Houston Christian University Catalog

History (HIST) Course Descriptions

  • HIST 2311 Western Civilization I

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A survey of Western Civilization from the Ancient World to the end of the Middle Ages in Europe.

  • HIST 2312 Western Civilization II

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A survey of Western Civilization from the Renaissance and Reformation to the present.

  • HIST 2313 U.S. History to 1877

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A survey of American history from its origins to the close of Reconstruction.

  • HIST 2323 U.S. History from 1877

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A survey of American history from the close of Reconstruction to the present.

  • HIST 3303 The Historian’s Craft

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the study of history. It will focus on the basic tools of historical research and writing, the philosophical implications of historical study, and the role of the Christian historian.

  • HIST 3311 American Religious History

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course covers the history of American religion from the pre-contact period to the present.

  • HIST 3313 Colonial America

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course covers the history of colonial North America, from the first European settlements in the sixteenth century to the end of Spanish rule in northern New Spain in 1821. The primary focus is on the regions that later become part of the United States.

  • HIST 3314 Revolutionary and Early National America

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A study of the causes and consequences of the American Revolution and the development of the United States between 1763 and 1789.

  • HIST 3323 Civil War and Reconstruction

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A study of the rise of sectionalism, the abolition crusade, the secession crisis, United States versus Confederate States, aftermath of the war, reconstruction, economic and social consequences of the war, and emergence of a New South.

  • HIST 3333 History of Texas

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A survey course from the period of exploration and early colonization to the present. It includes the struggle for independence, the Civil War in Texas, and the growth of the state into an industrialized, urbanized society.

  • HIST 3345 History of Modern Mexico

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This survey course examines the modern history of Mexico from independence (1821) to the present.

  • HIST 3354 History of Britain I – To 1688

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This class focuses on the origins and development of the political, social, and cultural institutions in the British Isles and extends from the Roman era to 1688.

  • HIST 3364 History of Britain II – From 1688

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This class focuses on the development of the political, social, and cultural institutions in the British Isles from the Glorious Revolution to the present.

  • HIST 3375 Great Texts in History

    Prerequisite(s): None
    Restriction(s): Students may repeat this course with each new concentration of focus, in consultation with their advisor and with the professor’s permission.

    This course introduces students to a variety of ideas, methods, and texts, and the kinds of genres and sources that compose historical studies. Emphasis is placed on the Great Books of the Western Tradition and other key historical texts that are important to the discipline.

  • HIST 3380 Blood & Fire: Religion, Science, and Medicine, 1000-1700

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course explores the changes in natural philosophy and scientific thought in Christian Europe and the Muslim world during the medieval and early modern periods, as well as the role of religion in these changes. Particular emphasis is placed on advances in medicine and physics as well as the transition from a medieval to modern view of science.

  • HIST 3385 HISTORY OF MEDICINE

    For course description and Prerequisite(s) for this course, please contact the Dean of the School of Humanities.

  • HIST 3388 Comparative World Civilizations

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course focuses on major world civilizations from ancient times to the present.

  • HIST 3393 History of Modern Japan

    Prerequisite(s): None

    The survey course examines the modern history of Japan from the Tokugawa period to the present.

  • HIST 3396 Early Modern Europe: 1400-1815

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course examines the political, social, and cultural events in Europe from the Renaissance and Reformation through the Age of Napoleon.

  • HIST 4181 Special Topics/Independent Study

    Prerequisite(s): None

    Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included.

  • HIST 4281 Special Topics/Independent Study

    Prerequisite(s): None

    Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included.

  • HIST 4310 The Medieval World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course examines the political, social, religious, and cultural history of Europe from the Carolingian Empire to the birth of the Renaissance. Topics include the formation of medieval states, the Crusades, and the Roman Catholic Church.

  • HIST 4311 Renaissance and Reformation

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course examines the European cultural, religious, and social transformations that occurred between 1350 and 1650–transformations known as the Renaissance and Reformation.

  • HIST 4330 United States Legal History

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course provides an introduction to the history of American law from the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the establishment of women’s suffrage in 1920.

  • HIST 4340 Unborn Life in the Western Tradition and American History

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course explores the history of American ideas and practices regarding unborn human life within the context of the philosophical and religious traditions of the West.

  • HIST 4357 American Experience in Vietnam

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A study of the American military experience in Vietnam, 1950-1975.

  • HIST 4360 American Civil Rights

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A history of civil rights activism among various minorities in the United States from Reconstruction to the present with emphasis on the long civil rights movement of the twentieth century.

  • HIST 4373 Studies in British History

    Prerequisite(s): None

    An advanced study of special problems or periods in British history, examined through lectures, discussions, and presentations, in one of the following periods: (a) Tudor-Stuart England, (b) Victorian Britain, (c) the British Empire, (d) Modern Britain.

  • HIST 4380 The Making of Modern America

    Prerequisite(s): None

    An advanced study of the long Progressive Era (1870-1917) as the formative stage of modern America.

  • HIST 4381 Special Topics/Independent Study

    Prerequisite(s): None

    Topics are selected on basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular lectures are not given, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour credit must be included.

  • HIST 4382 The Greek World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the world of Ancient Greece. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, to place them in their historical, philosophical, and archaeological contexts, and to consider their impact on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Europides, Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, and Thucydides.

  • HIST 4383 Internship in History

    Prerequisite(s): Permission of the Instructor

    Directed work experience in a variety of public and private organizations. The primary objective of this course is to provide students with opportunities to apply what they have learned in class in a career-oriented setting. Also provides students with the opportunity to attain applied research experience and develop analytic skills.

  • HIST 4384 The Roman World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the world of Ancient Rome. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Republican and Imperial periods, to place them in their historical, philosophical, and archaeological contexts, to understand the interrelationship between the Greek and Roman worlds, to discuss the emergence of Christianity in its classical context, and to consider the impact of Ancient Rome on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Vergil, Cicero, Lucretius, Horace, Plautus, Terrence, Suetonius, Tacitus, and Pliny.

  • HIST 4388 The American South in the Atlantic World, 1400 – 1888

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course covers the American South from the pre-contact period to 1888, with an emphasis on social, cultural, and intellectual history. The course will examine the cosmopolitan character of the South in the international context of the Atlantic World.

  • HIST 4389 Augustine and His World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course examines the life and writings of Augustine of Hippo. Special attention is given to his theological and philosophical contributions to western thought, as well as the importance of his political theories to subsequent history. The course places Augustine within his social context and examines the roles he played in the religious and political upheavals of the late Roman Empire.

  • HIST 4392 Independent Research Projects and Directed Readings

    Prerequisite(s): None

    A research intensive capstone history course involving important historical terminology, source materials, documentation formats, historiography, and investigative methodologies, with a rigorous emphasis on the analytical proficiencies and advanced writing techniques used by historians.

  • HIST 5199 Thesis Continuation

    Prerequisite(s): HIST 5399 (taken twice)
    Restriction(s): Credit hours earned in this course may not be applied toward any course or credit hour requirement in the Master of Arts in History degree.

    This courses continues research, writing, and defense of a thesis project begun in HIST 5399. This course earns one credit hour and may be taken twice.

  • HIST 5301 Introduction to Scholarly Research

    Prerequisite(s):None

    This course introduces students to the practice of historical research and writing. It develops effective research and writing skills for graduate-level academic work. The course will help students develop an effective writing and revising process. it will sample scholarly writing, especially the work of Christian authors.

  • HIST 5310 Readings in European History

    Prerequisite(s): None
    Restriction(s): This course may be taken up to three (3) times for course credit.

    This course provides directed readings in selected areas of European history to introduce students to the themes, concepts, and historiographical trends in European history.

  • HIST 5320 Readings in American History

    Prerequisite(s): None
    Restriction(s): This course may be taken up to three (3) times for course credit.

    This course provides directed readings in selected areas of U.S. history to introduce students to the themes, concepts, and historiographical trends in U.S. history.

  • HIST 5330 History of Christianity

    Prerequisite(s): None

    In this course, the student will study the history of Christianity in the ancient, medieval, and modern periods. Although the primary focus will be on the development of Western (Latin) Christianity, some consideration will be given to Byzantine (Eastern) Christendom as well as the spread of Christianity throughout the third world. In addition to the basic content of the history of Christianity, attention will be given to the application of a critical historiography in the interpretation of events and movements.

  • HIST 5381 Special Topics/Independent Study

    Prerequisite(s): None

    Topics are selected on the basis of student need and academic qualifications of staff. If regular classes are not conducted, a minimum of 30 hours of work for each hour of credit must be included.

  • HIST 5382 The Greek World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the world of Ancient Greece. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods, to place them in their historical, philosophical, and archaeological contexts, and to consider their impact on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Europides, Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, and Thucydides.

  • HIST 5383 The Roman World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the world of Ancient Rome. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Republican and Imperial periods, to place them in their historical, philosophical, and archaeological contexts, to understand the interrelationship between the Greek and Roman worlds, to discuss the emergence of Christianity in its classical context, and to consider the impact of Ancient Rome on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Vergil, Cicero, Lucretius, Horace, Plautus, Terrence, Suetonius, Tacitus, and Pliny.

  • HIST 5384 The Medieval World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the Medieval World. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Medieval period, to place them in their historical, philosophical, and architectural contexts, to understand the relationship between the Classical Antiquity and the emergence of Christian Europe, and to consider the impact of the Medieval period on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Boethius, Augustine, Aquinas, Dante, Bede and Chaucer.

  • HIST 5385 The Renaissance and Reformation

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the period of the Renaissance and Reformation. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Reformation period, to place them in their historical, philosophical, and religious contexts, to understand the relationship between the Classical Antiquity, the middle ages, and the emergence of early modern Europe, and to consider the impact of the Renaissance and Reformation on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Luther, Calvin, Machiavelli, Erasmus, Petrarch, Shakespeare, Milton, and Donne.

  • HIST 5386 The Enlightenment

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course introduces students to the period of the Enlightenment. The goals of the course are to read the foundational texts of the Enlightenment period, to place them in their historical, philosophical, scientific and religious contexts, to understand the relationship between the Classical Antiquity, the scientific revolution, and the emergence of representative democracy, and to consider the impact of the Enlightenment on western civilization. Authors read in this class may include Locke, Hobbes, Pope, Swift, Austen, Voltaire, Rousseau and Kant.

  • HIST 5388 The American South in the Atlantic World, 1400-1888

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course covers the American South from the pre-contact period to 1888, with an emphasis on social, cultural, and intellectual history. The course will examine the cosmopolitan character of the South in the international context of the Atlantic World.

  • HIST 5389 Augustine and His World

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course examines the life and writings of Augustine of Hippo. Special attention is given to his theological and philosophical contributions to western thought, as well as the importance of his political theories to subsequent history. The course places Augustine within his social context and examines the roles he played in the religious and political upheavals of the late Roman Empire.

  • HIST 5399 Thesis

    Prerequisite(s): Approval of research topic by supervisor
    Restriction(s): This course may be taken for up to six hours of credit toward a degree.

    This course is for the research, writing, and defense of a thesis project that is supervised by a faculty member.

  • HIST 6310 Unborn Life in the Western Tradition and American History

    Prerequisite(s): None

    Through a close study of great texts as well as individual scholarly research, this graduate-level course explores the history of ideas, attitudes, and practices regarding unborn life in the Western Tradition. The course pays special attention to American history as an expression of that tradition and to Christian reflection on the unborn from antiquity to the present.

  • HIST 6319 Revolutionary America in the Age of Enlightenment

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course explores the ideas and events of the American revolutionary era, 1763-1789, against the backdrop of the Enlightenment.

  • HIST 6360 Philosophy of History

    Prerequisite(s): None

    This course explores topics in both substantive and critical philosophy of history. These topics may include the nature of historical explanation and narrative, the relation of history to other disciplines, and the way in which scholars have viewed historical progress. Of interest will be the way in which the Philosophy of History can inform our theological beliefs, and in particular, our understanding of the life of Christ.