Courses

2024-2025 Academic Year

HIST 1102
The West and the World: From the Middles Ages to the Enlightenment 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of Western civilization from the fall of the Roman Empire to the eighteenth century. Particular attention will be given to the relation between the West and other civilizations and cultures of the world: how Europeans interacted with other peoples through trade, travel, and conquest. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 1101 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 1103
The West and the World: From the French Revolution to the Modern Day 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of Western civilization from the French Revolution to the late twentieth century. Particular attention will be paid to the changes that brought about the modern world and to the relation between the West and other civilizations and cultures. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 1101 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 1121/CANA 1121
Canoes and Colonialism: A History of Canada to Confederation 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of Canada from the pre-contact period until Canadian Confederation in 1867. Special emphasis will be placed upon political, economic, and social factors which have contributed to the growth of the Canadian nation and a national identity. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 1120 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 1122/CANA 1122
Consolidation and Conflict: A History of Canada from Confederation 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of Canada from the Canadian Confederation in 1867 to the present day. Special emphasis will be placed upon political, economic, and social factors which have contributed to the growth of the Canadian nation and a national identity. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 1120 may not take this course for credit

HIST 1131
World History: Early Civilizations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas 0.5 unit
An introduction to narratives of world history from China, India, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and the Americas. The course covers the history of evolution, hunter-gatherer societies, and early agrarian and pastoral communities. The goal of the course is to introduce students to the discipline of history from a global perspective. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 1130 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 1132
World History: Colonization and Commodities 0.5 unit
A history of the convergence of the regional cultures of Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, China, Africa and the Americas in the modern era. Topics include Chinese voyages of exploration, the Columbian exchange, the little ice age, the rise of the West, the globalization of disease, and the spread of world religions. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 1130 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2200
History of Greece 0.5 unit
A survey of the history of Greece including the Minoan-Mycenaean civilizations, the development of political institutions including democracy, the Persian wars, Periclean Athens, the rise of Macedon and the achievement of Alexander the Great.

HIST 2201
History of Rome 0.5 unit
A survey of the history of Rome including the Etruscans, the unification of the Italian peninsula, the conquest of the Mediterranean, Julius Caesar and the Roman revolution, the Augustan principate, the life and times of the emperors, the rise of the Christian church and the fall of Rome.

HIST 2205
Europe in the Twentieth Century 1.0 unit
An examination of the major political, social, and cultural developments in Europe in the twentieth century. Topics include the two World Wars, the Bolshevik Revolution, fascism, the Great Depression, the Cold War, the welfare state, the creation of the European Union, the youth, women’s and environmental movements, and the disintegration of the Soviet block. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2208 and/or HIST 2209 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2207
History of European Women from the Eighteenth Century to the Modern Day 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of European women from the early modern period to the late twentieth century. The course explores the changing lives, identities, opportunities, and political activism of European women and considers the different ways in which they experienced family life, work, politics, culture, religion, sexuality, and war. (Also listed under Women’s Studies)

HIST 2208
From Optimism to Destruction: Europe 1890-1933 0.5 unit
An overview of the major political, social and cultural developments in European history from the 1890s to the Great Depression, including European imperialism, the First World War, the Bolshevik Revolution, the Paris Peace Conference and its aftermath, the rise of fascism in Italy and other countries, and the impact of the 1929 stock market crash. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2205 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2209
Catastrophe and Rebirth: Europe 1933-1989 0.5 unit
An overview of the major political, social and cultural developments in European history starting from the rise of nazism in Germany to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Topics to be covered include aggression and appeasement in the 1930s, the Second World War, the Holocaust, the Cold War, and the fall of the Soviet Block. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2205 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2210
North American Indigenous-State Relations 0.5 unit
A survey of relations between North American governments and Indigenous Nations of Turtle Island to the twentieth century. Key themes include: North American wars and treaties, settler and state colonialism, and Indigenous Aboriginal resistance.

HIST 2211
Explorers, Artists and Reformers: Renaissance and Reformation Europe 0.5 unit
An overview of European history in the age of the Renaissance and the Reformation. The course focuses on cultural, intellectual and religious developments and examines their political, social and economic contexts: overseas exploration and expansion, the rise of centralized states, the impact of printing, the emergence of capitalism, and religious wars. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2203 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2216/POLS 2216
Allies and Anti-Americanism: A History of Canadian-American Relations 0.5 unit
A survey of Canadian-American relations from the American Revolution to the present day. Topics covered include the development of separate American and provincial societies, the evolution of a North American economy and culture, policy making and bilateral relations, and complementary and conflicting national interests in political, economic, and cultural issues.

HIST 2219/POLS 2219
Canadian Foreign Policy 0.5 unit
An examination of Canada’s role in the global order and Canada’s attempt to regulate that order. Topics will include the principal institutions and actors in the foreign-policy making process, international institutions and organizations through which Canada works, and critical assessment of the contemporary challenges facing Canada’s traditional commitments, including trade and defence policy, peacekeeping and international development. (Also listed under Canadian Studies and Public Policy Studies)

HIST 2220
Reason and Light: The Enlightenment in Europe 0.5 unit
An overview of European history in the Age of Enlightenment. The course focuses on cultural, intellectual and religious developments (the Enlightenment movement, religious tolerance and intolerance, print culture and public opinion) and examines their political, social and economic contexts (state building and international rivalry, the commercial and consumer revolutions, the slave trade). Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2204 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2222
Canadian Women in Historical Perspective 0.5 unit
An examination of the participation and contribution of women in Canadian history from the sixteenth century to the modern feminist movement. Topics may include earlier forms of sexual stereotyping, famous Canadian women, women at work in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and Nova Scotian women. (Also listed under Canadian Studies and Women’s Studies)

HIST 2225
Canadian Environmental History 0.5 unit
An introduction to Canadian environmental history. This course surveys the evolving relationship between Canadians and the environment from the time of pre-encounter until the present day. It investigates the ways in which we have shaped our environment and the ways in which our environment has affected our history.

HIST 2230
History of the Atlantic Colonies to Confederation 0.5 unit
A survey of the formation and growth of colonies in the Atlantic region to Confederation. The political, economic, social, and cultural development of each colony will be considered within the context of region, empire, and finally, nation. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 2231
History of the Atlantic Provinces since Confederation 0.5 unit
A survey of the history of the Atlantic provinces since Confederation. The course considers the integration of the four Atlantic Provinces into the Canadian nation, and their political, economic, social, and cultural development. It also highlights the experiences of women, Indigenous peoples and African-Atlantic Canadians. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 2233/RELS 2233
History of Christianity 0.5 unit
A survey of the history of Christianity from the sectarian rivalry of the 1st century to the World Christianities of the 21st century, including the historical development of the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches, and their encounters with the modern world.

HIST 2234
Firebrands, Flappers and Feminists: U.S. Women’s History in the Modern Era 0.5 unit
An examination of the historical experiences of women in U.S. society in the modern era, beginning in the 1890s. Discrete topics will stress women as historical actors, notably in social change movements. The personal as well as public aspects of women’s lives in contrasting historical circumstances will be explored. (Also listed under Women’s Studies)

HIST 2235
United States to 1877 0.5 unit
An introduction to the economic, social, political and intellectual history of the United States from colonial times to 1877. Topics include the American Revolution, the new republic, westward expansion, slavery, industrialism and reform, and the Civil War and Reconstruction.

HIST 2236
United States from 1877 0.5 unit
An introduction to the economic, social, political, and intellectual history of the United States from 1877 to the present. Topics include the emergence of monopoly capitalism, reform movements, the Jazz Age, the Depression and the New Deal, and American foreign policy in the twentieth century.

HIST 2237/RELS 2237
American Religious History: From Covenant to Cults 0.5 unit
An exploration of the massive and complex role of religion in the history of the United States, using primary and secondary sources to trace recurring themes from the colonial period to the present. Themes to be discussed may include immigration, race, women, biblicism, experiential religion, and new religious movements.

HIST 2250
History of Science 0.5 unit
An examination of the major developments in the history of science, including the emergence of science in antiquity, medieval science, the Scientific Revolution, the expansion of science in the modern world, the relation between science and society, the cultural significance of science and technology, and the role of women in science.

HIST 2251
Plagues and Peoples: A World History of Epidemics 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of epidemics and their corresponding medical responses. The outbreak of disease exposes the existential concerns of human beings and often results in social and cultural upheaval. This course investigates the universality of human health concerns while recognizing the diversity of healing cultures around the world.

HIST 2255
A History of Food from Gatherers to Gourmands 0.5 unit
An exploration of the cultural, economic, and political history of food from Paleolithic times to the present. Topics covered may include diet and early human evolution, development of agriculture and pastoralism, food commodities in global trade, colonial cuisines, industrialization of food, food safety and security, and contemporary trends and anxieties.

HIST 2260
Cultural Encounters in the Modern World 1.0 unit
An exploration of the history of the modern world, from the fifteenth century to the Second World War. The course will focus on the convergence of different civilizations during the major epochs of change, such as the age of exploration, contact with the Americas, and the age of revolutions.

HIST 2261
A History of Pirates 0.5 unit
An introduction to pirates as characters who challenged social conventions. Pirates represent antisocial behavior and anarchistic thought, but can also be understood as an antithesis to the power of the state. This course will investigate the myth and reality of piracy and the evolution of the law of the sea.

HIST 2265
An Introduction to African Civilizations 0.5 unit
An introduction to human experiences in Africa and the African Diaspora, including discussions about African culture, society, economies and politics from a continental and global perspective. Students will learn about African history, literature, music and art from a critical perspective that asks if there are ideas or concepts that are essentially African in origin.

HIST 2281
History of Childhood: The European Experience 0.5 unit
An examination of the changing attitude toward children in western civilization: the evolution of family relationships, the concept of childhood, the development of educational thought. Such problems as infanticide, child labour, penal practices, dependency and children’s rights legislation are also considered.

HIST 2282
History of Childhood: The North American Experience 0.5 unit
An examination of the changing attitude toward children as revealed in educational, social and religious institutions, in literature and art, in legislation and in practice. The evolution of child welfare programs, children’s rights legislation and family relationships will also be considered. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 2285
Love, Sexuality and the Body in European History 0.5 unit
An introduction to the historical study of love, sexuality and the body in Europe from antiquity to the twentieth century. The course explores changing views, practices and regulations of sexual difference, the relation between love and marriage, heterosexual and same-sex desire, prostitution and pornography, and European Interest in non-European sexualities.

HIST 2288
The Soviet Experiment: Russia and the USSR in the Twentieth Century 0.5 unit
An introduction to the history of Russia and the Soviet Union since the late nineteenth century. The course explores the political, social and intellectual conditions that caused the revolutions of 1905 and 1917, the various phases of Soviet politics, society and culture, the USSR’s demise in 1991, and its aftermath.

HIST 2289
The World in the Postwar Era 0.5 unit
An overview of the major political, social and cultural developments in world history since the end of World War II, including postwar reconstruction, the Cold War, decolonization, the Chinese and Cuban Revolutions, dictatorship and democracy in Latin America, the fall of the Soviet Bloc, the Gulf Wars and the Arab Spring. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 3389 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2300
A History of Ancient Egypt 0.5 unit
A history of Egypt from the dynastic period to Roman rule. After a survey of Egyptology as a discipline, the course will cover topics such as: royal government; family life; trade; religion; writing and literature; art and architecture; funerary practices (including mummification); and the contemporary cultural relevance of ancient Egypt.

HIST 2302
Rome’s Heirs: The European Early Middle Ages 0.5 unit
An examination of the three civilizations that developed in Europe and the Mediterranean basin between the fifth and eleventh centuries: Byzantium, Islam and the feudal monarchies of Western Europe. Political, economic and social history will be complemented with exploration of the art, literature, religion and philosophy of these civilizations. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2202 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2303
Medieval Renaissances: The European Late Middle Ages 0.5 unit
An examination of European history in the High and Late Middle Ages, from the rebirth of agriculture, commerce and urban life towards the end of the first millennium until the beginning of the Italian Renaissance in the fifteenth century. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 2202 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 2391
History of Education in Canada 0.5 unit
A lecture- and discussion-centred course that considers the history of education in Canada. As it explores the development of formal education in Canada, the course will consider political, cultural, and philosophical influences on education and the teaching profession, and assess how educational experiences were shaped by region, gender, ethnicity, class, and ability.

HIST 3304
Gender in Historical Perspective 0.5 unit
HIST 3305
Gender in Historical Perspective 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A combined lecture-seminar course on a selected topic in gender history. Course content will vary from year to year, depending on the faculty member who is teaching the course. (Also listed under Women’s Studies)

HIST 3314
Witches, Witch-Hunters and Scholars in Early Modern Europe 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An examination of the clash of beliefs and worldviews in early modern Europe through the study of two key historical developments: the persecution and trial of thousands of people, most of them women, for witchcraft in both Catholic and Protestant Europe and the rise of modern science. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 3313 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 3315
The French Revolution and Napoleon 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An examination of one of the most important periods in modern European history: the French Revolution and the Napoleonic regime. Topics include the origins of the Revolution, the political, economic, social and cultural changes of the revolutionary decade, and the contributions, achievements and failures of Napoleon Bonaparte. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 3312 may not take this course for credit.

HIST 3320
Selected Topics in North American History 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A combined lecture-seminar course on a selected topic in North-American history. Course content will vary from year to year, depending on the faculty member who is teaching the course.

HIST 3321
Social and Cultural History of Canada 1.0 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An examination of major themes in the social and cultural history of Canada. They include the impact of Europeans on native society; economic and social change, especially industrialization and urbanization; cultural and political perceptions of Canada; and the rise of the social welfare state. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 3322
Maritime Women’s History 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An exploration of the changes and continuities in all aspects of women’s lives in the Maritimes from the 19th century to the present. In addition to examining women’s economic roles and the legal regulation of women, the course will place particular emphasis on the feminist and reform movements. Students will have the opportunity to work with primary documents. (Also listed under Canadian Studies and Women’s Studies)

HIST 3323
History of Indigenous Women in Canada 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A survey of the historical experiences of Indigenous women in Canada from the pre-encounter era to the twenty-first century. The course explores how the public and private lives of Indigenous women were shaped by colonial policies and how Indigenous women resisted such policies.

HIST 3328
Inventing the Past: Public History in Atlantic Canada 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An introduction to public history in Atlantic Canada. Using a combined lecture/seminar format, this course examines the ways that history has been used to publicly construct a cultural identity for Atlantic Canada, and how that cultural identity has been marketed as a commodity.

HIST 3329
Modern Canada 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
Particular emphasis will be placed on the vagaries of the concept of the Canadian nation in response to the aspirations of Quebec, regional tensions, charter groups, and globalization. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 3330
The Historical Development of Multicultural Canada 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
One of the most distinguishing features of modern Canada is its multicultural character. How did we get to where we are today? How does the Canadian experience compare with that of other nations? And what do we mean when we use the term multiculturalism? These will be the central issues examined in a lecture-seminar format. (Also listed under Canadian Studies and Public Policy Studies)

HIST 3337
Revolution, Reform, Reaction: Protest Movements in the United States 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An examination of the social, economic, religious or political discontent that led to such movements as abolition, socialism, anarchism, utopianism, feminism, and pacifism and the reaction to these movements in the United States.

HIST 3340/RELS 3340
The Bible and Historical Thought 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history or religious studies at any level or religious studies or permission of the instructor
An examination of the Bible as an historical authority in relation to various scientific and humanistic disciplines. Topics to be discussed may include the age of the Earth, the history of life, biblical criticism, and the evolution/creationism controversy.

HIST 3341
From Slavery to Freedom: The Afro-North American Experience from Colonial Times to 1865 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An examination of slavery in North America from colonial times to the U.S. Civil War era. Topics will include southern plantation life, the culture of resistance developed over time by slaves, and the unique and challenging circumstances faced by both enslaved and free black people in Canada during this period. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 3345 may not take this course for credit. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 3342
From Slave to Citizen: The Afro-North American Freedom Struggle in the Modern Era 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An exploration of the varied strategies, both institutional and individual, that Afro-North Americans have developed in the post-slavery era to combat white racism and to attain full citizenship. The creative tension between Afro-North Americans and their white allies in specific movements for racial justice will be highlighted. Note: Students who have received credit for HIST 3345 may not take this course for credit. (Also listed under Canadian Studies)

HIST 3360
Selected Topics in World History 0.5 unit
HIST 3361
Selected Topics in World History 0.5 unit
HIST 3362
Selected Topics in World History 1.0 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A combined lecture-seminar course on a selected topic in World history. Course content will vary from year to year, depending on the faculty member who is teaching the course.

HIST 3365
The Story of Early Africa: Yams, Germs, and Steel 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
An introduction to four major linguistic civilizations in Africa before the modern era, using indigenous forms of historical consciousness. Topics include the deconstruction of “race,” the limits placed on human civilizations within malarial zones, the diffusion of yarn cultivation, the spread of iron smelting, ancient epics and myths, and memories of the slave trade.

HIST 3366
The Story of Modern Africa: From Slave Trade to African Union 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A survey of African societies during the modern era. This course will challenge Western narratives about Africa that emphasize the legacy of European exploitation and ask students to conceptualize a history of modernity from an African perspective.

HIST 3370
Selected Topics in European History 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A combined lecture-seminar course on a selected topic in European history. Course content will vary from year to year, depending on the faculty member who is teaching the course.

HIST 3382
European Nationalism 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A study of nationalism in Europe from the eighteenth century to the present. This course deals with the history and theory of the concept of the nation and its many political, cultural and social manifestations in a European context.

HIST 3385
Selected Topics in Twentieth-Century History 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A combined lecture-seminar course on a selected topic in twentieth-century history. Course content will vary from year to year, depending on the faculty member who is teaching the course.

HIST 3386
Selected Topics in Twentieth-Century History 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): 1.0 unit of history at any level or permission of the instructor
A combined lecture-seminar course on a selected topic in twentieth-century history. Course content will vary from year to year, depending on the faculty member who is teaching the course.

HIST 3390
Historiography 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): written permission of the instructor or department Chair
An examination of questions concerning the nature and value of historical inquiry and historical writing.

HIST 3391
Historical Methodology 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): written permission of the instructor or department Chair
An examination of contemporary approaches to history and the practical problems of historical research and analysis faced by professional historians and students alike. Designed principally for history students, its purpose is to teach basic historical research and writing skills.

HIST 4480
History Seminar 0.5 unit
HIST 4481
History Seminar 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): written permission of the instructor or department Chair
The topics for research and discussion will be determined by the professor and students in the seminar.

HIST 4482
Directed Study 0.5 unit
HIST 4483
Directed Study 0.5 unit
Prerequisite(s): permission of the department
A course designed to encourage the student to do independent work in a particular area of history. The outline is worked out by the student(s) and professor involved. Departmental approval is required before registering.

HIST 4499
Honours Thesis 1.0 unit
Prerequisite(s): HIST 3391 and written permission of the department Chair
A course intended to give practice in independent research, requiring an extended piece of writing.

Academic Note: This web-based calendar information is applicable for the 2024-2025 academic year which runs from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025.

For information on previous years, please consult the University Academic Calendars web page.