History

Department Chair: Dr. Thomas C. Behr, behrt@stthom.edu

As part of the liberal arts mission of the university, the history major guides us to understand the bearing of the past on the present and to appreciate the historical character of human inquiry in exploring the principal philosophical, religious, political, literary, and aesthetic traditions of Western and world culture.

Degrees and Certificates

Classes

HIST 1301: United States History I

A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal government.

HIST 1302: United States History II

A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural, and intellectual history of the United States from the Civil War/Reconstruction era to the present. United States History II examines industrialization, immigration, world wars, the Great Depression, Cold War and post-Cold War eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History II include: American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, urbanization and suburbanization, the expansion of the federal government, and the study of U.S. foreign policy.

HIST 3123: Unborn Child in Western Tradition

This course explores the history of ideas, attitudes, and practices regarding the unborn child in the Western tradition, with a special focus on the Christian tradition and on America as both an articulation of and a departure from that tradition. After outlining pagan, Jewish, and Christian views of unborn life in the ancient and medieval periods, the course moves to a discussion of the “new embryology” of early modernity and its unfolding in American life and thought from colonial times to the present. Because understandings of unborn life have been so often shaped by the broader social circumstances under which such life has come to be, the course also examines issues of fertility and family formation, women’s identity as mothers, the experience of abortion, and the roles of law and medicine. Catholic teaching forms a normative template throughout the course.

HIST 3301: Greek and Roman History

Greek and Roman History will survey the 1000 year history from the founding of the Roman Republic, in the context of ancient kingdoms of the Mediterranean world, to the long collapse of the Roman Empire under the weight of a slew of historical problems, not least of which the invasions of barbarian hordes that led to the creation of Europe.

HIST 3303: Medieval Europe

This course will cover the main events, invasions, battles, church developments, dynasties, economy, ideas, and all the great personalities that contributed to the birth of Europe, from the Sack of Rome to Charlemagne and from the Year 1000 to the Black Death and Hundred Years War.

HIST 3304: Renaissance and Reformation

The European Renaissance, the Protestant and Catholic Reformations and the Age of the Baroque. The dividing of Europe in religion and politics (1300–1715).

HIST 3305: Renaissance Women

This course will examine the social history of early modern times in Europe, from the Renaissance, Italian and Northern, to the era of Protestant Reformation, with a focus on the every day life and conditions of women with attention to faith, family, class, and education.

HIST 3306: Medicine and Society

Medicine and Society uses an historical approach to study the dynamic interplay between disease and society in America. It examines the changing patterns of disease, the roots of morbidity and mortality, the evolution of medical theory and practice, the development of hospitals and the medical profession, the rise of the bio-technology, and post-humanism.

HIST 3307: Giants of Science

The course will survey the interdependent nature of scientific, technological and social change over time, with a focus on direct reading of primary texts in the history of science, from the Pre-Socratics to modern theoretical physicists.

HIST 3308: Music Since 1945

Music Since 1945 is a study of music across the genres of Western Art Music, Jazz, and Rock, with a focus on their mutual influences both internal to their compositional traditions and cultural contexts. A key focus of this course is the role of recording and listening technologies, and the music industry in the development of music during this period.

HIST 3310: East Asian History and Culture

This course will survey the history and cultures of east Asia, including the modern regions of China, Japan, South East Asia, and Korea and the role this region has played in world history, ancient and modern.

HIST 3311: Indo-Pacific History & Culture

Students in this course will study the rise and influence on world events of the vast but inter-connected Indo-Pacific region, geo-politically, economically and militarily, examining the international connections and tensions between Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, South East Asia, India, New Zealand, and China.

HIST 3312: South Asian History & Culture

This course will survey the history and cultures of south Asia, including the modern regions of India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the role of this region in world history, including ancient, modern and diaspora history.

HIST 3313: Opera and Ideas

Opera and Ideas explores the interrelation between Western European opera and ideas mainly through the study of major operas and music dramas from the 17th century to the 20th century. No prior musical training is necessary to succeed in this seminar. The seminar requires listening assignments, and attendance at a live opera performance.

HIST 3314: History of Strategic Management

Strategic management is the process of setting goals, procedures, and objectives in order to make a company or organization more competitive and innovative. Strategic management has a history that dates back to antiquity. Students in this course gain knowledge about strategic management and leadership by studying historical examples of successful and unsuccessful organizational strategies. This course examines the evolution of strategic management in the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, but also probes the less discussed sources of strategy in the Ancient world (Greece, Rome)

HIST 3315: The Crusades

This course will study the causes and the consequences of the conflicts arising from the expansion of militant Islam and the feudal states of Europe over control of the Holy Land, from the time of Mohammed to the Battle of Lepanto.

HIST 3316: History & Cultures of Africa

This course will survey the long history of continental Africa from pre-history to modern national histories and global contexts, including geographical, social, religious, economic, and political factors.

HIST 3317: History of Sacred Music

This course provides an in-depth exploration of the historical development of sacred music from its origins in early Christian worship to contemporary expressions of faith through music. Students will engage with significant composers, works, and styles across various Christian traditions, including Gregorian chant, medieval polyphony, Renaissance choral works, Baroque sacred music, and modern compositions. The course emphasizes the theological, liturgical, and cultural contexts that shaped sacred music, offering insights into the role of music in religious life and its continuing relevance in contemporary worship practices.

HIST 3318: Medieval Women

The course will provide a study of medieval history, in terms of politics, society, economy, and culture, from the perspective of women's experience. We will study queens, writers, artists, nuns, merchants, artisans, and peasants in terms of how they were shaped by the times and in turn contributed to shaping their times.

HIST 3319: Hist & Culture of Jewish Ppl

Jewish history from its beginnings down to the 20th century, including political history, religious practices and everyday life, Jewish philosophy and literature depending on interests of the instructor.

HIST 3320: Church Confronts Modernity

The course will survey the range of responses among Catholic laity and Church hierarchy to the crises arising from modernization in general and from the French revolution, in particular: questions of church and state, religious freedom, educational freedom, the “social question” and the rise of revolutionary atheistic socialism. Students gain an understanding of how the pillars of Catholic Social teaching (human person, common good, solidarity, and subsidiarity) developed.

HIST 3321: Liberal Learning Through the Ages

Liberal learning, study of the liberal arts, has been the hallmark of free, self-governing persons since Greek and Roman antiquity. This course will survey the meaning and relevance of liberal education as part of a flourishing human life, from the origin of the concepts to our own hyper-specialized scientific and technology-driven world of today

HIST 3322: The Inklings

This course explores the literary works and intellectual legacy of the Inklings, an informal group of writers and scholars who met in Oxford from the 1930s to the 1950s. We will focus on the core members—J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield—while also examining the broader circle of associated figures. The course emphasizes how the Inklings' friendships, discussions, and mutual critiques influenced their individual and collective literary output. By emphasizing both individual achievements and collaborative influences, students will gain insight into the power of literary fellowship and its influence and impact on members’ individual works.

HIST 3323: Unborn Child in Western Tradition

This course explores the history of ideas, attitudes, and practices regarding the unborn child in the Western tradition, with a special focus on the Christian tradition and on America as both an articulation of and a departure from that tradition. After outlining pagan, Jewish, and Christian views of unborn life in the ancient and medieval periods, the course moves to a discussion of the “new embryology” of early modernity and its unfolding in American life and thought from colonial times to the present. Because understandings of unborn life have been so often shaped by the broader social circumstances under which such life has come to be, the course also examines issues of fertility and family formation, women’s identity as mothers, the experience of abortion, and the roles of law and medicine. Catholic teaching forms a normative template throughout the course.

HIST 3324: Crime & Punishment in America

This course examines the history of crime and punishment in America from colonial times to the dawn of the twenty-first century. It addresses changing theories of crime and punishment and their varying applications, including corporal punishment, the rise of the penitentiary, and the attempted reforms of the late-nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The course also examines changing definitions and categorization of crime in areas such as sexual conduct, economic activity, race, and religion.

HIST 3336: Texas History

From the early explorers to the present day: the six flags over Texas, the struggle for independence, the Lone Star Republic, statehood and the creation of the “Texas Mystique.”

HIST 3343: Latin American Revolutions

A topical examination of the history of one or more Latin American nations since independence, with a concentration on the persons, events and institutions that help to explain current developments in Latin America.

HIST 3350: Revolutionary America

A study of colonial origins and revolutionary results such as how Great Britain lost an empire and how Americans created the first democratic republic. This course will focus on society, politics and culture from 1607–1789. Spring,

HIST 3353: The American Civil War

A study of the contributing factors that help explain the coming of the Civil War, and the resulting failure of attempts to reconstruct the South along desired lines.

HIST 3365: History of Ireland Since 1600

Irish History from the end of the reign of Elizabeth I to the recent Time of Troubles. Special emphasis on the influence of English History, the revolutions of the 18th century, the development of Irish nationalism, the emergence of an Irish nation under the leadership of de Valera and the unsettling issues in the time of troubles.

HIST 3370: The Enlightenment and its Critics

After critical reading of selections from the main thinkers of the Enlightenment, from Descartes to Kant, founders of the ideological currents that lead through modernism to post-modernism, we will consider some important thinkers who have gone against the current of Enlightenment axiomatic beliefs about human nature and human fulfillment, so to speak, with alternative paradigms on the great issues confronting modernity.

HIST 3372: Exploring Human Perspectives

This course introduces students to qualitative research methods, focusing on understanding human perspectives through interviews, ethnographies, case studies, and content analysis. Students will develop skills in designing, conducting, and analyzing qualitative research, with emphasis on ethical considerations and actual-world applications.

HIST 3388: America in the World

This course is a survey of American diplomacy and foreign relations, major conflicts, treaties and alliances, from the colonial era to the present

HIST 3390: Capitalism and Communism

In this course we will critically read selections both the classical liberal, free market tradition, such as Smith and Bastiat to Friedman and Hayek, and from the communist tradition, from Marx to the Frankfurt School.

HIST 4191: Internship in History

Practical experience in historical research and archival work under the direction of professionals. Maximum: 3 credit hours. Open only to majors who qualify for the program.

HIST 4291: Internship in History

Practical experience in historical research and archival work under the direction of professionals. Maximum: 3 credit hours. Open only to majors who qualify for the program.

HIST 4330: The Historian’s Craft

Students will distinguish conflicting scholarly interpretations of major events in American, European, and World history as well as examine the nature of historical development and causation, the reasons for writing and studying history, the nature of historical evidence, “objectivity” in history, and the emergence of new subfields.

HIST 4345: Greek & Roman Historians

In this course students read from the founders of “history” – Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Polybius, Livy, Tacitus, and Plutarch, for instance – as they explore the human condition and lessons from the past.

HIST 4391: Internship in History

Practical experience in historical research and archival work under the direction of professionals. Maximum: 3 credit hours. Open only to majors who qualify for the program.