Department Updates

Graduate History Courses

Spring 2010 Course News

The following courses are offered by the Department of History for graduate credit. Graduate courses being offered in Spring 2010 are highlighted in green below. Graduate courses being offered in Fall 2010 are highlighted in red below.Courses being offered in both semesters are highlighted in blue below. Click on faculty name below for book lists and/or course information for Spring 2010, when available.

This list is generally more complete than the one found in the WIU Graduate Catalog. For information on the Department's plans to offer any of these courses, check with the Department’s Graduate Director, Dr. Ginny Jelatis. For more information on the Department's Graduate History Programs see the WIU Graduate Catalog.

Check out this semester's History graduate course offerings via STARS.

Graduate seminar students listening to a grad student presentation

Graduate Seminar Schedule

The Department's approved plan for offering graduate seminars (evening classes, each seminar meeting one night a week) is as follows:

Each Fall semester: usually one US History seminar (510 or 511), one European History seminar (540 or 541), and one World History seminar (530 or 531), with at least one of these being a research seminar.

Each Spring semester: usually one US History research seminar (510), one US History readings seminar (511), and one European History seminar (540 or 541).

In any given year, depending on the faculty member offering the seminar, one of the Diplomatic or Military History seminars (512, 513, 514, and 515) may be offered in place of one of the US, European, or World History seminars.

The Spring 2010 graduate seminars will be taught by Dr. Richard Filipink (History 511, US readings), Dr. Walter Kretchik (History 512, U.S. diplomatic research), and Dr. Ute Chamberlin (History 541, European readings). In addition, a graduate workshop will be offered by Dr. Jennifer McNabb (History 550).

In Fall 2010, the faculty members who will be offering evening graduate seminars are Dr. Ginny Jelatis (History 510, US research), Dr. Robby Mazza (History 530, Middle East research), and Dr. Ed Woell (History 541, European readings). In addition, Dr. Greg Hall will be offering History 500 (Introduction to Graduate Historical Methods).

For general information on any of the seminars, see the list below. For specific information about a seminar during a particular semester, contact the professor offering it or the Department's Graduate Director. Graduate students are eligible for funding for research conducted for graduate seminars or theses.

Lara Zink presents her grad seminar paper while fellow panel members Eric Willey and Ryan Buller listen

All Graduate Courses

400G Soviet Union, 1917–1991. (3) An intensive study of political, diplomatic, economic, social, and cultural developments in the Soviet Union from the Bolshevik revolution to the USSR’s collapse. Prerequisite: HIST 126 or 399, or permission of the instructor.

401G American Diplomatic History. (3) Foreign relations with emphasis on the period from the war with Spain to the present, stressing the behavior of the United States as a world power. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

412G American Colonial History. (3) A history of the discovery, settlement, and development of the American colonies to 1763. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

413G American Revolution and the New Nation. (3) A study of developments which caused the Revolution; examination of the War of Independence, the Confederation, the federal Constitution, and subsequent events to 1800. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

414G Early American Republic, 1800-1848. (3) An intensive study of the development of the United States from 1800 to 1848, emphasizing the development of political culture within the expanding nation, among post-Revolutionary Americans. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

415G Civil War and Reconstruction. (3) The political, social, economic, military, and diplomatic history of the period 1850–1877, with emphasis on the war years, 8611–1865. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Roberts

416G America in Transition, 1877–1914. (3) An examination of the forces transforming America from Reconstruction to the Wilson administration. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

418G Emergence of Modern America, 1914–1945. (3) A study of American history from World War I to the end of World War II. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

419G Recent America, 1945 to Present. (3) An examination of American history from the end of World War II to the present. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

420G History of Illinois. (3) A study of periods and themes in the history of Illinois including social, political, economic, cultural, and environmental change. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

421G Presidential Assassination and Political Murder in American History. (3) A study of facts, myths, and controversies surrounding the murder and attempted murder of presidents and political leaders, with emphasis on the Kennedy assassination. Not open to students who have taken HIST 115. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

422G American Environmental History. (3) A history of Americans’ interaction with their natural environment from pre-contact to the present with special emphasis on the last two hundred years. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

423G The Vietnam War and Its Times. (3) A seminar on the Vietnam War, with particular emphasis on domestic, social, and political emphasis on domestic, social, and political aspects during the 1960’s. Research in primary sources will be required. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

425G Early Modern Europe, 1350–1648. (3) Study of political, economic, social, and cultural developments of early modern Europe from the mid-fourteenth to mid-seventeenth centuries., including the Renaissance, the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, the age of religious wars, state-building, witchcraft persecution, and the Age of Discovery. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

426G The Enlightenment, 1721-1784 (3) Advanced study of a cultural revolution in the Atlantic world: a “republic” of philosophers, ideas, and debates; social institutions promoting reform; emergence of new media, mass literacy, public opinion, and private sentiment; and the broader context in which these flourished. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

427G French Revolution and Napoleon. (3) A detailed examination of the period from 1789 to 1815 in Europe. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Woell

428G Nineteenth-Century Europe. (3) A study of Europe from 1815 to 1914. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

429G Europe, 1914–1968. (3) A study of Europe from 1914 to 1968. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

430G Topics in Ancient History. (3) Study of a theme or chronological period in Greek or Roman History. Topics will vary. Repeatable to six hours with permission of Departmental Graduate Committee. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

431G Alexander the Great. (3) Advanced study of the life, achievements, and historical context of Alexander III of Macedon, with particular focus on his impact outside Europe.  Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

433G Tudor/Stuart England: 1485-1714. (3) Political, economic, cultural, and social history of early modern England during the reigns of the Tudor and Stuart monarchs, emphasizing social structures, cultural movements, religious continuity and change, and constitutional developments. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

434G Topics in British History. (3, repeatable to 6, with permission of department chairperson)  Selected topics dealing with the political, social, and economic development of Britain.  Topics will vary.  Prerequisite:  Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

438G Germany, 1918-1949: From Defeat to Division. (3) A study of Germany from the end of World War I to its division following World War II, focusing on the Weimar Republic, the rise and fall of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party, the Holocaust, and Germany's postwar breakup. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

440G Topics in Latin American History. (3, repeatable to 6, for different topics, with permission of department chairperson) Selected topics in the social, political, economic, or intellectual history of Latin America. Topics will vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

444G Topics in Middle Eastern History. (3, repeatable to 6, with permission of department chairperson) Selected topics in the political, social, economic, and intellectual history of the Middle East. Topics may vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Mazza

445G Modern East Asia. (3) A study of China, Japan, and Korea in the 20th century. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

482G Topics in European History. (3, repeatable to 6 with permission) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in European History. Topics will vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

485G Topics in Asian History. (3, repeatable to 6 with permission) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in Asian History.  Topics will vary.  Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

488G Topics in U. S. History. (3, repeatable to 6 with permission) In-depth study of a theme or chronological period in U.S. History from the colonial period to the present. Topics will vary. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Cole

494G Internship. (1–12, repeatable) Supervised experience of work in archives, historical institutions, or other institutions requiring historical experience. May be repeated, but only three semester hours of credit will be applied to the minimum program requirement of 31 hours. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

500 Introduction to Historical Methods. (1) Introduction to resources and methods of historical research and writing. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

510 Research Seminar in U.S. History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in American history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisites: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite, or permission of the instructor.

511 Readings Seminar in U.S. History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in American history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Filipink

512 Research Seminar in Diplomatic History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in diplomatic history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing.  May be repeatable with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite, or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Kretchik

513 Readings Seminar in Diplomatic History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in diplomatic history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeatable with a change in topic. Prerequisite Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

514 Research Seminar in Military History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in military history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing.  May be repeatable with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite, or permission of the instructor.

515 Readings Seminar in Military History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in military history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

530 Research Seminar in World History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in world history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite, or permission of the instructor.

531 Readings Seminar in World History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in world history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

540 Research Seminar in European History. (3, repeatable) A research-centered investigation of selected topics in European history, with special attention to application of methods of research, critical analysis, and writing. May be repeated with a change intopic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing, HIST 500 as prerequisite/corequisite, or permission of the instructor.

541 Readings Seminar in European History. (3, repeatable) A readings-centered investigation of selected topics in European history, with attention to historiographic issues. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. Chamberlin

550 Workshop. (1–3, repeatable) Offered irregularly on specific topics. May be repeated with a change in topic. Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor. Spring 2010: Dr. McNabb

598 Readings in History. (1–6, repeatable) Individual reading. May be repeated, but a maximum of six hours will be counted toward degree requirements. Prerequisites: Graduate standing and six semester hours in history.

599 Special Problems in History. (1–6, repeatable) Intensive research into areas of history not specifically covered in other courses. Credit will depend on the nature of the historical problem to be examined and the length of time required to complete the project. May be repeated, although no more than six hours may count toward a degree. Prerequisites: Graduate standing, six semester hours in history, and approval by the Departmental Graduate Committee.

600 Thesis Research. (1–6, repeatable) May be repeated, but only three semester hours will count toward degree requirements. Prerequisites: HIST 500 or 501, and approval of the thesis prospectus.

601 Thesis in History. (3) Prerequisite: HIST 600.

699 Non-thesis Oral Exam. (0) Students in degree program II or III will defend coursework and/or project in an oral exam before a committee of three faculty members selected by the student and approved by the chair of the Departmental Graduate Committee. Graded S/U. Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair. -WIU Grad