History

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Whether you major in history, minor in history, or simply take some of our many available history courses, you will benefit from the unique mission of MBU's History program and its dedicated Christian faculty as they help to prepare you for a future career in one of many possible fields of service.

Possible Careers for History Majors

What do basketball superstar Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, C.N.N. News anchor Wolf Blitzer, and U.S. President George W. Bush share in common? All three were undergraduate history majors. Vocationally, majoring in history provides an excellent background to begin work or advanced study in any field that requires a strong liberal arts education and a keen understanding of people. Sample careers that have traditionally attracted history majors include:

• High School or Elementary Teacher
• College Professor
• Archivist
• Campaign Consultant
• Chief Executive Officer of a Corporation
• Commentator
• Curator
• Detective
• Diplomat
• Editor
• Geneaologist
• Information Specialist
• Intelligence Agent or Analyst
• Lawyer
• Librarian
• Linguist
• Lobbyist
• Military
• News Anchor
• Non-fiction Author
• Novelist
• Paralegal
• Park Ranger
• Pastor or Theologian
• Policy Analyst
• Politician
• Producer
• Professor
• Publisher
• Reporter
• Research Consultant
• Screenwriter
• Spokesperson
• Sportswriter
• Teacher

Mission Statement: In accordance with the Mission Statement of Missouri Baptist University, the History major has several purposes: (1) to acquaint students with the commonly accepted factual data of human history; (2) to expose students to differing viewpoints and schools of historical interpretation; (3) to help students develop the ability to do independent research and to write competently in the field of history; (4) to encourage students to develop a Biblically-based Christian approach to historical study; and (5) to prepare History majors for careers in teaching*, or in other professional fields requiring a broad liberal arts background.

*Students seeking certification to teach high school history should major in Social Sciences in order to satisfy the state certification requirements for social studies 9-12.

Need More Information?
For more information, contact Dr. Keith Beutler at kbeutler@mobap.edu. To learn about faculty in the Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, click here.

The course information below is for purposes of highlighting the program's major features. For full, up-to-date information always consult the university's latest catalog.

Major

The student must complete at least 39 hours in History, including the following courses or their equivalent:

HIST 113 Western Civilization I
HIST 123 Western Civilization II
HIST 213 United States History I
HIST 223 United States History II
HIST 303 Introduction to the Study of History
HIST 403 Research Seminar

Electives: An additional 21 hours must be completed, including at least 6 hours from upper division American history courses and at least 6 hours from upper division European, Latin American, Asian, and/or other non-U.S. history courses.

Minor

The student must complete 21 hours in History, including the following courses or their equivalent:

HIST 113 Western Civilization I
HIST 123 Western Civilization II
HIST 213 United States History I
HIST 223 United States History II
HIST 303 Introduction to the Study of History

Electives: Six hours from upper division courses

Course Descriptions

HIST 113 WESTERN CIVILIZATION I
A survey of the history of the Western world, particularly Europe,
from its origins in Egypt and Southwest Asia to about 1660. The
course covers classical Egypt, the Ancient Near East, the Biblical
Hebrews, classical Greece, Hellenism, the Roman Republic and
Empire, the rise of Christianity, the Byzantine Empire, the three
stages of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Reformations, and
early-modern Europe.
Three Hours, Fall

HIST 123 WESTERN CIVILIZATION II
A survey of the history of the European world from about 1660
to the present. The course covers the economic revolutions, the
Age of Absolutism, the Enlightenment, the French and Industrial
Revolutions, the political and social changes of the 19th century,
World Wars I and II and the period between them, the Cold War,
and the present age.
Three Hours, Spring

HIST 213 UNITED STATES HISTORY I
A survey of United States history from the beginning of white
settlement of North America to 1865. The course covers the
colonial, Revolutionary War periods, the framing and nature of
the Constitution of 1787, the early national period, national
growth, the slavery controversy, and the Civil War.
Three Hours, Fall

HIST 223 UNITED STATES HISTORY II
A survey of United States history from 1865 to the present. The
course covers Reconstruction, the Gilded Age, the Progressive Era,
World War I, the 1920’s, the Great Depression, World War II, the
Cold War, the Vietnam War era, and recent America.
Three Hours, Spring

HIPO 233 AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY
Examination of the factors influencing the formation and execution
of United States foreign policy and of specific contemporary foreign
policies and problems. The course will focus on the policies through
which the United States attempts to maintain satisfactory economic,
political, and social relationships with other countries. Global
interdependency will be investigated. Prerequisite(s): POLS 113
and HIST 223, or consent of instructor. This course does not satisfy
the U.S. government requirement for teacher certification.
Three Hours, On Demand

HIST 303 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF HISTORY
Through lectures, discussions, readings, and writing assignments,
this course introduces history majors and other interested upper-level
students to the discipline of historical study. Topics covered include:
historical interpretation and education from ancient times to the
present, with special attention to leading historians and trends since
the professionalization of history in the late nineteenth century;
influential philosophies of history, historical methodology; historical
epistemology; historical periodization; mechanics of quality
historical research and writing; relevant library resources; history
research fellowships and internships; ethical and professional
standards forhistorians; careers for history majors (including options
and insights for students who may wish to go on to graduate
training in the field); history course offerings available through this
university; and local universities with which this university has
special tuition and course-transfer agreements; and an introduction
to the community of history students and history faculty at Missouri
Baptist University. Prerequisite(s): HIST 113, HIST 123, HIST 213,
HIST 223, or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Fall

HIRE 313A HISTORY OF CHRISTIANITY
A study of the origin and spread of Christianity with emphasis on
policy, dogma, and practices, and the influence of the Christian
movement. Prerequisite(s): RBIB 113 and RBIB 123.
Three Hours, Spring, Odd Years

HIRE 313B BAPTIST HISTORY
A survey of the growth of Baptists in general, and Southern Baptists
in particular, from the English Separatists to the modern era. Focus
is given to the policy, dogma, practices, and influences of this movement.
Prerequisite(s): RBIB 113 and RBIB 123.
Three Hours, Fall, Odd Years

HIRE 323A RENAISSANCE AND REFORMATION
This course is an introduction to the political events,
intellectual-theological insights, and artistic expressions of the
historical period called the Renaissance and Reformation. This
course presents the important changes and thinkers of this period.
Prerequisite(s): RBIB 113 and RBIB 123.
Three Hours, Spring, Even Years

HIRE 323B RELIGION IN AMERICAN HISTORY
A study of the major religious currents in American life from the
colonial era to the present. Special attention will be given to the
interaction between American culture and the various strands of
Christianity. Prerequisite(s): RBIB 113 and RBIB 123.
Three Hours, Fall, Even Years

HIPO 343 THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY
This course is a detailed examination of the office of the American
Presidency. The course will focus on the development of the
Presidency from the time of Washington to the present. The
students will not only look at the political thought and actions of
the founders, preservers, and revisers of American republicanism and
their varied understanding of executive power, but also will read
various biographical accounts of various presidents to discover how
the office changes from president to president.
Three hours, Fall, even-numbered years

HIST 343 HISTORY OF LATIN AMERICA
A survey of Latin American History from prehistoric times to the
present. The first half of the course covers the colonial period, the
wars for independence, and the difficulties of the 19th century. The
second half of the course discusses the 20th century. Both halves
focus on four nations; Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, and Cuba.
Three Hours, Fall, Odd Years

HIPO 353 AMERICAN POLITICAL THOUGHT
This course will look at our system of representative democracy as
understood by the Founders, Framers and other political thinkers
from 1760 to 1800. The students will read many primary source
documents from this Founding Period, and evaluate how and why
the thoughts of the Founders have impacted not only American
Political thought, but also constitutional democracy today.
Three hours, Spring, Odd Years

HIST 363 EARLY AMERICAN HISTORY
A lecture/discussion course that treats the Atlantic coast of what is
today the United States from the beginning of white settlement to
1789. Major topics include: the 16th-century European background;
the exploration of English North America; the founding of three
kinds of colonies on the Atlantic seaboard; late 17th-century revolts;
colonial economics, politics, and expansionism; colonial social and
intellectual activities, including religious development; the
organization and reorganization of the British Empire as that
affected North America; the revolutionary crisis of the 1760’s and
1770’s; the causes and consequences of the American Revolution;
the War for Independence; experiments in state and national
government; and the drafting and ratification of the federal
Constitution. Prerequisite(s): HIST 213 or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Fall, Odd Years

HIST 373 HISTORY OF ENGLAND
A discussion-format survey of British history from prehistoric times
to the present. The course covers the prehistory of England; Roman
and medieval Britain; the decline of the monarchy into civil war;
the reigns of the Tudors, Stuarts, and Puritans; the world wars
against France; the social and political changes of the 18th century;
the ages of revolution and Napoleonic Wars; 19th-century life; the
height of the Empire; liberal changes; World Wars I and II and the
period between them; and recent socialist-dominated Britain.
Prerequisite(s): HIST 113 and HIST 123, or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Fall, Odd Years

HIST 403 RESEARCH SEMINAR
A seminar/practicum in historical methodology, the course focuses
on individual student research projects and the written reporting of
them. Prerequisite(s): HIST 113, HIST 123, HIST 213, HIST 223,
HIST 303, and two upper division History electives.
Three Hours, Fall, Odd Years

HIST 413 ANCIENT HISTORY
A study of ancient civilization from the Ancient Near East and
the origins of Greek city-states to the decline of the Roman
Empire. Particular attention is given to the political, social,
economic,intellectual, and religious trends in the classical era.
Three Hours, Fall, Even Years

HIST 423 CHINA
A study which relates modern China to its ancient past.
Consideration of selected dynasties and exposure to Western pressure
provides an historical framework in analyzing this major Asian
country. In addition, China is evaluated as the Middle Kingdom to
which many nations of East Asia look for guidance.
Three Hours, Spring, Even Years

HIRP 433 CONTEMPORARY WORLD VIEWS
An examination of several contemporary rivals of Christianity,
including atheism, naturalism, Marxism, nihilism, existentialism,
eastern religions, and the New Age movement. Prerequisite(s):
RBIB 113 and RBIB 123, or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Fall, Odd Years

HIST 433 TWENTIETH-CENTURY EUROPE
A study treating the development of Europe from 1900 to the
present. Major topics include the rush of the continent toward
general war; the military stalemate and its final resolution; the
diplomacy of peacemaking; the Russian Revolution; economic
recovery, then prosperity; the international depression; the rise and
fall of fascism; the Cold War; the rebuilding and reconstruction of
Europe; and the new, reduced place of Europe in the recent world.
Prerequisite(s): HIST 123 or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Spring, Even Years

HIST 443 THE EARLY AMERICAN REPUBLIC
A lecture and discussion course that examines the contours of American
history from the beginning of effective governance under the U.S.
Constitution in 1789 through the end of the Mexican-American War in
1848. Topics include: development of political parties in the early United
States; the War of 1812; the so-called “Market Revolution”; the rise of the
“Cotton Kingdom” and westward expansion of plantation slavery; antislavery
and the politics of reform; proto-feminism; the policy of “Indian
Removal”; changing mores, including increasing popular knowledge and
use of contraception; the death of the United States’ founding generation
and the politics of patriotic memory; expansion of the franchise;
democratization of American culture and religion; the evolution of
foundational U.S. case law; the rise of mass print culture; and
the Mexican-American War. Prerequisite(s): HIST 213, or
consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Spring, Even Years

HIST 453 AMERICA IN THE GILDED AGE AND PROGRESSIVE ERA
A lecture and discussion course surveying American history from
the end of Reconstruction in 1877 into the era of the First World
War. Topics include: the politics of sectional reconciliation after
Reconstruction, the U.S. Supreme Court and the development of
the "Jim Crow" regime of racial segregation, surging capitalism and
its critics, organized labor, new technologies of communication and
transportation; urbanization, the advent of mass consumption,
the rise and fall of farming in the Great Plains states, Populism,
Progressivism, professionalization, immigration, nativism, the closing
of the American frontier, social Darwinism; America's involvement
in the West's "scramble" for empire in the late nineteenth century;
the Spanish American War; and the United States' entry into World
War One. Prerequisite(s): HIST 223, or consent of instructor
Three Hours, Spring, Odd Years

HIST 463 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION
A study treating United States history from the height of
sectionalism to the 1880’s. After an introduction to the age of
sectional controversy, major topics include: the Compromise of
1850; the Kansas-Nebraska Act; the Dred Scott decision; John
Brown’s raids; the election of 1860; the military campaigns of the
Civil War; the governmental and home front activities of the war;
and political, economic, and social reconstruction. Prerequisite(s):
HIST 213 and HIST 223 or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Spring, Even Years

HIST 471-476 INTERNSHIP IN ARCHIVAL OPERATIONS
This course will provide the student an opportunity to gain practical
experience in the operation of a functioning archival collection.
The archives utilized are those of a local approved facility. The
internship will include work in the areas of historical records and
papers, oral history, reference requests, newsletters, and computer
operations. Prerequisite(s): Sophomore standing and consent of
supervisor. Variable credit, may be taken twice in two different
field settings; not to exceed a total of 6 hours.
One-six hours, On Demand

HIST 483 RECENT AMERICAN HISTORY
A lecture/discussion course that treats United States history since
the end of World War I. Major topics include the so-called Roaring
Twenties; the Great Depression and the New Deal; World War II;
the Cold War abroad and at home; the third great age of American
reform; the Vietnam War era; Watergate and the eclipse of the
Presidency; and recent American foreign and domestic policy.
Prerequisite(s): HIST 223 or consent of instructor.
Three Hours, Spring, Odd Years