HIST 5199B. Thesis.

This course provides structured enrollment for students engaged in second or subsequent semesters of thesis research and writing. Students formulate their research questions, evaluate relevant literature, and refine methodological approaches under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes sustained inquiry, iterative drafting, and the application of disciplinary research practices. Through regular consultation and revision, students work toward completing a thesis that demonstrates competence in scholarly argumentation and evidence-based analysis. Enrollment continues each term until the final thesis is prepared for submission in accordance with program requirements.

HIST 5299B. Thesis.

This course provides structured enrollment for students engaged in second or subsequent semesters of thesis research and writing. Students formulate their research questions, evaluate relevant literature, and refine methodological approaches under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes sustained inquiry, iterative drafting, and the application of disciplinary research practices. Through regular consultation and revision, students work toward completing a thesis that demonstrates competence in scholarly argumentation and evidence-based analysis. Enrollment continues each term until the final thesis is prepared for submission in accordance with program requirements.

HIST 5301. Instructional Methods Practicum for Graduate Assistants.

This course provides structured professional development for graduate teaching and instructional assistants by examining effective instructional practices and departmental expectations. Students participate in regular in-service activities and periodic evaluations designed to support the performance of their teaching responsibilities. Topics include classroom management, grading and communication strategies, and procedures relevant to instructional assistants. Enrollment is required for individuals employed in these roles for the first time, and the course does not apply toward graduate degree credit.

HIST 5304. Women’s and Gender History.

This course investigates the central topics and scholarly debates that structure the history of women and gender. Geographic and temporal focus depends on the instructor. Students evaluate key works that analyze gender roles in political life, labor systems, social movements, community formation, and cultural production. The course emphasizes historiographical analysis, encouraging students to consider how methodological choices, source availability, and interpretive frameworks shape the writing of women’s and gender history. By examining both classic studies and recent research, students develop skills in assessing arguments, identifying gaps in the scholarship, and formulating their own evidence-based analyses of women’s historical experiences. Topics vary by semester to allow for in-depth study of different themes. This course may be repeated with new topics for up to nine credit hours.

HIST 5305. Interfaith Relations in Medieval Europe.

This course investigates the histories of Muslims, Christians, and Jews throughout Europe from the early Middle Ages to the seventeenth century, focusing on political, legal, social, and cultural developments. Students analyze how historians interpret conversion practices, administrative structures, conflict, intellectual exchange, and demographic change across different regions. Particular attention is given to methodological challenges and debates surrounding terminology, periodization, and the study of interreligious interaction. Using primary documents and selected secondary readings, students evaluate competing analytical frameworks and assess how evidence is used to explain both continuity and transformation in Europe’s multireligious past.

HIST 5306. English History: The Age of the Stuarts.

This course examines selected topics in English history between 1603 and 1714, analyzing political, social, economic, and cultural developments from the early Stuart monarchy through the Glorious Revolution. Students investigate themes such as governance, religious conflict, social hierarchy, economic change, and intellectual life using primary sources and major historical studies. The course emphasizes evaluating different historiographical interpretations and methodological approaches to studying seventeenth-century England. Through discussion, analytical writing, and comparative inquiry, students assess how scholars interpret continuity and change across this transformative period.

HIST 5307. Medieval European History.

This course analyzes the methodological foundations of medieval historical inquiry and investigates how the historiography of the European Middle Ages has changed in recent decades. Students assess different analytical frameworks, interpretive strategies, and source types employed by historians. Through critical reading, seminar discussion, and written analysis, the course explores how shifting scholarly priorities influence research questions and historical interpretations. Emphasis is placed on evaluating arguments, identifying methodological assumptions, and understanding how evidence is selected and contextualized in medieval studies.

HIST 5310. Western European History Since 1815.

This course examines selected topics in the history of Western Europe from 1815 to the present, analyzing major political, social, cultural, and economic developments that shaped the modern era. Students evaluate scholarly monographs and historiographical debates to understand how historians interpret events such as industrialization, nationalism, democratic reform, imperialism, and European integration. The seminar emphasizes critical reading, comparative analysis, and evidence-based interpretation. Through discussion and written assignments, students assess methodological approaches and develop analytical skills applicable to modern European history. The course may be repeated with different thematic emphases-based interpretation.

HIST 5312. History of Sexualities.

This course examines the history of sexualities and their relationship to social structures, cultural practices, and normative frameworks. Students will analyze theories and methods used by historians of sexuality, with attention to topics such as reproduction, kinship, marriage, gender roles, LGBTQ+ histories, birth control, sexology, and community formation. Geographic and chronological focus varies by instructor. Using historical evidence and theoretical approaches, students evaluate patterns of continuity and change in sexual norms and identities. Repeatable for credit.

HIST 5313. Early North American History.

This course examines selected topics in the colonial, revolutionary, and early national periods of North American history. Students analyze political, social, cultural, and economic developments with attention to  primary sources, historiographical debates, and comparative methods. The seminar format encourages close reading, discussion, and evaluation of differing scholarly interpretations. Emphasis may vary by semester, allowing focused study on themes such as governance, identity formation, regional variation, social relations, or institutional change. Students assess how historians construct arguments about early America and develop their own evidence-based analyses through research, writing, and critical inquiry. This course may be repeated with different thematic emphases.

HIST 5314. Ethnohistory.

This course examines major questions, methods, and debates that shape the field of ethnohistory, a multidisciplinary approach to studying the histories of Indigenous communities through archival, ethnographic, linguistic, environmental, and archaeological evidence, incorporating Indigenous voices and perspectives. Students analyze selected ethnohistorical works to understand how researchers interpret sociocultural, political, and economic processes across diverse regions and time periods. The course emphasizes critical evaluation of methodological approaches, including the integration of multiple source types and perspectives. Through discussion and analytical writing, students assess how ethnohistorians construct arguments and develop evidence-based interpretations.

HIST 5315B. Queer History: GLBT Histories in the United States.

This course examines the histories of different sexual minorities from the colonial era to present, though the majority of the course focuses on the twentieth century, to explore the rise of the modern lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender identities, politics, and culture. (MULT).

HIST 5318D. European Imperialism.

This course analyzes European imperial expansion between the fifteenth and twentieth centuries through an evaluation of administrative systems, economic networks, and cultural interactions. Students investigate case studies of empires such as the Spanish, Portuguese, British, French, and Dutch, assessing how historians use documentary, visual, and material evidence to interpret imperial dynamics. The course emphasizes critical examination of sources to understand how empires were established, maintained, and challenged. By studying diverse regions affected by European rule, students develop analytic frameworks for evaluating long‑term patterns of global influence and exchange.

HIST 5318F. European Fascisms and Historical Memory.

This course compares historical and contemporary manifestations of fascism in Europe. It considers how the historical memory of fascism has impacted historical memory of the past, contemporary movements, legal structures, museums, and other historical monuments in Europe today.

HIST 5319. English History: The Age of the Tudors.

This course examines differing scholarly interpretations of major developments in English history from approximately 1485 to 1603. Students analyze constitutional, political, governmental, social, religious, and cultural transformations using a range of primary sources and historical studies. The course evaluates how historians construct arguments about Tudor governance, religious change, social hierarchy, and cultural expression, and how interpretive frameworks have evolved over time. Through seminar discussion, extensive reading, and analytical writing, students assess methodological approaches to the period and develop skills in comparing and evaluating competing historical interpretations.

HIST 5326. Material Culture in America.

This course examines how interactions between people and material culture influence American society. Students evaluate how the creation, use, and meaning of material objects has influenced social, political, and economic change throughout American history. Methodology centers on the analysis of objects as primary sources through close descriptions and provenance research with attention to historical contexts. Students analyze material evidence to frame historical questions, assess change over time, construct arguments about the history of everyday life in America, and apply these skills in public history settings.

HIST 5327. Management & Administration of Historical Organizations.

This course provides an introduction to management, leadership, and administration issues and practices for non-profit historical organizations. Topics include organizational types and structures, funding and budgets, core documents, strategic and interpretive planning, leadership styles, professional responsibilities, and ethics. Course methodology combines practical readings on professional standards and best practices with theoretical reflections from field leaders, with each class including both discussion and project-based learning. Students apply historical methods to real work situations within cultural organizations, analyzing and synthesizing information, and evaluating sources to build professional competence in the workplace.

HIST 5328. Education Programs in Historical/Cultural Institutions.

This course studies the role of educational and interpretive outputs as primary to the missions of historical and cultural institutions. It explores how institutions create and evaluate formal and informal educational experiences and materials for a variety of audiences. The course integrates professional literature on standards and best practices with case studies and reflections from practitioners in the field, with each class including both discussion and practical instruction. Students apply educational and historical methods to real work situations within cultural organizations while analyzing and synthesizing information and evaluating relevant models and sources to build professional practice in cultural institutions.

HIST 5329. U.S. Latino/a History.

This course analyzes the cultural, social, and political processes that influence Latino/a experiences in the United States. Students investigate patterns of migration, community formation, identity, and civic participation across different time periods and regions. The course evaluates how Latino communities have interacted with institutions and how those interactions have shaped national policies, cultural practices, and public discourse. Using interdisciplinary scholarship, primary documents, and analytical writing assignments, students examine historiographical debates and assess the methodological approaches used to study Latino/a histories within a broader national context.

HIST 5331. Empire and Colonialism in Latin American History.

This graduate seminar examines major historiographical and theoretical approaches to empire and colonialism in Latin America. Students engage foundational and recent scholarship on imperial governance, legal pluralism, missionary projects, labor regimes, and racial formation, with particular attention to the experiences and intellectual contributions of African, Indigenous, and Afro Indigenous communities to the evolving structures of empire. Through seminar discussion, comparative reading, and research-based writing, students evaluate key debates in the field and assess varied responses to empire—including adaptation, negotiation, and conflict.

HIST 5333. Modern Mexico.

This course investigates Mexico’s historical trajectory from the Revolution to the present, focusing on the interplay of social, cultural, economic, and political forces. Students will analyze state-building strategies, patterns of governance, and transformations in political institutions. The seminar includes an evaluation of ideological frameworks and an analysis of their role in influencing policy and identity. Using primary documents and comparative scholarship, participants will explore how revolutionary outcomes influenced subsequent developments, including globalization and structural reforms. Students analyze continuity and change in modern Mexican history. The geographic and thematic focus varies by instructor. Repeatable for credit.

HIST 5334. Modern Latin America.

This course examines major political, social, and economic transformations in Latin America from the late colonial era to the present, with particular attention to revolutionary movements and their historical impact on regional change. Students analyze struggles for independence, state formation, economic development, cultural shifts, and modern revolutions through comparative and interdisciplinary frameworks. The course emphasizes historiographical debates and theoretical frameworks to support analysis of historical processes and their connections to contemporary Latin American dynamics, while preparing students for independent research and scholarly writing. The geographic and thematic focus varies by instructor. Repeatable for credit.

HIST 5335. Twentieth-Century Russia and the Soviet Union.

This course examines selected topics in modern Russian and Soviet history, analyzing political, social, cultural, and economic developments from the late imperial period to the post-Soviet era. Students engage with scholarly monographs and historiographical debates to evaluate how historians interpret major events such as reform efforts, revolutionary change, state-building, and societal transformation. The seminar format emphasizes critical reading, discussion, and written analysis. Students assess competing explanations for key historical developments, compare methodological approaches, and develop evidence-based interpretations of the region's modern trajectory. Topics vary by semester to allow for in-depth study of different themes.

HIST 5336. East European History.

This course examines selected topics in recent East European history, analyzing political, social, and cultural developments from the late nineteenth century to the post‑communist era. Students engage with various scholarly interpretations to evaluate how historians explain major transformations such as imperial collapse, nation‑building, state socialism, and post‑1989 transitions. The seminar emphasizes critical reading, discussion, and evidence‑based analysis. Students compare interpretive frameworks, assess the methodological approaches used in the field, and develop the capacity to situate regional case studies within broader historical debates. Topics vary by semester to allow in‑depth exploration of different themes.

HIST 5337. Modern Japan.

This course examines selected topics in the history of Japan since the opening of the 17th century. Topics may include, but are not limited to, life and livelihoods in Japan’s urban and rural areas, societal dynamics in the lead-up to the country’s first trade agreements with Euro-American powers in 1854, interactions on Japanese soil and abroad between Japanese and non-Japanese people, outside expertise and domestic innovation in Japanese industrial and military development, and popular movements in Japan from the beginning of the 17th century to the present. Students explore political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions of processes of modernization through a combination of scholarly articles and monographs, primary documents, and historiographical debates. Through discussion and analytical writing, students assess methodological approaches and develop evidence-based interpretations of Japanese history. Topics vary by semester, allowing for focused study of particular regions, themes, or chronological periods. This course is repeatable for credit.

HIST 5340. Immigration and U.S. History.

This course investigates immigration and citizenship in the United States from the colonial period to the twenty-first century, analyzing the factors that drove migration and the varied experiences of newcomers and their descendants. Students examine how historians interpret identity formation, community building, and interactions with legal and political institutions. As a graduate-level reading seminar, the course engages both foundational monographs and recent scholarly works to evaluate changing methodological and interpretive approaches within the field. Assignments focus on assessing arguments, comparing analytical frameworks, and situating historical developments within broader scholarly conversations about migration and national membership.

HIST 5343. The Progressive Era in the United States.

This course analyzes political, social, and economic developments of the Progressive Era while investigating how scholars interpret reform movements and governance in this period. Students evaluate various methodological approaches, including political history, social history, and cultural analysis, considering how each shapes interpretations of evidence. Through structured reading and discussion, students examine the arguments historians make and the evidentiary strategies they employ. Writing assignments emphasize the construction of analytical claims, weighing of alternatives, and precise use of sources. The course prepares students to produce interpretations that situate historical events within ongoing historiographical debates.

HIST 5345D. Oral History: Theory & Practice.

A seminar based upon developing a theoretical and practical understanding of the techniques of oral historical research and document preservation and presentation.

HIST 5345U. Dark Tourism: Interpreting Historic Sites of Domination, Death, and Disaster.

This course examines the challenges of interpreting historic sites associated with tragic historical events and practices, such as battlefields, concentration camps, massacre sites, and plantations that are open to visitors. The course evaluates effective methods of interpreting tragedy at dark tourism sites in the United States and around the world.

HIST 5346. African American History.

This course examines major themes in African American history through a graduate-level reading seminar format. Students analyze scholarship on enslavement, family and community formation, cultural expression, urban and suburban development, political activism, and the evolution of racial categories in the United States. The course evaluates methodological approaches historians use to study race, class, gender, and identity, with attention to archival practices and interpretive frameworks. Through discussion and analytical writing, students compare interpretive frameworks, evaluate evidentiary choices, and situate works within broader scholarly debates. By the end of the semester, students assess African American history as a field of study and explore how scholars construct historical narratives from diverse sources.

HIST 5347. Texas History.

This course analyzes rotating topics in Texas history, focusing on how historians interpret major developments in politics, society, culture, and regional identity. Students examine a range of primary and secondary sources to evaluate interpretive frameworks and methodological choices used in the field. Themes may include Indigenous history, Spanish and Mexican governance, frontier settlements, economic transformations, civil rights movements, and urbanization. The seminar emphasizes historiographical debates and the practice of assessing evidence, comparing scholarly arguments, and situating regional history within broader national contexts. The course may be repeated for credit when offered with different areas of emphasis.

HIST 5348. Texas Music History.

This course examines the development of musical traditions in Texas and the American Southwest from pre-Columbian times to the present, analyzing how musical forms emerged, changed, and interacted across different cultural settings. Students evaluate primary recordings, historical documents, and scholarly studies to understand how historians and ethnomusicologists interpret the relationship between music and regional history. The seminar emphasizes critical listening, contextual analysis, and attention to diverse communities and influences. Through discussion and written work, students assess interpretive frameworks, compare methodological approaches, and develop evidence-based analyses of how music has been shaped by the social, cultural, and political dynamics of the region.

HIST 5350. History of the North American West.

This course examines selected topics in the history of the North American West, analyzing how territorial expansion, regional encounters, and environmental factors shaped broader patterns of U.S. development. Students explore political, social, economic, and cultural dimensions of frontier processes through a combination of primary documents, scholarly monographs, and historiographical debates. The seminar emphasizes evaluating differing interpretations of settlement, migration, Indigenous–settler interactions, and state formation. Through discussion and analytical writing, students assess methodological approaches and develop evidence-based interpretations of western history. Topics vary by semester, allowing for focused study of particular regions, themes, or chronological periods.

HIST 5351D. Politics & Society of Postwar America, 1945-Present.

This course will explore the interaction of political, economic, and social forces in the years following the Second World War. Emphasis will be placed on analyzing the interdependent relationship between political structures, social movements, and economic circumstances. (MULT).

HIST 5352. The History of the Postwar United States, 1945-1991.

This course examines changes and continuities in politics, economics, and social relations in the United States from the end of World War II to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Students analyze a wide range of primary and secondary sources, including historical studies, oral histories, and artifacts of literary, musical, and visual culture. The course emphasizes methodological challenges of researching the historical relationships between the dynamics of everyday life and changes at the national and global scale. Course readings vary by semester and include selections from primary sources as well as classic and recent historical studies.

HIST 5353. US Borderlands History.

This course examines selected topics in the history of the U.S. borderlands, analyzing the interactions among Indigenous, Spanish, Mexican, and American communities across shifting geopolitical frontiers. Students explore themes such as migration, trade, territorial expansion, cultural exchange, and conflict. Using primary sources, scholarly debates, and comparative regional studies, the course investigates how borderlands functioned as zones of negotiation and adaptation. Through discussion, writing, and research, students evaluate differing historiographical approaches and assess how historians interpret the complexity and variability of borderland societies over time.

HIST 5354. The History of Utopian Communities in the United States.

This course examines utopian experiments in American history from the early colonial period through the twentieth century. Beginning with John Winthrop’s 1630 “City upon a Hill,” students analyze how religious and secular communities articulated ideals of social order, governance, labor, and moral discipline. The course evaluates eighteenth and nineteenth-century communal ventures and investigates the organizational structures, economic models, and belief systems that informed them. It concludes with an examination of twentieth-century intentional communities, alternative communal movements, and separatist groups. Through readings, discussion, and analytical writing, students assess how historians interpret the aspirations and limitations of utopian projects.

HIST 5358. Sectionalism & Slavery in the United States.

This course examines major scholarly interpretations of the causes and consequences of sectional conflict in the United States before the Civil War. Students analyze works that address political, economic, social, and ideological divisions, with particular attention to how historians interpret the role of slavery in shaping sectional tensions. The seminar evaluates competing explanations for secession, the breakdown of national institutions, and the onset of war. By engaging with classic and recent historiography, students assess methodological approaches, compare interpretive frameworks, and develop the ability to situate historical arguments within broader scholarly debates. Emphasis is placed on evidence-based analysis and critical reading.

HIST 5359. Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in US Labor History.

This course examines how historians analyze race, gender, and ethnicity within the field of U.S. labor history. Students evaluate scholarly debates about class formation, labor organization, workplace relations, and workers’ everyday experiences by engaging with the interpretive literature. The course investigates methodological approaches that use race, gender, and ethnicity as analytical categories for understanding labor movements, unorganized workers, and regional variation in workers’ experiences and the politics of work. Through seminar discussion, comparative reading, and research-based writing, students assess how different frameworks shape interpretations of labor consciousness, institutional development, and social relations in diverse historical settings.

HIST 5361. Historiography and Methods.

This course examines foundational concepts and methods used in professional historical research and writing. Students analyze a range of sources to evaluate how historians construct interpretations and frame analytical questions. The course introduces approaches to archival inquiry, source criticism, historiographical debates, and the development of evidence-based arguments. Through guided discussions and structured research exercises, students practice evaluating scholarly works, refining research questions, and applying disciplinary conventions in historical writing. By the end of the course, students demonstrate the ability to assess historical methodologies and articulate informed, analytical interpretations.

HIST 5362. Military History.

This course explores rotating topics in military history, focusing on how historians analyze warfare, state formation, military institutions, and strategic decision making. Students investigate a range of primary and secondary sources to evaluate interpretations of conflict, leadership, logistics, and the societal impacts of war. The seminar introduces major historiographical debates and methodological approaches, enabling students to assess how different scholars construct arguments and use evidence. Through guided discussion and analytical writing, students practice comparing interpretive models and situating individual case studies within broader historical patterns. This course may be repeated with new topics for up to nine credit hours.

HIST 5363. U.S. Society & Culture Before the Civil War.

This course examines cultural, social, political, and economic developments in the United States during the three decades preceding the Civil War. Students analyze how factors such as community structures, labor systems, migration, reform movements, and regional identities influenced daily life for Americans from varied backgrounds. Through engagement with key scholarly works, the seminar evaluates differing interpretations of prewar society and the forces shaping it. Students compare methodological approaches, assess evidentiary choices, and develop evidence‑based analyses of how historians explain continuity and change in the antebellum period.

HIST 5367. US Era of Civil War and Reconstruction.

This course examines major historiographical interpretations of the American Civil War and Reconstruction, analyzing how scholars explain the conflict’s origins, trajectory, and long-term consequences. Students evaluate primary and secondary sources to investigate themes including slavery, political decision-making, military operations, social developments, and constitutional change. The course emphasizes comparative historiographical analysis, asking students to assess how historians frame questions, select evidence, and construct arguments. Through seminar discussions and written work, students practice evaluating competing interpretations and situating influential studies within broader scholarly contexts. The course also guides students in conducting original historical research using appropriate methods and source materials.

HIST 5369. Music and Social Movements.

This course analyzes historical scholarship on the role of music in social movements, investigating how historians and researchers explain the relationship between musical expression and political, cultural, and economic change. Students study case-based and thematic works to evaluate how music has been interpreted within movements involving civil rights, labor, religion, education, gender, and other areas of public engagement. The course emphasizes methodological analysis, encouraging students to consider the evidentiary value of recordings, oral histories, performance studies, and archival materials. Through comparative reading and seminar discussion, students assess competing interpretations and develop skills in constructing well supported historical arguments.

HIST 5371. The Practice of Public History.

This course introduces the field of Public History at the graduate level. It covers topics that range from historical methods and interpretation, historic preservation, museums, historical analysis, public relations, and controversies associated with the practice of public history. This course surveys the basic knowledge required of individuals working in the fields of museum studies, historic preservation, cultural resources management, and related fields that present history to the general public. The course also engages students in hands on public history projects.

HIST 5372. The Practice of Museum Studies and Material Culture.

A seminar addressing the history, organization, and functions of history museums.

HIST 5374. Public History Internship.

This course examines the application of public history theories and methods in professional environments by placing students in supervised positions within archives, museums, libraries, or related institutions. Students apply established approaches to historical research and interpretation while contributing to projects that support preservation, documentation, or public engagement. Throughout the internship, they analyze institutional procedures, evaluate professional standards, and practice evidence‑based skills essential to work with governmental and cultural organizations. The experience also provides opportunities to develop communication strategies and professional networks by collaborating with supervisors, stakeholders, and diverse audiences. Departmental approval is required.

HIST 5375A. Documentary Film.

The use of film & video in public programming; research & produce documents.

HIST 5375E. Management & Administration in Historical Organizations.

This course provides an introduction to the non-profit based management, leadership, and administration issues and practices for historical organizations.

HIST 5375I. Heritage in a Global Context.

Heritage management is the interdisciplinary approach to the preservation, protection, and public use of the historical record. This course examines definitions and approaches within a global context. Theory and practice will be analyzed through case studies and real world examples. Current issues, sustainability and maritime issues/practices will be included. (MULT).

HIST 5376. Local and Community History.

A seminar applying historical methods to the study of U.S. communities.

HIST 5377. Public History Project.

This course examines collaborative methodologies in public history through a team-based research project. Students analyze the conceptual, interpretive, and methodological considerations involved in developing museum exhibits, historic site interpretations, and historic resource surveys. The course emphasizes project design, source evaluation, and critical assessment of interpretive frameworks. Working in research teams, students apply public history methods to a selected topic, producing analytical reports that evaluate evidence, interpretive options, and practical constraints. The course may be repeated with a different thematic or methodological focus, allowing students to explore varied approaches to public facing historical work.

HIST 5378. Oral History: Theory & Practice.

This course introduces graduate students to advanced methods in oral history research. Students examine project planning, interviewing strategies, and interpretive frameworks for analyzing oral narratives. Each student completes a series of interviews for both team-based and individual projects while applying methodological principles discussed in seminar sessions and examines theoretical debates surrounding oral history and its role in historical scholarship. Emphasis is placed on evaluating oral testimony as evidence and developing skills for organizing, analyzing, and presenting research in academic and public history settings.

HIST 5381. Chinese Communism.

This course examines the development of the Chinese Communist movement from 1919 to the present, analyzing its urban and rural dimensions and the processes through which the Chinese Communist Party established authority in 1949. Students evaluate the formation of the Party State and the implementation of socialist institutions in the People’s Republic of China. The course draws on primary documents, scholarly debates, and comparative historical studies to investigate political, social, and ideological change. Through analytical reading and writing, students assess differing interpretations of major events and consider how historians construct explanations for state formation, policy shifts, and transformations in governance.

HIST 5382. China and the Modern World.

This course examines China’s evolving relationship with the modern world from 1800 to the present, analyzing key moments of foreign conflict, diplomatic engagement, and domestic political change. Students evaluate the causes and consequences of nineteenth and early twentieth century international pressures and Chinese responses, as well as the political division between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China in 1949. The course investigates developments in mainland China and Taiwan through historiographical debates and scholarly interpretations. Students also assess competing explanations for international roles in state formation, cross Taiwan-strait interaction, and China’s shifting position within global political and economic systems.

HIST 5384. Caribbean Transnationalism and Diplomacy.

This course examines the international relations of the modern Caribbean, focusing on interactions among Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, the United States, and Venezuela. Students analyze diplomatic, economic, and cultural exchanges and evaluate how international actions and responses influenced policy, governance, identity, and transnational movements. Emphasis is placed on interpreting historical evidence and applying theoretical frameworks to evaluate patterns of continuity and change in Caribbean international relations.

HIST 5385. Modern Middle East.

This course examines selected topics in the history of the Middle East during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, analyzing political, social, economic, and cultural developments across the region. Students engage with recent historiographical scholarship to evaluate how historians interpret topics such as reform movements, imperial rule, state formation, nationalism, and social change. Topics vary from semester to semester. Through seminar participation, analytical writing, and comparative inquiry, students assess differing interpretations and develop evidence based analyses of major historical questions shaping modern Middle Eastern studies.

HIST 5386. Gandhi in World History.

This course examines how historians and biographers have interpreted Gandhi’s life, political activities, and historical significance. Students analyze a range of narrative strategies, evaluating how different authors construct arguments, select evidence, and frame key episodes. The course also investigates historiographical gaps by identifying aspects of Gandhi’s life that receive limited attention in certain works and assessing scholarly explanations for these omissions. Using primary sources alongside secondary scholarship, students develop skills in source criticism, comparative reading, and argument evaluation. Written assignments require students to formulate evidence-based interpretations and to situate Gandhi’s life within broader historical debates.

HIST 5387. Global Cold War.

This course examines recent historiographical approaches that interpret the Cold War as a global phenomenon, analyzing how scholars have expanded the field beyond a strictly U.S.–Soviet framework. Students evaluate key monographs and articles to assess how historians incorporate perspectives from Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Europe in explaining political, economic, and cultural dimensions of the conflict. The seminar emphasizes critical reading, comparison of interpretive frameworks, and assessment of methodological choices. Through discussion and written analysis, students explore how global Cold War scholarship reframes questions of ideology, diplomacy, and transnational interaction within broader historical debates.

HIST 5388. Comprehensive Examinations.

This course provides an individualized independent study for nonthesis master’s students preparing for written and oral comprehensive exams. Students develop a focused study plan in consultation with faculty, analyze major historiographical debates, and evaluate key scholarly works relevant to their examination fields. The independent format allows students to investigate core themes, refine analytical reasoning, and practice articulating evidence-based arguments. Structured milestones guide students as they synthesize material and prepare effectively for the comprehensive examination process.

HIST 5390. Independent Study.

This course enables graduate students to investigate specialized topics through individualized study arranged with faculty members. Students examine relevant scholarship, interpret sources, and construct analytical frameworks appropriate to their chosen thesis or comprehensive-exam subject. Under faculty guidance, students design a research plan, develop written analyses, and evaluate methodological approaches used within the discipline. The course supports sustained inquiry and iterative revision through one-on-one instruction and feedback. Given its individualized structure and variable subject matter, the course may be repeated for credit with approval from the director of graduate studies and department chair when the area of study substantially differs.

HIST 5395J. Foreigners in Japan, 1850-2000.

This course investigates a central question that arises in discussions of Japan: What have been the effects of foreign influences on Japanese society? Materials for study focus on memoirs written by foreigners – from Europe, the Americas, and East Asia – as they describe their lives in the country through various eras since 1850.

HIST 5398. General Research Seminar.

This course examines advanced research and writing practices in the discipline of history. Students formulate research questions grounded in relevant historiographical debates and investigate primary and secondary sources appropriate to their chosen subjects and questions. Through workshops, peer review, and iterative drafting, students analyze historical evidence to construct coherent written arguments and revise their work for clarity and rigor. The course emphasizes methodological evaluation, scholarly communication, and adherence to disciplinary citation standards. Students also assess peer drafts to strengthen analytical reasoning and evidence use.

HIST 5399A. Thesis.

This course provides structured enrollment for students engaged in the initial semester of thesis research and writing. Students formulate their research questions, evaluate relevant literature, and refine methodological approaches under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes sustained inquiry, iterative drafting, and the application of disciplinary research practices. Through regular consultation and revision, students work toward completing a thesis that demonstrates competence in scholarly argumentation and evidence-based analysis. No thesis credit is awarded until the student has completed the thesis.

HIST 5399B. Thesis.

This course provides structured enrollment for students engaged in second or subsequent semesters of thesis research and writing. Students formulate their research questions, evaluate relevant literature, and refine methodological approaches under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes sustained inquiry, iterative drafting, and the application of disciplinary research practices. Through regular consultation and revision, students work toward completing a thesis that demonstrates competence in scholarly argumentation and evidence-based analysis. Enrollment continues each term until the final thesis is prepared for submission in accordance with program requirements.

HIST 5588. Comprehensive Examinations.

This course provides an individualized independent study for nonthesis master’s students preparing for written and oral comprehensive exams. Students develop a focused study plan in consultation with faculty, analyze major historiographical debates, and evaluate key scholarly works relevant to their examination fields. The independent format allows students to investigate core themes, refine analytical reasoning, and practice articulating evidence-based arguments. Structured milestones guide students as they synthesize material and prepare effectively for the comprehensive examination process.

HIST 5599B. Thesis.

This course provides structured enrollment for students engaged in second or subsequent semesters of thesis research and writing. Students formulate their research questions, evaluate relevant literature, and refine methodological approaches under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes sustained inquiry, iterative drafting, and the application of disciplinary research practices. Through regular consultation and revision, students work toward completing a thesis that demonstrates competence in scholarly argumentation and evidence-based analysis. Enrollment continues each term until the final thesis is prepared for submission in accordance with program requirements.

HIST 5988. Comprehensive Examinations.

This course provides an individualized independent study for nonthesis master’s students preparing for written and oral comprehensive exams. Students develop a focused study plan in consultation with faculty, analyze major historiographical debates, and evaluate key scholarly works relevant to their examination fields. The independent format allows students to investigate core themes, refine analytical reasoning, and practice articulating evidence-based arguments. Structured milestones guide students as they synthesize material and prepare effectively for the comprehensive examination process.

HIST 5999B. Thesis.

This course provides structured enrollment for students engaged in second or subsequent semesters of thesis research and writing. Students formulate their research questions, evaluate relevant literature, and refine methodological approaches under faculty supervision. The course emphasizes sustained inquiry, iterative drafting, and the application of disciplinary research practices. Through regular consultation and revision, students work toward completing a thesis that demonstrates competence in scholarly argumentation and evidence-based analysis. Enrollment continues each term until the final thesis is prepared for submission in accordance with program requirements.

HIST 6305. The Practice of Museum Studies and Material Culture.

This course examines historical and contemporary issues in museums, material culture, and heritage. Museums are analyzed as institutions, including the objects and collections they hold and the professional practices that shape interpretation and display. Attention is given to collecting, classification, exhibition, and the construction of historical narratives through material culture. Ethical and institutional debates receive sustained analysis, including provenance, contested heritage, repatriation, and professional standards. Case studies draw from global contexts and include art, history, and natural history museums, heritage sites, and digital collections. Readings, discussion-based seminars, site visits, and applied projects support the integration of theory and professional practice in museum studies.

HIST 6306. Material Culture in the United States.

This course examines how interactions between people and material culture influence American society. Students evaluate how the creation, use, and meaning of material objects has influenced social, political, and economic change throughout American history. Methodology centers on the analysis of objects as primary sources through close descriptions and provenance research with attention to historical contexts. Students analyze material evidence to frame historical questions, assess change over time, construct arguments about the history of everyday life in America, and apply these skills in public history settings.

HIST 6309. Archival Management.

This course examines the history, theory, and professional practices that shape archival management. Students analyze the development of archival principles, evaluate major organizational models, and investigate how institutions acquire, preserve, describe, and provide access to records. Seminar discussions draw on case studies, professional standards, and current scholarship to assess how archival decisions influence recordkeeping systems and the role of archives in society. Through readings and applied exercises, students develop an analytical understanding of archival workflows and the methodological considerations that guide institutional decision making.

HIST 6310. Institutional Archives and Records Management.

This course examines the conceptual and methodological foundations of records management and institutional archives. Students analyze retention scheduling, legal and administrative requirements, and the criteria used to appraise records for long-term preservation. Through practical exercises and systematic evaluation, the course investigates approaches to constructing archival series, documenting institutional functions, and managing ongoing records flows. Students interpret professional standards, review the reasoning behind retention decisions, and evaluate how different appraisal methods influence the composition of archival collections. Emphasis is placed on developing the analytical skills needed to understand organizational recordkeeping practices.

HIST 6311. Heritage in Global Context.

This course examines heritage in a global context, encompassing sites, monuments, museum collections, cemeteries, landscapes, statues, and digital spaces. Heritage is explored as a social, cultural, and political process shaped by power, memory, and identity, and as both discourse and practice, tracing how it has been imagined, institutionalized, contested, and resisted across societies and historical periods. The course considers formal heritage regimes from early modern and colonial contexts and twentieth-century frameworks such as UNESCO. Comparative case studies address preservation, interpretation, governance, legal frameworks, and access across local, national, and global settings, highlighting methodological and professional strategies for heritage assessment and management.

HIST 6315. Cultural Resource Management.

This course examines the management of cultural resources, including historic buildings, archaeological sites, and other physical materials that document the human past. Students analyze approaches to identification, evaluation, preservation, and stewardship within public and private institutions. The course investigates federal and state legal frameworks, regulatory procedures, and professional standards governing cultural resource management. Through case studies and seminar discussions, students evaluate how agencies interpret legislation, implement compliance strategies, and balance preservation goals with development pressures.

HIST 6316. Historic Preservation.

This course examines the development of architectural history alongside key frameworks in preservation theory and practice in the United States and elsewhere. Students analyze major architectural periods, methodological approaches to historical interpretation, and evolving preservation standards. Through readings, comparative case studies, and class discussion, the seminar investigates how architects, historians, and preservation professionals document, interpret, and evaluate the built environment. Participants assess the analytical tools used to understand architectural form, material integrity, cultural context, and conservation strategies. The course trains students to evaluate evidence and apply theoretical models to questions surrounding historical significance and decisions about preservation.

HIST 6317. Architectural History in the United States.

This course analyzes major themes in American architectural history from 1607 onward, exploring how structures embody changing cultural, economic, social, and technological contexts. Students evaluate architectural forms, materials, and design principles while considering the ways buildings can serve as historical sources. The course incorporates visual analysis, archival research, and site-based case studies to investigate the relationship between the built environment and public history practice. Attention is given to how historic architecture is interpreted, managed, and presented by museums, preservation programs, and other public institutions.

HIST 6318. Evaluating Historic Sites.

This course examines how historic sites construct and communicate interpretations of the past, with attention to the expectations and experiences of visitors. Students analyze interpretive strategies, presentation methods, and the use of material settings to frame historical narratives. The course evaluates scholarly approaches for studying visitor engagement, including the role of affective responses in shaping perceptions of authenticity. Through readings, case studies, and analytical exercises, students investigate how public historians design interpretive programs and how audiences understand and respond to them.

HIST 6319. Local and Community History.

This course examines the methods public historians use to study, document, and interpret the histories of U.S. local communities. Students analyze approaches to researching the built environment, material culture, archival sources, and oral histories, and evaluate how communities construct, negotiate, and present public narratives about a common past. Readings and exercises introduce frameworks for assessing memory, representation, and the relationship between local and national histories. Students also engage in applied methodological work by examining historical sites and records from Central Texas to evaluate how such histories are identified, contextualized, and communicated.

HIST 6321. History and Memory.

This course examines how social groups, institutions, and communities construct and negotiate collective memories of past events. Students analyze theories of memory, the mechanisms through which narratives are formed, and the factors that shape how interpretations change over time. The course evaluates the influence of contemporary political, cultural, and social contexts on the remembrance and representation of history. Through engagement with case studies, scholarly debates, and primary materials, students assess differing explanations of why collective memories emerge, persist, or shift. Topics may include, but are not limited to, the memorialization of fascism in Europe, the sanitization of the Civil Rights Movement, controversies over the Alamo, and the development of pilgrimage sites. Assignments emphasize analytical reasoning, evidence-based interpretation, and the ability to explain how memory functions as a historical process.

HIST 6322. Digital History.

This course examines the history of print and digital media and introduces students to the practice of digital history. Students analyze a variety of digital history projects to understand how historians research, interpret, and present the past using digital tools and platforms. The course emphasizes evaluation of digital sources, project design, and methodological transparency. Students engage with different forms of digital historical work, including online archives, digital exhibits, and scholarly digital publications, and contribute to a digital project grounded in historical research.

HIST 6323. Documentary Film.

This course examines how film and video function within public history and cultural programming. Students analyze strategies for using visual media to interpret historical subjects, communicate research findings, and engage diverse audiences. Through guided instruction, students evaluate documentary conventions, investigate research methods for audiovisual storytelling, and study the relationship between archival materials and narrative construction. The course may include hands-on work with filming and editing as a means of exploring methodological choices. Students develop an evidence-based assessment of how documentary formats shape public understanding of historical topics.