(For first and second year students)
History is one of several departments offering Foundation-level ESSV courses (Engaging Social Systems and Values). We created courses especially for this requirement: 1601: Difference and Democracy and 1701: Engaging the World. Numerous sections—each taught by a different instructor with a different point of view and expertise in different times and places—are offered each semester. HIST 1601 and HIST 1701 can count as one of the four surveys required of history majors and minors.
History ESSV courses being offered in Fall 2023
Dr. Steven Avella
This class will explore the origins and development of democracy in the history of the United States. It will examine roots in the ancient world, the formation of the American Republic, and the evolution of democratic practice on the local, state, and federal levels. Democracy became a point of pride for Americans and contributed to their sense of exceptionalism. However, this course will also address the glaring failures of the Democratic Revolution as they affected African Americans, American women, and indigenous peoples.
Dr. David McDaniel
Conflict and Capitalism: 1876 – 1936:
Beginning in the wake of the nation’s glorious Centennial Celebration, History 1601--Conflict and Capitalism, traces the development of large scale and often violent challenges to what many among the ranks of American farmers, immigrants, industrial laborers, women and racial minorities, perceived as the inequities, excesses, and basic inhumanity of industrial capitalism. Spanning sixty years, during which American industrial productivity expanded, along with its cities, at a mind-boggling pace, this course will consider the promise and especially the pitfalls of such untrammeled expansion and the resulting circumstances that led many to reconsider long held assumptions regarding a fabled land of equality and opportunity.
MWF 11:00-11:50
Dr. Alan Ball
This course examines impressions formed of American life by Russian observers in the decades before and after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Their gaze included not just the American political and economic systems but also such topics as religion, racism, popular culture, sports and their commentaries will provide us an opportunity to compare conclusions about American ways expressed by Russian and Soviet visitors with widely differing points of view.
Fr. Michael Maher
TTh 2:00-3:15
This course will examine the underlying themes in cultural interaction and apply these principles to various interactions between Christianity and the wider culture in which Christianity existed, noting both failures and success and why events occurred as they did. By examining these patterns of cultural encounter, we will be able to identify principles that can be used for successful cultural encounters in the present.
Dr. Alan Ball
MWF 1:00-1:50
This course examines impressions formed of American life by Russian observers in the decades before and after the Russian Revolution of 1917. Their gaze included not just the American political and economic systems but also such topics as religion, racism, popular culture, sports and their commentaries will provide us an opportunity to compare conclusions about American ways expressed by Russian and Soviet visitors with widely differing points of view.
Fr. Michael Maher
TTh 3:30-4:45
This course will examine the underlying themes in cultural interaction and specifically the conflicts, adaptations, and meaningful conversations interactions that have occurred between Christianity and modernity.
J-Session, Asynchronous Distance Learning
TBA
(For sophomores, juniors, and seniors)
Each student take at least four courses in one Discovery Level theme; at least one of those courses must be a Humanities course, although students can choose to take two Humanities courses if they so choose. Students can apply up to two Discovery Tier courses to their majors and minors!
Most of these courses are offered every three or four semesters. This list is updated every semester, so check back before registering:
Dr. James Marten
The history of children and childhood in the United States from colonial times to the present, with an emphasis on child rearing, race, gender, class, and popular culture.
Dr. Bryan Rindfleisch
A survey of Native American history from 1491 (before Columbus’s “Discovery”) to the present.Explores the diverse cultures and histories of indigenous peoples in the present-day United States and focuses on particular themes such as colonization and decolonization, settler colonialism,intimacy and violence, removal and “survivance,” assimilation and allotment, along withsovereignty and self-determination. Grapples with contemporary issues related to Native mascots, treaties, casinos, cultural representation and more.
Dr. Alan Ball
Pre-revolutionary Russia from 1861, the Revolution of 1917, Soviet economic growth and totalitarianism, and the emergence of the USSR as a world power and its subsequent collapse.
Dr. Alan Ball
The origins, nature and consequences of the Cold War, with emphasis on the 1945-1970 period. Topics will include the continuing effects of the Cold War, prospects for new international rivalries, and the domestic consequences of the Cold War.
Dr. Bryan Rindfleisch
The origins, structures and major themes in Early America. Focuses on the intersections of European, African and Native American worlds. Themes include colonization and decolonization, empire and revolution, slavery and resistance, religion and witchcraft, cross- cultural negotiation and conflict.
Dr. Philip Naylor
History of Byzantine Empire bridging from late antiquity to early modernity and stretching over three continents. Surveys imperial political, economic, social and cultural policies and developments and especially the empire's encounters and interactions with Slavs, Western Europeans, Persians, Berbers, Arabs, and Turks.
Dr. Philip Naylor
A survey of the Arab, Turkish and Iranian peoples since 1500 emphasizing the Islamic backgrounds and the Middle East in world affairs, especially during the 20th century.
Dr. Alison Clark Efford
A survey of migration to the United States (and Britain's North American colonies) that explores how immigrants have built communities, sought economic security and experienced cultural change. Addresses anti-immigrant sentiment, race construction and notions of cultural pluralism. Contextualizes immigration--an issue central to American identity--within a transnational framework of global labor markets, American incursions overseas and the worldwide movement of peoples.
Dr. Timothy McMahon
Survey of the creation, expansion and dismantling of the world's largest empire from the 16th century to the present. Exploration of political, social, economic and cultural factors. Emphasis on contrasting the views and experiences of Britons and of natives of various colonized areas.
Dr. Philip Naylor
North Africa from the 7th century to the present, emphasizing Islamic and European influences.
Dr. Kristen Foster
Survey of the history of women and the variety of women's experiences in America from pre- European contact to the present. The historical construction of gender and the ways that diverse women have shaped and contested their various experiences as mothers, daughters, wives, and partners; as farmers and workers; as slaves and conquered peoples; as reformers and political activists; and as immigrants and citizens are analyzed.
Dr. Carla Hay
Survey of women's experiences in western civilization from prehistory to the present. Focusing primarily on Europe, the course analyzes the changing roles and responsibilities of women in the family, in the work force, and in the community, and highlights the impact of phenomena such as religion, science, technology, and democracy on the shifting perceptions and definitions of gender in western civilization.
Dr. Michael Wert
Major events, people and debates in Japanese history from 1800 to the present. Includes examinations of the "margins" of Japanese history: the countryside, the common people, ethnic minorities, marginal identities, etc., in order to understand how individuals dealt with changes in Japan from its early modernity to the present day.
(For sophomores, juniors, and seniors)
Although most History classes include quite a bit of writing, a select few have been named “writing intensive,” meaning they feature writing instruction and give students a chance to revise and improve their writing.
History and the Writing Intensive Requirement courses
This list is updated every semester, so check back before registering. If so designated, writing intensive courses can count toward your major, toward Disco Tier requirements, and toward ESSV requirements.
Dr. Lezlie Knox
Examines the 14th century global pandemic as a case study for examining its social, political and cultural impact on medieval societies. Investigates the relationship between the spread of plague and the physical environment, as well as assesses how modern scientific knowledge impacts our understanding of the event.
The department offers several seminar sections each year; all are approved as writing intensive courses.
(For sophomores, juniors, and seniors)
Students can fulfill the second ESSV requirement in a number of ways, including courses taken in their majors.
History and the Second Level Engaging Social Systems and Values Requirement courses
A survey of migration to the United States (and Britain's North American colonies) that explores how immigrants have built communities, sought economic security and experienced cultural change. Addresses anti-immigration sentiment, race construction and notion of cultural pluralism. Contextualizes immigration–an issue central to American identity–within a transnational framework of global markets, American incursions overseas and the worldwide movement of peoples.
The role and response of African-Americans in American society. Emphasis on the problems of slavery, exclusion, accommodation, migration, urbanization, and currents of protest.
A survey of Native American history from 1491 (before Columbus's "Discovery") to the present. Explores the diverse cultures and histories of indigenous people in the present-day United States and focuses on particular themes such as colonization and decolonization, settler colonialism, intimacy and violence, removal and "survivance," assimilation and allotment, along with sovereignty and self-determination. Grapples with contemporary issues related to Native mascots, treaties, ccasinos, cultural representation and more.
Department of History
Sensenbrenner Hall, 202A
1103 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 288-7217
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