History
Department Goals
Goals in Relation to the University at Large
- To contribute a range of courses for the General Education program.
- To provide a curriculum for the study of history as a major discipline.
- To produce a range of courses contributing to the curricula of interdisciplinary programs, such as International Studies, American Studies, Women’s Studies, Greek & Roman Studies, and Environmental Studies.
Learning Outcomes for History Majors
After earning a degree in History at IWU, students will:
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Understand the breadth and depth of history by:
- Studying the key historical processes of at least three geographical areas at the 100 level,
- Examining pre-1800 history in at least one course, and
- Engaging in the in-depth study of historical subjects or periods in at least four upper-level courses.
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Think critically by developing skills such as:
- Appreciating both the objective and the subjective elements of historical inquiry,
- Reading, understanding, analyzing, and evaluating texts, particularly within their own historical contexts,
- Discerning causes and effects of events, thoughts, and activities, and
- Honing the ability to approach a myriad of facts, and to prioritize and structure those facts through the identification and application of various historical themes. Themes/categories would include, for example, thought/ideology, gender, class, race, global relationships of domination/subjugation, culture, politics, and economics.
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Research effectively by:
- Identifying an appropriate research question,
- Locating appropriate written texts, both primary and secondary,
- Learning to interrogate one’s sources, and
- Knowing how to use responsibly the ideas of others in shaping and refining one’s own.
- Effectively communicate the findings of historical inquiry orally and, most particularly, through scholarly writing.
- Critique responsibly the scholarly work of others.