History, Department of

Department Chair

Jochen Burgtorf

Department Office/Website

Humanities 815F
657-278-3474
hss.fullerton.edu/history

Faculty

Gordon Bakken, Gayle Brunelle, Jochen Burgtorf, Kate Burlingham, Benjamin Cawthra, Kristine Dennehy, Nancy Fitch, Natalie Fousekis, Cora Granata, William W. Haddad, Volker Janssen, Steven Jobbitt, Jonathan Markley, Robert McLain, Maged S.A. Mikhail, Stephen Neufeld, Mougo Nyaggah, Stephen O’Connor, Raymond Rast, Jasamin Rostam-Kolayi, Lynn Sargeant, Jessica R. Stern, Laichen Sun, Lisa Tran, Allison Varzally, Philippe Zacaïr

Introduction

Historians engage in systematic study of the human past in order to discover meaning for people in the present. The student of history may draw upon the subject matter and methods of many academic disciplines. Thus, social history employs the methods of the social sciences, including quantitative analysis, in examining social movements and issues in the past; psycho-history utilizes the approaches of psychology in the study of the behavior of historically significant individuals and groups; and the development of the various areas of human intellectual and cultural activity, for instance, the arts and sciences, are studied to inform us of how and why people have thought as they did.

Lower-division survey courses are designed to convey the broad sweep of past human events and introduce the student to the study of causation and historical source materials. Aspects of the philosophy and methodology of history and the mechanics of writing historical essays are addressed in HIST 300A and 300B. The study, in greater depth, of specialized historical topics comprises the bulk of the upper-division offerings of the department. History majors are required to take HIST 490T, a senior seminar on a special topic in which they are expected to write an original historical essay based chiefly upon the analysis of historical materials that date from the time of the events studied.

The history major is useful for students who: (1) seek a broad liberal arts education with the option to choose more specialized study by geographical region, epoch and focus of inquiry (cultural, social, etc.); (2) plan a career in government service, including positions in United States Government agencies and international organizations overseas; (3) in business where writing, research and people skills are important; (4) pursue a career in private, nonprofit organizations that may involve research and service organizations, i.e., archives, museums and libraries; (5) desire to study law; (6) intend to prepare for primary or secondary school teaching; or (7) intend to work for advanced degrees in history in preparation for college teaching. The department is committed to the university’s missions and goals where learning is preeminent.

Learning Goals and Student Learning Outcomes

Bachelor of Arts in History

The following goals and student learning outcomes apply to students pursuing the B.A. in History:

Knowledge

• Demonstrate knowledge of historical facts, themes and ideas
• Summarize accurately and concisely other historians’ arguments

Effective Written and Oral Communication

• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate historical knowledge and reasoning both orally and in writing
• Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including written sources, images, film and oral histories

Analysis, Evaluation, and Synthesis

• Differentiate between and properly identify the topic, purpose and thesis in a work of historical writing
• Differentiate between evidence and interpretation in a work of historical writing
• Differentiate within the context of a piece of historical writing between primary and secondary sources
• Critically analyze how those sources are used by historians to support their arguments
• Describe and evaluate the methodological approach employed in a piece of historical writing as well as its theoretical underpinnings
• Evaluate the overall effectiveness of a piece of historical writing

Master of Arts in History

The following goals and student learning outcomes apply to students pursuing the M.A. in History:

Knowledge

• Demonstrate knowledge of historical facts, themes and ideas
• Summarize accurately and concisely other historians’ arguments
• Understand the particular methodological and theoretical approaches of historical, as well as interdisciplinary scholarship

Effective Written and Oral Communication

• Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate historical knowledge and reasoning both orally and in writing
• Demonstrate the ability to comprehend, evaluate, analyze and synthesize information from a variety of primary and secondary sources, including written sources, images, film and oral histories
• Demonstrate the ability to articulate respective critical observations
• Demonstrate the ability to adhere to professional conventions of historical writing, including rigorous documentation

Analysis, Evaluation, and Synthesis

• Differentiate between and properly identify the topic, purpose and thesis in a work of historical writing
• Differentiate between evidence and interpretation in a work of historical writing
• Differentiate within the context of a piece of historical writing between primary and secondary sources
• Critically analyze how those sources are used by historians to support their arguments
• Describe and evaluate the methodological approach employed in a piece of historical writing, as well as its theoretical underpinnings
• Evaluate the overall effectiveness of a piece of historical writing
• Contextualize historical writing both diachronically and synchronically

Pre-Professional Information

Students intending careers in government service or business should seek counsel from an adviser. Those planning to pursue graduate study in history should consult a faculty member of their choice. Those who expect to attend law school should plan their course of study with Professor Bakken.

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

• History, B.A.

• History, M.A.

• History Minor

Courses

Courses are designated as HIST in the class schedule.

• HIST 479B - U.S. Economic History to 1900 (3)
• HIST 479C - U.S. Economic History in the 20th Century (3)
• HIST 480A - Development of American Law (3)
• HIST 480B - American Legal and Constitutional History (3)
• HIST 480C - American Military History (3)
• HIST 480D - United States Foreign Relations (3)
• HIST 481A - Westward Movement in the United States (3)
• HIST 481B - History of California (3)
• HIST 481C - The History of Orange County (3)
• HIST 486 - United States Cultural History (3)
• HIST 490T - Senior Research Seminar (3)
• HIST 491T - Proseminar in Special Topics in History (3)
• HIST 492A - Community History (3)
• HIST 492B - Introduction to Public History (3)
• HIST 492C - Practicum in Public History (3)
• HIST 493A - Oral History (3)
• HIST 493B - Oral History/Guided Autobiography (3)
• HIST 494 - History and Editing (3)
• HIST 498 - History Internship (3)
• HIST 499 - Independent Study (1-3)
• HIST 501 - Theory and History (3)
• HIST 506 - Seminar in Public History (3)
• HIST 521T - Directed Readings Seminar in Fields of European History (3)
• HIST 522 - Seminar in European History (5)
• HIST 551T - Directed Readings Seminar in World and Comparative History (3)
• HIST 552T - Seminar in World and Comparative History (3)
• HIST 571T - Directed Readings Seminar in Fields of American History (3)
• HIST 572 - Seminar in American History (3)
• HIST 596 - Graduate Internship in History (3)
• HIST 597 - History Project (3 or 6)
• HIST 598 - Thesis (3 or 6)
• HIST 599 - Independent Graduate Research (1-3)