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History (HS)

Department Website:

http://departments.juniata.edu/history/

Faculty:

  • Assistant Professor Allison Fletcher - ext. 3547
  • Professor David Hsiung (Dana Professor) - ext. 3534
  • Professor David Sowell (Chair) - ext. 3535
  • Associate Professor Douglas Stiffler - ext. 3538
  • Professor Belle Tuten (Long Professor) - ext. 3536
  • Associate Professor James Tuten - ext. 3548

Background Information:

The department offers a core of survey courses and builds this base with other courses emphasizing the social, economic, political, and cultural aspects of the past.  Our strengths are in European, Latin American, Asian and U.S. studies. The department provides sound preparation for a wide variety of vocational interests, including those of historian, teacher, and lawyer, as well as those in business and government. In addition to traditional survey courses, the department offers selected in-depth studies (e.g., seminars on the Sixties, and the Cold War).

Special programs:

  • Skulldiggers: This Club for students interested in history is officially chartered with Student Government and has engaged in a number of activities including: field trips, hosting speakers and bringing order to the archival material in the Juniata College museum.
  • Phi Alpha Theta: The Department is a member of the history honorary society and regularly sends students to regional and national conferences.

Programs of Emphasis:

  • History
  • Secondary Education/Social Studies

Student Designed Programs of Emphasis:

  • Elementary Education/History
  • History and English
  • Arts and Museum Studies/History
  • History and Geology
  • History and Politics
  • History and Biology

Internship/Research Experiences:

  • Local Attorneys
  • National Park Service
  • B&O Railroad Museum
  • National Gallery
  • Huntingdon County Historical Society
  • Local Archeologist
  • Smithsonian Institution

Courses:

HS-104   European History to 1550 (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I) This course traces the history of Europe from the late Roman Republic to the Protestant Reformation. Attention is given to political, social, and religious developments during the period.

HS-106   European Hist.Since 1550 (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I) This course begins with the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation and traces European history through the Enlightenment, Age of Revolution, and the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

HS-115   United States to 1877 (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H) Concentrates on the broad sweep of U.S. history from colonial beginnings through Reconstruction using a variety of perspectives and sources.

HS-116   The U.S. Since 1877 (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H) This course uses original documents, novels, and other sources to explore the interrelationships between domestic and foreign affairs and to examine the consequences of actions taken at the national and local level.

HS-121   The Sixties (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,CW) The Sixties were a period of remarkable change with lasting cultural, political, an social consequences. The course uses documents, films, and music to examine topics such as the civil rights movement, the youth movement, the Viet Nam war, and the emergence of conservative politics. Students develop writing, reading, and speaking skills in a supportive learning environment. First semester freshman students only.

HS-151   World Civilization to 1500 (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I) This course will trace the development of world civilizations from the earliest human settlements to the Age of World Exploration in the 15th century.

HS-152   World Civilization From 1500 (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I) This course will trace the development of world civilizations from the 16th century to the present.

HS-199   Special Topics (Fall; Variable; 1.00-4.00 Credits; H) Allows the department to offer special topics not normally offered. Departments may offer more than one special topic. Prerequisites vary by title.

HS-201   Samurai Legends & Lives (Variable; Variable; 3.00 Credits; I,H,CW,CA) In this course, students analyze the ways in which the mythic images of the samurai warriors of Japan have been constructed in both Japan and the West. Students will read medieval Japanese war tales, administrative and legal documents, memoirs and reminiscences, puppet plays, and view films to understand how these ideas and images were created, and changed, through time. There is a one day field trip to the Freer Gallery in Washington D.C. Note: A $45.00 field trip fee is assessed.

HS-206   China and Japan to 1800 (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I,CW) This course surveys the main political, social, economic, philosophical, and religious themes in China and Japan from antiquity to the year 1800. Beginning with an analysis of Chinas classical philosophical tradition, this course examines the manner in which Chinese institutions and ideas were adapted and altered in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.

HS-209   Russian History (Fall; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; CA,H,I,CW) Studies the evolution of the Russian State and peoples from the earliest times. The examination continues through the Bolsheviks' seizure of power and the subsequent development of the USSR as a major world power.

HS-211   Social History of Medicine (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CW,H,I,CA) This interdisciplinary course focuses upon medicine and health care from different cultural, historical, political, and social perspectives. It explores the primary features that have shaped medicine and health in the Americas. In exploring understandings of human illness and health care; it examines the role of science in health care; the history of medicine and the professionalism of medicine and health care delivery.

HS-233   Slavery in the Americas (Spring; Even Years; 3.00 Credits; I,H,CW,CA) This course offers a survey of slavery in the America's, from it's beginnings in the early 1500s till its final abolition in the late 1880s. During this period an estimated 11-15 million people were enslaved in the America's, most of them in Brazil and the Caribbean. This course, run as a seminar, will examine multiple aspects of the experience of slaves in the America's. Prerequisites: HS115 and HS264 or permission of the instructor.

HS-235   Islam: Origins & Modernity (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CA,I,H,CW) This is a history course for students who want to learn more about Islam and its influence on the modern world. The first half of the course covers the origins of Islam, Muhammad, and critical texts for the period. The second half of the course is topical and will explore various subjects, including women, Islam's interaction with Judaism and Christianity, democracy and theocracy.

HS-253   Rome: Republic to Empire (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H) People through history have imagined Rome in different ways, and it conjures up lots of different images for us: civilization; barbarism; conquest; freedom; slavery; technology; virtue and vice. In this course we will explore the period between the founding of Roman civilization and the year 325 A.D., examining what the Romans thought and said about themselves and what they mean to us today.

HS-262   North American Environmental History (Spring; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; CW,H) This course examines human relationships with natural ecosystems over time, changing ideas of nature and how such actions and ideas change the environment and human society. Students will select current environmental issues and prove the history of these topics.

HS-264   Latin American Society and Culture (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I) This course provides a historical overview of Latin American society and culture. It focuses upon the development of colonial societies, the establishment of independent governments, and the major economic, social, and political characteristics of nineteenth and twentieth century Latin America. Throughout, attention will be directed toward the understanding of " human tradition " of the past and present inhabitants of the region.

HS-272   Early North America (Spring; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; H,CW) This course examines the history of North America from about 1500-1750 by examining native peoples, African slaves, and the rival empires of England, France, Spain, the Netherlands, and Russia. Students will work extensively with primary sources, those materials created during this time period, as well as with scholarly articles and books.

HS-293   Sophomore Colloquium (Spring; Yearly; 2.00 Credits; H) This colloquium exposes students to employment opportunities available to them through the study of history. It focuses upon the development of the skills necessary for success in the history classroom. The Sophomore Colloquium is designed for students with strong interest in history, including education students and students with secondary emphases in history. Pre-requisites: sophomore standing and two courses in History or permission of the instructor.

HS-299   Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 1.00-4.00 Credits; H) Offers supplements to the regular departmental program, exploring topics and areas not regularly scheduled. Note: abbreviated ST: (title); students may take each ST: course for credit.

HS-302   Crime/European History (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,I,CW) Law is a creation of society, and works to enforce social and moral rules. In this course we will explore how crime and punishment were defined and carried out in Europe and the United States from Roman times to present. The course will take students through a series of case studies, beginning with Roman and Germanic law and ending with an examination of the fictive U.S. court case of the Speluncean Explorers. In the meantime we will explore definitions of crime, theories of just and unjust punishments, the development of state-sponsored justice, and the invention of " rehabilitation " . The course will be entirely discussion-based. Prerequisites: Junior or Senior standing or permission of the instructor.

HS-305   The American Revolution (Spring; Even Years; 3.00 Credits; CW,H) Examines the social, political, economic and ideological origins and consequences of the American Revolution. Students will use different historical perspectives and techniques to analyze critical issues such as organizing resistance, winning independence, and stabilizing the revolution. Prerequisite: HS 115 or permission of instructor.

HS-309   Civil War and Reconstruction (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CW,H) Examines the political, social, military, economic and ideological origins and consequences of the Civil War and Reconstruction. The course looks deeply into several important questions. What caused the Civil War? Why was the Union victorious? Why did the war proceed as it did? What was the nature and legacy of reconstruction? What does this period in our history mean to us now? Prerequisites: HS115 or HS116 and SO, JR, or SR standing.

HS-311   20th Century American Wars (Variable; Variable; 3.00 Credits; CW,H) Examines individual perceptions of war's purpose and meanings and the changing patterns of personal experience in combat. This course also studies the methods of mobilizing the nation for war, the home front experience, and the role of technology in altering the nature of war. Little time will be spent discussing tactics or the technical processes of war-making. Prerequisites: HS116.

HS-312   The New South: 1877-1990 (Spring; Variable; 3.00 Credits; H,CW) This seminar will cover the years 1877-1900 and explore the themes on the cultural, political, economic and social history of the U.S. South. Among the important questions covered in the class are: What is the South? How did the South change through significant events such as the Populist movement, the rise of Jim Crow, the Great Depression, the second World War, economic development, and the Civil Rights movement. We will ask how the South's arts, especially music, reflect its history and culture. Prerequisites: HS116 or permission of the instructor.

HS-322   Women's Lives-Medieval Europe (Spring; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; CW,H) What could medieval women do? What was it like to be a nun? Who were witches? There are many interesting questions to ask about women in the middle ages, their choices and their experiences. In this three-hour course we will address them through firsthand accounts from biographies, personal diaries, and literature. Prerequisite: HS 104 or permission of instructor.

HS-323   Social Violence in Latin America (Variable; 3.00 Credits; CW,H,I) Focuses on the changing nature of social violence as a means of viewing the broad panorama of Latin American social history, particularly social tensions that reveal critical periods of transition. Theoretical frameworks for understanding social violence introduce the topic. Prerequisite: HS 264 or permission of instructor. (A Peace and Conflict Studies course).

HS-325   The U.S. Since 1945 (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H) Covers the social, political and economic history since the Second World War. Themes include:the Cold War, suburbanization, the rise of consumer society, and more. Prerequisite: HS 116.

HS-326   Modern China (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; CW,H,I) China over the past hundred years has played a major role in global affairs and is positioned to remain a dominant presence well into the 21st century. This course examines the rise of modern China focusing on its transition from a traditional Confucian state to a potent economic and political power. Prerequisite: Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing. First year students admitted only with permission of instructor.

HS-327   Modern Japan (Variable; Variable; 3.00 Credits; CW,H,I) This course traces the history of Japan's rise as a modern nation state beginning with the Meiji Restoration of 1868 up to the present with an emphasis on the cultural, economic and political factors which aided the rapid industrialization in the nineteenth century, Japanese imperialism in the first half of the twentieth century, and Japan's economic " miracle " in postwar Japan.

HS-332   Writing the Global Cold War (Fall; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; I,H,CW) With guidance from the professor, and advice from peers, the student will research and write a substantial paper on a self-chosen topic related to the history of the Cold War (1945-91). The first part of the course will be variable, exploring topics chosen by the professor and students in consultation. The second part of the course will help the student with the process of research and writing. Prerequisites: Previous college-level courses in History and/or Politics or permission of the instructor.

HS-333   Slavery in the Americas (Spring; Even Years; 3.00 Credits; I,H,CW,CA) This course offers a survey of slavery in the America's, from it's beginnings in the early 1500s till its final abolition in the late 1880s. During this period an estimated 11-15 million people were enslaved in the America's, most of them in Brazil and the Caribbean. This course, run as a seminar, will examine multiple aspects of the experience of slaves in the America's. Prerequisites: HS115 and HS264 or permission of the instructor.

HS-348   Contemporary Latin America (Fall; Odd Years; 3.00 Credits; CW,H,I) Examines the political culture of contemporary Latin America. It pays special attention to the problems of democratization of a traditional authoritarian region by the analysis of factors which retard the emergence of democratic rule. Prerequisite: HS 264 or PS 102 or permission.

HS-399   Special Topics (Either Semester; Variable; 1.00-4.00 Credits; H) Provides supplements to the regular departmental program, exploring topics and areas not regularly scheduled. Examples include the French Revolution and the Knight, the Castle & Chivalry Note: abbreviated ST: (title); students may take each ST: course for credit.

HS-492   History Internship/Need Paperwork (Fall & Spring; Yearly; 2.00-9.00 Credits; H) (see the chapter, Special Programs under Internships.) Prerequisite: Permission. and Jr. or Sr. standing. Corequisite: HS495.

HS-493   The Historian's Craft (Fall; Variable; 4.00 Credits; H,CW) This course is a seminar-style introduction to historiography and a forum in which senior history students complete part or all of their senior thesis. Students taking the course are expected to work simultaneously with the course instructor, as well as a thesis advisor from within the history department. Students may select a member of the faculty outside the department as a secondary advisor if that complements their thesis topic. Students who elect to write a year-long thesis take HS496 in the Spring semester after taking HS493. Students from other departments who take the course will be expected to complete a paper of comparable length to a senior thesis under the supervision of the course instructor. Prerequisites: One 300 level history course and Senior status.

HS-495   Senior History Research/Seminar (Fall; Yearly; 2.00-4.00 Credits; CW,H) Serves as a capstone experience that synthesizes materials from history and other disciplines into a substantial written thesis. The senior seminar can be done as an independent study or in conjunction with an internship. When completed the thesis is presented at a public oral defense. Prerequisite: Completion of all core courses and/or permission of instructor.

HS-496   Senior History Research/Seminar II (Spring; Yearly; 3.00 Credits; H,CW) If a student needs to work further on the senior thesis, this will allow three further hours of study. Prerequisites: HS493 and Senior standing.

HS-499   Special Topics (Variable; Variable; 1.00-3.00 Credits; H) Allows departments to offer topics not normally taught. Prerequisites and corequisites vary by topic.

HS-TUT   History Teaching Assistant (Variable; Variable; 1.00-3.00 Credits; H)

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