courses of instruction - Lafayette College

HISTORY
13 courses for the German track includ
ing Government and Law 102,103, 401-
409 (one senior seminar) or 495, 496 (the
sis) or 390, 391 (independent study), four
electives from the following: 221,232,234,
235, 236,237, 238,249, 341; German 111,
112, 211, three electives from the follow
ing: 225, 311, 322, 424, 441,495,496.
13 courses for the Spanish track includ
ing Government and Law 102,103,401-
409 (one senior seminar) or 495,496 (the
sis) or 390,391 (independent study), four
electives from the following: 221, 222,227,
232,234, 235, 236, 249; Spanish 111, 112,
211, four electives from the following: 225,
311, 313, 314, 318, 427, 428,495,496.
HISTORY
Professor Offner, Head; Professors Fix,
D. Miller, Sharpless, Weiner; Associate
Professors Jackson, Marbkstone, Rosen;
Assistant Professor Barclay, Sanborn
History gives students the opportunity to
deepen their understanding of the world
through the study of events, inventions,
economic and social processes, and the
ideas that have shaped it. They expand
their mental horizons by studying cultures
different from their own, and they acquire a
set of skills highly valued by professional
schools and employers in today's job market.
The curriculum begins with the develop
ment of historical thinking and research and
surveys American and European history,
then moves to courses that analyze specific
epochs in European, Asian, Latin American,
and United States history. The advanced level
of topical seminars involves in-depth study
and original research.
Requirements for the Major. The history
major consists of nine courses that must
include History 106 and two 300-level
seminars (or one seminar plus an honors
thesis). In addition, one of nine courses
counting toward the major must cover a
topic distinct from either United States or
Western European history (i.e., it must fo
cus on "non-Western" history).
As part of the history major, students
must choose a focus cluster that provides
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them with in-depth knowledge of some
aspect of world history. Each cluster must
include a total of five courses at the 200-
level and 300-level. These five courses
may all be within the history department
or they may include one related 200-level
or 300-level course in another department.
But if a student adopts a cluster that in
cludes a related course from another de
partment, he/she still needs nine history
courses in order to fulfill the major. Most
students will take both 300-level seminars
(or one seminar and an honors thesis) in
their cluster, although in some cases a stu
dent may take one of the seminars outside
of the cluster area.
Sample focus clusters include: Pluralism
in American Society; Twentieth-Century
Europe; Modernization, Nationalism, and
Revolution; Intellectual History; Pre-Mod-
ern Societies; Russian History; Building
America; United States Foreign Policy;
Modern America. Consult the History
Department for the courses that make up
these clusters.
Requirements for the minor: A minor in
history consists of five courses, chosen to
focus on one of three areas of concentra
tion: United States History, European
History, or Third World History.
INTRODUCTORY COURSES
105. Development of the Modern World.
This course surveys the development of
the modern world from the Renaissance to
the present. It stresses the cultivation of
"historical thinking" by examining themes
and events such as the scientific and in
dustrial revolutions; the formation of
modern nations, economies and ideolo
gies; Western and global hegemony; and
the crises of the twentieth century. Lec
ture/discussion/films. Offered in fall se
mester. Staff
106. Introduction to History. This semi
nar introduces students to the ways in
which historians work and interpret his
torical events. Students learn how to read
critically, to analyze information, and to