Course Descriptions

An introductory survey of the American experience from the Age of Exploration to the present, with emphasis on those national traits which continue to influence American attitudes and actions.

Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

This semester we will look at Medieval Europe from the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (c. 410) to the arrival of the plague in 1348. Against the backdrop of daily life in Medieval Europe, we will consider a broad range of ideas and texts from the philosophy of Boethius to the Letters of St. Catherine of Siena; and from courtly romance to the Crusades. Far more than just the Dark Ages, our consideration of Medieval Europe includes monks on the trail of a murderer, kings and their subjects, and even mythical heroes such as King Arthur and Robin Hood (and of course, Maid Marion).

Fall semester, even-numbered years

Russia has become a major player once again in the political affairs of the world, generating controversy through its annexation of territory, its intervention in foreign conflicts such as Syria, its resurgent anti-Western nationalism, and its attempts to undermine the integrity of leading Western democracies. Understanding the dramatic sweep of Russia's history helps us to understand the challenges the country faces and poses today. This course will begin with Tsar Alexander II's authoritarian attempts to modernize Russia in the 1860s, explore the Russian Revolution and the resulting coercive utopian project of the Soviet Union, and then study the solutions Russia has embraced to find a post-Communist identity. By reading, analyzing, and discussing texts, you will sharpen your critical reading and analytical skills, your writing skills, and your ability to debate concepts in a group situation. The course will be conducted through lectures, reading, and discussion. Class participation will be a component of the final grade. Crosslisted with HI 320 - students can't take or get credit for one course if they have taken the other.

The history of the Mediterranean is a survey of ancient civilizations around the Mediterranean basin, specifically Greece, Rome and the Near East to the rise of Islam in the seventh century AD. Consideration will also be given to Ancient Egypt and Mediterranean connections to the Silk Road. The course focuses on the cultural interactions and exchanges that took place around the Mediterranean: material, cultural, religious and social; the importance of merchants and trade networks; and the Mediterranean Sea as a space both connected and conflicted.

An Elusive Peace, Study Abroad in Israel/Palestine and Jordan This study abroad course is designed to introducestudents to the history, culture, politics, and religions of Israel/Palestine and Jordan, a region uniquely shaped by a past and a present that includes three faiths all worshipping the same God, membership in the same linguistic family, and foreign intervention by Romans then crusaders, and finally Europe and the US. Despite these commonalities, and a desire on the part of many who are working daily for peace, this part of the world is also torn by animosities. Offering students an opportunity to see first-hand the region's rich history, vibrant cultures, and passionate attachment to faith and to the land, this program provides a better understanding of the role played by centuries of history in the region's volatile present and its uncertain future.

Special Topics courses include ad-hoc courses on various selected topics that are not part of the regular curriculum, however they may still fulfill certain curricular requirements. Special topics courses are offered at the discretion of each department and will be published as part of the semester course schedule - view available sections for more information. Questions about special topics classes can be directed to the instructor or department chair.

A survey of Sub-Saharan African history from the eighteenth to the twenty-first centuries with an emphasis on formal colonization, colonialism, decolonization, and post-colonial developments.

Two Reformations, one Protestant the other Catholic, and a host of explorers occupy our study in this course as we look critically and analytically at the people, events, ideas, values, cultures, and perspectives of this turbulent and fascinating time in history. We will consider carefully the objections and the goals of Fra Girolamo Savonarola, Martin Luther, John Calvin and a number of others in their calls for reforms. We will venture beyond the confines of Europe in an attempt ascertain what might be learned about both the Europeans and those they encountered from a wide array of travel narratives. We will consider the use of maps as both ideological statements and navigational tools, and we will conduct our own search for the elusive Prester John.

This course will examine the history of the Cold War between the United States and Soviet Union, from its origins during and after World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The political, ideological, economic, and strategic aspects of the conflict will all be closely examined. While much of the focus will be on the diplomatic tensions between the superpowers that brought the world to the brink of nuclear war, the various impacts of the Cold War on Europe, Asia, and the rest of the globe will also be explored, helping to uncover the ways in which the Cold War's legacy continues to shape our world today.

Brian Boru, St. Patrick, Gerry Adams, Ian Paisley, the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and the Irish Republic Army are all part of the history of this tiny island, some inhabitants descendants of the first arrivals to this land over 9,000 years ago, others immigrants from England centuries later. By 600, those living in Ireland had developed a unique Christian culture alongside of the traditional one of their ancestors. In the seventeenth century English settlers arrived, and despite the passage of time, retained their identity, as well as their Protestant faith. By the end of the first half of the 20th century, both British and Irish lived on an island divided by politics, economics, and religion. In the south rose the independent Republic of Ireland, while the north continued to be a part of Britain. In all, this volatile region of competing identities continues to fascinate and remains, in the words of WB Yeats, "a terrible beauty..."

Interwar Europe: From Versailles to Hitler A wide ranging study of Europe between World War I and World War II, 1919-1939. Special emphasis is placed upon political, intellectual, social cultural, economic and military developments during a critical phase of modern European history.

The Civil War was the gravest crisis the United States has ever faced and remains to this day the deadliest war in American history, having taken over 600,000 American lives. Even now, 150 years since the end of the war, historians still debate the major questions surrounding this compelling period in American history. This course will examine the major political, economic, and social developments that led to the American Civil War, the military, political, and social aspects of the war itself, and the 12-year period of Reconstruction following the war. Major questions to be explored include,was the war inevitable or could it have been avoided? Why did the North win and the South lose-could the result have been different? How exactly should Reconstruction be defined and remembered, and how do its failures and successes continue to shape American life today?

This course will explore the four major wars fought by the United States in Asia in the modern era in the larger context of America's changing role in the world as it rose to superpower status: the Philippine-American War, the Pacific War against Japan, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Examining each of these conflicts will help students appreciate the ways in which both the United States and Asia have changed since the turn of the twentieth century.

World War II was the most destructive conflict in human history. By the time the guns fell silent in 1945, approximately 60 million people had been killed worldwide. What can possibly explain the extent of such bloodshed? While a comprehensive answer may require us to explore some of the most diffi - cult existential questions about what it means to be human, history offers us a clear guide as to why this conflict occurred when it did, the ways in which it unfolded, and how it came to an end. This course will explore the historical origins of World War II in both Europe and the Pacific, the major political and military turning points of the conflict, and issues related to the war's lasting impact, including the Holocaust. We will also seek to balance the stories of some of the more compelling personalities of the war (e.g., Hitler, Churchill, Stalin, and Roosevelt) with the experience of the millions of everyday soldiers and civilians who endured unspeakable suffering during this most terrible war.

Internship Programs Recognizing that learning can take place outside the classroom, Carroll College allows its students to participate in a work program that relates to their area of studies. This employment must relate directly to classroom work in order to qualify for an internship. Close cooperation between Carroll and the participating companies insures a work experience that contributes significantly to the student?s overall growth and professional development. Juniors and seniors in any major area may participate with the approval of the department chairperson, academic advisor, and the internship coordinator. Students will receive academic credit and may or may not receive monetary compensation for an internship. A student may earn a maximum of 6 semester hours in the internship program. Enrollment in the course must be during the same semester in which the majority of the work experience takes place. Interested students should contact their academic advisor and the internship coordinator at the Career Services Office.

A formal seminar which surveys theories and literature of history as seen in the work of a variety of historians. Emphasis will be on methodological and topical approaches. Required for all history majors. Recommended for spring semester of the junior year.

The senior thesis is designed to encourage creative thinking and to stimulate individual research. A student may undertake a thesis in an area in which s/he has the necessary background. Ordinarily a thesis topic is chosen in the student's major or minor. It is also possible to choose an interdisciplinary topic. Interested students should decide upon a thesis topic as early as possible in the junior year so that adequate attention may be given to the project. In order to be eligible to apply to write a thesis, a student must have achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 based upon all courses attempted at Carroll College. The thesis committee consists of a director and two readers. The thesis director is a full-time Carroll College faculty member from the student's major discipline or approved by the department chair of the student's major. At least one reader must be from outside the student's major. The thesis director and the appropriate department chair must approve all readers. The thesis committee should assist and mentor the student during the entire project. For any projects involving human participants, each student and his or her director must follow the guidelines published by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Students must submit a copy of their IRB approval letter with their thesis application. As part of the IRB approval process, each student and his or her director must also complete training by the National Cancer Institute Protection of Human Participants. The thesis is typically to be completed for three (3) credits in the discipline that best matches the content of the thesis. Departments with a designated thesis research/writing course may award credits differently with approval of the Curriculum Committee. If the thesis credits exceed the full-time tuition credit limit for students, the charge for additional credits will be waived. Applications and further information are available in the Registrar's Office.