Students of history, through investigation of the past, gain skills and perspectives that foster a better understanding of the world and their place in it. The study of history contributes to the goals of a liberal arts education by enabling students to gain a deep appreciation of the diversity of human experience over time. Through the study of history, students learn how to interpret their own experience and to shape their own values by engaging in dialogues with the past. The study of history also nurtures the ability to view the world from multiple perspectives, including interdisciplinary ones. Finally, history provides the foundation for informed participation in both the local and the global community by teaching how to apply critical thinking skills to solving problems. The study of history offers excellent training for a variety of occupations, from teaching to law, government, business, and the arts.
The Department of History encourages active engagement in historical inquiry, whether at the introductory survey level, in seminars, or in community-based learning. Active engagement requires students to learn how to master basic knowledge, ask historical questions, access and evaluate information, and communicate what they have learned in both written and oral forms. Helping students master the use of a variety of sources and tools to unlock the past is a goal of all history courses.
The combined expertise of faculty in the Department of History encompasses a diversity of fields ranging from Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to world history. The department offers lower-division surveys in Western civilization and U.S. history, but the gateway course for the major is Hst 300 Historical Imagination, which provides an introduction to the discipline—both the theory and practice—of history. Advising is critical, since majors are encouraged to develop their own thematic, chronological, or geographical focus through their choice of upper-division elective courses. Upper-division offerings include a wide range of subject areas, from the ancient Near East to American family history. Reading colloquiums (Hst 405) and seminars (Hst 407) on specialized topics—such as medieval Spain or Japanese nationalism—provide the opportunity for majors to write a substantial research paper and to participate in intensive reading and discussion of topics. Hst 495 Comparative World History—a thematic course—is required for the major to ensure that students develop the ability to frame what they know in a world historical context and to apply comparative analysis to important historical topics.
In line with the University’s mission as an urban, public institution, the Department of History supports partnerships with the Oregon Historical Society and offers training in public history. All faculty consider both teaching and research, along with community service, to be part of their responsibilities as members of the Department of History. The creation of knowledge, as well as its dissemination through teaching and publication, is a vital part of the department’s mission.
Medieval Studies Minor
The interdisciplinary minor in medieval studies is an interdisciplinary program with courses offered in the departments of Art History, English, History, Philosophy, World Languages and Literatures, and Theatre and Film. Students will fulfill 28 credits of coursework in a minimum of three disciplines, distributed as follows:
- Courses must be completed in at least three separate departments or programs;
- At least 20 credit hours must be completed in upper-division courses, with at least 8 of those credit hours at the 400-level.
Requirements
Courses may be selected from the list below:
| ArH 356 | Early Medieval Art | 4 |
| ArH 357 | Byzantine Art | 4 |
| ArH 358 | Romanesque Art | 4 |
| ArH 359 | Gothic Art | 4 |
| ArH 361 | Northern Renaissance Art | 4 |
| ArH 371 | Italian Renaissance Art | 4 |
| ArH 407 | Seminar | 0-12 |
| ArH 432 | Issues in Gender and Art | 4 |
| ArH 450 | Great Periods and Themes in Art and Architecture | 4 |
| Eng 319 | Northern European Mythology | 4 |
| Eng 340 | Medieval Literature | 4 |
| Eng 426 | Advanced Topics in Medieval Literature | 4 |
| Eng 447 | Major Forces in Literature | 4 |
| Eng 448 | Major Figures in Literature | 4 |
| Eng 449 | Advanced Topics in Cultural Studies | 4 |
| Fr 341 | Introduction to French Literature | 4 |
| Ger 341 | Introduction to German Literature | 4 |
| Grk-101-203-First-and-second-year-Greek | 4 |
| Hst 350 | English History from 1066 to 1660 | 4 |
| Hst 352 | European Women's History to 1700 | 4 |
| Hst 354 | Early Medieval Europe: 300-1100 | 4 |
| Hst 355 | Late Medieval Europe, 1100-1450 | 4 |
| Hst 407 | Seminar | 1-8 |
| Hst 416 | Topics in Roman History | 4 |
| Hst 450 | Medieval England | 4 |
| Hst 452 | Topics in the History of European Women | 4 |
| Hst 453 | The Medieval City: Communities of Conflict and Consensus | 4 |
| Hst 454 | Topics in Medieval History | 4 |
| Hst 461 | Topics in Jewish History | 4 |
| Hst 475 | Topics in Early Russian History | 4 |
| JSt 317 | Jewish History from Antiquity to the Medieval Period | 4 |
| Lat 101-203 First-and second-year Latin | 4-24 |
| Lat 331 | Early Medieval Civilization | 4 |
| Phl 302 | Medieval Philosophy | 4 |
| Span 341 | Pre-Modern Cultural and Literary Foundations | 4 |
| Span 441 | Major Works in Translation | 4 |
| TA 471 | Theater History: Periods and Topics | 1-4 |
| WLL 335 | The Icelandic Sagas | 4 |
All courses must be passed with a C- or better.
For advising concerning the minor, please consult the History Department office.