History

Molly McClain, Ph.D., Chair
Thomas Barton, Ph.D.
Jonathan Conant, Ph.D.
Iris H. W. Engstrand, Ph.D.
Colin Fisher, Ph.D.
Michael Gonzalez, Ph.D.
James Gump, Ph.D.
Clara Oberle, Ph.D.
Kenneth P. Serbin, Ph.D.
Kathryn Statler, Ph.D.
Yi Sun, Ph.D.

The History Major

Live in the present, plan for the future, study the past. The History Department’s faculty members offer classes in American, British, European, Latin American, Middle Eastern, African, Japanese, and Chinese history. Faculty balance their commitment to undergraduate teaching with research, producing award-winning books and articles on a regular basis. We bring our research interests into the classroom. Students learn to work with original sources and to think critically about a wide variety of historical issues.

Preparation for the History Major: Lower-Division Requirements

History majors are required to take 12 units of lower-division coursework. Students must choose two of the following lower-division American history classes (6 units): HIST 117, 118, 120, 125D, 126D. They also must choose two of the following lower-division World history classes (6 units): HIST 102, 103, 108, 109, 110, 116, 130, 140, 170, 171.

History Major: Upper-Division Requirements

In addition to lower-division requirements, History majors also must take 24 units of upper-division coursework, including HIST 300W — Historian’s Methods — a class that fulfills the core curriculum requirement for written literacy. In the major, students must take at least two upper-division courses in each of the following three categories: 1) the United States, 2) Europe, and 3) World. Students may choose to do a 3 unit internship at one of the many museums and historical societies in San Diego. They also may develop and write an original research paper in HIST 495 – Senior Colloquium.

The History Minor

History minors are required to take 6 units of lower-division classes and 12 units of upper-division courses selected in consultation with a faculty advisor in history.

Note: For graduate courses in history, or a Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.), see the current Graduate Bulletin.

Lower-Division Courses (HIST)

102 The Ancient World / 3 UNITS
This course explores the emergence and development of civilization in Asia and the Mediterranean world from the first appearance of cities around 3000 B.C. to the triumph of Christianity in the Roman Empire in the fourth century A.D. We will examine how ancient ideas, empires, social structures, art, literature, and religious beliefs emerged in response to the challenges that confronted ancient people as their world expanded and changed. Topics include empire, spirituality, gender roles, barbarians, slavery, democracy, warfare, diplomacy, and inter-regional trade and contact.

103 The Medieval World / 3 UNITS
This course explores the tensions and transformations in European society between A.D. 300 and 1500, as well as points of contact between medieval societies within Europe itself, across the Mediterranean, and beyond. Topics include the Fall of the Roman Empire, Byzantium, the rise of Islam, Vikings, Mongols, social crisis and disorder, plague, the Norman Conquest of England, the Crusades, troubadours, saints, the medieval Papacy, medieval Christianity and its heresies, monasticism, the revival of classical learning, and voyages of exploration and discovery.

108 The Atlantic World, 1500-1800 / 3 UNITS
Drawing together the histories of four continents – Europe, Africa, North America, and South America – this course explores the nature and meaning of the new Atlantic world created by the interaction of the peoples of the old and new worlds. It examines the Atlantic world through the experiences of the men and women — European, African, and Native American — who inhabited it from the mid-15th century through about 1820. Students will learn about the often volatile and constantly shifting mixture of people and pathogens, of labor systems and crops, and of nations, empires, and subjects that contributed to the painful and unexpected emergence of this new Atlantic community. They will also explore the unique transnational and multicultural character of this region.

109 The Pacific World, 1500-1800 / 3 UNITS
This course focuses on the discovery and exploration of the Pacific World – including Australia and New Zealand, the Philippines, Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia, Hawaii, Alaska, and the Americas – from 1500 to 1820. It looks at the ways in which disease, migration, trade, and war drew together vast, diverse collections of human beings from around the globe: Russian fur traders, Spanish missionaries, Japanese fishermen, French and Spanish explorers, British naval officers, German naturalists, Tahitian translators, Aleutian hunters, Polynesian navigators, and Yankee merchants. Students will have the opportunity to explore the incorporation of this unique transnational and multicultural region into a world economy.

110 World History Topics / 3 UNITS
This course focuses on a particular topic in World History. It only will be offered as a preceptorial class for entering freshmen.

116 War and Peace in the Modern World / 3 UNITS
The ending of the Cold War seemed to promise a new world order characterized by respect for human rights, principles of democracy, and the rule of law. Instead, we enter the 21st century plagued by global conflict and burdened by spasms of terrorism, radical nationalism, ethnic cleansing, a growing gap between rich and poor, and the proliferation of nuclear and biological weapons. Where did these problems arise and why have they not gone away? Furthermore, how have societies gone about managing conflict and sustaining peace over the past two hundred years or so? This class will assist students in gaining historical perspective on these questions by exploring the underlying causes of war, revolution, terrorism, and genocide in modern world history. The course will begin with an analysis of the contemporary scene and then back up to explore the historical evolution of conflict and its resolution since the era of revolutionary France. Utilizing a global perspective, students will analyze the strengths and weaknesses of various attempts at managing and resolving conflict in the modern world. (Meets lower-division requirement for the Peace and Justice Studies minor)

117 U.S. History to 1870 / 3 UNITS
This course is a survey of American history from pre-colonial times through Reconstruction. It explores a wide variety of factors (economic, political, social, and cultural) that shaped the formation of the United States. Core themes include the Revolution, the Constitution, the Civil War, conflicts with indigenous peoples, the emergence of a market society, racial slavery, the place of women, geographic expansion, popular protest, and elite rule. The course challenges commonly held beliefs about the past and it encourages students to examine the veracity of popular beliefs about American history.

118 U.S. History, 1870 to the present / 3 UNITS
This course is designed to explore America’s historical development from the Reconstruction era to the present. It explores a wide variety of factors (political, economic, social, and cultural) that contributed to the creation of a multicultural industrial society and that shaped America’s emergence as a world power. We will analyze key issues such as the changing relationships between government and the governed; the growth of a strong central state; the creation of a modern industrial economy; the evolution of an increasingly heterogeneous society; the country’s development into a world power; the Cold War at home and abroad; and the origins and consequences of the Vietnam War.

120 U.S. History Topics / 3 UNITS
This course focuses on a particular topic in U. S. History. It only will be offered as a preceptorial class for entering freshmen.

125D Race and Ethnicity in the American Experience / 3 UNITS
This course provides students with a basic understanding of how race and ethnicity have influenced American society from the colonial period to the present. Students will be exposed to a variety of topics and historical events that will help explain how and why Americans’ attitudes about racial and ethnic differences changed over time. They also will look at how these attitudes have affected the nation’s major immigrant and racial minority populations. Finally, the course will examine how ideas and attitudes about race affected major societal institutions and social policies in the United States.

126D American Women in History / 3 UNITS
This course explores the impact of historical events on the lives of American women and the varied roles women played in the shaping of American history. Topics include: witchcraft in New England; gender and family life under slavery; the impact of industrialization on women of different classes; the ideology of separate spheres; women’s political activities including the antislavery movement, the suffrage movement, the 19th Amendment, and the resurgence of feminism in the 1960s; and transformations in the lives of modern women including work, politics, sexuality, consumption patterns, and leisure activities.

130 Introduction to East Asia / 3 UNITS
This course focuses primarily on the histories of China and Japan from the mid-19th century to the present. While placing the stories of these two countries in a cultural and historical framework, narrated chronologically, it will pay special attention to the similarities and differences between them, as well as the interplay between domestic forces in the two societies and the external impetus. The course will also address issues concerning the historical developments in Korea, and discuss the contemporary experiences of Taiwan and Hong Kong. Through this class, students are expected to understand the cultural traditions of East Asia, the causal relationships between key historical events, the complexities of East Asia-U.S. relations and the role that East Asian countries are playing in today’s changing world. (lower-division requirement for the Asian studies minor)

140 Modern Europe: Culture and Society / 3 UNITS
This class explores the cultural and intellectual changes that shaped the development of Western Europe from 1700 to the present. It pays particular attention to the core values of the Enlightenment heritage: rationality, political freedom, inner freedom, humanism, equality, and human dignity. Topics include the French Revolution and the Romantic movement; the challenge of Marxism; scientific culture and the rise of Social Darwinism; modern art and modern consciousness; the “new” imperialism; world wars and totalitarian governments in the 20th century.

170 World History I / 3 UNITS
This course focuses on major themes in the history of humanity from 100,000 B.C. to A.D. 1500. It considers the evolution of the human species, the formation of hunter-gatherer societies, and the rise of great civilizations. It looks at how authority was manifested in architecture, government, writing, religion, philosophy, arts, science, and technology. A comparative approach will illuminate how world cultures differ, what they share, how they are differentiated, and what they exchange in the making of the modern world. The emphasis is on non-Western peoples.

171 World History II / 3 UNITS
This course engages students in the study of modern world history in order to achieve a more critical and integrated understanding of global societies and cultures during the past five hundred years. Students will explore developments in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and Europe; consider the rise of the West after 1750; investigate the origins and outcomes of world war, revolution, and genocide in the 20th century; trace the disintegration of western empires after World War II; and ponder the global challenges of the post-Cold War era.

Upper-Division Courses (HIST)

300W Historian’s Methods / 3 UNITS
Beginning seminar in historical research, problems of investigation, critical analysis, and presentation, correct use of footnotes and bibliography; acquaintance with major libraries, archives, and the use of media techniques. Some attention to the development of historical writing and the philosophy of history. This course fulfills the core curriculum writing requirement. (every semester)

308 Historical Archeology / 3 UNITS
This course will introduce method and theory in historic sites archeology; historic preservation law; and cultural resources management. It will include a discussion of field and laboratory methods; classification and analyses of material culture; and data presentation methods. Field trips to local historical sites will be included.

310 Ancient Near East / 3 UNITS
This course explores cradles of civilization in Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt. An introduction to early man is followed by a survey of Sumerian, Babylonian, Egyptian, Hittite, Phoenician, and Hebrew cultures, as well as the Assyrian and Persian imperialism that replaced them. Course covers the period through Cyrus the Great.

311 Greek Civilization / 3 UNITS
This course explores the emergence and development of Greek civilization from the time of the Trojan War to the Roman conquest of Greece. Students use the works of ancient Greek historians, poets, and thinkers together with art and archaeology to investigate Greek religion, culture, and warfare, as well as the origins and development of democracy, philosophy, and drama. Topics include the histories of Herodotus and Thucydides, the trial and execution of Socrates, and Alexander the Great.

312 Roman Civilization / 3 UNITS
This class explores the emergence and development of Roman civilization from the foundation of the city of Rome to the Christianization of the empire under emperor Constantine. It will examine the challenges that confronted ancient Romans and how they met those challenges socially, culturally, politically, and intellectually. Topics include the early wars of conquest, Romanization, gladiators, slavery; Hannibal, Spartacus, Julius Caesar; Roman paganism, Christianity, Judaism; army, provincial, and frontier life.

321 The Fall of the Roman Empire, 250-1050 / 3 UNITS
This class explores the causes and consequences of the fall of the Roman Empire. Students use primary sources, archaeological evidence, and remains of art and architecture to investigate the collapse of Roman authority, the cultural transformation of the Greco-Roman world, and the emergence of early medieval kingdoms, societies, and religious beliefs in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East. The course also traces the rise of Celtic, Judeo-Christian, Islamic, and Germanic cultures.

322 Castles and Crusades: Medieval Europe, 1050-1450 / 3 UNITS
This course examines violence, chaos, and the political and social crisis of medieval Europe. Students explore the transformation of Europe from an isolated, disordered, agricultural society to a powerful, wealthy, expansionist one. Topics include knights and peasants, the Crusades, heresy, plague, Marco Polo’s travels to China, and the rise of Western European empires.

323 Medieval Women / 3 UNITS
This course will examine the lives of women during the Middle Ages, ca. 500-1500. Starting with the Biblical stories of Eve, the Virgin Mary, and Mary Magdalene, students will explore the ideological foundations for the positions ascribed to women that, arguably, continue to shape attitudes toward women and their role in society. Topics include women’s roles as wives, mothers, and healers, the lives of noblewomen and powerful female monarchs, spirituality, the church, and the life and legacy of Joan of Arc, and female characters in medieval literature such as Guinevere.

324 Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Medieval Spain / 3 UNITS
This course focuses on the society and culture of the pre-modern Iberian Peninsula with an emphasis on the conflict, coexistence, and diversity of interaction of its three religious groups: Christians, Jews, and Muslims. We will consider the territorial struggle between Christian and Muslim-ruled regimes over the course of many centuries, the environments of pre- and post-conquest societies and the frontier that separated them, and the ability of minority (and majority) religious groups to maintain themselves in these changing socio-religious contexts.

331 Renaissance Europe / 3 UNITS
This course explores the origins and consequences of the rediscovery of Europe’s classical heritage in Italy and the broader continent between the 14th and 16th centuries. Topics include continuities and discontinuities with medieval traditions, politics and political theory, civic and philosophical humanism, court culture, and art and architecture.

333 Europe 1600-1800 / 3 UNITS
Focuses on the great age of statebuilding that followed the end of the Thirty Years’ War (1618-48). Topics include the cultural ascendancy of Louis XIV’s France, the commercial wars of the 17th and 18th centuries, the development of an ancient regime, and the forces contributing to the Age of Enlightenment.

334 European Art and Architecture in Context / 3 UNITS
This course explores the development of European art and architecture from 1600 to 1940. Students will “tour” some of Europe’s great architectural monuments, including Versailles, Kew Gardens, the Paris Opera House, and Vienna’s Secession Building. They will also look at corresponding trends in art, from the development of the Rococo to the triumph of Art Deco. Emphasis throughout will be on the personalities, political events, and social forces which shaped the development of European design.

340 World War I / 3 UNITS
This course will examine the era of the Great War of 1900-1919. The origins of this global conflict included the decline of Pax Britannica in the 19th century, the rise of German nationalism, Balkan pan-slavism, and colonial rivalries. During this era, the old order dominated by European monarchies was swept aside by social revolutions, new ideologies, and a military conflict that cost 10 million lives. Modernism rose from the ashes of Victorian culture, and the new science transformed world thought.

341 World War II / 3 UNITS
This course will examine the era 1919-1945. The origins of the second great war of the 20th century included the Versailles Treaty, the rise of the dictators, and the persistence of isolationism. The military conflict that ensued killed 50 million people and gave birth to the United Nations.

342 Birth of Two Nations: France and India / 3 UNITS
This course explores the birth of the modern nation state through the use of interactive role-playing games. Students “become” French revolutionaries inspired by Jean-Jacques Rousseau in “Rousseau, Burke, and Revolution in France, 1791.” They adopt the roles of Hindus and Muslims seeking to wrest political control away from the British Empire in “India on the Eve of Independence, 1945.” Students develop a deep understanding of nation building in France and India; they also explore how class conflict, religious divisions, and ethnic tensions contribute to the birth of nations.

345 Topics in Military History / 3 UNITS
A critical study of the various aspects of warfare as they have evolved in history. Emphasis will be on particular wars, strategies, leaders, and military innovations that have dramatically affected, and are continuing to affect, the course of history. The time span will range from ancient times to the present. The course may be repeated as the topics vary.

346 Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Europe / 3 UNITS
This course may focus on medieval or early modern European history with an emphasis on power and politics, gender, art and architecture, and/or economic and social change. Special topics courses may offer the chance to study the Crusades, Queen Elizabeth I, or the French Revolution in considerable depth. The course may be repeated as topics vary.

347 Topics in Modern Europe / 3 UNITS
This course may focus on modern European history with an emphasis on power and politics, gender, art and architecture, and/or economic and social change. Special topics courses may offer the chance to study the rise of London, Paris, and Vienna; Women’s Rights; or the Cold War in considerable depth. The course may be repeated as topics vary.

348 Modern France / 3 UNITS
This course is designed to explore the development of France from the Enlightenment to the present. Major themes in the lectures and readings include the political evolution of the country as France moved from an absolute monarchy to the current Fifth Republic, the lasting impact of revolution and war on French society, and the efforts of political, social, economic, and cultural change on individuals’ everyday lives.

350 History of the British Isles / 3 UNITS
This course surveys the development of the British Isles from the Middle Ages through the 17th century. It addresses the social and political structures of medieval England and shows how dynastic conflicts resulted in almost continuous internal warfare. It examines the growth of the English state under the Tudors and Stuarts. It also traces the rise of political parties, constitutional monarchy, and representative government.

351 Modern Britain / 3 UNITS
This course surveys the remarkable history of the British Isles from the end of the Napoleonic Wars to the present day. Topics include sex and society in Victorian Britain, empire and decolonization, the impact of two World Wars, Thatcherism, and the rise of New Labour.

352 The British Empire / 3 UNITS
An analysis of themes and processes in the British imperial experience from the 18th century to the present. Emphasis upon colonial nationalism, indigenous resistance and collaboration, theories of colonial administration, economics and imperialism, and decolonization.

353 Spain to 1820 / 3 UNITS
This course covers Spain’s pre-history beginning with the Caves of Altamira and continuing through the conquest of the New World. It examines artistic and architectural legacy of both the Roman and Moslem occupation of Spain. It also looks at the expulsion of Jews and Moslems during the Reconquista, the Spanish empire in the Americas, the rise of the Hapsburg empire, and the transition to the Bourbon monarchy.

354 Modern Spain / 3 UNITS
This course covers the history of Spain from the rise of the Bourbon monarchy to the present. It looks at the impact of the Napoleonic invasion and the rise of political strife in the 19th and early 20th centuries. It also examines the Second Republic, the trauma of the Spanish Civil War, the dictatorship of Franco, and the transition to democracy following the restoration of Juan Carlos.

355 Imperial Russia / 3 UNITS
A study of the development of the Russian state from the rise of Kievan Russia to the Bolshevik Revolution. Special emphasis on the role of the Tsarist autocracy, the Orthodox Church, and pan-Slavism.

356 Russia Since 1917 / 3 UNITS
A detailed investigation and analysis of the revolutionary upheavals and tragedies shaping Russia and its adjacent neighbors, from the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917 to the collapse of Communism and the uncertain years of the 1990s.

357 Topics in Russian and East European History / 3 UNITS
A critical analysis of themes and issues in the history of Russia and Eastern Europe. Topics may include Russia in Revolution, Russia since Peter the Great, and the Crisis in the Balkans.

358 Topics in Modern World History / 3 UNITS
An in-depth investigation into a variety of recent historical events that have affected the United States in its world setting. Selected topics will be announced in each semester’s class schedule. This course may be repeated for credit when the topic changes.

359 Modern Middle East / 3 UNITS
An inquiry into the historic Middle East emphasizing the growth and decline of the Ottoman Empire, Arab and Jewish nationalism, and the paths to independence.

360 Colonial Latin America / 3 UNITS
Covers Latin America from late pre-Columbian times to the eve of independence in 1810. Includes discussion of indigenous peoples and civilizations; the encounter of the Europeans and native Americans; social, political, and religious institutions introduced in the Americas; mining and other economic activities; the slave trade; and the role of the Catholic Church.

361 Modern Latin America / 3 UNITS
Covers Latin America from the start of the independence movements in 1810 to the present. Includes discussion of independence and the struggle of new states to modernize; Church-state frictions; urbanization and the emergence of populist politics; industrialization; the Cuban Revolution and other revolutionary movements; military dictatorships; redemocratization in the 1980s and 1990s; and democratic consolidation and contemporary challenges in the 21st century.

362 Topics in Latin American History / 3 UNITS
A study of specific topics and themes in the history of Latin America, such as the role of religion and the Catholic Church, 20th-century revolutions and social upheaval, and the history of particular groups, including Amerindians, women, and rural and urban workers. Students may repeat the course for credit when the topic changes.

363 History of Brazil / 3 UNITS
This course examines the diverse cultures, ethnicities, and historical developments of Latin America’s largest and most populous nation. In particular it focuses on the great paradox of this “country of the future,” that has one of the world’s 10 largest economies: enormous potential thwarted by shocking social inequality. Topics include European colonization, slavery, economic cycles, independence, the drive to become an industrial power, the military regime of 1964-85, the process of democratic consolidation, and gender and environmental issues.

364 Topics in Asian History / 3 UNITS
An in-depth look at special themes and issues in the history of Asia, including such topics as Women in East Asia, Histories of the Four Mini-Dragons (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea), Imperialism in Asia, and Asia’s relations with the United States. This course may be repeated for credit when topics change.

365 History of China / 3 UNITS
This course covers Chinese history from the first Opium War (1839-42) to the present. It examines the indigenous factors of Chinese history and culture, the influence of the West, and the interaction between the two. Major sections of the course include reforms and uprisings during the last phase of the Qing dynasty, the Republican Revolution of 1911, the Nationalist Movement, Sino-Western relations during the Pacific War, the development of Chinese communism, and the various political, social, and economic campaigns during the post-1949 era.

366 History of Japan / 3 UNITS
This course covers Japanese history from the Meiji Transformation in 1868 to the present. It analyzes the unique characteristics of the samurai culture, Japan’s response to the West in the 19th century, and its transition into the modern era. It examines the rise of Japanese imperialism and militarism, Japanese-American relations before and after Pearl Harbor, the role of Japan’s constitutional monarchy, its “economic miracle” during the post-World War II period, as well as its contemporary social and cultural developments.

367 Women in East Asia / 3 UNITS
This course focuses on the historical changes and continuities in the experiences of Chinese and Japanese women during the traditional period, the modern era and the contemporary times. Major topics will include the practice of foot-binding and concubinage in China, the impact of samurai culture in pre-modern Japan, the effect of wars and revolutions, as well as the dynamics and dilemmas in the lives of women in the process of modernization.

368 History of Africa / 3 UNITS
An analysis of particular themes in the African historical experience from earliest times to independence from colonial rule. Special attention will be given to culture, society, and processes of change in the pre-colonial period and development and underdevelopment since the European intrusion.

369 Issues in Modern Africa / 3 UNITS
A critical study of issues confronting Africans in the 20th century. Alternating courses may include Problems in Africa since Independence and the South African Dilemma. The course may be repeated for credit when the topic changes.

370 American Environmental History / 3 UNITS
This class will introduce students to the field of U.S. environmental history. On the one hand, we will examine how nature (soil, natural disasters, disease, water, climate, etc.) influenced the course of American history. On the other, we will address the ways Americans have used technology to transform the non-human world, the implications these transformations have had on power relations within American societies, and the cultural meanings that Americans have given to nature.

371 Topics in Early American History / 3 UNITS
Topics may include Pre-Columbian Native American History, Spanish/French/English contact with Indian peoples, The Colonial Period, the American Revolution, the Early National Period, Jacksonian America, The Mexican American War, Slavery and the South, and other topics in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the United States before 1865.

372 U.S.-East Asia Relations / 3 UNITS
This course will explore the development of relations between the United States and East Asian countries (primarily China and Japan) since the mid-19th century. It will examine the economic, social, cultural, and political forces on both sides that have helped to shape the history of their mutual relations. Major topics include the U.S. participation in China’s international treaty system in the 19th century, the American role in “opening” Japan and efforts at establishing a new order in the Pacific, the triangular relations among the U.S., Japan, and China during World War II, American involvement in Korea and Vietnam, and contemporary U.S.-East Asian relations.

373 Armed Conflict in American Society / 3 UNITS
A multi-disciplinary examination of the impact of war and potential war on the experience, thought, and values of the United States. Topics will include U.S. military policy from the American Revolution to the Cold War, popular American attitudes toward war and the armed forces, the moral issues inherent in war and peace decisions, and the nature of nuclear warfare in the modern era.

374 Civil War and Reconstruction / 3 UNITS
History of the United States from 1850 to 1877 with special emphasis on the political, economic, social, and military aspects of conflict between the North and the South. Includes the causes of the war, military strategy, the aftermath, and its effects on the United States in later years.

375 Topics in Modern American History / 3 UNITS
Topics may include the Progressive Era, World War I, Great Depression, New Deal, World War II, U.S.-Latin American Relations, or other topics in the political, economic, social, and cultural history of the United States from 1865 to the present. May be repeated for credit when the topic changes.

376 United States Foreign Relations to 1914 / 3 UNITS
This course – the first of a two-part, upper-division sequence on the history of American foreign relations – covers the period from 1775 to 1914. Three issues, in particular, are emphasized: the problems of the young republic in conducting diplomacy; the ways in which America’s vision of itself as “a city upon a hill” and its belief in Manifest Destiny led to 19th-century U.S. expansionism; and the emergence of the United States as a world power.

377 United States Foreign Relations from 1914 / 3 UNITS
This course – the second of a two-part, upper-division sequence on the history of American foreign relations – covers the period from 1914 to the present. Three issues, in particular, are emphasized: the tension between isolationism and interventionism from World War I through World War II, culminating in the emergence of the United States as a superpower; the Soviet-American confrontation following World War II and the globalization of this confrontation during the 1950s and 1960s; and finally, the relative decline of American foreign relations in the 1970s and 1980s, as well as the consequences of the end of the Cold War.

378 Topics in United States Intellectual and Social History / 3 UNITS
Topics may include ideas and movements that are part of the intellectual or social history of the United States, such as liberalism, conservatism, sectionalism, slavery, communications, architecture, labor, immigration, feminism, and progressive reform. May be repeated for credit when topic changes.

379 Topics in United States Mass Media History / 3 UNITS
A history of the mass media in the United States, focusing on selected topics, such as Television and American Politics, History and Film, the Newspaper in History, Media and the Presidency, and Broadcasting in American History.

380 History of the American West / 3 UNITS
This class surveys the history of the American West. Topics include: pre-Columbian Indians, the competition between European empires over the American West; American expansion and conquest; the fur, mining, ranching, and farming “frontiers”; the railroad and populism; World War II and the growth of the urban west; the historical experience of workers, women, and Mexican-, Asian-, Native-, and African-Americans; environmental issues such as conservation, preservation, the dust bowl, and water politics; and representations of the West in popular culture.

381 American Indian History / 3 UNITS
This course surveys American Indian history from Pre-Columbian times to the present. Topics include: Pre-Columbian Native America; Spanish, English, and French invasions; Indians and the colonial period; Indian Removal; Indians and American expansion in the Far West; the reservation system, allotment, and federal Indian education; the Indian New Deal; termination, relocation, and the growth of urban Native America; and Indian militancy, cultural accommodation and revitalization, and the ongoing struggle for sovereignty.

382 The Spanish Southwest / 3 UNITS
Discovery, exploration, and settlement by Spain of the North American region with particular emphasis on the regions settled by Spain. Includes the history of the native Indian inhabitants and the role of Mexico after 1821. Generally covers the period from 1500 to 1848.

383 Chicano History / 3 UNITS
This class will examine the history of the Mexican and Mexican-origin people who inhabit what is now the American Southwest and northern Mexico. The class will begin by discussing the Mesoamerican civilizations of central Mexico, and move on to examine the Spanish conquest, the fight for Mexican independence, and the Mexican-American War. At that point, the class will shift its focus to the United States and discuss westward expansion, Anglo-Mexican conflict in states such as Texas, New Mexico, and California, and the formation of Mexican-American culture. The class will conclude by examining the origins of Chicano nationalism, the rise of the farm workers’ movement, and the cultural and economic impact of Mexican immigration. At appropriate points throughout the semester, the class will discuss gender relations, the role of religion, and the formation of popular culture to understand how Mexican culture developed in various parts of the United States.

384 History of Mexico / 3 UNITS
A history of Mexico from earliest times to the present. Includes a survey of indigenous civilizations; Spanish conquest and influences; the Mexican-American War of 1846; the dictatorship of Porfirio Diaz; the era of the Mexican Revolution; political development since the 1920s; and U.S.-Mexico relations during the modern period.

386 The Pacific Ocean in History / 3 UNITS
History of maritime activities in the Pacific with emphasis on discovery and exploration. It covers Spanish, Portuguese, French, English, Dutch, and Russian sea expansion. Topics include the study of Polynesia, the Manila Galleon trade, and 18th century scientific expeditions.

387 History of Baja California / 3 UNITS
History of Lower California from the first Spanish maritime explorations, circa 1520, to modern times. Emphasis on the land, the sea, and the people; Spanish and Mexican institutions. Detailed studies particularly for the Mission period, the Mexican War, and the growth of cities.

389 History of California / 3 UNITS
Covers California’s past from its earliest settlements to modern times. The course begins with California’s geographical setting, aboriginal culture, and contact with the European world. A survey of Spanish backgrounds includes missions and missionaries, ranchos, pueblos, and foreign visitors. Changes under the government of Mexico led to California’s conquest by the United States. During the second half, lectures cover generally the effects of the Gold Rush; problems of statehood; constitutional developments; land, labor, and Indian policies; transportation and immigration; agriculture and industry; California during wartime; water projects; political issues; cultural accomplishments; racial diversity; and recent trends. Meets the requirements of California history standards for various teaching credentials.

390 Art and Architecture in California / 3 UNITS
This course looks at the way in which Californians adopted and transformed European architectural and artistic forms to create what boosters described as “a new Eden.” It discusses the rise and fall of the Victorian, the re-invention of “Spanish” style with Mission Revival architecture, the origin of the craftsman bungalow, and the rise of modernism in California and the West. Emphasis throughout will be on the personalities, political events, and social forces that shaped the development of art and architecture from 1850 to the present.

495 Senior Colloquium / 3 UNITS
A seminar for history majors, focusing on the development of a project of original research and the writing of a senior thesis.

498 Internship / 1-3 UNITS
Practical experience in a field setting under professional supervision. Interns may be assigned to the City or County of San Diego, San Diego Historical Society, San Diego Hall of Champions, or a similar institution. See department chair for assignment.

499 Independent Study / 1-3 UNITS
Directed readings, a special project, or a research paper for History majors of high scholastic standing. Consent of the department chair must be obtained. The maximum of 3 units will be allowed only under special circumstances.