History (HIST)

HIST 100.  Topics in World History (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

An introduction to the major themes of world history, addressed through a focus on a special topic. Themes include organization and reorganization of human societies, technological and environmental transformation, and regional, transregional, and global interaction. Course content will vary; topics may include food, drugs, human-animal relations, the environment, sport, etc.

HIST 126.  U.S. History to 1865 (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

A survey of American history from its European beginnings to the Civil War, providing description and analysis of the historical development of politics, economics, society, and foreign policy. Attention is given to the people and forces that influenced these developments. GT-HI1

HIST 127.  U.S. History Since 1865 (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

A survey of American history from the Civil War to modern times, providing description and analysis of the major developments and trends in politics, economics, society, and foreign policy. Attention is given to the people and forces that influenced and shaped the American experience. GT-HI1

HIST 128.  Environmental History of North America (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

A survey of the environmental history of North America, from the arrival of humans on the continent to life in the predominantly urban environments that characterize contemporary societies of the continent. Students explore how the natural environment shaped the patterns of human life in various parts of the continent (Canada, the US., Mexico, and Central America); the shifting attitudes towards nature held by North Americans during different periods of their nations' histories; and how these ideas and human activities regarding nature combined to reshape the North American landscape.

HIST 200.  Historical Inquiry.  (3 Credits)  

This course introduces students to History as not only a discipline of study and scholarship but as an inquiry into human experience and as a public pursuit. Students explore, learn, and apply the tools and techniques Historians use to study and understand the past. Through exposure to the theory and craft of History, students learn the relevance and possibilities of a History degree beyond the classroom. It is recommended students complete this course no later than their sophomore year.

HIST 250.  HIST OF THE MIDDLE EAST GHI1.  (3 Credits)  

A survey of the history of the greater Middle East, emphasizing the modern period (roughly 1798-present). The focus is on the Ottoman Empire and its successor states (from Algeria to Iraq), with additional discussion of the adjoining countries (Morocco, the Arabian Peninsula, and Iran). Important themes include Ottoman reform and autocracy; European colonialism and decolonization; Zionism and the State of Israel; Arab nationalism; and political Islam.

HIST 251.  History of Europe (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

A survey of European history, from the Bronze Age to the present. Major themes include Europe's historical connections with Western Asia and North Africa; the changing nature of social and political systems; the emergence of modern states and nationalism; empire and colonization; and the cataclysms of the twentieth century.

HIST 254.  History of Africa (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

A survey of the major events and themes of African history from earliest times to the present day, touching upon important developments and themes such as migration, trade, environment, gender, religion, slavery, state building, European colonialism, African nationalism, Pan-Africanism, impact of the Cold War and current issues facing the continent.

HIST 260.  HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA GHI1.  (3 Credits)  

A survey of the major events and themes of Latin American History from pre-Columbian times through the modern era with special emphasis on the interaction of New and Old World cultures and the impact of colonization and the construction of national identity after independence into the modern era. GT-HI1

HIST 280.  History and Philosophy of Travel (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

Be it wanderlust, adventure, curiosity, healing, escape or immersion, this course explores the significance of travel for human beings from antiquity to the 21st century. Students explore why and how we travel and the power and impact of travel and tourism as influential cultural forces through time. Examining travel sources which span genres and time periods, students will consider the relation of travel to human existence; the construction of self and Other; and how travel has caused us to expand, question and rethink what we know. GT-HI1

HIST 281.  Past Visions: History on Film (GT-HI1).  (3 Credits)  

This course examines historically oriented motion pictures and documentaries as both primary and secondary sources of information about the past. Beginning from the premise that the content in films, as with written sources, can (and should) be critically analyzed for perspectives, interpretive choices, biases, and reliability. The course examines the relative successes or failures that major films and documentaries have had in portraying the past; what happens to history when it is recorded in film rather than words; and analyzes how present events, cultures and attitudes shape our view of the past. GT-HI1

HIST 282.  Past Futures.  (3 Credits)  

An introduction to the use of literature, film, and television for the study of history, focusing on the genre of science fiction. Students engage with past depictions of the future as lenses on the European and American societies which produced them - their hopes and anxieties, as well as the possibilities and limitations of their imagined futures. Themes include science and technology, race and empire, gender and sexuality, and capitalism and class conflict.

HIST 300.  History Lab.  (3 Credits)  

An introduction to tools of historical research, both traditional and digital. Topics include archival theory and the use of archival materials; digital repositories of historical books and newspapers; how to use and understand metadata; and basic historical data analysis and visualization. Students are encouraged to apply the tools introduced in this course to their research projects for other courses. Prerequisite: HIST 200 or instructor permission.

HIST 301.  Ancient History: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

Studies of the ancient world. This course is a rotating topic which may include regional studies (e.g. Mediterranean world), studies of specific cultures or empires (e.g. the Maya, Greece, Rome, Egypt), or thematic studies (e.g. gender or religion). Course may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 302.  World History: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

Studies in world or global history. This course is a rotating topic which may include broad thematic studies, such as the global history of the book or the history of settler colonialism, or chronologically more specific studies which are inherently transnational, like the medieval Afro-Eurasian ecumene. Class may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 311.  Medieval Europe: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

Studies of medieval Europe (approximately 500-1500). This course is a rotating topic which may include studies of specific cultures or empires (e.g., the Norse or the Byzantine Empire) or thematic studies (e.g., religion or art and architecture). Class may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 313.  Early Modern Europe: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

Studies of early modern Europe (approximately 1500-1789). This course is a rotating topic which may include studies of specific countries or empires (e.g., England or the Hapsburg Empire) or thematic studies (e.g., religion or empire). Class may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 317.  Modern Europe: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

Studies of modern Europe (approximately 1798 to the present). This course is a rotating topic which may include studies of specific countries or empires (e.g., France or the British Empire) or thematic studies (e.g., revolution or nationalism). Class may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 327.  Colorado History.  (3 Credits)  

A study of the history of Colorado from prehistoric times to the modern era, emphasizing the Native American and Spaniard, mining, cattle, transportation and farming frontiers, and problems of the 20th century involving water, energy, and growth. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 330.  Colonial America.  (3 Credits)  

A study of the indigenous peoples of North America and European expansion into the region including the French in Canada, Spanish in Florida and the English establishment of the Thirteen Colonies. Topics include colonial development, westward expansion, and conflicts with the indigenous populations, the role of women in the colonies, and social, intellectual, political and military activities from 1607 to the French Indian War in 1754. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 333.  American Revolution and the Early Republic.  (3 Credits)  

A study of the economic, social and political causes of the American Revolution. Focused attention is given to the Articles of Confederation, Hamiltonian and Jeffersonian America, the Constitutional Convention, Bill of Rights, Jeffersonian and Jacksonian Democracy, Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clarke expedition and the early national era. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 336.  U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction.  (3 Credits)  

A study of the causes of the Civil War with emphasis on the differing worlds of the North and the South and the social, intellectual and economic movements of the time. The military actions of the war are examined and the legacy of the war considered. The challenges and issues of the post war years of Reconstruction are explored. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 340.  Emergence of the Modern U.S..  (3 Credits)  

A study of U.S. history from the end of Reconstruction in 1877 to the Great Depression in 1929. Topics include industrialization, immigration, the Progressive movement, the causes and impact of World War I and the exciting but troubled 1920s all leading to the Great Depression. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 343.  Depression and World War II.  (3 Credits)  

An exploration of the ramifications that the economic collapse had on America¿s social, economic, cultural, and political life. The United States¿ entrance into the World War II is also discussed, with major focus on the changes that took place, both internally and abroad, because of the conflict. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 346.  Recent American History.  (3 Credits)  

A history of the United States since 1945 with emphasis on the Cold War, theEisenhower years, the turbulent decade of the 1960s, and the transformations of the 1970s and 1980s. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 348.  History of the Trans-Mississippi West.  (3 Credits)  

A history of the Trans-Mississippi West from 1800 to the present time, emphasizing the Native Americans, Spanish settlement, and Westward Expansion. Manifest Destiny, mining and cattle frontiers, settlement of the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains, closing of the western frontier, and the New West of today. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 349.  History of the Hispanic Southwest.  (3 Credits)  

Students examine the historical development of Hispanic settlement and culture in the American Southwest from its inception to the present day. Students study the interaction of Hispanic communities with nomadic and settled indigenous peoples and with Anglo ranchers, settler and commercial interests. From the 16th century settlements to the Mexican-American War and the territory's incorporation into the United States to the development of the Chicano identity in the 20th century, students analyze the American Southwest, as a patria chica of success and failure, achievement and potential. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 350.  Environmental History of the Borderlands.  (3 Credits)  

Students examine the process of historical development of the Borderlands region between Mexico and the United States and consider its implications for the region's environment. Settlement patterns, a blending of cultural and ethnic identities, economic development and integration and emerging social tensions have resulted in an environmental transformation of the region with far-reaching implicationsfor both nations north and south of the Rio Grande/Bravo. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 355.  African History: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

This course examines a particular topic, era or region in African History thus course content will vary. Rotating topics may include colonialism, conflict, or a country or regional study. Students may take this course twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 367.  Latin American History: Topics.  (3 Credits)  

Studies of Latin American history. This course is a rotating topic which may include studies of specific countries (e.g., Mexico or Cuba), or thematic studies (e.g., revolution, gender, or environment). Course may be taken twice for credit. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore status or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 370.  Public History.  (3 Credits)  

This course explores the ways historians have engaged the public with the past. It provides an introduction to the theory and practice of interpreting history in institutions such as museums, archives, historical societies, and in historic preservation projects, digital projects, and oral histories. The course examines theoretical constructs including memory, heritage, community and commemoration and explores how academic history and public history complement and enrich one another. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 371.  Oral History Workshop.  (3 Credits)  

An examination of the theory and practice of the field of oral history. Through the course of the semester, students will examine the field of oral history, learn how to conduct oral history interviews, and produce an oral history. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 372.  Monuments and Museums.  (3 Credits)  

Students explore the interconnected concepts of memory, change and time through the examination of monuments, memorials and museums. Through readings, discussions and field experiences students consider the representation of past events in public spaces and the ways in which such places can both shape a shared sense of the past and become sites of contention and representations of power. Students trace the evolution of museums and the nature of preservation, interpretation and scholarship of collections and exhibits. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 373.  History of the National Park Service.  (3 Credits)  

Students study the history of the National Park Service of the United States. The course begins with discussions of environmental conservation, preservation, and Wilderness; and traces the development of the guiding principles of the NPS and the evolution of the National Park system. Students discuss the challenges facing the NPS to the present day. Additionally, students will consider the international impact of the NPS and the growth of the National Park movement outside of the United States. This course includes multi-day field trips to National Parks and National Historic Sites. Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 397.  Special Topics.  (1-6 Credits)  

Prerequisites: minimum sophomore standing or instructor permission. HIST 200 recommended.

HIST 399.  Internship in History.  (1-3 Credits)  

History majors and minors obtain archival, museum and public history experience through direct, supervised contact with archivists, curators and professionals from related areas. Graded Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory only. Maximum 6 credits can be applied to the major. Prerequisites: HIST 200 and junior standing or instructor permission.

HIST 402.  Engaging the Past.  (3 Credits)  

Students explore the myriad of ways human beings engage with the Past. Through examination of the development and role of historical inquiry to how we preserve, restore, remember, reenact, manipulate and silence the past, students develop an understanding of how we interpret and analyze the Past as individuals, as communities and as Historians. The role of the historian in society and the ethical considerations which guide the Historian’s work are woven through the course content. History majors should take this course during or after their second semester of their junior year. Prerequisites: HIST 200 and junior standing or instructor permission.

HIST 492.  Independent Study.  (1-4 Credits)  

A special study in areas of student interest. May be taken for a maximum of four credits. Prerequisites: HIST 200 and junior standing or instructor permission.

HIST 497.  Special Topics.  (1-6 Credits)