History (HST)

In this introductory survey course, students will examine the history of world civilizations (Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) from ancient times to 1500. The course will emphasize the diversity of world cultures, while also highlighting how the various societies of the world were interconnected. Students will investigate the essential social, cultural, political, economic and religious developments around the globe, and cover fascinating topics such as the Egyptian Pyramids, the Trojan War, Alexander the Great, Hinduism, Buddhism, the Great Wall of China, Terra-Cotta Warriors, the Roman Empire, Vikings, Samurai Warriors, Islam, Christianity, the Crusades, the Aztecs, and the Renaissance. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this introductory survey course, students will examine the history of world civilizations (Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas) from 1500 to 1900. The course will emphasize the diversity of world cultures, while also highlighting how the various societies of the world were interconnected. Students will investigate the essential social, cultural, political, economic and religious developments around the globe, and cover fascinating topics such as the Reformation, the Ming Dynasty, the Aztecs and Incas, the Ottoman Empire, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, the French Revolution, the Atlantic Slave Trade, Simon Bolivar and Latin American Independence, the Industrial Revolution, the Meiji Restoration, the Scramble for Africa, the Opium War, the Boxer Rebellion and the Women's Rights Movement. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this introductory survey course, students will examine the history of Europe and the Mediterranean during ancient and medieval times. They will investigate the essential social, cultural, political, economic and religious developments of the period, and cover fascinating topics such as the Trojan War, the Spartans, Alexander the Great, Spartacus, Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire, Constantine, the Huns, the Goths, St. Patrick, Charlemagne, the Vikings, the Crusades, Richard the Lionheart, Magna Carta, the Black Death and the Renaissance. The title of this course was previously Western Civilization I. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this introductory survey course, students will examine European history from the sixteenth through the nineteenth century. They will investigate the essential social, cultural, political, economic and religious developments of the period, and cover fascinating topics such as the Reformation, Henry VIII, Mary Queen of Scots, Christopher Columbus, Queen Elizabeth I, Oliver Cromwell, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, Adam Smith, the French Revolution, Napoleon, the Industrial Revolution, Karl Marx, Charles Darwin and the Women's Rights Movement. The title of this course was previously Western Civilization II. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

This course will examine the essential social, cultural, political and economic developments of the twentieth-century world, paying particular attention to the role of the United States in that world. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will be introduced to the ways in which African Americans have contributed to American history and culture by examining the significant cultural, social, political, economic and religious developments from 1619 to the present. While focusing on events in America, the course will also address important historical events in Africa that connect with African Americans. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

The Michigan History course is a review and analysis of the social, economic and political history of the State of Michigan. Within the purview of the course is the study of the full extent of human experience, from contact with the indigenous peoples, through the arrival and implantation of European culture. The significant historical periods covered are Colonization, Territorial Years, Development from 1836 to 1861, Civil War and Post-War Development, the Progressive Era, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II and Post-War developments. This course can fulfill the Michigan history requirement for Teacher Certification in Social Studies (RX). Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students trace the development of the United States from its earliest beginnings up through the cataclysm of the Civil War and the subsequent Reconstruction Era. The approach is largely chronological, stressing cause and effect relationships, the roles played by prominent people, and the ways in which the events of the past have shaped contemporary society and its institutions. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

This course traces the development of the United States from the end of the Reconstruction Era through the late 20th century. The approach is largely chronological, stressing cause and effect relationships, the roles played by prominent people, and the ways in which the events of the past have shaped contemporary society and its institutions. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will trace the history of U.S. foreign policy from the Revolutionary era to the present. They explore the relationship between the American economic, social, and political systems and the conduct of the nation's foreign policy. The role played by race, economics, ideology, and "national interest" will be assessed. Emphasis will be placed on the conduct of diplomacy immediately before, during, and after periods of military conflict. The conduct of the Cold War will be reviewed in detail. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students trace the American military from its pre-colonial origins to the present. They will examine the relationship between the American economic, social, and political systems and the nation's military, as well as the impact of the nation's geography on the military's organization and mission. Key conflicts will receive detailed attention in an effort to discern if there is a unique "American Way of War." Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will explore the causes, conduct and impact of the American Civil War. The course focuses on the political, social, economic, and racial background of the conflict, the conduct of battles and campaigns, the formulation of strategy, the mobilization of the nations' societies and economies, wartime diplomacy and politics, and the numerous issues surrounding Reconstruction. It will assess the impact of the war on the nation's society, political system, and economy. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

This course will explore the causes, conduct, and consequences of the Second World War. It will begin by addressing the settlement that ended the Great War, the rise of fascism in Europe and militarism in Japan, and interwar military developments. The course will then trace the events that led to war in Asia and in Europe. The course's centerpiece will be a consideration of the war's conduct. Military issues, both tactical and strategic, will be addressed, as will the economic, diplomatic, and political forces that shaped the conflict. The course will conclude with a consideration of the troubled peace that followed, focusing on the events that led to the outbreak of the Cold War. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students investigate the origins, development and legacies of the Nazi onslaught against the European Jews from 1933 to 1945. Topics such as anti-Semitism, Nazi ideology and propaganda, Jewish experiences, World War II, and the post-war impact of the Holocaust will be discussed. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will survey the historical development of African societies, cultures, and institutions, with an emphasis on the 13th century to the present. The effects of Christianity, Islam, the slave trade, and colonialism on the African continent will also be addressed. Emphasis will also be placed on the process of decolonization and industrialization of modern Africa. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students will critique the concept of gender by examining the historical experiences of women and men in the past. Beginning with the era of the Reformation, this course examines the gendered experiences of men and women as religion, the state, and society have changed. The role of social and political revolutions, and the process of industrialization, will be examined, as well as how these movements have shaped men and women's places in these societies. The twentieth century, and how the wars and political/social movements like fascism, totalitarianism, and democracy influenced ideas of gender will also be explored. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this course, students explore the evolution of the conduct of war in the western world from the sixteenth century to the present. Points of emphasis include the relationship between politics and war and between societies and their military institutions; the influence of political, social, economic, and technological change upon western methods of warfare; and the impact of the popularization and nationalization of war upon western nations' approach to modern conflicts. The conduct of specific wars, campaigns, and battles are addressed, but they are employed to illustrate these themes and are not, in and of themselves, the focus of the course. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

In this introductory survey course, students will examine the history of England (as well as Ireland, Scotland and Wales) from ancient times to the early modern period. They will investigate the essential social, cultural, political, economic and religious developments of the British Isles during this period, and cover fascinating topics such as the Celts, the Druids, the Anglo-Saxons, Alfred the Great, the Vikings, William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings, Richard the Lionheart, Magna Carta, Parliament, the Hundred Years' War, the Wars of the Roses, Henry VIII, the Reformation, Elizabeth I, Mary Queen of Scots, the English Civil War and Oliver Cromwell. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6

This course offers students the opportunity to study history abroad. A week of daily lectures at WCC will provide the necessary context for understanding the history and culture of the study abroad location. These lectures will be followed by 1-2 weeks of international travel during which students will visit various historical sites and museums. This travel will provide students with an opportunity to acquire not only an in-depth understanding of the history of the study abroad location, but also an appreciation for the local culture and people that is at the heart of international study and cultural immersion. The course will be offered either as a stand-alone history course or in conjunction with ANT 290. Level I Prerequisite: Academic Reading and Writing Levels of 6; consent required