History Major The History major prepares students for vocation, citizenship, and service. Students are equipped with the skills of critical thinking, analysis, data processing, and communication that transfer to a wide range of vocations. These skills are learned through the practice of historical thinking, which suggests that the study of history is more about cultivating critical reflection on the past rather than rote memorization. Students are prepared for citizenship, from local to global, through an understanding of how the persons, events, forces, and ideals of the past have shaped the present and inform the future. Students learn to be engaged and contributing members of society who pursue careers that offer various forms of public service, private enterprise, and cultural flourishing. The History Discipline The study of history focuses on exploration and evaluation of various social, political, economic, military, and religious forces that have shaped and transformed the world. This information not only provides perspective on the past but also establishes a marker for future innovation, helping us avoid mistakes and capitalize on strengths. Why Study History at Montreat College? The study of History at Montreat College provides expertise in global, European, and American history while also providing opportunities for topical studies, experiential learning, and internship possibilities. History classes are foundational in understanding other disciplines and thus lay the groundwork for a holistic liberal arts education. Students are encouraged to learn from the memories and stories of others, to exercise their moral imagination, and to engage their world with historical consciousness. Students at Montreat College also explore how the Christian faith enriches historical understanding. The starting assumption of the History Department is that Christianity values the past as real, meaningful, authoritative, and comprehensible. Our approach honors the historical actors of the past, believing that creation in God s image confers dignity to every human person and story. Students are encouraged to pursue historical truth with the acknowledgement of our limited understanding and to engage the larger questions of God, nature, and human nature that have been prominent features of all civilizations. After Graduation A major in History can lead to graduate studies in administration, history, law, political science, and theology; even business and medicine are not to be excluded. A graduate in history may find employment in administrative and government services, libraries, public history activities and interpretation, or one of many areas in education. Requirements of a Major in History Degree Component Completion of the General Education Core (56 credits) HS 101-102 are required in the Gen-Ed BS 203 or BS 204 is recommended for the Gen-Ed social science Completion of the General Education Competencies Completion of the History Major Core (11 credits) Completion of the History Major Electives (21 credits) Completion of the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science requirements (12 credits) Completion of required electives to bring total up to 126 credits (~26 credits) Completion of 33 credits at the 300-level or above Completion of the ACAT exam Completion of 126 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 2.0 (two terms and 32 credit hours must be completed at Montreat College) History Major Core (11 credits) HS 201 United States History I (3) HS 202 United States History II (3)
HS 210 Historical Methods (2) HS 491 Senior Thesis (3) History Major Required Electives (21 credits) Choose twenty-one (21) hours of additional course work from the following: European History HS 311 Ancient Greece and Rome (3) HS 313 Medieval Worlds (3) HS 315 Renaissance and Reformation (3) HS 317 Modern Europe (3) American History HS 331 American Revolution and Republic (3) HS 333 American Civil War (3) HS 335 United States History Since 1945 (3) HS 341 American Constitutional History (3) HS 343 Religious History of America (3) HS 345 American Cultural and Intellectual History (3) Global History HS 353 History of Christianity (3) HS 355 Modern Middle East (3) HS 361 The World at War, 1914-1945 (3) HS 363 The Global Crisis (3) HS 365 Empire and Its Discontents Topical History HS 371 History of Political Philosophy HS 373 History of Science and Technology HS 381 Environmental History (3) HS 383 Public History: Cities Through the Ages (3) HS 480 Special Topics (1-3) Major Field Research & Field Experience HS 415 Historical Archival Work (2) HS 481 Directed Study & Research (3) Recommended Elective Classes for History Majors BS 203 Macroeconomics (3) BS 204 Microeconomics (3) PY 202 General Psychology SC 204 Introduction to Sociology (3)
Four Year Plan: BA or BS in History Freshman Year IS 102 Foundations of Faith and Learning 2 CS 102 Computer Applications and Concepts 3 BB 101 Survey of Old Testament 3 BB 102 Survey of New Testament 3 EN 101 English Composition 3 EN 102 English Composition II 3 HS 101 History of World Civilization I* 3 HS 102 History of World Civilization II* 3 Gen-Ed Natural Science 4 Gen-Ed Natural Science 4 PE activity course 1 16 16 *Students in the Honors Program will take the US History sequence, HS 201-HS 202, during their freshman year, and take the Honors World History sequence, HS 171-HS 172, during their sophomore year. Sophomore Year HS 201 US History I 3 HS 202 US History II 3 Gen-Ed Oral Competency 3 HS 210 Historical Methods 2 Bachelor of Arts or Science requirement 3 Bachelor of Arts or Science requirement 3 Gen-Ed Literature 3 Gen-Ed Humanities 3 Gen-Ed Social Science 3 Elective 3 Gen-Ed Math 3 PE activity course 1 17 16 Junior Year Major Elective 3 Major Elective 3 Major Elective 3 Major Elective 3 Bachelor of Arts or Science requirement 3 Bachelor of Arts or Science requirement 3 Gen-Ed Humanities 3 Gen-Ed Humanities 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 15 15 Completion of the General Education competencies by the end of the junior year. Senior Year Major Elective 3 Major Elective 3 Major Elective 3 Elective 3 IS 461 Seminar on Faith and Life 2 Elective 3 HS 491 Senior Thesis 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 3 Elective 2 16 15 Completion of 33 credits at the 300-level or above. Completion of the Major Field Test by the end of the Senior Year. Total hours required for degree: 126 *See General Education for optional course offerings
History (HS) HS 101 World Civilizations I (3) An interdisciplinary survey course providing a survey of civilizations during the ancient, classical, medieval, and Renaissance eras. The religious, political, economic, and social forces that shaped both Western and non-western cultures are explored. Historical developments are related to how they shape the contemporary world. HS 102 World Civilizations II (3) An interdisciplinary survey course providing a survey of civilizations from the Reformation to the present day. The religious, political, economic, and social forces that shaped both Western and non-western cultures are explored. Historical developments are related to how they shape the contemporary world. HS 171 Honors World Civilizations I (3) An Honors Program history course that explores the history of world civilizations from the ancient to the medieval era through the study of Great Books and primary sources. Interdisciplinary course designed to challenge highly motivated students to a deeper reading in history. Enrollment by invitation only. Fulfills requirement of HS 101. HS 172 Honors World Civilizations II (3) An Honors Program history course that explores the history of world civilizations from the Renaissance to the modern era through the study of Great Books and primary sources. Interdisciplinary course designed to challenge highly motivated students to a deeper reading in history. Enrollment by invitation only. Fulfills requirements of HS 102. HS 201 United States History I (3) A survey of significant, themes, events, and people in United States history from the pre-columbian past to the Civil War. Emphasis will be given to the important religious, political, economic, and social forces that shaped the culture and constitution of an emerging nation. North Carolina s role in American history will be highlighted. HS 202 United States History II (3) A survey of significant, themes, events, and people in United States history from the Civil War to the present day. Emphasis will be given to the important religious, political, economic, and social forces that shaped the culture and constitution of a modern nation. North Carolina s role in American history will be highlighted. HS 210 Historical Methods (2) An introduction to the practice of history including techniques, procedures, and skills of the working historian. The course will concentrate on research methodology, analytical and synthetic thinking skills, and the ability to organize and report research findings in both written and oral form. This course is specifically designed for sophomore History majors and minors. HS 280 Special Topics in History (Lower-Level) (1-3) This course will provide students and faculty the opportunity to examine current issues or specialized topics within the discipline at a lower-level of study (appropriate for freshmen or sophomore academic experience). Topics will be determined by the department. Class will meet 15 hours for each hour of credit offered. Repeatable for different topics. (Offered by department discretion.) HS 311 Ancient Greece and Rome (3) A study of the ancient civilizations of Greece and Rome that includes the following topics: the formation of the Greek people, the rise of the Greek city-states, the Persian and Peloponnesian wars, the Macedonian conquests of Philip II and Alexander, the rise of the Roman Republic, the Punic Wars and transition to empire, the Pax Romana, the spread of Christianity, and the decline and fall of Rome. The cultural legacy and historical impact of Greece and Rome on the modern world will be highlighted. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 313 Medieval Worlds (3) A study of medieval civilizations from the fall of Rome to the eve of the Renaissance with a particular focus on Roman, Germanic, Byzantine, and Arab influences across the European, Mediterranean, and Islamic worlds. Themes include the development of Christianity in matters of church and state; feudalism, urbanism, and society in the Middle Ages; the interaction of world civilizations; and the cultural legacy and historical impact of the medieval world. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 315 Renaissance and Reformation (3) A cultural history of Europe from the fourteenth through the seventeenth centuries probing the origins of the modern West. Themes include the political, social, cultural, and religious developments that created modern Europe and shaped cross-cultural encounters with the continents of Africa, Asia, South America, and North America. Attention is given to the cultural legacy of the Renaissance and to the widespread impact of the rise of Protestantism. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 317 Modern Europe (3) The history of Europe from the French Revolution to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Special attention is paid to political, social, cultural, and religious developments including the rise of industrial society, ideologies and protest movements, nation-building, mass politics, materialism, interaction with the non-western world, and the state of Christianity in modern Europe. Prerequisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172).
HS 331 American Revolution and Republic (3) A study of the causes, ideals, and events of the American Revolution and its aftermath. Themes include the disruption of British North America, the Revolutionary War, the formation of a new Constitution, the establishment of a republic, the rise of Jeffersonian Democracy, and the role and influence of religion in the late colonial and early national period. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 333 American Civil War (3) An examination of the causes, nature, and consequences of the American Civil War with a particular focus on the military and social dynamics of the war. Other topics include the nature of slavery, the rise of abolitionism, secession and disunion, and the effort to reconstruct American society and government. Special reliance will be placed upon the use of primary source documents. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 335 United States History Since 1945 (3) A study of post-world War II America from the end of the Second World War to the present. Themes explored include the Cold War at home and abroad, the nature of the modern presidency, liberalism and conservatism as dominant political ideologies, consumerism, popular culture, the social movements and cultural revolutions of the Sixties, foreign policy and domestic debates in the post-9/11 world, and the place of religion in American life. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 341 American Constitutional History (3) A study of the history of constitutional thought from English common law to contemporary Supreme Court decisions. The influences and precursors to the United States Constitution will be explored as will the proceedings of the Constitutional Convention and ensuing ratification debates. The text, amendments, and history of interpretation will be discussed along with issues such as federal-state relations, civil liberties, and civil rights. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 343 Religious History of America (3) A survey of the variety of religious expressions in the United States from the colonial era to the present day. The role that religion in general and Christianity in particular have played in American social, cultural, and political life will be emphasized. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 345 American Cultural and Intellectual History (3) A study of American culture and the role intellectual movements play in shaping it. Special emphasis on the development and global impact of American popular culture as well as how ideas related to religion, race, gender, class, and politics help define the American experience. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 353 History of Christianity (3) A survey of the Christian movement in history, its beliefs, institutions, and worldwide expansion. Attention will be given to doctrinal and ecclesial development, spirituality and devotional practices, historical expressions of service and ministry, and the dynamic between the church and global societies from the ancient world to the present day. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 355 Modern Middle East (3) This interdisciplinary course provides an opportunity to move beyond the news headlines in order to explore the emergence of the Modern Middle East from the 18 th century to The Arab Spring. Students will examine Middle Eastern languages, religions and cultures; the impact of imperialism, nationalism, secularism, and militant Islam on the region; and ponder the possibility of peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 361 The World at War, 1914-1945 (3) A military, political, social, and cultural overview of First and Second World Wars with special emphasis on the interrelatedness of these conflicts. Extensive use will be made of primary source documents in a variety of mediums. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 363 The Global Crisis (3) This course examines world politics from 1941 to the 1990s. Students will examine the origins of the Cold War, the development of the United States as a superpower on the global stage, and the ways in which the American Cold War rivalry with the Soviet Union played out in Europe, the Middle East, and the Majority World. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 365 Empire and Its Discontents This course examines the social, cultural, and political implications of European colonialism, imperialism and decolonization from 1492 to the present. Focus is placed on the European conquests of the Americas, the global British Empire, and the preponderance of American influence in the recent past. Themes include colonial and post-colonial identity, religious contact and conflict, and orientalism. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 371 History of Political Philosophy A survey of political thought from the Greek city-states to the political philosophers of the twentieth century. Topics of study include the foundations of authority, the responsibilities of the state, the nature of justice, understandings and critiques of democracy, and historical understandings of the relation of church and state. Primary sources will be emphasized. Prerequisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172).
HS 373 History of Science and Technology A historical examination from a global perspective of how science and technology have transformed societies and exerted cultural influence in a variety of civilizations. A particular focus will be on how scientific inquiry and technological innovation engender paradigm shifts of understanding the world, shape our notions of progress, and are themselves shaped by societal, cultural, and religious assumptions. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 381 Environmental History (3) This interdisciplinary, experiential learning course will explore how human interaction with nature influences historical outcomes. Special attention is paid to the way nature shapes human history, settlement, and conflict; the ways in which humans have understood, utilized, and transformed the natural world; and how religious, cultural, scientific, and political attitudes toward nature have changed over time. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 383 Public History: Cities Through the Ages (3) This interdisciplinary, experiential learning course traces a particular city s history and its understanding of its own past. Students will travel to cities such as Charleston SC, Savannah, GA, New Orleans LA, or Washington DC to explore a place s historic identity and the internal debates between preservation and restoration at national parks, historic homes, public spaces, and religious sites. Pre-requisites: HS 101, 102 (or 171-172). HS 415 Historical Archive Fieldwork (3) Students will participate in exhibit and archival work at a local historical center. Students will be immersed in this professional context, receive supervision from a professor and on-site supervisor, and write an intensive paper on themes related to public history. Pre-requisites: This course is for History majors only. HS 480 Special Topics in History (Upper-Level) (1-3) This course will provide students and faculty the opportunity to examine current issues or specialized topics within the discipline at an upper-level of study (appropriate for junior or senior academic experience). Topics will be determined by the department. Class will meet 15 hours for each hour of credit offered. Repeatable for different topics. (Offered by department discretion.) HS 481 Directed Study and Research (1-3) Students may choose to participate in a directed study of their own choice contingent on faculty availability. Credit varies from 1-3 hours although a student can repeat for up to six hours of credit. Prerequisite: Junior status or above. A cumulative GPA of 2.5 and approval of the department chair is required. HS 491 Senior Thesis (3) After a survey of the study of history, the student will engage in a personal research project from a Christian perspective. Prerequisites: HS 101,102 (or 171-172). (Required of all history majors in the senior year.)