tudor dynasty in 1485 to the end of the Stuart dynasty in 1714.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 420 History of Sexuality 3 Hours
Survey of how past societies and cultures have interpreted human sexual behavior and identities. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; spring 2021
HIST 422 The French Revolution and Napoleon 3 Hours
A survey of the period 1789 to 1815 with special emphasis on the political, economic, and social events leading to the birth of modern France.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019; fall 2021
HIST 425 Modern Germany 3 Hours
A survey of German history from the early nineteenth century to the present.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 426 Hitler and Nazi Germany 3 Hours
A detailed study of German history between 1933 and 1945, emphasizing political, economic, social, diplomatic, and military aspects.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019
HIST 428 England Since 1914 3 Hours
A detailed study of the political, intellectual, cultural, and socioeconomic developments that transformed England into a welfare state and its empire into a commonwealth of nations.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 430 History of the Civil Rights Movement in America 3 Hours
Survey of the struggle for the civil rights and social justice in the 20th century America. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2021
HIST 432 Coffee & Chocolate: Food in World History 3 Hours
Exploration of the history of food, and its relationship to trends in world history.
Prerequisite(s): HIST 101 or HIST 102
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 438 Twentieth Century Russia 3 Hours
A survey of the decline of Imperial Russia, the age of Revolution, and the maturation of the Soviet state.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
HIST 439 Rise and Decline of Communism 3 Hours
A study of the origins, development, and decline of international communism.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 440 Colonial North America to 1763 3 Hours
The background, founding and development of the North American colonies, emphasizing political, social, cultural, and economic institutions. Note: Permission of instructor.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020; fall 2021
HIST 441 The American Revolution and Early Republic, 1763-1815 3 Hours
A study of the origins, progress, and immediate aftereffects of the American Revolution from the Crisis of the 1760s through the War of 1812, including loval, regional, and global contexts.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
HIST 442 The Age of Jackson, 1815-1850 3 Hours
A detailed study of social, political, and economic events from the War of 1812 through the War with Mexico.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020
HIST 443 Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877 3 Hours
A study of the origins and course of the war, including an analysis of military, social, cultural, and diplomatic events, as well as significant developments during the era of Reconstruction. Occasional field trips to Civil War sites.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; summer 2021; fall 2021
HIST 444 Gilded Age America 3 Hours
A study of American history and culture from the end of Reconstruction to the early twentieth century, emphasizing social, political, cultural, and regional development.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 445 American Legal History to 1865 3 Hours
A survey of the development of American law and its relationship to political, economic, and social trends in antebellum American society.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020
HIST 446 American Legal History Since 1865 3 Hours
A survey of the development of American law and its relationship to political, economic, and social trends in modern American society.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 447 History of American Popular Culture 3 Hours
Introduction to the central role popular culture has played in United States history and consciousness from the nineteenth century to the present. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020; fall 2021
HIST 448 American Biographies 3 Hours
The lives of famous Americans, the times in which they lived, and the skills of their biographers.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 449 Korea and Vietnam 3 Hours
A detailed study of both the Korean and Vietnam conflicts and how they related to the overall foreign policy of the U.S.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020
HIST 450 Diplomatic History of the United States to 1898 3 Hours
An analysis of American diplomacy from the colonial period through the Spanish-American War.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 451 Diplomatic History of the United States Since 1898 3 Hours
An analysis of American diplomacy from the Spanish-American War to the present.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 453 American Women’s History 3 Hours
Social, cultural, and political history of American women from pre-colonial times to the present.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020
HIST 454 History of Religion in America 3 Hours
A survey of the development of religion in America. Among the subjects covered will be the separation of church and state and American civil religion.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 456 Kentucky History 3 Hours
A study of the political, economic, social, and cultural development of the state from pioneer days. Local development is also stressed.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; winter 2020
HIST 457 Old South 3 Hours
Intellectual, cultural, political, economic, and racial ideologies of the American south, focusing on the period between 1800 and 1860.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2021
HIST 458 New South 3 Hours
Intellectual, cultural, political, economic, and racial ideologies of the American south from the Civil War until the end of the twentieth century.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 460 Traditional East Asia 3 Hours
A survey of the political, socioeconomic, intellectual, and cultural history of China and Japan from ancient times to 1600.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 461 Modern East Asia 3 Hours
A survey of the political, socioeconomic, intellectual, and cultural history of China and Japan since 1600.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 462 History of the Middle East 3 Hours
A study of the history, religion, and culture of the Middle East from the rise of Islam until the present. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; fall 2021
HIST 463 The Atlantic World 3 Hours
A study of the areas touched by the Atlantic Ocean in the period from the 1300s through the early 1800s, focusing on the intersections of African, Native American, and European cultures. Note: Permission of instructor. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status and (HIST 101 or HIST 102)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 464 Latin America and the United States 3 Hours
An intensive study of the relations between Latin America and the United States.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
HIST 465 The Mexican Republic 3 Hours
A study of Mexico from 1824 to the present.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020
HIST 471 Modern China 3 Hours
A study of the rise of modern China since the seventeenth century, focusing on the decline of the imperial system, the revolutionary struggle, and the triumph of Communism.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 472 Modern Japan 3 Hours
An analysis of Japanese history since 1600 with special emphasis on the forces, events, and personalities that transformed Japan from a feudal to a modern state.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 479 Topics in World History 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
An intensive study of a selected world history topic.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019
HIST 480 A Social History of Science 3 Hours
A study of the cultural and intellectual impact that science has had on the West with an emphasis on the period since the seventeenth century.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 481 The Rise and Fall of the Confederacy 3 Hours
An overview of the Confederate States of America. Topics covered will include nationalism, race, politics, religion, and leadership.
Prerequisite(s): (HIST 101 or HIST 102) and HIST 240
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 489 Cooperative Education in History 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
Practical experience in a supervised work station with a cooperating library, museum, archives, or other appropriate organization. Note: Application for or enrollment in Cooperative Education plan, approval of departmental co-op faculty advisor, and development of a Learning Plan. May be repeated once with departmental approval, but only 3 credit hours will count toward history major requirements.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019
HIST 490 Topics in History I 3 Hours
A detailed study of selected topics in history.
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2019; spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; winter 2020; spring 2020; spring 2021
HIST 491 Topics in History II 3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
A detailed study of selected topics in history.
Recent Term(s) Offered: winter 2019; fall 2020
HIST 492 History of Canada 3 Hours
A survey of Canada's history and heritage, with special emphasis on Canadian-American relations and interdependency.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
HIST 494 U S Military History 3 Hours
A study that focuses upon the role of the military in American history. Political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of U.S. history are also covered as they pertain to the military. Note: MIL 301, MIL 302 (for ROTC cadets), junior status for all others.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2021
HIST 498 Senior Seminar 3 Hours
A capstone course designed for senior history and social studies majors. This seminar will deal with themes that challenge the student to develop an overview of history.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
HIST 499 Advanced Individual Study 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 6 hrs)
A research problem or intensive readings directed by a faculty member. Note: Requires a 3.0 average in at least 21 hours of history.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
Legal Studies (LS)
LS 495 Senior Seminar in Legal Studies 3 Hours
A capstone course designed for Legal Studies B.A. program majors. Integrates concepts and approaches learned during study of legal systems. Engages students and faculty in sustained consideration of significant questions and debates in legal studies.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman, Junior or Sophomore may not enroll.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
LS 498 Internship in Legal Studies 1-3 Hours (repeatable max of 3 hrs)
Practical out-of-classroom experience in a supervised work situation with a cooperating business, industry, social or governmental agency emphasizing application of advanced knowledge and skills in legal studies.
Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
Religious Studies (RELS)
RELS 100 The New Testament 3 Hours
An introduction to the historical, literary, and cultural approaches to the New Testament with a view toward understanding and interpretation. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
RELS 101 The Old Testament/ Hebrew Scriptures 3 Hours
An introduction to the historical, literary, and cultural approaches to the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) with a view toward understanding and interpretation. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
RELS 102 World Religions 3 Hours
An introduction to the study of religion from Western and non-Western cultures. The course surveys and critiques definitions of religion and examines topics such as the historical, social, psychological, and ethical implications of a number of religious traditions. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code E-AH | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
RELS 103 Religions of Asia 3 Hours
Introduction to the history, doctrines, and practices of the major religions of India, China and Japan.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; spring 2021
RELS 150 Elementary Latin 3 Hours
No course description is available
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 151 Elementary Latin (Continued) 3 Hours
No course description is available. Fulfills World Language with a grade of C or better.
Prerequisite(s): High School 2 years Latin
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019
RELS 152 Biblical Languages I: Introductory Hebrew 3 Hours
A study of the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of Biblical Hebrew. May be taken either as a foreign language course or as a RELS elective.
Equivalent(s): BLNG 152
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 153 Biblical Languages II: Intermediate Hebrew 3 Hours
Further development of an understanding of the fundamentals of the Hebrew language with special attention to the reading of selected portions of the Old Testament. May be taken either as a foreign language course or as a RELS elective. Fulfills World Language with a grade of C or better.
Prerequisite(s): (RELS 152 or High School 2 years Hebrew)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 154 Biblical Languages III: Introductory Greek 3 Hours
A study of the vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of Koine Greek. May be taken either as a foreign language course or as a RELS elective.
Equivalent(s): BLNG 154
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
RELS 155 Biblical Languages IV: Intermediate Greek 3 Hours
Further development of an understanding of Koine Greek with readings in the New Testament and Hellenistic literature. May be taken either as a foreign language course or as a RELS elective. Fulfills World Language with a grade of C or better.
Prerequisite(s): (RELS 154 or High School 2 years Greek)
Equivalent(s): BLNG 155
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
RELS 156 Introductory Pali I 3 Hours
A study of the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of the Pali language with a stress on reading primary textual material from a variety of Pali sources. May be taken as a RELS elective.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 157 Pali II 3 Hours
Further study of the grammar, syntax, and vocabulary of the Pali language with a stress on reading a wide variety of canonical, commentarial, and post-canonical texts. May be taken as a RELS elective. Fulfills World Language with a grade of C or better.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 200 World Religious Literature 3 Hours
Introductory study of multiple genres of religious literature or literature with strong religious themes. Texts come from various religions, cultures, and time periods. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code F-AH | AH
Prerequisite(s): (ENG 100 or ENG 100E)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021
RELS 202 Racial Justice 3 Hours
An examination of (1) the major perspective that came together to form the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s; (2) the accomplishments and failures of that movement; and (3) the issues of racial justice that remain today. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code SB
Equivalent(s): PHIL 202
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 211 Jesus in Film 3 Hours
A study of the production and reception of films about Jesus, similarities and differences with canonical and extracanonical Gospels, and popular and critical reactions. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
RELS 222 Christians, Jews, and Pagans in the Greco-Roman World 3 Hours
A study of debates among ancient Pagans, Jews, and Christians by engaging texts written by each group in defense of themselves and in opposition to each other. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019
RELS 242 The Meaning of Life; Atheism to Zen 3 Hours
Survey of global theories on the meaning of life. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; spring 2021; fall 2021
RELS 300 The Life of Jesus 3 Hours
An investigation of the nature, content, and major interpretations of the sources for the life and teachings of Jesus.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 301 Life and Teachings of Paul 3 Hours
A study of the life and thought of Paul in its historical and cultural setting; concentration on the principal themes in Pauline thought which have been influential in Christian tradition.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 302 Buddhism 3 Hours
Introduction to the history, fundamental doctrines, and practices of the three main Buddhist traditions (Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana) in their global contexts. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021
RELS 303 Hinduism 3 Hours
A study of the central beliefs, ethical practices, symbols, and institutions of the Hindu traditions, examining patterns of their unity, diversity, and encounter with modernity.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
RELS 304 Judaism 3 Hours
A survey of Jewish religious traditions, Jewish history and literature from the Greco-Roman period to the present.
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
RELS 305 Christianity 3 Hours
Overview of ideas drawn from the history of Christianity, including major intellectual developments behind its global character. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC | AH
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; summer 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021; summer 2021; fall 2021
RELS 306 Islam 3 Hours
Terminology, history, social institutions, beliefs, rituals, ethical systems, and world views associated with the religious tradition of Islam. Examination of the West's views of Islam and Islamic views of the West. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020; summer 2020
RELS 309 Global Christianity 3 Hours
The study of Christianity in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020; spring 2021
RELS 311 The Qur'an 3 Hours
An introduction to the Qur'an and its contemporary and historical roles in the lives of Muslims as well as in their societies and cultures.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 312 Ancient Near East Texts 3 Hours
The course surveys a broad number of ancient Mesopotamian and other Western Asian genres of literature which shed light upon the literary remains of Israel found in the Hebrew Scriptures. Included are cosmologies, cosmogonies, flood narratives, prophecies, historical annals which deal with the kings of Israel and Judah, wisdom literature, theodicy, omen texts and others.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 313 Islamic Texts and Literature 3 Hours
An exploration of Islamic texts and literature, including the Qur'an, hadith, poetry, and fiction
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 314 The Making of the Bible 3 Hours
An investigation into the material, historical, and political processes behind the making of the Jewish and Christian Bibles in antiquity. The course engages the scriptures excluded from the canon as well as early synagogue and church leaders' arguments concerning canonicity.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 315 Philosophy of Religion 3 Hours
A systematic study of such problems as the nature and existence of God, the relation of faith and reason, human nature and destiny, immortality, evil, and the problem of religious language. Note: One course in philosophy or religious studies is required.
Equivalent(s): PHIL 315
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020
RELS 317 Confucianism 3 Hours
A survey of the evolution of Confucian thought, from the ethical and ritual considerations of Confucius, through the scholastic self-cultivation of Zhu Xi, to the ecological and gender concerns of modern New Confucians. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SY
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020
RELS 318 Daoism 3 Hours
Survey of classical texts of Daoism, including an examination of the role of these texts in the development of Daoist thought and practice. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2019; fall 2020
RELS 320 Religions of the Middle East 3 Hours
A thematic study of Judaism, Eastern Christianity, and Islam as these religions are practiced in Middle Eastern societies today. There is a focus on the concept of sacred place and on the ways in which this concept links the ancient past of the tradition with its modern expression.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 322 Pilgrimage, Islam and Modernity 3 Hours
An exploration of Islamic pilgrimage, including the use of technology in modern pilgrimage practices. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2021
RELS 323 Social Ethics 3 Hours
Perspectives and issues involved in the public pursuit of justice in a religiously and philosophically diverse society. One short field trip. Note: One course in Religious Studies or Philosophy or junior status is required. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code AH
Equivalent(s): PHIL 323
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
RELS 324 Christianity in Africa 3 Hours
The development of Christianity in Africa from the first century to the present, with special emphasis on the post-colonial period.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 325 Religion in Contemporary America 3 Hours
A study of the ways religion is understood and expressed by varying segments of American society.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 326 Second Temple Judaism 3 Hours
Introduction to the history, literature, and religion of the Jewish people from the beginning of the Persian period (mid-6th c. B.C.) to the Bar Kokhba Revolt (132-135 A.D.)
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 330 Religion in the American South 3 Hours
Survey of the religious cultures of the American South from the colonial period to the present. The course will look at a variety of religious expressions in institutional life, thought, literature, and music.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 331 Islam in America: Hope & Hip Hop 3 Hours
An exploration of Islam in America beginning with the 16th century and continuing to the present day. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; fall 2019; fall 2020
RELS 333 Women and Religion 3 Hours
The examination of ideas and roles of women in local and global religious traditions, societies and cultures. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-SC
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2021
RELS 340 Popular Culture and the Religious Marketplace 3 Hours
A study of religious products and the expression of religious themes in different types of popular media. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2021
RELS 341 Religion and the Environment 3 Hours
Examines different world religions' beliefs about the environment as well as their adherents' attitudes and actions concerning climate change and other issues. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Prerequisite(s): 21 hours of Foundations and Explorations Courses, or junior status
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2020; fall 2020
RELS 399 Study Abroad 3 Hours (repeatable max of 18 hrs)
Supervised study of religion in a study abroad program. May be repeated for different study abroad locations.
Recent Term(s) Offered: summer 2019
RELS 401 Religious Studies Seminar 3 Hours
A seminar with rotating topics designed primarily for advanced students in religious studies. May be repeated for different topics. Note: One course in religious studies or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2021
RELS 426 The Dead Sea Scrolls 3 Hours
Introduction to the discovery, authentication, contents, and main ideas of the Dead Sea Scrolls; the community that produced them; the controversies that have surrounded them; and the archaeology of the nearby ruins. Note: One course in Religious Studies or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 430 Christianity to 1517 3 Hours
An investigation of the development of Christian thought and institutions from the first century of the Church until the Reformation. Note: One course in religious studies or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 431 Christianity from 1517 to the Present 3 Hours
An investigation of the development of Christian thought and institutions from the beginning of the Reformation to the present. Note: One course in religious studies or permission of instructor is required.
Recent Term(s) Offered: None
RELS 455 Saints, Monsters and Superheroes 3 Hours
A study of different characters and archetypes in religious traditions around the world. Colonnade/Statewide General Education Code K-LG
Recent Term(s) Offered: fall 2020
RELS 496 Senior Seminar 1 Hour
A capstone course designed for senior religious studies majors. Students will complete projects that demonstrate their research, writing, and analytical skills.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman, Junior or Sophomore may not enroll.
Enrollment is limited to students in Religious Studies (769)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; spring 2020; fall 2020; spring 2021
RELS 499 Research in Religious Studies 3 Hours (repeatable max of 30 hrs)
Directed study and research in one area of religious studies. Note: Open only to religion majors with a 3.0 grade point average in their senior year.
Restriction(s): Students with a semester level of Academy Junior, Academy Senior, Freshman, Junior or Sophomore may not enroll.
Students cannot enroll who are in Religious Studies (769)
Recent Term(s) Offered: spring 2019; summer 2019; fall 2019; spring 2020; fall 2021