History, Department of

Department Chair

Nancy Fitch

Department Office/Website

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

Faculty

Margie Brown-Coronet, Gayle Brunelle, Jochen Burgtorf, Kate Burlingham, Benjamin Cawthra, Kristine Dennehy, Nancy Fitch, Natalie Fousekis, Cora Granata, Altana Guia, William W. Haddad, Volker Janssen, Jonathan Markley, Robert McLain, Maged S.A. Mikhail, Jamila Moore-Pewu, Stephen Neufeld, Stephen O’Connor, 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 media or film, or in government service, including positions in United States Government agencies and international organizations overseas; (3) intend to go into 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
• Master of Arts in History

Pre-Professional Information

Students intending careers in government service, law, public history or business should seek counsel from an adviser. Those planning to teach in K-12 schools whould consult with the departmen’s credential adviser. Those planning to pursue graduate study in history should consult a faculty member of their choice.

Programs and Courses Offered

Programs

• History, B.A.

• History, Chicana/Chicano Studies Concentration, M.A.
• History, M.A.

• History Minor

Courses

Courses are designated as HIST in the class schedule.

• HIST 468B - Eastern Mediterranean 500-900 CE (3)
• HIST 471A - American Colonial Civilization (3)
• HIST 471B - The United States from Colony to Nation (3)
• HIST 473A - Jeffersonian Themes in American Society, 1800-1861 (3)
• HIST 473B - United States, 1845-1877 (3)
• HIST 473C - United States, 1876-1920 (3)
• HIST 475A - United States, 1920-1960 (3)
• HIST 475B - United States in the 1950s (3)
• HIST 475C - United States Since 1960 (3)
• HIST 477A - Race Mixing in U.S. History (3)
• HIST 477B - Native American History (3)
• HIST 477C - American Immigration History (3)
• HIST 479A - The Urbanization of American Life (3)
• 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 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 (3)
• HIST 541T - Directed Readings Seminar in Fields of Non-Western History (3)
• 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)
• HIST 598 - Thesis (3-6)
• HIST 599 - Independent Graduate Research (1-3)