History and Non-Western Cultures
Wynn Gadkar-Wilcox, Co-Chair
wilcoxw@wcsu.edu
WA 221
(203) 837-8565
(203) 837-8484 (fax)
Joshua Rosenthal, Co- Chair
rosenthalj@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 216, Midtown campus
(203) 837- 8449
Patricia Lerner, Department Secretary
lernerp@wcsu.edu
Warner Hall 224, Midtown campus
(203) 837-8484
(203) 837-3960 (fax)
Faculty
| K. Allocco | J. Duffy | W. Gadkar-Wilcox, Co-Chair |
| K. Gutzman | L. Lindenauer | M. May |
| M. Nolan | J. Rosenthal, Co-Chair | |
Adjunct Faculty
| A. Campanaro | G. Coleman | S. Flanagan |
| L. Friedman | M. Rossi | S. Walens |
Overview
In order to understand today’s issues and problems — in the West and throughout the world — it is important to have a firm grasp on the foundations of our global society, to know the history and culture of America, of Europe and of the world.
Mission
In keeping with the mission statement of Western Connecticut State University, the Department of History and Non-Western Cultures contributes to providing a comprehensive liberal arts education that prepares students for the job market, citizenship, and meaningful lives.
Goals
Our goals are:
- To provide an interdisciplinary forum in which students can deal with political, social, cultural, religious, economic, and geographic aspects of history.
- To introduce students to non-Western cultures and help them understand global political and cultural relations.
- To help students develop their abilities to think critically, discuss, and explain clearly historical issues and problems.
- To cultivate writing, research, and analytical skills that will help students lead successful professional and personal lives.
- To provide a history/education curriculum that imparts a broad base of knowledge about historical events, principles, and theories, so that students have the foundational knowledge they need to educate others.
- To enrich our students’ understanding of their national and community heritage.
Learning Outcomes
At the completion of their degrees in History, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical and analytical skills appropriate for probing complex historical topics.
- Seek out diverse historical sources successfully; mine them for information; and cite them in the appropriate format while completing research papers.
- Present their verbal and written evaluations of the past in a nuanced and clear manner.
- Collaborate effectively with others on historical analysis and in critiquing each other’s work.
Degree Programs in History
Bachelor of Arts
History
Bachelor of Science
Secondary Education: History
(Social Studies Endorsement)
Minor Programs
History
American History
European History
Middle Eastern Studies
Asian Studies
Latin American Studies
Urban Studies
Bachelor of Arts in History (B.A.)
Description: At the completion of their degrees in History, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate critical and analytical skills appropriate for probing complex historical topics.
- Seek out diverse historical sources successfully; mine them for information; and cite them in the appropriate format while completing research papers.
- Present their verbal and written evaluations of the past in a nuanced and clear manner.
- Collaborate effectively with others on historical analysis and in critiquing each other’s work.
Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: 39 SH.
| HIS 100 Introduction to History (CT, FY) | 3 SH |
| Non-Western Cultures Course (IC) | 3 SH |
| Major Electives at the 300 or 400 level distributed as follows | |
| One course in European History: HIS 319, 330, 332, 341. | 3 SH |
| One course in United States History: His 302, 303, 304, 309, 313, 318, 363, 366, 367, 368, 380, 400, 415 | 3 SH |
| One course outside of European and US History: HIS 366, 370, 382, 383, 388 | 3 SH |
| One 300 or 400 level elective (any area). | 3 SH |
| Six (6) additional courses in History (any level). | 18 SH |
| HIS 490 Senior Seminar OR Optional Distinction in History: HIS 494 Independent Research Project (requires departmental approval). (CE, W3) | 3 SH |
| Minimum GPA for the BA in History = 2.0 overall. | |
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad2122/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BA History
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
| Semester 1 | SH | Semester 2 | SH |
| HIS 100 Intro. to History (FY, CT) * | 3 | HIS Elective 1 | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) OR Creative Process (CP) | 3 | Gen Ed: Oral Communication (OC) OR Creative Process (CP) | 3 |
| WRT 101 Composition I (W1) | 3 | Gen Ed: Writing Tier 2 (W2) | 3 |
| MAT 100(P) Intermediate Math OR Gen Ed: Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | Gen Ed: Quantitative Reasoning (QR) OR Gen Ed: Breadth Elective | 3 |
| Foreign Language (IC)* | 3 | Foreign Language (IC, Rpt. 1) | 3 |
| Semester 3 | SH | Semester 4 | SH |
| HIS Elective 2 | 3 | HIS Elective 4 | 3 |
| HIS Elective 3 | 3 | HIS Elective 5 | 3 |
| Non-western Culture (any) | 3 | Gen Ed: Scientific Inquiry (SI) | 4 |
| Gen-Ed: Repeat Competency 3 | 3 | Gen Ed: Health and Wellness (HW) | 2 |
| Gen-Ed: Breadth Elective | 3 | Gen Ed: Breadth Elective | 3 |
| Semester 5 | SH | Semester 6 | SH |
| HIS 3/400 US History | 3 | HIS 3/400 European History | 3 |
| HIS 3/400 Non-European/Non-US | 3 | HIS 3/400 Any | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Breadth | 3 | Gen Ed: Breadth | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Free Elective | 3 | Free Elective | 3 |
| Semester 7 | SH | Semester 8 | SH |
| HIS 490 Senior Seminar or His 494 Independent Research (CE, W3) | 3 | Free Electives | 15 |
| Free Electives | 12 | ||
| Total Credits Required for the BA in History = 120; Minimum GPA in 2.0 | |||
* Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a C average in high school are not required to complete a foreign language requirement. However, we strongly advise students of History to consider studying an additional language or deepening their skills in the one already studied.
Distinction in History
To be awarded Distinction in History, a History major must complete all the major requirements, gain admission to HIS 494, Research Seminar, and complete HIS 494 with at least a grade of “B.” HIS 494 meets the Departmental requirement for History 490.
Course Restrictions
For a complete list of prerequisites, corequisites and other restrictions for all courses, please consult the Course Description section of this catalog.
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education – History with Social Studies (B.S.)
Description: This degree provides a history/education curriculum that imparts a broad base of knowledge about historical events, principles, and theories, so that students have the foundational knowledge they need to educate others.
Degree Requirements
All degrees at WCSU require 120 semester hours (SH). This includes major requirements, general education requirements, cognates (where applicable), and free electives. This structure provides room for minors, internships, and study abroad.
Required Courses in the Major: HIS 36 SH, Social Sciences, 18 SH, Cert: 35 SH
| HIS 100 Introduction to History (CT, FY) | 3 SH |
| HIS 148 American History to 1877 (CT) | 3 SH |
| HIS 149 American History from 1877 (CT) | 3 SH |
| HIS 186 Europe: Ancient & Medieval | 3 SH |
| HIS 187 Modern Europe | 3 SH |
| One European History: HIS 319, 330, 332, 341 | 3 SH |
| One US History: His 302, 303, 304, 309, 313, 318, 363, 366, 367, 368, 380, 400, 415 | 3 SH |
| Two in fields outside of European and US History: HIS 366, 370, 382, 383, 388 | 6 SH |
| Two History Electives | 6 SH |
| HIS 490 Senior Seminar (CE, W3) | 3 SH |
| Social Science Minor | |
| PSY 100 Intro to Psychology | 3 SH |
| ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics (CT) pre-req MAT 118 | 3 SH |
| ANT 100 Intro to Anthropology (IC) | 3 SH |
| SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (CT, IC) | 3 SH |
| PS 102 American Government | 3 SH |
| GEO 100 Principles of World Geography | 3 SH |
| Cognates | |
| Gen Ed: Creative Process must be taken in the fine arts | 3 SH |
| Gen Ed: Scientific Inquiry must be a lab science | 4 SH |
| Gen Ed: Quantitative Reasoning must be in Math | 3 SH |
| ENG Literature Elective | 3 SH |
| Certification Requirements | |
| ED 206 Introduction to Education (IL, OC) | 3 SH |
| ED 212 Educational Psychology: Childhood & Adolescence II (W2) | 3 SH |
| HPX 215 Health Issues in Schools | 3 SH |
| EPY 405 Intro to Special Education | 3 SH |
| ED 385 Methods of Teaching in Secondary Schools | 3 SH |
| ED 386 Secondary Education Professional Dev. Experience | 1 SH |
| ED 440 Integrating Language | 3 SH |
| ED 441 Teaching Hist/Social Studies in Secondary Schools | 3 SH |
| ED 340 Assessment of Teaching Strategies | 1 SH |
| ED 342 Student Teaching Secondary Education (Grade 7-12) | 12 SH |
| Minimum GPA for the BS in Secondary Ed: History = 3.0 overall. | |
General Education: All students must complete the General Education curriculum. General Education Requirements include both competency and breadth requirements. In some cases, major courses will satisfy competencies. These are indicated in the parentheses after the course title. For a complete description of the General Education program, follow this link. https://catalogs.wcsu.edu/ugrad21222021/academic-programs-degrees/
Cognates: In some programs there are courses outside of the major that are required as pre-requisites or enhancements to the major course work. These courses may satisfy competencies and they will count toward the general education breadth requirement. If cognate courses are required, they are included in the list of courses required in the major.
Electives: All degrees require 120 semester hours. Elective credits are opportunities for minors, internships, study abroad, and just following general interests. We encourage all students to speak with their advisors about great opportunities for their elective courses.
Sample Four Year Plan: BS Secondary Ed: History with Social Studies
Four-year plans are suggestions. Plans change. Consult your advisor to adjust your plan.
| Semester 1 | SH | Semester 2 | SH |
| HIS 100 Intro. to History (FY, CT) * | 3 | ANT 100 Intro to Anthropology (IC) | 3 |
| HIS 148 American History to 1877 (CT) | 3 | HIS 149 Am. Hist. Since 1877 (CT, RPT 1) | 3 |
| WRT 101 Composition I (W1) | 3 | ENG Literature | 3 |
| MAT 100(P) Intermediate Math OR MAT 118 or higher (QR) | 3-4 | MAT 118 or Higher (QR) or Free elective | 3 |
| Fine Arts (CP) | 3 | GEO 100 Intro to World Geography | 3 |
| Semester 3 | SH | Semester 4 | SH |
| HIS 186 Europe: Ancient & Medieval | 3 | HIS 187 Modern Europe | 3 |
| ECO 211 Macroeconomics (CT) | 3 | PS 102 American Government | 3 |
| Language Part I (IC, RPT 2)* | 3 | Language Part II (IC, RPT 2) | 3 |
| ED 206 Intro. to Education (IL, OC) | 3 | ED 212 Educational Psychology: Childhood & Adolescence II (W2) | 3 |
| Lab Science (SI) | 4 | HPX 215 Health Issues in Schools | 3 |
| Gen Ed: Health & Wellness | 2 | ||
| Semester 5 | SH | Semester 6 | SH |
| HIS 3/4XX European Elective (see list) | 3 | HIS 3/4 XX Non- Eur/US Elective 2 | 3 |
| HIS 3/4 XX US Elective (see list) | 3 | HIS Elective | 3 |
| HIS 3/4 XX Non- Eur/US Elective 1 | 3 | HIS 490 Senior Seminar (CE, W3) | 3 |
| HIS Elective | 3 | SOC 100 Intro to Sociology (IC, CT) | 3 |
| PSY 100 Intro to Psychology | 3 | Gen Ed: RPT 3 | 4 |
| Semester 7 | SH | Semester 8 | SH |
| EPY 405 Intro to Special Education | 3 | ED 340 Assess. of Teaching Strat. (W3) | 1 |
| ED 385 Methods of Teaching (7-12) | 3 | ED 342 Student Teaching Secondary Education (CE) | 12 |
| ED 386 Sec. Ed. Prof. Dev. Exp. | 1 | ||
| ED 440 Integrating Language | 3 | ||
| ED 441 Teaching Hist/Social Studies in Secondary Schools | 3 | ||
| Total Credits Required for the BS Secondary Ed: History = 120; Minimum GPA in 3.0 | |||
**The BS Secondary Ed: History requires that students complete a language at or above the elementary II level. Students who have completed three years of a foreign language at a minimum of a C average in high school have met this requirement.
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Required Courses:
Two (2) courses at the 100 level (6 SH)
Four (4) courses at the 200 level (12 SH)
Minor in American History (18 SH)
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Required Courses (6 SH):
HIS 148 American History to 1877
HIS 149 American History since 1877
Four (4) approved advanced courses in American history (12 SH)
Minor in European History (18 SH)
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Required Courses (6 SH)
HIS 186 Europe: Ancient and Medieval
HIS 187 Modern Europe
Four (4) approved advanced courses in European history (12 SH)
Minor in Middle Eastern Studies (18 SH)
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Requirements:
Students interested in this minor are expected to have completed all course prerequisites. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better to remain enrolled in this minor.
A minor provides an option for the student who wants an academic focus in addition to a major. A student may not declare a minor that is the same as his/her major (e.g., a student majoring in History may not also declare a History minor).
Students must complete nine credits at WCSU to meet the residency requirement in the minor.
Required Courses (3 S.H.)
NWC 107 Middle Eastern Cultures
And three (3) courses from approved electives listed below (9 SH):
HIS 281 Modern Middle East
HIS/PS 382 Contemporary Middle East
HIS 383 Islam: A Religion and Civilization
ANT/SOC 216 Anthropology of the Middle East
ANT/SOC/WS 251 Women of the Middle East
ENG 376 Non-Western Literatures
MKT 422 Global Marketing
PHI 340 Non-Western Philosophy
Two (2) semesters of Middle Eastern Language (6 SH)
You must submit formal notification to the Registrar’s Office by completing the Declaration of Minor form in order for your official university transcript to include the minor.
Depending upon your major requirements, you may need to take credit hours over the degree credit minimum required for graduation if you choose to add this minor. Please see your adviser to review all program requirements.
If the student spends at least one semester abroad on a university-approved study abroad program to a Middle Eastern country, the student can opt to waive the requirement of any of the two electives.
Minor in Asian Studies (18 SH)
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Requirements:
Students interested in this minor are expected to have completed all course prerequisites. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better to remain enrolled in this minor. Choose courses from menu, below. A minor provides an option for the student who wants an academic focus in addition to a major. A student may not declare a minor that is the same as his/her major (e.g., a student majoring in History may not also declare a History minor).
Students must complete nine credits at WCSU to meet the residency requirement in the minor.
REQUIRED COURSES (18 S.H.)
Two courses from Approved Elective List I (6 SH):
NWC 103 Chinese Culture
NWC 104 Japanese Culture
NWC 105 Cultures of India
NWC 110 Vietnamese Culture
NWC 112 Korean Culture
Two courses from Approved Elective List II (6 SH):
HIS 266 Vietnam War
HIS 277 Modern China
HIS 287 Chinese Religions
HIS 366 Vietnam in Literature and Film
HIS 388 Modern Vietnam
ANT/SOC 241 Social/Cultural Survey of Indian Religions
ANT/SOC 242 Buddhism
PS 306 Comparative Communist Systems
ENG 376 Non-Western Literatures
MKT 422 Global Marketing
PHI 340 Non-Western Philosophy
Two (2) semesters of Asian Language (6 SH)
- If the student spends at least one semester abroad on a university-approved study abroad program to an Asian country, the student can opt to waive the requirement of any of the two electives.
- You must submit formal notification to the Registrar’s Office in order for your official university transcript to include the minor.
- Depending upon your major requirements, you may need to take credit hours over the degree credit minimum required for graduation if you choose to add this minor. Please see your adviser to review all program requirements.
Minor in Latin American Studies
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Requirements:
Students interested in this minor are expected to have completed all course prerequisites.
Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or better to remain enrolled in this minor.
A minor provides an option for the student who wants an academic focus in addition to a major. A student may not declare a minor that is the same as his/her major (e.g., a student majoring in History may not also declare a History minor).
Students must complete nine credits at WCSU to meet the residency requirement in the minor.
REQUIRED COURSES (3 S.H.)
HIS/NWC 115 Latin American and Caribbean Civilization
And 3 courses from the approved electives list below (9 SH):
GEO 252 Latin America: A Regional Study
HIS 216 Latino/as in US History
HIS 250 Conquest and Survival in Latin America
HIS 370 Commodities in LA History
SPA 222 Cultures of Spanish America
SPA 224 Trans-Atlantic Hispanic Cultures
SPA 320 The Poetry of Spain and Latin America
SPA 336 Theater in Spain and Latin America
SPA 360 Readings on the Arts in Spain and Latin America
SPA 361 Gender and Sexuality in Spanish America
SPA 365 Revolution, Testimony and Memory in Spanish America
SPA 367 Colonial Spanish America
SPA 370 Latina/Latino Literature
SPA 371 Spanish-Caribbean Identities
PS 306 Comparative Communist Systems
ENG 376 Non-Western Literatures
MKT 422 Global Marketing
PHI 340 Non-Western Philosophy
Two (2) semesters of Latin American Language (6 SH)
First semester of Latin American Language (SPA 162 or POR 162)
Second semester of Latin American Language (SPA 164 or POR 164)
-
- If you spend at least one semester abroad on a university-approved study abroad program to a Latin American country, you can opt to waive the requirement of any of the two electives.
- You must submit formal notification to the Registrar’s Office in order for your official university transcript to include the minor.
- Depending upon your major requirements, you may need to take credit hours over the degree credit minimum required for graduation. Please see your adviser to review all program requirements.
Minor in Urban Studies (18 SH)
Please see your advisor to review all program requirements.
Requirements:
An average GPA of 2.0 in all minor courses must be maintained in order to fulfill the requirements of the minor.
A minor provides an option for the student who wants an academic focus in addition to a major. A student may not declare a minor that is the same as his/her major (e.g., a student majoring in History may not also declare a History minor).
Students must complete nine credits at WCSU to meet the residency requirement in the minor.
REQUIRED COURSES (18 S.H.)
Select six (6) courses from the approved list below:
Approved Electives:
(Courses selected with the approval of a History or Social Sciences adviser)
Students may select no more than 9 semester hours from 100-level courses and no more than six semester hours should be selected from any one discipline or form the student’s major. Students are strongly encouraged to apply 3-6 semester hours earned in an approved cooperative education internship to this program.
ANT 350 Modern & Postmodern Societies (ANT 100 or SOC 100)
ART 101 History and Appreciation of Western Art: Renaissance to the Present
ECO 211 Principles of Macroeconomics or ECO 207 Contemporary Domestic Economic Issues (sophomore standing)
ECO 209 Urban Environments (sophomore standing)
GEO/ENV 150 Urban Environments as a Human Ecological Problem
HIS 201 Immigrant NYC
HIS 208 Rise of Industrialism in America
HIS 363 The American City
HIS 368 New York City: History and Culture
HIS X99 Independent Study
PS 218 American State & Local Government (PS 100 or PS 102 or permission of the instructor)
SS/CED 297 Coop Internship
SOC 101 Social Problems
SOC 210 Urban Sociology (SOC 100)
- To obtain a minor, you must notify the History or Social Sciences Department Chairperson of your interest.
- You must submit formal notification to the Registrar’s Office in order for your official university transcript to include the minor.
- Depending upon your major requirements, you may need to take credit hours over the degree credit minimum required for graduation. Please see your adviser to review all program requirements.