History

Undergraduate Programs

As you look over the brochure for the History Department's undergraduate programs, you're struck by the breadth and depth of what's on offer.

You could choose to specialize in an array of periods and places—from ancient Roman civilization, to the rise of modern China, to the intricate tapestry of Indigenous cultures. Not just content with regular coursework, the department encourages you to engage in rigorous independent research projects under the guidance of faculty members. There are study abroad programs designed to immerse you in the cultures you're studying, giving you first-hand experience and enriching your understanding. The department is also committed to equipping you with the critical thinking, research, and writing skills that will serve you well beyond the university. And with a robust network of alumni working in diverse fields—from academia to public service, journalism to business—you can see a myriad of pathways unfolding from your history degree. In this History Department, your undergraduate experience promises to be anything but ordinary.

CWU History Upper and Lower-division Courses

The History Department has a wide variety of courses that should interest you. We have national or regional histories, as well as topical or thematic courses. The following is a list of history courses that are currently in the catalog. We also have a number of special topics courses (HIST 398/498) that vary depending on the instructor.

Lower-division Courses

• HIST 101 - World History to 1500
• HIST 102 - World History: 1500-1815
• HIST 103 - World History Since 1815
• HIST 143 - United States History to 1865
• HIST 144 - United States History Since 1815

Upper-division Courses

• *HIST 301 - Pacific Northwest History
• **HIST 302 - Historical Methods
• *HIST 421 - Methods and Materials in the Social Studies, Secondary
• **HIST 481 - Senior Thesis
• * required for HSST Major
• ** required for HISTLA, HISTSM, HSST Majors
• Upper-division Elective Courses

Africa

• HIST 330 - Africa to 1800
• HIST 331 - Colonial Africa
• HIST 333 - Visual Cultures of Africa
• HIST 334 - History of Gender and Sexuality in Africa from Pre-colonial Times to the Present
• HIST 398 - Special Topics: Ancient Egypt
• HIST 461 - History of Health and Healing in Africa (placed on reserve 9/1/2020)

Asia

• HIST 380 - Modern East Asia
• HIST 383 - East Asian Civilization
• HIST 398 - Special Topics: Gender and East Asia
• HIST 468 - Modern Japan
• HIST 477 - Vietnam: Revolution in Full Circle
• HIST 478 - Russian Far East
• HIST 479 - Korean History
• HIST 483 - Modern China
• HIST 485 - Trauma, History, and Memory in East Asia

Europe

• HIST 313 - History of Rome 500 B.C. to 500 A.D.
• HIST 325 - Renaissance and Reformation
• HIST 370 - Medieval European History
• HIST 375 - The European Enlightenment 1688-1815
• HIST 422 - Roman and Medieval Britain
• HIST 423 - The Irish Revolution
• HIST 424 - Modern Ireland: 1798-present
• HIST 426 - France 1789-1945
• HIST 427 - Modern Britain and the Empire since 1763
• HIST 428 - Early Modern Britain 1485-1763
• HIST 429 - Ireland and Empire
• HIST 432 - The Era of World War I
• HIST 433 - World War Two in Europe
• HIST 435 - The Holocaust
• HIST 469 - History of Russian and Soviet Women
• HIST 472 - Modern Germany
• HIST 473 - Russia to 1881
• HIST 474 - Russia Since 1881
• HIST 475 - Stalin/Stalinism
• HIST 476 - History of Modern East Europe

Latin America

• HIST 321 - Latin America Through Film, Art, and Music
• HIST 328 - Modern Latin America
• HIST 385 - Aztec, Inca, Maya: Empire and City in the New World
• HIST 386 - The Latin American Colonies
• HIST 460 - Religion in Latin America
• HIST 488 - Mexico in the Modern Era

Transnational

• HIST 303 - Digital History
• HIST 320 - Narcotics in World History
• HIST 322 - World Prehistory
• HIST 323 - Food and Drink in Global History
• HIST 329 - The Tropics and the Modern World
• HIST 332 - History of Black Diaspora
• HIST 449 - Transnational LatinX

United States

• HIST 301 - Pacific Northwest History
• HIST 314 - Military History of the United States
• HIST 339 - Colonial British America
• HIST 341 - The Constitution and the New Republic, 1783-1800
• HIST 438 - American Indian History to 1795
• HIST 440 - The American Revolution
• HIST 442 - Jefferson, Jackson, and American Growth 1800-1848
• HIST 443 - The West in American History
• HIST 444 - Sectionalism, Civil War, and Reconstruction
• HIST 445 - Introduction to Public History (placed on reserve 9/1/2020)
• HIST 450 - Exploring U.S. Cultural History
• HIST 452 - 20th Century U.S.: 1919-1945
• HIST 455 - The 1950s: An American Cultural History
• HIST 456 - The 1960s: An American Cultural History
• HIST 457 - Rock and Roll as Art and History
• HIST 462 - History of American Foreign Relations: 1900-1941

View major requirements and the current curriculum in CWU's Online Electronic Catalog.

The Online Electronic Catalog (OEC) is the official University compilation for all curricula. The OEC will serve as the basis for major, minor, and program requirements for the academic year.

For current policy and curriculum requirements refer to CWU online catalog. When a printed catalog is produced, its publication will take place immediately following the freezing of the OEC for that year. Undergraduate catalogs are valid for five years.

Students must follow that catalog for major and program requirements that are in effect at the time they are admitted to the major. Please contact your academic department if you have questions. For current policy and curriculum requirements refer to CWU online catalog.