Department Overview
Excavation at Musser Farm, Fall 2008 |
HISTORY MAJOR
In addition to intensive examination of a wide range of historical periods and subjects, the history majors allow room for students to pursue other studies. For example, some take a second major, and many complete minors, in areas from English, economics, and journalism to communication, business and political science. Students are encouraged to seek experiental learning, through many kinds of study abroad or internship experiences. At Messiah College, students can choose from a variety of offering in American, European, and Non-Western history. Thus history majors are well prepared for careers and graduate study in both history as well as in a wide variety of history-related fields. A minor in history is also available.
HISTORY-SOCIAL STUDIES TEACHING CERTIFICATE
History majors wishing to be certified for history-social studies teaching on the secondary level (grades 7-12) may do so by admission into the Teacher Education Program. In addition to the history major, students take supporting courses in economics, politics, geography, sociology, and education. Students pursuing this course of study should familiarize themelves with the information provided for secondary teachers at the Department of Education' s Teacher Education Program Website.
HUMANITIES MAJOR WITH A HISTORY CONCENTRATION
This is an interdisciplinary major allowing great flexibility for students to structure their own program in consultation with the curriculum advisor. In addition to history, students select courses in art, music, literature, and philosophy as well as in a wide range of other electives. Students are also encouraged to seek experiential learning, either through study abroad or through an internship experience.
History courses fall into four categories (See History Curriculum for complete course descriptions).
1. LOWER DIVISION SURVEYS
HIST 141: US Survey to 1865
HIST 142: US Survey since 1865
HIST 101: Western Civilization: Bronze Age to 1500
HIST 102: Western Civilization: 1500 to the Present
HIST 171: World Civilizations: Bronze Age to 1500
HIST 172: World Civilization: 1500 to the Present
2. LOWER DIVISION TOPICS COURSES
HIST 131: The Emergence of Modernity in the Western Imagination
HIST 132: European Missionaries in Africa
HIST 134: A Social History of Medieval England
HIST 151: The Wild, Wild West: Battles Over the American West and the Western Image
HIST 154: Vietnam War America
HIST 156: Social Movements in Twentieth-Century America
HIST 261: Public History
3. UPPER DIVISION SEMINARS FOR HISTORY MAJORS
HIST 258: Historical Methods (Sophomore Seminar)
HIST 401: Historiography and Philosophy of History (Senior Seminar)
HIST 407: Secondary Social Studies Curriculum and Instruction (Social Studies Certification Students)
4. UPPER DIVISION HISTORY COURSES
HIST 362: United States Foreign Policy
HIST 344: Civil War America
HIST 352: African-American History Since 1865
HIST 351: Native American History
HIST 342: America in an Age of Revolution
HIST 346: From Omaha to Hiroshima: US History, 1890-1945
HIST 341: Colonial America
HIST 347: Modern America: US History, 1945-Present
HIST 353: Immigrant America
HIST 301: Greco-Roman Society and Culture
HIST 371: Premodern Civilizations of Asia
HIST 302: Medieval Europe
HIST 373: History of India before 1500
HIST 374: History of Modern India and Pakistan
HIST 355: US Urban History
HIST 303: Renaissance and Reformation Europe
HIST 372: Modern Civilizations of Asia
HIST 321: The Age of Monarchy: 17th-and 18th-Century Europe
HIST 322: Modern Euorope: 1799-1918
HIST 323: Europe in the 20th Century
HIST 375: Gandhi's India (1869-1948)
HIST 379: History of the Middle East
HIST 381: History of Africa
HIST 383: South Africa: Struggle for Freedom
HIST 391: Historical Study of Peace
HIST 392: Women and Gender in History
HIST 357: Colonial Encounters: European Imperialism and World Cultures
HIST 304: Tudor-Stuart England: 1400-1700
HIST 399: Topics in History
HIST 331: Modern Britain
HIST 332: Modern Germany
HIST 495: Internship in Historical Research
HIST 497, 498: Major Honors
DEPARTMENT HONORS
A special opportunity is offered for senior students interested in Department Honors. Messiah College requires a minimum GPA of 3.5 on all courses completed at the college by the middle of the junior year. In addition departmental approval by the departmental chair and department faculty is required. This approval is based on the quality of the honors project proposal.
GUIDELINES FOR HONORS PROJECTS
Past Honors Project Topics:
- Rachel Heeter, Favoritism in the Courts of Early Modern England: A Study of James I and George Villiers, Duke of Buckingham (2006-2007). Advisor: Dr. Norman Wilson
- Kelly Knight, Loyalty and Dissent in Civil War Maryland: William Wilkins Glenn and the Suprression of the Daily Exchange. (2006). Advisor: Dr. John Fea
- Justin Bollinger, Mason Locke Weems, George Washington, and the Emergence of an Evangelical Nationalism in Early Nineteenth-Century America (2005-2006). Advisor: Dr. John Fea
- Jeffrey Erbig, Performative Mapping: Land and Cartographic Culture in Lumbisi, 1762-1824 (2004-2005). Advisor: Dr. Bernardo Michael
- Nathan Tillman, The New Democratic Conspiracy: The Agrarians' & Simple Livers' Benevolent Ambition to Take Over the World (2004-2005). Advisor: Dr. John Fea
- Sarah Mackin, A History of Messiah College's Philadelphia Campus (2003-2004). Advisor: Dr. James LaGrand
- Megan Jones, Republicanism and American First Ladies from Martha Washington to Dolly Madison (2002-2003). Advisor: Dr. James LaGrand
- Janet Kraft, Two Hundred Years of American Dining Rooms (2003-2003). Advisor: Dr. James LaGrand
- Mac Brodt, Anti-Semites or Patriots? The American Response to the Holocaust (2001-2002). Advisor: Dr. James LaGrand
