Department Head: Dr. Paul Beezley
317 Stone Center
MISSION
The History faculty at JSU is a community of scholars who study and interpret the past and teach its lessons. Diverse in our approaches and methods of inquiry, we share a commitment to our teaching and our research and a dedication to improve the understanding of history at local, national, and global levels. We serve our students by grounding them in the history of this nation and its people, by providing them with skills and knowledge relevant to a variety of careers, and by sharing with them both the historical content and analytical skills vital to being critically conscious and engaged with the world around them.
Foreign Languages at JSU offers a comprehensive curriculum designed to help students develop the linguistic and cultural knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to a multilingual, international society. Proficiency in another language gives students access to parts of the human experience closed off to those who are monolingual, and provides vitally important skills that will aid them in their further academic endeavors and in virtually any career path they choose. The study of a foreign language gives students the interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational tools to communicate effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, and to thrive in international occupations; the study of linguistics exposes them to the deeper structures of language and their role in the construction of reality; the study of culture and society allows them to understand and appreciate other ways of life; and intensive analysis of literary texts in languages other than English helps them develop critical thinking skills. As they challenge themselves with new structures and ideas, our students develop an international perspective that will serve them and help them serve others at home and around the world.
History
Prerequisite(s): Approval of department head.
Students will do research on a current events topic which they select with the approval of the instructor.
The study of western civilization from earliest times to the beginning of the modern era.
The study of western civilization from the beginning of the modern era to the present.
Prerequisite(s): Honors Program member or minimum ACT composite score 25 or minimum SAT total score 1210 or permission of the instructor.
Advanced study in the history of western civilization from earliest time to the present. Includes training in the techniques of historical research, writing, and criticism.
Prerequisite(s): Honors Program member or minimum ACT composite score 25 or minimum SAT total score 1210 or permission of the instructor. Advanced study in the history of western civilization from earliest time to the present. Includes training in the techniques of historical research, writing, and criticism.
(3). Advanced study in the history of western civilization from earliest time to the present. Includes training in the techniques of historical research, writing, and criticism.
This course explores history until roughly 1500 C.E. and covers topics such as: Big History, the ideological foundations of Asian Civilizations, the development of Asian empires, the peopling of the Americas, the development of European, Middle Eastern, and African empires and cultures. The course may utilize primary and secondary sources, digital humanities, and classroom discussion and collaboration.
This course will explore human history from 1500 to the present. Key topics include: Asian, African, and American encounters with Europeans; colonial projects; nation building; and the making of the modern world since 1945. The course may utilize primary and secondary sources, digital humanities, and classroom discussion and collaboration.
The study of American history from pre-colonization through the Civil War.
The study of American history from the Civil War era to the present.
Prerequisite(s): Honors Program member or minimum ACT composite score 25 or minimum SAT total score 1210 or permission of the instructor.
Beginning with the European background, this course deals with the establishment of the thirteen English colonies, separation from the mother country, growth and expansion, participation in world affairs.
Prerequisite(s): Honors Program member or minimum ACT composite score 25 or minimum SAT total score 1210 or permission of the instructor.
Beginning with the European background, this course deals with the establishment of the thirteen English colonies, separation from the mother country, growth and expansion, participation in world affairs.
The history of Latin America from pre-Colombian indigenous societies through the era of colonialism.
An introduction to the history of Latin America from independence to the present.
Prerequisite(s): History majors only; HY 101, HY 102, HY 201, HY 202.
Historical research methods and historiography. This course will introduce history majors to methods and tools used in historical research as a means of preparing them for their 300-400 level history courses. The class will serve as a bridge between the freshman History experience and the major's immersion into the discipline of History. (Writing Intensive Course)
Through participation in Reacting to the Past (RTTP) games, students will take on roles of historical figures who engage in difficult and complicated situations, allowing them to participate in great historical debates. Topics will vary each time the course is taught. Course may be repeated for a total of six (6) semester hours.
This course will examine the biographies of the President; the issues, crises, and historical impact that has shaped this office; and how that office in turn has shaped world history.
This course will consider the interaction between technology and society from ancient times to the present with the bulk of the course focusing on the 20th century. We will examine the political, military, economic, and social implications of technological developments. Themes that will shape our analysis through the term include the question of technological determinism, the relationship between technology and the state, and the idea of "technological progress."
Prerequisite(s): HY 101 or permission of instructor.
A historical and thematic introduction to Islamic history, especially its political, institutional, religious, social and cultural forms.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore status or approval of the instructor.
A history of video games from early computer technologies to mobile applications.
Topics, excursions, and requirements determined by department. May be duplicated for credit; however, only three (3) credits may be applied toward any major or minor. Advance deposit required. Infrequently scheduled and subject to minimum and maximum numbers.
Prerequisite(s): HY 101 or HY 111 or instructor approval.
This course focuses on the history of ancient Greece, beginning with the prehistoric Mycenaean civilization, and ending with the death of Alexander the Great. Special attention will be given to the Classical Period, dominated by the Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta.
Prerequisite(s): Approval of instructor.
Working with local historical museums under the supervision of faculty, students will be introduced to the problems and possibilities of museum curatorship. This course may be duplicated for credit for a total of six (6) semester hours.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: HY 101 or permission of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. This course examines warfare and the military history of the ancient world, including but not limited to Greece, Macedonia, the Roman Republic, and the Roman Empire.
Prerequisite(s): HY 102.
A survey of the development of Germany from the Peace of Westphalia to the collapse of the Third Reich.
Prerequisite(s): HY 102.
A survey of the military and diplomatic history of Europe from the Peace of Westphalia to the end of the Second World War.
Prerequisite(s): HY 101 and HY 102; or HY 103 and HY 104; or HY 111 and HY 112; or HY 201 and HY 202; or HY 203 and HY 204.
An exploration of war, human conflict, and organized violence, and how nations, communities, and individuals remember and memorialize them with an emphasis on the public history aspects.
Prerequisite(s): HY 112 or instructor approval.
This course will explore historical themes in modern China from the last decades of the Qing Dynasty through the present, including a study of the challenging political and social atmospheres.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: 3 hours of HY or permission of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. This course examines the work of public history, including but not limited to, archival management, museum exhibition production, historic preservation, cultural resources management, historical interpretation, and the role of the public intellectual.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: 3 hours of history or permission of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. This course will introduce students to the methods and theory of oral history. The course includes the preparation of oral history projects and evaluation of oral narratives.
Prerequisite(s): HY 102 or HY 112 or instructor approval.
This class will explore the ways in which significant historical events are commemorated in Indian cinema. Several key points in nation's history will be studied by conventional methods and subsequently re-studied through watching Bollywood productions.
Prerequisite(s): HY 101 and HY 102, or HY 111 and HY 112, and permission of the instructor.
This course will trace the main events of Byzantine history (330 –1453) chronologically and will discuss a number of specific topics such as the political organization of Byzantium, international relations, society, economy, and culture.
Prerequisites for Undergraduate: HY 201 and 202. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. American society through its literature, religion, philosophy, and arts. Emphasis upon immigration strains, European cultural transfer, and environmental adaptations which have formed the American character. Wide opportunities for reading offered in religion, philosophy, literature, and the arts.
Prerequisites for Undergraduate: HY 202 or approval of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. This course will evaluate shifting immigration origins. Concentrated study will be given to the changing thought patterns which have resulted from Darwinism, the rise of Big Business, theories of the public interest, Pragmatism, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
Prerequisites for Undergraduate: HY 201 and 202. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. The study of the historic roots of regional culture that will integrate topics such as the "Cult of the Lost Cause," religion, folk life, music, literature, and the transition from a rural/agricultural society to an urban/commercial/industrial one.
Prerequisite(s): HY 201.
This course is a survey of Native American history in what becomes the United States from the pre-colonial period through 1840. Particular attention will be paid to regional cultures, the impact of European contact, Native-US government relations, and the consequences of removal.
Prerequisite(s): HY 202.
This course is a survey of Native American history in what becomes the United States from 1840 through the present day. Particular attention will be paid to Native-US government relations, the impact of the reservation and assimilation programs, and modern rights issues.
Prerequisites for Undergraduate: HY 201 and 202. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. The development of the American Republic from the end of the American Revolution until the Compromise of 1850, with special emphasis on the influence that Jefferson and Jackson had on the evolution of democratic attitudes and institutions.
Prerequisites for Undergraduate: HY 201 and 202. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. Description and evaluation of the shift of the United States from an agrarian to an industrial nation; the heritage of Civil War and Reconstruction; the rise of the Great Moguls; mass production and technological change; the rise of labor union movements and organized farm protests; the Spanish-American War; and American involvement in World War I.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: HY 201 or permission of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. This course will explore how the Civil War has been remembered by Hollywood, how it can differ from the historical record, and how films often reflect the social and political sensibilities of their respective time period.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: HY 102 or permission of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. An examination of major Asian civilizations from the sixteenth century to the present, including those in China, India, Korea, Japan, and Vietnam. Special focus on religion, culture, economics, political structures, and international relations, both within Asia and with the West.
Prerequisite for Undergraudate: HY 202 or permission of instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. This course explores the experiences of Asian Americans from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. It examines the rich diversity of the Asian American community and considers how events within the U.S. and outside of it have shaped the lives of their community.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or approval of instructor.
This course examines the causes, consequences, and legacies of revolutions and radical socio-political movements in twentieth-century Latin America.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: Sophomore standing or above or with permission of the instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. The interaction of Native American, European, and African people in the Spanish and Portuguese empires of the Americas, concluding with the wars for independence.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: Sophomore standing or above or with permission of the instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. A survey of the diplomatic, economic, and cultural relations between the United States and the Latin American Republics from 1810 to the present.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: Sophomore standing or above or with permission of the instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. A study of Mexico's past including pre-Columbian civilizations, the Spanish Conquest and Colonial period, the independence movement and the early republic, the struggle for nationhood, the modernization of Mexico with a special emphasis on the Mexican Revolution and the forces that shaped present day Mexico.
Prerequisite for Undergraduate: Sophomore standing or above or with permission of the instructor. Prerequisite for Graduate: None. A survey of Brazil's history from 1500 until the present with an emphasis on the Empire of Brazil 1822-1889 and modern Brazil, 1889 to present.
Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing or instructor approval.
This course explores Mexican history from the early 20th century to the present. We will examine the Revolution of 1910, its transformation, and the contemporary legacies it has bequeathed.
(3): An introduction to the theory of Religious History and the study of the history and practices of the five dominant world religions using resources from within those traditions.
Prerequisite(s): HY 101 or permission of instructor.
A historical and thematic introduction to Christian history from its roots in the ancient near east; its foundation and growth; its distinctive Latin, Greek, and Syriac branches; and its development into the medieval period.
Prerequisite(s): HY 102 or permission of instructor.
This course will detail the schism and splits in Christianity over the last millennium. Special attention on the Protestant Reformation and her engagement of Christianity with modernity.
Prerequisite(s): History majors with senior status and permission of Department Head.
Capstone experience for history majors. (Writing Intensive Course)
Foreign Language
Prerequisite(s): 101-102 and 201-202 in the target language.
Materials and methods of teaching foreign language at the K-12 level. It is recommended that student take this course near the end of the requirements for the teaching language minor.
French
Beginning French grammar, pronunciation, conversation, culture, and supplementary work in the laboratory.
Prerequisite(s): FH 101 or approval of instructor.
Continuation of Beginner's French I.
Prerequisite(s): FH 102 or approval of instructor.
A review of French grammar and vocabulary, conversation, and discussion based on short literary selections. Writing short compositions, dialogs, etc. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s): FH 201 or approval of instructor.
Continuation of Intermediate French I. Successful completion of 202 is prerequisite for all courses numbered 300 or higher, except 321 and 322.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of academic advisor and pre-approval by department head prior to registration.
Individual study abroad through a JSU-sponsored program as administered by International Programs; pre-approval within specific disciplines required. May be repeated for credit for a total of 15 semester hours. Grades: Pass/Fail.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
French literature from the Middle Ages to the Revolution.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
French literature from from Romanticism to the present.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
A thorough study of syntax, structure, vocabulary, and structures that the advanced student should know. Writing expository, descriptive, argumentative, and critical compositions.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Practice in written and spoken communications in all types of business situations for those specializing in areas where the language is French.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Intensive practice in conversation.
Prerequisite(s): None.
An extensive study of French culture in a historical context, covering prehistory through the French Revolution. Cultural aspects examined include art and architecture, music, literature, politics and government, and social trends. Offered in English. (Writing Intensive Course)
Prerequisite(s): None.
Introduction to and examination of the culture of various French-speaking countries and regions outside Europe. Offered in English.
An extensive study of French culture in a historical context, covering the Napoleonic Age through the present. Cultural aspects include art and architecture, music, literature, politics and government, and social trends. Offered in English. (Writing Intensive Course)
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Reading and analysis of representative plays by Corneille, Racine, and Molière.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Literary, social and political trends of the Enlightenment as represented in the works of Montesquieu, Diderot, Voltaire, Rousseau and others.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Nineteenth-Century French Novel: reading and analysis of representative works by Stendhal, Hugo, Balzac, Flaubert, Maupassant, and Zola.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Nineteenth-Century Poetry and Drama: reading and analysis of poetry and drama representing the major movements of the era, from Romanticism through Symbolism.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Twentieth-Century Novel : reading and analysis of representative works by Gide, Proust, Mauriac, Sartre, Camus and Saint-Exupery.
Prerequisite(s): FH 202.
Twentieth-Century Poetry and Drama: reading and analysis of poetry and drama from the major movements, including Surrealism, Theater of the Absurd, Existentialism, etc.
Spanish
Beginning Spanish grammar, with emphasis on reading, writing, speaking, and understanding the language. Use of the language laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s): SH 101 or approval of instructor.
Continuation of Beginner's Spanish I.
Prerequisite(s): SH 102 or approval of instructor.
A review of Spanish grammar, conversation, and discussion based on short literary selections. Writing short compositions, dialogs, etc. Laboratory required.
Prerequisite(s): SH 201 or approval of instructor.
Continuation of Intermediate Spanish I. Successful completion of 202 is prerequisite for all courses numbered 300 or higher, except 321, 322, and 406.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of academic advisor and pre-approval by department head prior to registration.
Individual study abroad through a JSU-sponsored program as administered by International Programs; pre-approval within specific disciplines required. May be taken for credit up to 15 semester hours. Grades: Pass/Fail.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202.
Representative Spanish writers in the major periods of their nation's cultural development. From the Middle Ages to the Golden Age.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202.
Representative Spanish writers in the major periods of their nation's cultural development. From the 18th Century to the present.
Prerequisite(s): SH 102.
This course will look at a wide array of Latin American topics through music and dance, including the history of the rhythms, their interpreters, and influence in today's culture. May be duplicated for credit for a total of six (6) semester hours, as long as each course taken is on a different topic.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202.
A thorough study of syntax, structure, vocabulary, and structures that the advanced student should know. Writing expository, descriptive, argumentative, and critical compositions.
Practice in written and spoken communications in all types of business situations for those specializing in areas where the language is Spanish.
Prerequisite(s): SH 102 or permission of instructor.
An introductory course on theatre throughout the Hispanic world. Includes an engaging mix of theory and practice.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202.
Intensive practice in spoken Spanish using a variety of cultural activities (films, magazine articles, TV programs, etc.)
No prerequisites; offered in English. Evolution of the culture, history, and geography of Spain. (Writing Intensive Course)
No prerequisites; offered in English. Evolution of the culture, history, and geography of Latin America. (Writing Intensive Course)
Prerequisite(s): SH 102 or permission of instructor.
This class will cover basic Spanish medical and diagnostic terms and their usage within the healthcare context.
Prerequisite(s): SH 102 or permission of the instructor.
Advanced Spanish course designed for students of Hispanic background or native speakers. Students will be exposed to advanced grammar and will study the various dialectics spoken throughout the Spanish-speaking world.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202 or permission of the instructor.
This course offers students extensive practice in Spanish-English and English-Spanish translation of a wide range of texts and materials: literary, legal, medical, business, commercial, and more. Students build upon their knowledge of both Spanish and English and gain the ability to produce fluent, accurate, and effective translations between the two languages.
Tours of Spanish speaking countries. Topics, excursions, and requirements determined by department.
Prerequisite(s): SH 102.
This course will investigate 20th- to the 21st-century culture, politics, economy, human rights, gender, and environmental humanities issues in Latin America.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202.
Representative Latin American writers in the major periods of their nations' cultural development from the Colonial period to the present.
Prerequisite(s): SH 202.
Reading and analysis outstanding plays with emphasis on those of Duque de Rivas, Zorrilla, Echegaray, García Gutiérrez, Hartzenbusch, and Tamayo y Baus.
Prerequisite(s): SH 321 or SH 322 or permission of instructor.
An examination of Latin American and Spanish films from 1960 to the present and the context in which they were created. Students will learn how to critically analyze film and implement course readings that will draw upon film criticism and theory.
Prerequisite(s): SH 322 or permission of instructor.
An exploration of the Latin American short story, its structure, and its meaning. The course will use the short story as a vehicle to introduce some of Latin America's best-known writers.
An examination of the literature of Latinx writers in the U.S. with emphasis on the distinctions and similarities that have shaped the experiences and the cultural imagination among different Latinx communities.
Prerequisite(s): SH 102.
This course focuses on the traditions and cultures around Latin American and Spanish Cuisine. Practice and preparation required.
Asian Studies
Students in this course will gain a basic understanding of the history, cultures, and societies of Asia, and will be able to analyze important trends in Asia today.
Students in this course will consider the position of Asia in the fields of business, energy, technology, and healthcare, and examine how students and professionals engage with Asia each day.
An interdisciplinary history of the present in East, South, Southeast and Central Asia, with a focus on contemporary culture and society. Possible topics include film, music, social media, popular culture, tourism, art, sports, and religion.
An exploration of the spread of Asian pop culture across the world. Possible areas of focus include popular music, Asian internet celebrity, fan cultures, e-sports and video games, among others.
Latin American Studies
Students in this course will learn beginning Portuguese grammar, with emphasis on reading, writing, speaking, and understanding the language.
Students in this course will learn about the culture, politics, and social and human landscapes of Latin America from a variety of fields and perspectives.
Gender Studies
This course provides a forum for assigned readings and the discussion of ideas in response to a current issue/event. The topic of the course will vary. May be repeated for a total of three credit hours.
Analysis of structures, institutions, relationships, and social issues in the U.S. and globally. Students learn key concepts related to intersectionality, to the social construction of gender and sexuality, to power and privilege, and to race and ethnicity. This course also covers emerging movements in equality and social justice.
Topics, excursions, and requirements determined by department. May be duplicated for credit for up to six credit hours; however, only three (3) credits may be applied toward any major or minor. Subject to minimum and maximum numbers. Advance deposit required.