History (HIS)

This workshop provides an introduction to geographic principles and their application in understanding the settings in which different people live. Political, economic, cultural and physical environments will be examined with an emphasis on spatial analysis.

From interpretation and development to collections management and marketing, this interactive workshop will introduce students to the wide range of careers in the museum field. Through facilitated discussions, guest speakers and off-site field trips to local museums, students will explore the origins of the museum profession, current issues facing the field and opportunities for engagement within the New England Museum community.

This course covers political, religious and intellectual developments in Ancient Greece, Rome and Medieval Europe.

This course covers political, intellectual and religious developments in Western Europe from the Reformation through the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This survey course covers political, social, religious, economic and cultural trends in America from the Jamestown settlement in 1607 through the Civil War and Reconstruction. Topics include the development of slavery, concepts of religious freedom, industrialization and westward expansion. Special attention is paid to the role Newport played in the Colonial and Revolutionary period.

This survey course covers political, social, religious, economic and cultural trends in America from the end of Reconstruction through the end of the Cold War. Topics include America's rise as a world power, Progressivism, the women's movement and the civil rights movement. Special attention is paid to the role that Newport played during the Gilded Age.

This course analyzes political, intellectual, and cultural developments in Western Europe from the start of the French Revolution until the outbreak of World War I.

This course analyzes the major political, military, and intellectual developments in Europe since World War I. Special emphasis is placed on the totalitarian movements that threatened Europe for most of the 20th century.

This course examines the mindset of Hitler and his associates and the role that the Final Solution played in Nazi ideology. The Nazis' systematic efforts to liquidate Jews and gypsies and their persecution of their religious and political opponents are studied in detail. Attention is also be given to the resistance and rescue efforts undertaken by the opponents of Nazism both inside and outside of Germany.

Public History is the interpretation of the past for popular audiences in the non-academic settings. This course introduces students to the field of public history, including the subfields of museum studies, archival studies, oral history, historic site interpretation and historic preservation. Expert guest speakers, field trips and case studies expose students to a variety of professional career options.

This course examines the history of sport in the United States in order to better understand American identity. Issues explored include immigration, race relations, religion, class, gender, business, politics and nationalism. Students will have the opportunity to think about how sport mirrors-and at the same time shapes- critical ideas and values in American society.

This course examines episodes since antiquity where the movement of people, the exchange of ideas and goods, as well as the advancement of technology has influenced politics, culture, science, and identities. From the Babylonian Captivity to Marco Polo and the Internet, inter-cultural exchanges have shaped the modern world. Through the reading of primary and secondary sources, the student will gain a greater understanding of globalization, its historic roots, and its modern impact.

The course examines the scholarly approaches that leading historians have taken to the discipline. It considers how historians analyze and interpret source materials and explores the ethical challenges that they sometimes face. Over the course of the semester, students will visit area archives and conduct research using both primary and secondary sources. Open to History majors/minors with sophomore academic standing and permission from department chair is required.

These intermediate-level courses are offered when interest is generated and departmental resources are available.

These intermediate-level courses are offered when interest is generated and departmental resources are available.

These intermediate-level courses are offered when interest is generated and departmental resources are available.

This course concentrates on 20th century developments after a brief survey of aspects of German history before 1914 that have had an enduring effect. Special emphasis is given to the Hitler and World War II era.

This course considers the major political, intellectual, and cultural currents in France since 1789. The course first briefly studies the reigns of Louis XIV and Louis XV and then closely examines developments from the French Revolution to the present.

This course concentrates on the Soviet Union through its transformation into the Russia of the early 21st century, after a brief survey of those aspects of Russian history from the time of Peter the Great that have had an enduring effect on Russia in the contemporary era.

This course considers the major political, intellectual and cultural developments in England since 1776. The course begins with a brief consideration of the Tudor, Stuart, and Georgian periods and then closely examines English life in the 19th and 20th centuries.

This course considers political, religious, cultural and economic developments in Ireland since 1798. Special emphasis is placed on the violence that has plagued Northern Ireland from the 1960s-1990s.

This course considers the major developments in Italy since the 1790s. The course begins with a brief account of the early modern period and then examines events of the 19th and 20th centuries, especially the struggle for unification and Mussolini's fascist dictatorship. Attention is also paid to the Italian influx into America and the reception that the immigrants received.

An examination of the experiences of the major immigrant groups from the Puritans to the Third World peoples of the present day. Special emphasis is placed on the European immigrant waves of the nineteenth century and on the experiences of African Americans before and after Emancipation. The course considers each group's efforts to adapt to America and the ambivalent and sometimes hostile reaction that they received from native-born Americans. Open to students with sophomore academic standing or with permission of instructor is required.

From Colonial Jamestown's commercial enterprises in the early seventeenth century to the global e-commerce of the early 21st century, economic forces have shaped the American experience. This course surveys the history of economic America from 1600 to the present. It explores the historic origins of economic growth and change, including: Colonial trade and the American Revolution; early manufacturing and westward expansion; slavery and industrialization; labor and unionization; the welfare state; and globalization.

This course will examine the American Revolution from its origins in the mid-18th century through the ratification of the Constitution. The course will explore such topics as the political, economic, and ideological factors leading to the Revolution; the major battles and military figures of the war for independence; the significance of the American Revolution in the global context; the radicalism of the Revolution's impact on America's political and social order; and the legacy of the Revolution within American society and culture as well as Western Civilization. Particular attention will be given to the experience of Rhode Island and Newport during the revolutionary era. Open to students with sophomore academic standing or with permission of instructor is required.

The Civil War preserved the Union, ended slavery in America, and modernized the American republic and economy. This course will introduce students to the Civil War era beginning with the economic, social and political origins of the conflict during the antebellum period; continuing with the political, military, diplomatic, and social history of the war years; and ending with an exploration of how Americans remember the Civil War today. Open to students with sophomore standing or with permission of instructor is required.

A survey of urban America from the 17th through the 20th centuries that examines the impact of the city upon American history, culture and quality of life. Special emphasis is given to urban developments in the 20th century.

This course is an in-depth study of some of the most important streams of American political thought. We will examine early American Christianity, natural rights, constitutionalism, democracy, and the development of modern liberalism. We will also examine views that dissent from each of these major categories. Most of the readings in this course are considered to be essential to a thorough understanding of the political history of this nation.

This course discusses and evaluates various theories of economics and political development in Latin America, with a focus on the establishment, the frequent breakdown, and the reemergence of democratic political systems during the post-colonial era. The causes and consequences of both military regimes and modern revolutionary movements, as well as the impact of the United States foreign policy, will also be examined. The course provides an overview of politics and government throughout Latin America, but with a special emphasis on the nations of Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Cuba.

Civil war in Syria, Saudi oil, Islamist terrorism, the Iranian nuclear program, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--these and many other aspects of Middle Eastern politics make it essential for Americans to understand this region. This course traces the history of the region from the time of Muhammad to the present, then focuses on key countries and contemporary issues.

This course is an interdisciplinary approach to the study of independent African states. Attention is directed to the social, geographic, and economic settings; to the colonial experiences; and to the contemporary political situation.

This course focuses on the modern politics and history of Asia, one of the most important and rapidly changing regions in the world. Special emphasis is given to China, Japan, and India. Topics will include the effects of traditional cultures on modern politics, the rise of nationalism, democracy and authoritarianism, economic change, and international relations in the East Asian region.

The Vietnam War is examined from the perspective of both the Americans and the Vietnamese. After a survey of developments in Southeast Asia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the course concentrates on the war of independence from France, the struggle for unification against the United States, and the aftermath of that war into the present.

The course surveys military history of the United States within a global context from America's colonial wars in the 17th century through the American conflicts in the Middle East in the 1990's. Although this course emphasizes warfare on land, it also includes the study of naval and air warfare. Each American war is examined including major battles and military leaders, the impact of war on society, and the global influence of American military power. Open to students with sophomore academic standing or with permission of instructor is required.

This course helps prepare students for the Senior Seminar (HIS-490). Over the course of the semester, students strengthen their research and writing skills and begin working on their thesis topics. History majors with junior academic standing is required.

These upper-level courses are offered when interest is generated and departmental resources are available.

These upper-level courses are offered when interest is generated and departmental resources are available.

These upper-level courses are offered when interest is generated and departmental resources are available.

This course considers political, social, and economic aspects of American life from World War II to the present. Emphasis is given to cultural change, and the impact of national and international events on the lifestyle of the average American. Open to students with sophomore academic standing or with permission of instructor is required.

An examination of America's leadership role on the international scene from World War II to the present, with an analysis of the interrelationship of domestic and foreign issues. Open to students with sophomore academic standing or with permission of instructor is required.

This course provides an explanation of the institutional and political evolution of the presidency with an emphasis on the nature of presidential power in domestic and foreign affairs. Attention is also given to institutional conflicts with Congress and the Courts. The nature of presidential leadership and personality is also explored. Open to students with sophomore academic standing or with permission of instructor is required.

This is the capstone course of the History Department. In this class students will sharpen their research, writing and public speaking skills as they complete and publicly present a thesis based on their original research. Open to History majors with senior academic standing is required.

Students work for a staff member at a local historical society, library, archive or museum on one or more projects and complete a research paper related to the history of Newport or the subject of their internship. The internship is open to junior and senior History majors with the permission of the advisor is required.

Supervised study of a particular area of history not available in a regularly scheduled course.