Published on Rhodes College: Rhodes Catalogue (https://catalog.rhodes.edu/)

History

 

The Department of History at Rhodes has a national reputation for preparing students to think critically about the historical forces that have shaped the world’s civilizations and cultures, to see the links between the past and the present, to become clear and effective writers and speakers, and to apply their knowledge as thoughtful citizens of the world.  A wide range of course offerings, internships, fellowships, and research opportunities empower students to prepare for success in any career path which they choose and to find their place within the ongoing human story.

Decades’ worth of data gathered by the Rhodes College Alumni Office shows how Rhodes History alumni have succeeded in an amazingly wide range of occupations from filmmaking and urban planning to museums and teaching at the university level.  Our graduates work as members of the clergy, account executives, business managers, musicians, journalists, members of the US military, counselors, business analysts, marketers, librarians and archivists, coaches, IT specialists, pilots, social workers, brokers, Peace Corps veterans, real estate developers, non-profit executives, artists, flight attendants, restauranteurs, land use planners -- and that’s just the beginning. 

 

History Course Numbering

History 100-level courses. History courses at the 100 level are introductory topics designed with first-year students and sophomores in mind but are open to all students at Rhodes who are interested in learning more about the topic or the study of History.  History 105 is a writing intensive seminar focused on specific topics and fulfills one of the “written communication” requirements (F2i) under the Foundations Curriculum. These courses also fulfill the “historical forces” (F3) requirement.  History 165 often fulfills Foundations, but varies with the topic.  Students may repeat these courses for credit toward the History major and minor if the topic is different. 

History 200-level courses. These courses cover a broad chronological span or large geographical area and are introductory in nature. In addition to mastering course content, students will begin to learn to think historically through interpretive writing assignments that require them to draw from and engage with course material and readings. Such courses are open to all students and normally fulfill the "historical forces" Foundation (F3) requirement. Several of these courses also fulfill other Foundations, including "meaning and value" (F1), "institution and society" (F8), and "cultural perspectives" (F9).

History 300-level courses. These courses focus on specific topics or time periods, while paying significant attention to historiography. Students are required to make a significant oral presentation. Sophomore standing is required for these courses, unless otherwise noted. Several of these courses also fulfill Foundation requirements, including "meaning and value" (F1), "literary texts" (F4), and "cultural perspectives" (F9).

History 400-level courses. These courses focus on specific topics or time periods, while paying significant attention to historiography. Students are required to complete a substantive research paper in which they engage substantially with primary sources. Sophomore standing is required for these courses. Sophomore standing is required for these courses, unless otherwise noted.

Printed from: https://catalog.rhodes.edu/programs-study/history


History: Faculty and Staff

Professors

Timothy S. Huebner.
1995.. The Irma O. Sternberg Professor of History. B.A., University of Miami; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Florida. (U.S. South, nineteenth century, U.S. constitutional/legal history)

Jeffrey H. Jackson. 2000. B.S., Vanderbilt University; Ph.D., University of Rochester. (Modern Europe, France, cultural history, natural disasters)

Jonathan Judaken. 2011. The Spence Wilson Chair in the Humanities. B.A. University of California, San Diego; M.A. and Ph.D. University of California, Irvine (Modern Europe, cultural and intellectual history)

Etty Terem. 2008. The J.J. McComb Chair in History, B.A. and M.A., Tel Aviv University; Ph.D., Harvard University. (Modern Middle East and North Africa, Islamic law and society)

Lynn B. Zastoupil. 1988. B.A., Dickinson State College; M.A., University of Texas; Ph.D., University of Minnesota. (Modern Britain, India, European intellectual history)  

 

Associate Professors

Michael J. LaRosa. 1995. B.A., George Washington University; M.A. and Ph.D., University of Miami. (Contemporary Latin America, Colombia, church history)

Seok-Won Lee. 2011. B.A., and M.A., Yonsei University; Ph.D. Cornell University. (Modern East Asia)

Charles W. McKinney, Jr., 2004. Neville Frierson Bryan Chair of Africana Studies. B.A., Morehouse College; M.A. and Ph.D., Duke University. (African-American history, civil rights studies, twentieth-century United States)

Robert F. Saxe. 2003. B.A., Reed College; Ph.D., University of Illinois. (Twentieth-century United States, political history, war and society)

Tait S. Keller. 2008. Chair. B.A., University of Rochester; M.A. and Ph.D., Georgetown University. (Environmental history, modern Europe, Germany)

 

Assistant Professors

Sarah Ifft Decker. 2020. B.A., Swarthmore College, M.A., The Jewish Theological Seminary, Ph.D., Yale University. (Medieval Mediterranean, Spain, economic, Jewish, women/gender)

Samson Ndanyi. 2018. B.S. and M.S., Towson University; M.A., Morgan State University; Ph.D., Indiana University, Bloomington. (African history, African American studies, African diaspora studies, world history)

Staff

Sarah K. Gray. Departmental Assistant. 2019. Mississippi State University.
 

Printed from: https://catalog.rhodes.edu/programs-study/history/history-faculty-and-staff


Honors in History

  1. Completion of all requirements for a Bachelor of Arts degree in History, as well as a minimum overall grade point average of 3.50 and a minimum history grade point average of 3.50.
  2. Completion of History 495-496.
  3. Completion of a major research project, culminating in a research paper and an oral presentation. The student normally begins preparing a proposal by taking a directed inquiry in the spring of the junior year.The formal research proposal must be accepted by the Department early in the student’s senior year. The project must be completed and approved by the supervising committee by April.

Printed from: https://catalog.rhodes.edu/programs-study/history/honors-history


Requirements for a Major in History

Requirements for a major in History

A total of 11 courses (44 credits) as follows:

  1. History 300 (The Historian’s Craft)
  2. History 485 (Senior Seminar)
  3. Nine (9) additional courses at the 100, 200, 300, and 400 levels, selected according to the following principles:
    1. Of the nine courses, no more than two sections of History 105 may be taken.
    2. Of the nine courses, at least two must be seminar courses at the 300 level.
    3. Of the nine courses, at least two must be seminar courses at the 400 level.
    4. Of the nine courses taken at all levels, at least one must be taken in five of the six areas listed below:
      1. History of Asia
      2. History of Europe
      3. Global/Comparative History
      4. History of Latin America
      5. History of North Africa/Middle East
      6. History of the United States  
    5. Of the nine courses taken at all levels, at least one must concentrate in the period prior to 1500 CE. The following courses meet that requirement: History 211, 212, 213, 222, 223, 271, 282, 293, 311, 312, 313, and 375. (There may be special topics as well.)
    6. Humanities 201 (History Track) counts as a 200-level history course, although it does not fulfill one of the area requirements listed above.

Credit earned through AP or IB does not fulfill the requirements of the major or minor but does count toward the 128 credits required for graduation.

Printed from: https://catalog.rhodes.edu/programs-study/history/requirements-major-history


Requirements for a Minor in History

A total of 5 courses (20 credits) selected according to the following principles:

  1. No more than two sections of History 105 may be taken.
  2. At least two courses at the 300 or 400 level.
  3. At least one course in each of three of the following areas:
    1. History of Asia
    2. History of Europe
    3. Global/Comparative History
    4. History of Latin America
    5. History of North Africa/Middle East
    6. History of the United States
  4. Humanities 201 (History Track) counts as a 200-level history course, although it does not fulfill the area requirements listed above.

Credit earned through AP or IB does not fulfill the requirements of the major or minor but does count toward the 128 credits required for graduation.

Printed from: https://catalog.rhodes.edu/programs-study/history/requirements-minor-history