HST 103 Western Civilization: Europe and the World

A survey of the historical development of the Western world from approximately 1800 to the late twentieth century that provides students with an overview of diverse peoples, nationalities, and cultures in the context of changing social, political, and economic conditions and values. The concepts, events, and people covered will guide our understanding of the present world. Topics include industrialization and labor; social movements; mid-19th- century political revolutions; imperialism; ideologies and politics of the 19th and 20th centuries; the world wars and decolonization; the Cold War, and popular culture.

Credits

4

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Apply analytical skills to social phenomena in order to understand human behavior. Identify and consider important concepts, movements, and themes to understand peoples of the western world and their relationship with Africa and Asia beginning approximately in 1800 to the late 20th century
2. Apply knowledge and experience to foster personal growth and better appreciate the diverse social world in which we live. Analyze how peoples in Europe and America are creating the modern industrial society and various economic and political systems that bring them into contact/conflict with peoples in the Americas, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Note the variety of interactions between various groups and individuals and how they dealt with change and issues common to all by developing new political and social ideologies
3. Understand the role of individuals and institutions within the context of society. It will demonstrate the concept of the individual in the western world, why, and how it is unique to the west. Look at function of institutions and new ideologies in society, how they are unique or not, and how they influence behavior of individuals or are used by individuals. Ask the question of why individualism is not a concept for many non-western societies which ask the question why this is even an outcome for a Social Science class
4. Assess different theories and concepts, and understand the distinctions between empirical and other methods of inquiry. Demonstrate a functional appreciation of various interpretations of history and how they came to be. Identify different schools of thought and the many "lenses" used to look back and study history
5. Utilize appropriate information literacy skills in written and oral communication. Students evaluate and use relevant evidence to illustrate and support questions and perspectives about the past as well as conclusions they draw from them
6. Understand the diversity of human experience and thought, individually and collectively. Identify and consider the universals and the diverseness in human experience over time. Demonstrate knowledge of geographical time and place and how that changes. Be familiar with processes by which individuals and peoples change over time
7. Apply knowledge and skills to contemporary problems and issues. Identify correlations/analogies between the past and our own time. Consider issues common to all eras and human experience