Academic Calendar 2024/25

History


English language proficiency requirements

Students registering in post-secondary level courses (numbered 100 to 499) will be required to meet the English language entrance proficiency requirements. Students in ELS or the University Foundations programs can register in those courses identified in the University Foundations program with lower levels of language proficiency.

Please note that not all courses are offered every semester.

HIST 100

3 credits

Introduction to World History

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

An exploration of the various themes in world history designed to introduce students to historical thinking and methods.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 101

3 credits

Canada Before Confederation

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

A survey of the major academic themes in Canadian economic, political, social, and cultural history before 1867 with a focus on European colonization and its impact on Indigenous people in Canada and on the development of both New France and British North America.

HIST 102

3 credits

Canada: 1867 to the Present

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines settler-Indigenous relations and the political, social, cultural, and economic development of Canada after Confederation from diverse perspectives; these can include gender, social class, region, ethnicity/race, and the country’s place in the world.

HIST 103

3 credits

Stó:lō History

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines key themes in the history of the Stó:lō peoples, from the pre-contact era to the present. Emphasis will be given to oral history as a way of accessing and documenting a community’s knowledge of its own past.

Note: Participation in field trips scheduled outside of regular class times is required.

Note: HIST 103 is especially valuable to those students who plan to be teachers.

HIST 115

3 credits

Traditional East Asian Civilizations

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the evolution of East Asian civilizations (with an emphasis on China and Japan) from ancient times to the early nineteenth century. The focus is on social structures, cultural traditions, economic systems, and political institutions in pre-modern China and Japan.

HIST 116

3 credits

Modern East Asia: From 1600 to Recent Times

Prerequisite(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the histories of East Asia in the modern era with a focus on China, Korea, and Japan from the 1600s to contemporary times. Themes explored include early modernity, colonialism, nationalism, and modern culture, as well as major historical events that shaped the region.

Note: Students with credit for HIST 299G cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 119

3 credits

Ancient Greece and Rome

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Students will consider the development and expansion of ancient Greek and Roman power and culture around the Mediterranean and beyond in this introductory survey.

HIST 120

3 credits

Europe 500-1600: Saints and Sinners in the Medieval World

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Studies the legacy of the ancient cultures that developed around the Mediterranean Sea. Topics include the emergence and transformation of the medieval European world, paying close attention to the influence of gender, identity, and status.

Note: Students with credit for HIST 108 cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 121

3 credits

Europe 1600-1850: Kings, Philosophers, and Revolutionaries

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Introduces the period of European history between about 1550 and 1850. Focuses on the cultural and ideological shifts of the Reformation, the impact of exploration and colonization on European consciousness, the rise of the modern state, the role of gender, the Scientific Revolution, the Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution.

HIST 122

3 credits

Europe Since 1850: Imperialism, Total War, and the Question of Unity

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the ascendancy of Europe from the mid-1800s to its destruction in two world wars, and its political, cultural, social, and
economic reconstruction during and after the Cold War.

HIST 161

3 credits

Aztecs, Mayas, and Spaniards

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines Maya and Aztec societies and cultures, the Aztec Triple Alliance Empire, Spain under Muslim and Christian rule, European imperial expansion, and the Spanish invasion of Mexico. In analyzing the Indigenous and European past, and the “conquest” as history and myth, this course emphasizes the compelling accounts found in Aztec, Maya, and Spanish sources.
Note: This course is offered as HIST 161 and LAS 161. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 162

3 credits

Soccer and Song in Latin America

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores the history of modern Latin America through the study of soccer and music. Using these themes students examine national and local identities; class, race, ethnicity, and gender; relations between Indigenous peoples and the state; rural-urban migration, industrialization, and populist politics; military rule, repression, resistance, and exile; the drug trade; globalization; and cultural hybridity.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 162 and LAS 162. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 205

3 credits

British Columbia: Pre-Contact to the Present

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines themes beginning prior to European contact and concluding with recent social trends. These will include relations between settlers and Indigenous peoples, the staple export economy, gold rush society, B.C.’s confederation with Canada, social reform movements, the rise of organized labour, the theory and practice of racism, and evolving political tradition.

HIST 211

3 credits

England from 1066-1688: An Emerging Nation-State

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Students explore English history from the Norman Conquest to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, seeking to understand how England was transformed from a peripheral player on the edge of Europe into a geo-political powerhouse, poised on the brink of empire.

HIST 212

3 credits

A History of Britain, 1688-1990: Great Power Status and Beyond

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Surveys the major developments in British history from the Glorious Revolution to recent times. The course gives special attention to the evolution of social, economic, and political institutions and their impact on ordinary people.

HIST 221

3 credits

The History of Quebec: Beginnings to Present Day

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Introduces students to the evolution of Quebec from a European outpost in North America to an urban-industrial Canadian province. Over four centuries, Quebec’s populations experienced changes and transitions that brought into question both traditional political structures as well as the ideas and cultural aspirations of provincial societies.

HIST 227

3 credits

History of Indigenous-Newcomer Relations in Canada

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines local, regional, and national histories of Indigenous-colonial relations from the 16th century to recent times, focusing on First Nations, Métis, and Inuit resilience during exploitative, extractive, and settler colonialism. Themes may include local origin stories, cultural and economic exchanges, treaties, Indigenous resilience, and the reserve system.

Note: A field trip outside of class time may be required.

HIST 235

3 credits

Modern China: From Opium Wars to Beijing Olympics

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

The course provides a survey of Chinese history from the early 19th century to recent decades, with emphasis on its major social, cultural, and political developments. China’s relations with other countries will also be studied.

HIST 236

3 credits

Modern Japan: Society and Culture from Samurai to Anime

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students explore Japanese history from the 18th century to recent decades. Themes examined include popular culture, education, media, nationalism, and politics.

HIST 241

3 credits

History of the United States to 1865

Prerequisite(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students explore United States history from pre-colonial times and the early settlement of North America in the 1500s through the end of the Civil War in 1865. Attention will be given to the role of cultural, economic, and political institutions in nation-building and the diverse actions and experiences of ordinary people from different ethnicities, classes, and genders.

HIST 242

3 credits

History of the United States since 1865

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the United States from the end of the Civil War to the present. Special attention is given to the expansion of the role of the state in the economy, society and culture, and foreign policy.

HIST 264

3 credits

History of India: Akbar to Independence

Prerequisite(s): None

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Students examine the political, economic, and social forces that shaped the history of the Indian subcontinent from the 15th century to 1947. The course will focus on the rise and fall of Mughal rule, the Company Raj, the British Raj, and the rise of Indian nationalism leading to independence.

HIST 265

3 credits

India and the Indo-Pacific World

Prerequisite(s): None

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students examine the relationship between India and the Indo-Pacific world from the arrival of Islam to recent times. They further explore the influence of South Asian civilization on the development of societies on the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Rim.

HIST 299

3 credits

Topics in History

Prerequisite(s): None.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores, at an introductory level, a selected topic in history that is not addressed in current course offerings. Development and application of research methods and disciplinary perspectives will be stressed. Topics covered will vary from year to year.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 301

4 credits

Studies in Applied History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Introduces students to public and popular history and the applications of history outside academia. Students will critically assess a range of public historical sites, including museums and historical re-creations, as well as popular history in print, film, and television histories, history as it is taught in the school system, digital history on the web, and in computer games.

HIST 309

4 credits

Witches, Whores, and Midwives: Women in Early Modern Europe

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines women’s lives and experiences in Europe between the Renaissance and the French Revolution. Considers women whose status, profession, or identity crossed gender and class boundaries, in order to understand their place in the patriarchal society of early modern Europe.

HIST 311

4 credits

The Reformation

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students will examine the varied religious and social “reformations” of the 16th century. Students will explore several broad themes, including the role of women, the function and extent of religious violence, and the relationship between the Reformation and the changing concept of nationhood.

HIST 313

4 credits

War and Society in the Ancient and Medieval West

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the development of warfare in the ancient and medieval West. Considers technical and tactical innovations as they pertain to land and sea warfare, and emphasizes how war was shaped by social, cultural, and political contexts.

HIST 314

4 credits

The Rise and Fall of the British Empire

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

An examination of the forces that shaped the emergence, development, and collapse of the British Empire from the 17th to the 20th century. The impact of the empire on the British economy and society as well as its impact on its colonial subjects will be considered. Issues such as race, gender, and class in the context of constantly changing metropolitan and imperial cultural structures will receive special consideration.

HIST 315

4 credits

War and Society in the Modern West

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the interrelationship between Western society and war from the Renaissance to the present. The influence of politics, economics, social stratification, and technology on war will be emphasized along with the reciprocal effects of war on society.

HIST 316

4 credits

Violence and War in the West: A Cultural History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the place of violence and war in Western culture since ancient times. From ancient combat sports to modern mass-media representations of warfare, this cultural history will consider how officially and socially accepted forms of violence and war helped to shape Western culture in this chronological and thematic survey.

HIST 318

4 credits

Themes in Modern German History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines modern German history emphasizing the many ruptures that affected the new nation politically, socially, and culturally from its inception in the nineteenth century to the present. Focusing on the lived experiences of ordinary Germans, students consider how German identity and nationhood were constructed, reconstructed, and defined by regional and world wars, cold war politics, and the rise of a united Europe.

HIST 320

4 credits

The Holocaust

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the German-led campaign to “purify” the Aryan race, and the attack on Jews and other civilians during the Second World War. Focal areas include the mindset of perpetrators, bystanders, and beneficiaries, victims’ experiences, and Holocaust commemoration.

HIST 321

4 credits

Canadian Military History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores the military experiences of a supposedly un-military people, yet Canada since Confederation has been scarred and transformed by conflict. This course examines Canadian military history from different perspectives: private soldiers and generals, home front and battle front, peace-time and wartime.

HIST 323

4 credits

History of Education in Canada

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

The history of education and formal schooling in Canada from pre-colonial Indigenous life to the present day, with a focus on the formative period from the 1840s to 1960s. Topics include Indigenous learning; the emergence of the public school system in the 19th century and its institutional growth after the 1850s; the social history of schooling and educational experience of teachers, students, and parents; the politics of education; the social inequities of the school systems; and the history of residential schools.

HIST 324

4 credits

Canadian Culture in the 20th Century

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the rapid cultural transformations in Canadian society during the 20th century, including the development of modernist thought, the impact of two world wars and the Cold War, the advent of the Baby Boomers, the radicalism in the sixties, the super-sized culture of the 1970s, and the neo-conservatism of the late 20th century.

HIST 325

4 credits

Canadian Sport History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the academic history of organized sport in Canada from pre-colonial Indigenous life to the present day, with a particular focus on the social roles of sport from the late 19th century to the end of the 20th century. Topics include original Indigenous sport practices; the rise and social goals of Eurocentric organized sport; gender, race, and politics in Canadian sport history; and the complex role of media representation.

HIST 327

4 credits

Settler-Indigenous Relations in New Zealand and Canada

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines Indigenous-settler Relationships in New Zealand and Canada, from pre-contact to 2000. The comparative framework highlights the influence of distinct local circumstances in each region.

HIST 330

4 credits

Politics and Personalities in Canadian History

Prerequisite(s): HIST 102 and either six additional credits of lower-level history or 42 additional university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

This course will consider some of the individuals, both historically prominent and lesser known, who have helped to shape Canada’s political and constitutional history from 1763 to the present. An examination of these figures will offer insight into Canada’s evolution as a British colony, Confederation, the development of institutions, important events in federal and provincial politics, international relations, and more recent constitutional challenges.
Note: Students with credit for HIST 396D may not take HIST 330 for further credit.

HIST 331

4 credits

Rebels, Reformers, and Realists: British North America, 1837-1867

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

A survey of the political history of British North America from 1837 to1867. This course will consider the Rebellions of 1837-38, the union of the Canadas, issues and events affecting Aboriginal peoples, the transition to colonial self-government, and Confederation..

HIST 335

4 credits

History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Explores the conflict between the Jewish state in Palestine, and the indigenous Palestinian population. The course examines nationalism, the role of foreign powers, religion, Israeli occupation of Palestine, peace efforts, and the current state of the conflict.

HIST 340

4 credits

Themes in Colonial America and the Early Republic to 1815

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores the development of colonial America and its first years as an independent republic through selected themes. Examples of themes may include Indigenous-settler relations; race, class, and gender in colonial society; environmental change; religion; and/or the economic and political evolution of colonial America and the early Republic.

HIST 357

4 credits

From the Big Stick to the CIA: The Troubled History of Inter-American Relations

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level HIST/LAS or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the complex, often contentious, relationship between Latin America, the United States, and Canada, from the 19th century to the present. Topics may include political and military intervention; human rights; trade, investment, and globalization; drug policy; cultural influences; and Latin American communities north of the Mexican border.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 357 and LAS 357. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 358

4 credits

African Slavery in the Americas

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST/LAS or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

This course explores the development of the Atlantic slave trade and the history of African slavery in the Americas. It takes a broad view, examining the institution of slavery over four centuries, while considering the diverse experiences of slaves in the hemisphere’s distinct colonies and early nation–states. Topics may include the impact of slavery on African polities; the formation of Afro-American societies and cultures; the perspectives of both slaves and slave owners; the genesis of new identities and ideologies regarding race, class, and gender; the mechanisms used to keep slaves under control and the forms of resistance they practiced; and the struggle to achieve personal freedom and abolition.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 358 and LAS 358. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 359

4 credits

Topics in Latin American Regional History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST or LAS or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines selected problems in Latin American history. Topics have a regional or national focus and may be restricted to a specific time period.
Note: This course is offered as HIST 359 and LAS 359. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 364

4 credits

Indian Social History

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examine the forces shaping the emergence of modern Indian society from the 17th century to the 1980s. Issues such as imperialism, nationalism, urbanization, and industrialization will be explored with reference to their impact on ethnicity, caste, class, and gender in Indian society to recent times.

HIST 369

4 credits

History of the United States Civil War and Reconstruction Eras, 1840-1877

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the causes, events, and consequences of the American Civil War and the period of national reconstruction that followed it. Major themes covered include sectionalism, slavery, race, and emancipation; the social experiences of war for individuals and society; the political and social challenges of Reconstruction; myth and memory in US history.

HIST 370

4 credits

The American Civil Rights Movement

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits. Familiarity with the basic skills of historical inquiry is expected.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

This course examines African-Americans’ struggle for racial justice since the late 19th century. Topics include the use of nonviolence as a strategy for social change, armed resistance and black nationalism, and the place of religion and culture.

HIST 371

4 credits

Populism in America: From Andrew Jackson to Donald Trump

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines American populism from the age of President Andrew Jackson through Donald Trump. The course reviews how populism has been used and abused in U.S. life and history, giving particular attention to social relations, the electoral arena, and the causes of political violence.

Note: Students with credit for HIST 396Q cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 382

4 credits

Social History of Twentieth-Century China

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits. Familiarity with the basic skills of historical inquiry is expected.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

This course examines change and continuity in Chinese society during the twentieth century, a period marked by dramatic political and economic upheaval. Using a thematic and chronological approach, the course focuses on demographic trends, rural and urban life, class structure, gender roles, family tradition, and religious belief.
Note: Students with credit for HIST 399D cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 385

4 credits

Imperialism and Colonialism in Modern East Asia

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the process of empire building in East Asia by the major imperial powers and its impact in that region since the early nineteenth century.

HIST 386

4 credits

History of East Asian Communities in North America: Migration, Denial, and Belonging

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores the histories of migrants from East Asia and their descendants in North America from the nineteenth century to current times. Themes examined include transpacific movement and networks, experiences of racialization and exclusion, cultural dynamics of Chinese- and Japanese-Canadian communities, and sense of identity and belonging.

HIST 391

4 credits

Late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia, 1860-1945

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

An examination of the interrelation between war, reform, and revolution in Russia/Soviet Union, focusing on the centralization of the state, messianic character of its foreign policy, and evolution of its national idea before and after the historic 1917 Revolution.

Note: Students with credit for HIST 397D cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 392

4 credits

The Soviet Union in the Cold War Era

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

An examination of factors that helped sustain the territorial and ideological unity, military strength, and international influence of the Soviet Union, and the reasons behind the gradual liberalization of society, the fall of Communism, and eventual disintegration of the USSR.

HIST 395

4 credits

Field Studies in History

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Students take their study of history beyond the classroom. Each field study course will combine in-class sessions with a travel component that may include local, national, or international destinations.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 396

4 credits

Topics in North American History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines topics in the field of North American history and varies with the instructor.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 397

4 credits

Topics in European History

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students examine topics in the field of European history.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 398

4 credits

Topics in Asian History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines topics in the field of Asian history and varies with the instructor.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 399

4 credits

Special Topics in History I

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

The topics will vary with the instructor, but will be limited to those which lie outside the subject areas currently offered.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

HIST 400

4 credits

The Philosophy and Methodologies of History: Learning and Doing History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores the philosophical foundations and methods used by historians to make sense of the past and how these approaches have developed over time. Students will "do" history and consider how the discipline reconstructs, constructs, or deconstructs the past and the work of other historians.

Note: Students with credit for HIST 300 cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 401

4 credits

Practicum in History

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Integrates applied experience and training into students’ academic studies in history. Students participate in supervised, unpaid practica with a local employer or institution to apply and/or build upon their historical skills and open up employment opportunities through work contacts.

HIST 408

4 credits

Liberty and Authority in European Thought

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the relationship between liberty and authority, the individual and the community, men and women, and the present and the past using selected texts from the Western tradition.

HIST 412

4 credits

Louis XIV and His Court at Versailles

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Students will explore the personal and political dynamics of court society at Versailles under Louis XIV (1643-1715). Through the examination of patronage, consumption, ritual, and display, students will develop an understanding of this quintessential early modern socio-political institution.

HIST 414

4 credits

Tudor-Stuart Britain

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students will explore politics, society, and culture in Tudor-Stuart Britain. Topics include the nature of Anglicanism, crime and punishment, gender and political theory, the causes of the English Civil War, and the emergence of new cultural institutions such as coffee houses and scientific societies.

HIST 415

4 credits

Continuity and Change in Victorian Britain

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Considers the impact of consumption, class, science, technology, and empire on the evolution of Victorian Britain. Also examines the construction of popular historical narratives and their impact on scholarly and popular interpretations of Victorian Britain.

HIST 418

4 credits

The Great War, 1914-1918

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history, and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the origins and course of the Great War and its place in modern memory. Students will consider the military, diplomatic, economic, and social aspects of the war, on the fronts and at home, with particular emphasis on the historiographical debates.

HIST 419

4 credits

Tyranny, Demise, and Legacy: European Dictatorships of the 20th Century

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the historical context for the creation and sustenance of the European dictatorships emphasizing the regimes of Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin, and Adolf Hitler. Ideology, propaganda, consensus, pragmatism, coercion, and force all worked together to first create these regimes and then see their demise in war and conflict.

HIST 420

4 credits

World War II

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines the causes and narrative of World War II as a global conflict. Selected topics will be used to reveal the nature of the war on all fronts and to consider the historical debates.


HIST 426

4 credits

Canadian Indigenous Peoples and Warfare: Pre-contact to the 20th Century

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Students trace the relationship between warfare and Canada’s Indigenous peoples, exploring not only weaponry, tactics, and patterns of warfare, but also the socio-cultural context of warriors and warfare.

HIST 427

4 credits

History of Tobacco and Alcohol in Indigenous Canada

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course. HIST 103, HIST 227, or HIST 327 is strongly recommended.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

This course examines the relationship Indigenous people have had with alcohol and tobacco in the contexts of both the history of settler colonial oppression and the story of Indigenous cultural and political resurgence. Students investigate the trauma-inducing effects of alcohol and commercial tobacco on Indigenous societies while also recognizing the powerfully positive role that Indigenous tobacco has played, and continues to play, in many Indigenous people’s spirituality and ceremony. Taking an intersectional approach to Indigenous societies, and being sensitive to Indigenous agency, this course shows not only how Indigenous people were impacted by alcohol and colonial tobacco, but how understandings and responses to these substances have changed over time.

HIST 430

4 credits

Canada and Migration

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Surveys the history of migrant groups in Canada, and considers major trends in immigration policy and changing immigrant profiles. It will also address major themes and theoretical approaches to migration studies. Migration literature will supplement the historical readings.

HIST 431

4 credits

Canada and the World

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Examines Canadian foreign policy, and its interrelationship with identity, from Confederation to the post-Cold War era.

HIST 440

4 credits

Local History for the Web

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Students in groups or individually conduct archival research on select Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley historical themes, and publish their research as web pages for public consumption. Students will work closely with local history providers, including archives, museums and historical sites, such as Chilliwack Archives, Fort Langley Centennial Museum, Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre, The Reach Archives, and the Surrey Archives to investigate their chosen topics.

HIST 454

4 credits

Gender in the United States

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history, and one 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Introduces students to major themes in the history of gender in the United States from the colonial era to the present. Examines changing constructions of masculinity and femininity, and the impact of prescribed social and cultural norms in political and public life, paid work, family, and sexuality.

HIST 457

4 credits

Sexuality and Gender in Latin America

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST or LAS and one 300-level HIST or LAS course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the history of sexuality and gender in Latin America, from the colonial era to the present. Topics include the historical construction of sexuality and gender; patriarchy, honour, contested gender relations, and the family; machismo and notions of masculinity and femininity; sexual identities, the state, and politics; and the intersection of gender, sexuality, class, and ethnicity.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 457 and LAS 457. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 458

4 credits

History of Indigenous Peoples in Latin America

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST or LAS and one 300-level HIST or LAS course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Explores the history of Indigenous peoples in Latin America through the in-depth study of a particular region. Topics include the transformation of Indigenous societies under colonial rule; the complex relationship between Indigenous peoples and the nation-state; repression and resistance; struggles over land, labour, and Indigenous rights; cultural dynamism; and the impacts of resource extraction and climate change.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 458 and LAS 458. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 459

4 credits

Topics in Political and Social History of Latin America

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST or LAS and one 300-level HIST or LAS course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Provides an in-depth study of specific topics in Latin American social or political history. Topics have a thematic or comparative focus and vary with the instructor.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 459 and LAS 459. Students may take only one of these for credit.

HIST 460

4 credits

State Terror, Human Rights, and the Politics of Memory in Latin America

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level HIST or LAS and one 300-level HIST or LAS course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the state terror policies of the Argentine and Chilean military regimes in the 1970s and 1980s, the struggle for human rights in both countries, the transition to civilian government and the legacies of repression, and the ensuing—and ongoing—debates over impunity, justice, and historical memory.

Note: This course is offered as HIST 460 and LAS 460. Students make take only one of these for credit.

HIST 464

4 credits

India, the Punjab and Diaspora: A Study of Migration and Community Formation in Canada

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

The Punjab and adjacent regions of northern India have long been a major source of South Asian migration to Canada. This course seeks to understand the factors that encouraged the pre- and post-Independence diasporas by studying the history of northern India with special reference to the Punjab. It will explore the reasons that the Punjab developed special connections with Canada. The course will then focus on the process of community formation as South Asians sought to gain a foothold amongst an often hostile Anglo-Canadian society. The maturation of Indo-Canadian society and its integration into the broader Canadian cultural mosaic will be explored. Special attention will be paid to the Sikh community and its experience in British Columbia.

HIST 465

4 credits

British India

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history or 45 university-level credits.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

This course will explore the rise of the British presence in India and the emergence of a distinct Anglo-Indian society from the 18th century to Indian independence. The impact of Anglo-British society on Britain as well as India will be considered. Issues such as imperialism, racism, gender, and class in the context of a hybrid colonial–metropolitan society will receive special consideration.

HIST 482

4 credits

Under the Shogun: Social History of Early Modern Japan

Prerequisite(s): 9 credits of lower-level history and any 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

Examines the social and cultural history of early modern Japan. Places emphasis on the richness and complexity of social aspirations and experiences, as well as the arrangement of power that reproduced hierarchy while also fostering a vibrant popular culture.

Note: Students with credit for HIST 499S cannot take this course for further credit.

HIST 486

4 credits

Problems in the Chinese Communist Revolution

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course. HIST 235 is strongly recommended.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

This course examines the origins and development of the Chinese Communist revolution from the early 20th century to the founding of the People's Republic of China. With emphasis on the social and ideological aspects, the course analyses the relationship between party leadership and mass participation in the development of a revolutionary movement in China before 1949.

HIST 487

4 credits

Society and Politics in China since 1949

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course. HIST 235 is strongly recommended.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

This course examines the major social and political changes in China under Communism since 1949 with emphasis on the interplay between ideology and policy. It also analyses the relationship between China’s domestic development and external policy.

HIST 489

4 credits

Directed Studies in History: Projects

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history, one 300-level history course, and permission of the department head and dean.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

A directed independent studies course for students who wish to examine and research a specific historical topic and produce a defined academic product, such as a major academic paper.

Note: Students interested in more information should contact the History department.

HIST 490

4 credits

Directed Studies in History: Readings

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history, one 300-level history course, and permission of the department head and dean.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

Designed for students who wish to examine a particular historical problem through the examination of scholarly sources. It will be offered either as an individual reading course or as small seminars, depending upon student and faculty interest.

Note: Students interested in more information should contact the History department.

HIST 491

4 credits

Honours Directed Research

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the History Honours program and instructor permission.

Corequisite(s): None.

Pre- or corequisite(s): None.

The subject of research completed for this course is defined on an individual basis in consultation with a member of the History faculty. This course represents an opportunity to explore in-depth conventional historical methods and scholarly writing as applied to a historical problem or pursue a line of research that will result in a product of public history.

HIST 499

4 credits

Special Topics in History II

Prerequisite(s): Nine credits of lower-level history and one 300-level history course.

Corequisite(s): None

Pre- or corequisite(s): None

The topics will vary with the instructor but will be limited to those which lie outside the subject areas currently offered.

Note: This course will be offered under different letter designations (e.g. C-Z) representing different topics. This course may be repeated for credit provided the letter designation differs.

Last updated: November 1, 2024

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