Overview

The study of history enables students to learn about the people and events of the past. In the process, it also helps them develop their ability to think logically, to conduct research, and to analyze the various ways in which the past continues to shape the present.

The history curriculum prepares students for graduate or professional schools; positions in teaching, business, or government; and a variety of other careers. Faculty advisors are available to consult with students regarding career choices, education certification, and internships, as well as to provide assistance in planning general academic progress. An honors program is offered for outstanding history majors.

Courses at the 1000 level are introductory surveys open to anyone with an interest in history but without a strong background in the subject. Students intending to continue in history should take these courses in their freshman or sophomore years. Courses at the 2000 level, with the exception of Historical Methods, are national surveys for a general undergraduate audience. Courses at the 3000 level, primarily for sophomores and above, provide more focused and detailed study of a period, place, or topic introduced at the 1000 or 2000 level. Courses at the 4000 level are conducted as seminars that emphasize original writing and research, and are generally restricted to students with junior standing or above who have already taken six hours or more of college-level history.

Degree Requirements

The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing the degree requirements information, always choose the year of your expected date of graduation. Requirements for graduation are referred to via university publications as "Checksheets". The number of credit hours required for degree completion varies among curricula. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.

The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.

Please visit the University Registrar website at http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/checksheets/index.html for degree requirements.

Majors may select a concentration within the history major. Concentrations require that at least 12 of the 24 hours of history taken at the 2000 or 3000 level be appropriate to the field of concentration, and the completion of 6 hours of undergraduate research. Concentrations are available in: Military/Political/Diplomatic History; Social/Cultural/Economic History; Global/Comparative History; and History of Science/Technology/Environment.

A faculty advisor and/or professional advisor will assist each major in planning a suitable course of study. The student is expected to confer with the faculty advisor at regular intervals regarding the progress of his or her studies.

To earn a minor in history, a student must complete satisfactorily (with at least a 2.0 average) a minimum of 18 hours of history courses. You may find requirements by visiting the University Registrar website at http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/checksheets/index.html.

Satisfactory Progress

University policy requires that students who are making satisfactory progress toward a degree meet minimum criteria toward the General Education (Curriculum for Liberal Education) (see "Academics") and toward the degree in history.

Satisfactory progress requirements toward the B.A. in history can be found on the major checksheet by visiting the University Registrar website at http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/checksheets/index.html.

Undergraduate Course Descriptions (HIST)

1004: INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY
Introduces students to the main concepts and issues of discipline of history. Familiarizes students with the Department of History, educational requirements, university resources, and career opportunities for History majors. (3H,3C)

1024: ANCIENT HISTORY
History of the ancient world from the invention of writing after 10,000 BC to the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century AD. Surveys the civilizations of the Ancient Near East (including Egypt and Anatolia), Greece, and Rome. (3H,3C)

1025,1026: INTRODUCTION TO EUROPEAN CIVILIZATION
Significant problems and processes in the history of Europe from the Middle Ages to the recent past. 1025: From Medieval society to the mid-18th century; 1026: Mid-18th-century to the recent past. Sequence is recommended in preparation for advanced courses in European history. (3H,3C)

1115,1116: HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES
Stresses fundamental facts and interpretations in American history. 1115: 1607 to Civil War; 1116: Civil War to present. Sequence is recommended preparation for advanced courses in American history. (3H,3C)

1214: HISTORY OF THE MODERN WORLD
An examination of the global significance of the critical political, social, cultural, and international issues in the 20th century. (3H,3C)

1215,1216: INTRO TO WORLD HISTORY
Examines key subjects and themes in world history from the beginnings of human civilization to the recent past. 1215: to 1500 CE. 1216: 1500 CE to present. (3H,3C)

1224: INTRODUCTION TO LATIN AMERICA
The peoples of Latin America from the earliest times to the present. Historical approach to understanding ancient and contemporary cultures, their environmental impact, and their socio-political dynamics from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego over 5000 years. (3H,3C)

1515,1516: HISTORY OF AFRICA
Examines key subjects and themes in African history from the beginnings of human civilization to the recent past. 1515: Early civilizations through the abolition of the slave trade. Examines migrations and trade, the expansion of Islam, and slavery in Africa and the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. 1516: Africa since the nineteenth century. Examines European conquest, and major political, cultural and social changes during the colonial and post-colonial eras. (3H,3C)

2004: HISTORICAL METHODS
Explanation of the discipline of history: its history, philosophies, and methods, with emphasis on historical research. (3H,3C)

2054 (STS 2054): ENGINEERING CULTURES
Development of engineering and its cultural roles in historical and cross-national perspectives. Explores roles of engineers and engineering in popular life, development of national styles, changing values in engineering problem solving, and effects of evolving forms of capitalism. (3H,3C)

2104H: CRITICAL ISSUES IN AMERICAN HISTORY
This course allows Honors students to explore more thoroughly selected themes in the history of the United States, from its initial settlement to the present. Students must have University Honors status or permission of the instructor to take this course. (3H,3C)

2114H: CRITICAL ISSUES IN EUROPEAN HISTORY
An exploration of critical issues in modern European history, through the study of source materials and historical interpretations. University Honors standing is required. (3H,3C)

2124: CRITICAL ISSUES IN WORLD HISTORY
An examination of significant themes and important topics in world history. (3H,3C)

2165,2166: HISTORY OF FRANCE
French history from Roman Gaul to the present. 2165: Roman, Medieval, and Renaissance France; Absolute Monarchy. 2166: The Revolution; Nineteenth and Twentieth Century France. (3H,3C)

2184: HISTORY OF THE BALKANS
History of Southeastern Europe from the sixth century to the present. Chief themes are movement of peoples, Byzantine and Ottoman Empires, religious conflicts, social developments, and rival nationalisms. (3H,3C)

2304: AFRICA IN THE MODERN WORLD
The peoples and societies of Africa. Emphasis on major themes and developments since the eighteenth century. Historical approach to understanding indigenous African cultures and their encounters with global forces. Concentration on African achievements, the response to colonialism, the rise of modern nationalism, and the problems and prospects of independent Africa. (3H,3C)

2345,2346: HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST
History of the Middle East from the seventh century to today, with emphasis on formation of Islamic civilization, medieval and early modern political systems, European imperialism, and the struggle for independence. 2345: seventh century to 1914; 2346: independence, wars, revolutions, and social change since 1914. (3H,3C)

2355,2356: HISTORY OF CHINA
China from prehistory to the present. Special attention to political, social, economic, and cultural developments. 2355: Prehistory, Imperial China to the sixteenth century; 2356: late Imperial China to modern and contemporary China. (3H,3C)

2364: HISTORY OF JAPAN
Political, social, economic, and cultural development of Japan from earliest times to present; emphasis on problems of modernization in the nineteenth and the twentieth centuries. (3H,3C)

2375,2376: HISTORY OF THE INDIAN SUBCONTINENT
History of the Indian subcontinent (South Asia) from ancient times to the present, with special emphasis on cultural developments. 2375: Development of traditional South Asian civilization from ancient times to 1500; 2376: Development of modern South Asian civilization since 1500. (3H,3C)

2964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.

2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

2984H: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.

3004: COLONIAL AMERICA
Critical analysis of early American society. Founding and development of the colonies in the 17th century; 18th century colonial life. (3H,3C)

3014: THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
Causes, nature, and results of the American Revolution, 1763- 1789. (3H,3C)

3054: THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
Explores the causes, course, and consequences of the American Civil War, with particular emphasis on transformations in regional and national identity, race relations, governance, gender roles, military affairs, and the United States’ place on the world stage. (3H,3C)

3064: EMERGENCE OF MODERN AMERICA, 1877-1917
American from end of Reconstruction to World War I: industrial and urban growth, the last frontier, worsening status for blacks, immigration and new ethnic currents, Populism and Progressivism, cultural ferment, and overseas expansion, America’s entry on the world stage. (3H,3C)

3084: RECENT AMERICA, 1917-PRESENT
Social, economic, cultural, and political history of America from the entry into World War I, the turbulent 1920’s, the Great Depression, the New Deal, World War II, postwar prosperity, the Cold War, social and cultural ferment, Vietnam, Watergate, to the new anxieties about the limits of power in the 1980’s. (3H,3C)

3104: UNITED STATES SOCIAL HISTORY
Examination of the lives of ordinary people in order to understand the human experience through a focus on race, ethnicity, class, gender, and region. (3H,3C)

3105,3106: WOMEN IN U S HISTORY
Roles of women from colonial settlement to the present. Special attention to family experiences, political agendas, and economic contributions of women and to social construction of gender identities. 3105: to 1865; 3106: since 1865. (3H,3C)

3114: UNITED STATES BUSINESS HISTORY
Survey of U.S. business history from colonial times through the present. Formation of business institutions, specialization of commercial functions, rise of big business, and development of oligopolies, conglomerates, and multinational corporations. (3H,3C)

3134: SPORTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY
Impact of sports in American history. Emphasis on the impact of team sports (college and professional basketball, baseball, and football) and individual sports (golf, boxing, and automobile racing) have had on the development of American society and culture. (3H,3C)

3144: AMERICAN ENVIRONMENTAL HISTORY
Changing attitudes about nature and wilderness, political decisions, supervisory institutions, and environmental problems that accompanied utilization of America’s natural resources. (3H,3C)

3155,3156: HISTORY OF AMERICAN CITIES
Growth and development, form and functioning of American cities from the settlement of the country to the present. 3155: 1565 to 1870. 3156: 1870 to the present. (3H,3C) I,II.

3164: SEXUALITY IN AMERICAN HISTORY
This course introduces students to how the meaning and place of sexuality in American life have changed from the colonial era through the present, with a focus on the dynamics of race, ethnicity, gender, and class. (3H,3C)

3175,3176 (AFST 3175, 3176): AFRO-AMERICAN HISTORY
The Afro-American experience in the United States from 1619 to the present. Emphasis upon slavery and the strategies of economic and social survival in the twentieth century. 3175: 1619-1877. 3176: 1877-present. (3H,3C)

3205,3206: U.S. SOUTH
The southern experience from Old to New South with emphases upon racial accommodation, social hierarchy, cultural identity, political struggle, and intellectual change. 3205: to 1900; 3206: since 1900. (3H,3C)

3214: HISTORY OF APPALACHIA
Early settlement, religion, the pre-industrial economy, the coming of the coal and lumber industries, labor activism, politics, migration, and regional identity. (3H,3C)

3224: HISTORY OF VIRGINIA
Social, political, cultural, and economic developments in Virginia, from the sixteenth century to the present. (3H,3C)

3234: THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST
A study of the peoples and history of the North American West from the sixteenth century through the twentieth. (3H,3C)

3254: THE VIETNAM WAR
A critical study of the causes and consequences of the Vietnam War, 1945-1975. Analysis of America’s strategic and military objectives, the nature and conduct of the war, and the growth of the antiwar movement at home. (3H,3C)

3274: THE GREEK CITY
History of the ancient Greek city-state (polis) from the Archaic period (800-500 BC) to the creation of the Roman Empire. Principal topics are: origins and definition of the polis; Greek colonization throughout the Mediterranean and Black Seas; the struggle for autonomy in the Classical and Hellenistic periods; and the Hellenizing impact of the polis on non-Greek populations. (3H,3C)

3284: THE ROMAN REVOLUTION
History of the Roman world from 264 B.C. to A.D. 180. Particular attention to the three themes of imperialism, revolution, and empire through extensive reading of the contemporary authors. (3H,3C)

3294: ROMAN BRITAIN
Examines the social, political, and military origins of early England from Stonehenge to the Norman Conquest; emphasis on archaeology and material culture; and the legacy of the Romans and Romanization on forging a British identity. (3H,3C)

3304: THE WORLD OF ALEXANDER THE GREAT
The life and times of Alexander the Great, 431 to 323 B.C., and the new cosmopolitan world initiated by his conquests, 323 to 30 B.C. (3H,3C) II.

3314: THE LATER ROMAN EMPIRE
Roman Empire in the west from A.D. 180 to A.D. 476 and in the east from A.D. 476 to A.D. 1071. Particular attention to the causes of the fall of the empire in the west and to the Byzantine Empire in the east until the coming of the Turks and the Christian Crusaders. (3H,3C)

3324: THE MEDIEVAL WORLD
Characteristic thought and institutions of high and late Middle Ages. (3H,3C)

3334: THE RENAISSANCE
The Italian Renaissance in its European context. Emphasis upon the culture and institutions of Italian states from 1300 to 1500. (3H,3C) II.

3344: THE ERA OF THE REFORMATION
Development of Protestantism and reformation of the Catholic Church from 1500 to about 1600. Emphasis upon social, political, and economic factors as well as theology. Examination of conflicts engendered by the reformation movements. (3H,3C)

3364: THE AGE OF REVOLUTION AND NAPOLEON
The French Revolution in its European and global context, with particular attention to social and political causes of unrest, strategies of popular mobilization, debates about authority and order, the emergence of empires, and the long-term implications of revolutionary change. (3H,3C)

3394: EUROPE SINCE WORLD WAR II
Europe’s political and economic recovery since 1945; development of the "Cold War"; Soviet Union and Eastern Europe before and after Stalin; Western European integration and development of a consumer society; Ostpolitik and Detente; decolonization and neo-colonialism; Europe’s position in the world economy, dependence on imported materials and energy; the Revolutions of 1989 and post-Marxist Eastern Europe. (3H,3C)

3424: TUDOR AND EARLY STUART ENGLAND, 1509-1660
Causes and consequences of the English Reformation and subsequent Civil War. Decline of royal power and increasing importance of Parliament. Cultural and intellectual developments of the Elizabethan period. (3H,3C)

3484: TWENTIETH-CENTURY GERMANY
Political, social, economic, and cultural history of twentieth-century Germany. (3H,3C)

3494 (JUD 3494) (RLCL 3494): THE HOLOCAUST
This course provides a historical account, a psychological analysis, and an occasion for philosophical contemplation on the Holocaust. We will examine the deliberate and systematic attempt to annihilate the Jewish people by the National Socialist German State during World War II. Although Jews were the primary victims, Gypsies, the handicapped, homosexuals, Jehovah’s Witnesses and political dissidents were targeted; we will discuss their fate as well. The class will be organized around the examination of primary sources: written accounts, photographic and film, and personal testimony. (3H,3C)

3504 (RLCL 3504): THE AGE OF THE CRUSADES
The origins and development of religious violence examined from an interdisciplinary and cross-cultural perspective; that place of that phenomenon in medieval society. Christianity, Islam, Judaism and their interactions in the medieval world. (3H,3C)

3524: EUROPEAN MILITARY HISTORY TO 1789
Analysis of change in warfare from the ancient Greeks to the French Revolution. Emphasis on the social and technological causes of military change. (3H,3C)

3534: MODERN MILITARY HISTORY
Evolution of warfare in its political and social setting since the French Revolution. Discussion of both European and American military institutions. (3H,3C)

3544: WORLD WAR II
Causes, course, and results of World War II. Emphasis upon diplomacy and the social impact of total war as well as military events. Coverage will stress the world-wide nature of the war. (3H,3C)

3554: AGE OF GLOBALIZATION
An examination of historical forces in the late twentieth century, including economic trends, ideological forces, social structures, and political relations, that have shaped patterns of globalization. (3H,3C)

3584: COLONIAL LATIN AMERICA
Major themes and issues in Colonial Latin American History. Discussion of the Spanish and Portuguese empires in the western hemisphere, emphasizing indigenous responses to colonization, the privatization of land and labor, the Church and village as financial and cultural institutions, imperial policies and reforms, and the collapse of empire after 300 years. I (3H,3C)

3594: THE RISE OF MODERN LATIN AMERICA
Major themes and issues in Modern Latin American History. Discussion of the rise of Latin American nations, stressing the internal and external challenges new republics confronted during the nineteenth century and the opportunities and conflicts of the twentieth century. (3H,3C)

3604: RUSSIA TO PETER THE GREAT
Russian history from the founding of Russia in the ninth century to the reign of Peter the Great in the early eighteenth century, with special attention to political developments, changes in society and culture and regional context. (3H,3C)

3614: IMPERIAL RUSSIA
Russian history from Peter the Great to the Revolution of 1917, with special attention to political developments, changes in society and culture, and the impact of the regional context. (3H,3C)

3624: HEALTH AND ILLNESS IN AFRICAN HISTORY
Examines key subjects and themes in the history of health, medicine, and disease in African history. Topics include indigenous health systems, colonial medicine, and post-colonial health crises, including HIV/AIDS. (3H,3C)

3634: MAU MAU: COLONIALISM AND REBELLION IN KENYA
Examines the social, political, economic, and cultural origins of the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya; insurgency and counter-insurgency; and the continuing debates in Kenya over the meaning of Mau Mau. (3H,3C)

3644: TWENTIETH-CENTURY RUSSIA
The history of the Soviet Union from 1917 to the present, with particular emphasis on collectivization, industrialization, ideology, international relations, and other factors that have determined the peculiar character of the Soviet state. (3H,3C)

3654: THE ARAB-ISRAELI DISPUTE
Historical origins and development of the struggle for Palestine. Emphasis on post-WW II including conflicting nationalisms, wars, history of Israel, and Great Power diplomacy. (3H,3C)

3664: REVOLUTIONARY CHINA
Ideological and institutional development of the Chinese Communist movement since 1920; emphasis on problems of historical change in modern China. (3H,3C)

3674: TOPICS IN CHINESE HISTORY
Examination of variable topics in Chinese history, ranging from the beginnings of civilization to the recent past. Examines the primary sources and histriographic debates of a particular issue. Explores the diversity within China and its relatiionship with the rest of the world. Can be repeated with different content up to 9 hours. (3H,3C)

3684: CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE SOVIET UNION AND THE SUCCESSOR STATES
History and main characteristics of cultural life and the arts in the former Soviet Union, with emphasis on film, music, literature, and the relationship between elite and popular culture. (3H,3C)

3694: HISTORY THROUGH FILM
This course introduces students to critical issues in history and representation, utilizing film to analyze central historical issues. The specific thematic content is variable. Course may be repeated for up to 9 credits. (2H,3L,3C)

3705,3706 (STS 3705, 3706): HISTORY OF SCIENCE
Conceptual and institutional development of physical and biological sciences viewed within a cultural and societal context. 3705: Early Science; 3706: Modern Science. (3H,3C)

3715,3716 (STS 3715, 3716): HISTORY OF TECHNOLOGY
Description of the development of technology and engineering in their social contexts. 3715: From prehistory to the industrial revolution in Europe and the United States, mid-19th century. 3716: From mid-19th century to the present. (3H,3C)

3724: HISTORY OF DISEASE, MEDICINE, AND HEALTH
Development of Western concepts of disease, medicine, and health with emphasis on period from eighteenth century to present. Social construction of disease and relationship between health and social, economic, and political structures. Special attention to impact of public health and the development of scientific and technological medicine. (3H,3C)

3734 (STS 3734): HISTORY OF MODERN BIOLOGY
This course explores the development of biology from the Enlightenment to the end of the twentieth century, with a particular emphasis on biology’s impact on society. (3H,3C)

3744: SOCIAL HISTORY OF FILM
This course introduces students to critical issues in the social history of film, examining the production and consumption of film in specific historical moments as well as the effects of film on society, culture, and politics. The specific thematic content is variable. May be repeated with different content for a maximum of 9 credits. (3H,3C)

3754: PUBLIC HISTORY
Investigation of the ways which historians research, interpret, and present the past to the public. (3H,3C)

3764: ORAL HISTORY: METHODS AND PRACTICES
Explores the theory and methodology of oral history practice. Considers the use of oral history interviews in historical research, and explores questions of ethics, interpretation, and the construction of memory. Includes training in technical operations and a variety of interview techniques, transcription, and historical use of interviews. (3H,3C)

3774: DIGITAL HISTORY
Develops skills and methods for researching and presenting history in a digital environment, with special emphasis on use of digital media as a tool for public historians. (3H,3C)

3914: CRITICAL READING AND ANALYSIS IN HISTORY
Develops critical reading skills in history. Demonstrates that historical knowledge is part of a scholarly conversation that grows and evolves over time. Assesses the critical role of interpretation in history, investigates historical controversies and debates and develops skills to evaluate historiographical trends. Pre: 2004. (3H,3C)

3954: STUDY ABROAD
Variable credit course.

3984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4004: TOPICS IN SOCIAL AND CULTURAL HISTORY
Selected topics in social and cultural history. May be repeated with different content. 3 other hours of history and junior standing required. Pre: 2004. (3H,3C)

4074 (RLCL 4074): TOPICS IN RELIGIOUS AND INTELLECTUAL HISTORY
Selected topics in the role of religion and intellectual systems in human history. May be repeated with different content. 3 other credits of history and Junior standing or above required. Pre: 2004. (3H,3C)

4914: HISTORY RESEARCH SEMINAR
Variable topic, writing-intensive, capstone course for history majors. Provides in-depth knowledge of a specific historical subfield. Utilizes archival historical sources, online research databases, and existing literature to create an original work of historical scholarship. May be repeated with different content up to 6 hours. Junior standing or above required. Pre: 3914 or 3904. (3H,3C)

4964: FIELD STUDY
Pass/Fail only. Variable credit course.

4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4974H: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.

4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course. X-grade allowed.

4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.

4994H: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.