Master of Science-History

HIST 500. Historiography. 3 Hours.

Historiography is the study of the principles, theory, and history of historical writing. The first half of this course examines historiography in the broadest sense of the word, with students reading about different perspectives and schools of analysis. The second half of this course focuses on historiography in its narrower sense, requiring students to research a variety of approaches, methods, and interpretations employed by historians on a particular topic. Based on their historiographic and bibliographic research of a selected topic, students are required to write a paper.

HIST 501. Methods and Principals of Historical Research. 3 Hours.

This course examines the methodology of historical research. Participants will research and write a paper on a selected topic.

HIST 505. Public History. 3 Hours.

Students in this course will apply the tools of the historian in developing their own research projects in public history. They will conduct appropriate research and will present their findings.

HIST 510. Knights and Samurai: Medieval Warrior Cultures. 3 Hours.

Warrior elites are common in the history of human societies, especially during the medieval period of Europe and Japan. Students will study the ideological, social, cultural, religious, and political influences on the development of these cultures and will gain an understanding of how they developed, flourished, and decayed.

HIST 520. Readings in the History of Colonial American. 3 Hours.

Students will read books, write reviews, and critically evaluate research in the history of Colonial America.

HIST 525. The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. 3 Hours.

This course will focus on the Roman Empire and its neighbors in the Mediterranean world from the first through eight centuries A.D. Topics will include the conflict between paganism and Christianity, Constantine's conversion of classical culture, Rome and the barbarians, the military collapse of the western empire, asceticism and monasticism, women in late antiquity, and the origins of Islam. All of these topics will be considered within the framework of the end of the Roman empire, though students will have great latitude to develop research projects covering any topic within the period and scope of the course.

HIST 530. Readings in the History of the American Civil War. 3 Hours.

Students will read books, write reviews, and critically evaluate research in the political, social, and military history of the American Civil War.

HIST 535. Crusades, Councils, and King Arthur: Europe in 1215. 3 Hours.

1215 was a seminal year in the history of Europe. Three broad trends in medieval history and culture all reached a confluence around this date: the signing of the Magna Carta, the Fourth Lateran Council, the crusading movement, and the writing of the Lancelot-Grail cycle. Students will examine how each of these events came to be in their effects. This will allow careful study of medieval governance and law for both kings and the medieval church, as well as the development of medieval culture and literature.

HIST 542. Research in Local and Regional History. 3 Hours.

Students will design, conduct, and present a research project based on local and/or regional history.

HIST 550. The Vietnam War. 3 Hours.

Students will read books, write reviews, and critically evaluate research in the political, social, and military history of the Vietnam War.

HIST 551. African American History. 3 Hours.

The experiences of African Americans are essential to the story of America, yet they have been marginalized in the past. In this class, we will focus on restoring these perspectives to American History.

HIST 552. Civil Rights History. 3 Hours.

The civil rights movement is often viewed as monolithic, but it was the work of many different people with different ideological approaches that animated it. From North to South, from non-violence to militance, from famous figures to ordinary people, students will learn about this rich period of American History. Prerequisite: HIST 551.

HIST 555. American History and American Films. 3 Hours.

Students study how American films can be used to better understand American history and how some films have influenced American history.

HIST 565. History of Early Texas and the U.S.-Mexican War. 3 Hours.

Through selected readings, students in this course study the social, economic, and political history of Mexican Texas, the Texas Republic, and the U.S.-Mexican War.

HIST 570. Popes, Paupers, and Heretics: The Christian Church in the Middle Ages. 3 Hours.

The Christian church was one of the most important forces in the shaping of medieval Europe. This course will allow students to study the medieval church from a variety of perspectives. Topics covered will include rise of the Papacy, the develoment of monasticism, the office of the bishop, lay, piety, religious literature, and the codification of canon law and religious dogma. Students will learn that, far from the monolithic institution so often caricatured in later accounts, the medieval church was a vibrant institution, rife with internal arguments and tensions.

HIST 571. Latin American History thru Films. 3 Hours.

The course examines Latin American history through cinema. It will provide background on certain historical events and analyze how films have portrayed and interpreted such events. To enhance analysis of the screened films, the assigned readings play an important role in the course.

HIST 572. Colonial Spanish American. 3 Hours.

This course examines the social, economic, political, and religious forces that shaped colonial Latin America. Special emphasis will be given to the era of encounter and conquest, with later colonial eras examined in the second half of the course.

HIST 573. Readings in Mexican History. 3 Hours.

Students read a variety of materials to examine the social, cultural, economic, and political history of Mexico.

HIST 580. Asian History. 3 Hours.

Readings in the history of 20th century Asia study some of the religious, cultural, social, and political issues that influence 20th century Asian history. Students are required to read four books with sufficient proficiency to write an intellectually sound analysis. For three of the books, students will make an oral presentation and respond to class questions. Students will participate in colloquia in which their colleagues read books on similar topics. The goal is that all of the participants will have sufficient knowledge of a topic to inspire spirited verbal sparring in class. Class contributions will be evaluated.

HIST 589. Individual Study. 3 Hours.

This course provides individual instruction. Students may repeat the course when topics vary.

HIST 590. Internship (EL). 3 Hours.

The history internship offers students an opportunity to work in fields of study associated with a master's degree in history. Students will participate in a variety of tasks which will provide them an introduction to fields of work in history.

HIST 597. Special Topics. 3 Hours.

Instructors will provide an organized class designed to cover areas of specific interest. Students may repeat the course when topics vary.

HIST 599. Thesis. 1-6 Hours.

A master's thesis is the written result of a thorough and systematic study of an important issue. The thesis identifies the issue, tackles significant assumptions in a critical field, explains the contribution to the field, and offers a conclusion. The thesis must investigate an original problem, demonstrate critical thinking, exhibit appropriate organization, and provide thorough documentation. An oral defense of the thesis is required. NOTE: Students may take no more than 6 semester credit hours in Thesis.