Course Discriptions
960:010. Introduction to the Study of History -- 3 hours.
Introduction to nature and use of history, to historiography, and to basic methods of historical research. Required of all history majors and must be taken immediately after major is declared.960:014. United States History to 1877 -- 3 hours.
Events, factors, and personalities which shaped social, economic, and political development of the United States from settlement to end of Reconstruction.960:015. United States History since 1877 -- 3 hours.
End of Reconstruction period to present, including economic, diplomatic, intellectual, political, and social factors.960:101(g). History of Ancient Greece -- 3 hours.
Archaeology of the Aegean and the Minoan-Mycenaean civilization; Homeric period, classical civilization of Greece to Alexander the Great and the Hellenistic Age; advent of the Romans.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:102(g). History of Technology in America -- 3 hours.
Examination of the nature, impact and consequences of American technology -- both at work and at home, in the city and in the country.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:103(g). History of Ancient Rome -- 3 hours.
Roman Republic, expansion of Roman rule, Roman Empire, decline and fall of the empire in 5th century A.D. Comparison of the Romans as people with modern Americans.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:104(g). Women and Work: An Historical Perspective -- 3 hours.
Examination of changing nature of women's work during pre-industrial period, the Industrial Revolution, and 20th century, primarily in Europe and United States. Emphasis on impact of technological change, sexual division of labor, and women's participation in labor organizations and strikes.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:106. Applying History: The Public Alternative -- 3 hours.
Exploration of employment possibilities other than teaching for those with degrees in history. Examination of skills required to pursue a career in public history and variety of issues that public historians confront.960:116(g). Recent United States History -- 3 hours.
History of the American people since 1945 with emphasis on domestic affairs.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:122(g). African-American History -- 3 hours.
History of black Americans from African background into 1980's, with emphasis on period since end of slavery.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:124(g). The City in United States History -- 3 hours.
Introduction to urban history; functions, shapes, and dynamics of the city in the American experience from 17th century to present with emphasis on metropolis of the past half century.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:125(g). Introduction to Museum Studies -- 3 hours.
Exploration of history, public mission, working environment, and ethical issues of museums. Discussion of practical skills and theoretical issues of museum studies, exposing students to broad range of museum types and career opportunities.
Prerequisite: junior standing.
(Same as 990:125g.)960:127(g). Pre-Modern Japan -- 3 hours.
Prehistory until early modern period (about 1800). Overview of Japan’s roots, surveys the early Japanese state, and analyzes the processes of decentralization and reunification.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:128(g). Modern Japan -- 3 hours.
Description of first non-Western nation to become a modern economic superpower. Traces development in political, social, economic, and cultural aspects from 1800 to present.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:130(g). History of Iowa -- 3 hours.
Social, political, and economic developments in Iowa from prehistoric times to present.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:131(g). U.S. History from 1919 to 1945 -- 3 hours.
U.S. history from end of World War I to end of World War II, emphasizing social tensions and economic developments of the 1920's, Great Depression and New Deal of 1930's, and wartime diplomacy and mobilization of the home front in the 1940's.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:132(g). Internship in Historical Studies -- 1-3 hours.
Individualized study and experience in public history settings. Work projects defined by instructor, site supervisor, and student. Attendance at weekly forum mandatory, and term paper reflective of the experience is required.
Prerequisites: Iowa History course (recommended); 960:106g; junior standing; consent of instructor.960:134(g). United States Economic History -- 3 hours.
Efforts of the people to raise standard of living, their means of livelihood, and development of national economy. Exploration of theory of economic growth.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:136(g). American Colonial History -- 3 hours.
17th- and 18th-century America; development of colonial societies in the New World and American Revolution era.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:137(g). From Jefferson to Jackson -- 3 hours.
Political, economic, and social development of United States in years between American Revolution and end of Jacksonian Era.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:138(g). United States Foreign Relations -- 3 hours.
Assessment of achievements and failures of United States diplomacy since 1776 and relationships of these to present and recent past.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:139(g). Civil War and Reconstruction -- 3 hours.
Causes of the Civil War, nature of the conflict, and short-range and long-range consequences of the war.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:140(g). History of the West -- 3 hours.
Westward movement of the people, from the Atlantic to Pacific; impact of over two centuries of frontier experience on the course of the nation's history and in shaping of "American" character.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:141(g). The South in United States History -- 3 hours.
Traces the southern experience from colonization and settlement through the Civil War, Reconstruction, and late 19th- and 20th- century racial and political adjustments; emphasis on post-Reconstruction period and role of blacks in shaping southern society.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:142(g). United States Constitutional History -- 3 hours.
Relates individual rights, political-socio-economic issues, and rivalry among the Presidency-Congress-Supreme Court to development of U.S. Constitution.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:144(g). History of American Thought -- 3 hours.
Historical examination of principal idea-systems which shaped the intellectual profile of American civilization.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:145(g). Religion in America -- 3 hours.
Investigation of religious movements and beliefs from colonial times to present. 620:024 or 650:021 recommended to precede this course.
Prerequisite: junior standing.
(Same as 640:117.)960:146(g). History of Women in the United States -- 3 hours.
Survey of social, cultural, and economic roles of women in the United States from founding to present, with some comparative analysis of women's roles in other areas of the world.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:147(g). Foundations of Modern America: The United States, 1877-1919 -- 3 hours.
Description and analysis of dramatic social, cultural, economic, and political changes occurring in the U.S. between close of Reconstruction and the end of World War I.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:150(g). Society and Culture in the United States -- 3 hours.
Description and analysis of the development of and changes in community, family, social stratification, nature of reform, morality, uses of leisure time, and attitudes toward science and religion in 19th and 20th centuries.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:151(g). The Ancient Near East -- 3 hours.
The artistic, literary, political, religious, and social accomplishments of Near Eastern people of ancient times.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:152(g). Medieval Civilization -- 3 hours.
Social, economic, political, and cultural features seen as foundations of the modern period. From Fall of Rome to 15th century.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:153(g). The Renaissance and Reformation -- 3 hours.
Intellectual, artistic, economic, and political developments of the Italian and Northern Renaissance, culminating in an examination of the 16th-century Reformation.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:154(g). Military History from Napoleon to the Present -- 3 hours.
Study of causes and conduct of war and impact of war on society, with emphasis on 20th century.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:155(g). Europe from the French Revolution to World War I -- 3 hours.
Emphasis on political unification, the economic, intellectual, and social impact of advances in science and technology, and the decline of the European concert leading to war in 1914.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:156(g). History of European Popular Culture -- 3 hours.
Examination of various aspects of everyday life in European history, including work, leisure, diet, housing, health, sanitation, role of women, status of children, family life, popular festivals, fashions, fads, sports, and games.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:157(g). European Diplomacy from the Congress of Vienna to the Present -- 3 hours.
European diplomatic history from 1815 to present, with emphasis on 20th century.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:158(g). Age of Absolutism and the Enlightenment -- 3 hours.
History of emerging nations of Europe with emphasis on Age of Absolutism, Louis XIV, and the Enlightenment.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:160(g). Europe from World War I to the Present -- 3 hours.
Study of impact of World War I, rise of Communism and Fascism, impact of World War II, and European renaissance since 1945.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:161(g). Women in Modern European History -- 3 hours.
History of all facets of women's experience (beginning about 1700) emphasizing their economic roles, position in the family, sexuality, and political struggles. Exploration of sources of women's oppression and theories of liberation.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:162(g). European Thought since the Enlightenment -- 3 hours.
Selected ideas and men in 19th and 20th centuries.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:163(g). History of the Jewish People -- 3 hours.
Broad sweep of Jewish history from its genesis to present day, focusing on interrelationship of Jewish civilization and non-Jewish cultures.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:164(g). English History to 1688 -- 3 hours.
England and the British Isles: Celtic and Roman times, England in the Middle Ages, Tudor-Stuart dynasties, the Glorious Revolution of 1688; England's beginnings as a great power and her relations with the rest of Europe.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:165(g). English History since 1688 -- 3 hours.
English political, economic, social, and intellectual history with emphasis on the Victorians and 20th century; British Empire and Commonwealth.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:166(g). United States Legal History -- 3 hours.
Historical examination of selected issues in relationships between law and society in American history. Topics include law and the colonial family, legal aspects of the American Revolution, criminal law, law and economic development, and law and race.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:167(g). The American Legal Profession -- 3 hours.
Historical examination of origins, development and present status of American legal profession. Topics include legal education, legal ethics, formation and development of ABA, and legal profession and social reform.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:169(g). History of Imperial Russia -- 3 hours.
Political, social, economic, and cultural aspects of Russia with emphasis on 19th century.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:170(g). History of Soviet Russia -- 3 hours.
Political, social, economic, and cultural developments of Russia in 20th century, emphasis on ideology.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:171(g). History of Germany to 1648 -- 3 hours.
Unified German Empire and political, social, and religious forces which undermined it from Middle Ages to end of Thirty Years War.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:172(g). History of Germany Since 1648 -- 3 hours.
Political, social, economic, and cultural developments of Germany since the Peace of Westphalia, with emphasis on 19th and 20th centuries.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:173(g). Russia to Peter I -- 3 hours.
Survey of Russian political, social, economic, and cultural history from its origins to Peter the Great.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:174(g). History of Modern France -- 3 hours.
Survey of cultural, economic and political history of France in 19th and 20th centuries.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:175(g). Modern African History -- 3 hours.
Survey of 19th- and 20th-century sub-Saharan Africa including economic and social development, emergence of modern nationalist movements, and character of the European contact and its interaction with traditional African politics.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:176(g). Colonial Latin American History -- 3 hours.
Discovery, exploration, conquest and development of Colonial Latin America.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:177(g). History of the Caribbean -- 3 hours.
Major Caribbean countries, the United States in the Caribbean, with emphasis on the 20th century.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:178(g). Modern Middle East History -- 3 hours.
Middle East history from 1789 to present including Islamic roots, the rise of nationalism in various states, Arab attempts at unity, and the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:180(g). Latin American History -- 3 hours.
Modern development of Latin American States and their relations to the United States.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:181(g). Pre-Modern South Asia -- 3 hours.
Culture and institutions within the Indian subcontinent from antiquity through Hindu and Islamic periods.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:182(g). Modern South Asia -- 3 hours.
Influence of the West on cultures and institutions within the Indian subcontinent; response to changing conditions in the Anglo-Indian Empire; rise of movements leading to establishment of India and Pakistan.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:183(g). Pre-Modern Chinese History -- 3 hours.
Cultural and institutional developments in China from earliest times to ca. 1800 A.D.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:187(g). Modern Chinese History -- 3 hours.
Political, social, economic, and intellectual developments in China with special emphasis on period from the Revolution of 1911 to present.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:189. Readings in History -- 1-3 hours.
Student will choose one of the following areas at registration: (1) Ancient; (2) Medieval; (3) English; (4) French; (5) German; (6) Russian; (7) United States; (8) Latin American; or (9) Asian (India, China, Japan).
Prerequisite: consent of department head; for the field of U.S. History, 9 semester hours in U.S. History; for each of the other fields, 9 hours in history other than U.S., which must include 3 hours related to the particular field to be studied.960:192. Junior-Senior Seminar -- 3 hours.
Topics may vary. May be repeated on different topics. For history majors; non-majors may enroll with consent of instructor.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:193. Historians and Philosophy of History -- 3 hours.
Study of methodology and philosophy of history, illustrated by history of historical writing.
Prerequisite: junior standing.960:198. Independent Study.
960:225. History and U.S. Public Policy -- 3 hours.
Use of history in policy making; historical development of public policy in a specific area.960:280. Seminar in History -- 3 hours.
Offered in specially designed areas as indicated in Schedule of Classes.960:285. Individual Readings -- 1-3 hours.
May be repeated.
Prerequisite: consent of department head.960:289. Seminar in United States Historiography -- 3 hours.
Seminar on major schools of interpretation of the American past, and specific examination of historiographical development of selected topics in American history.960:290. Historical Methods -- 3 hours.
Investigation of problems confronting the historian and analysis of methods and techniques employed.960:297. Practicum -- 2 hours.
96A:299. Research -- 3 hours.
Experience in use of bibliographical sources for scholarly research. Students will prepare literature reviews, abstracts, and outlines of their theses.
Prerequisite: 960:020.96B:299. Research -- 3 hours.
Thesis research.