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Program Description

Curriculum Coordinator: Dr. Mara Lazda

Liberal Arts and Sciences: History Option

Read more from the 2024-2025 Course Catalog


Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the Liberal Arts and Sciences program requirements, students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a broad knowledge base from the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences.
  2. Evaluate and analyze a range of artistic, historical, literary and philosophical works.
  3. Examine the formation of individual and group behavior, and social institutions and processes.
  4. Develop an ability and a cultural context for communication in a language other than English.
  5. Communicate effectively through written and oral forms.
  6. Demonstrate informed critical thinking.
  7. Engage in quantitative reasoning and scientific inquiry.
  8. Demonstrate an awareness of diverse cultures.

Upon successful completion of the History Option requirements, students will be able to:

  1. Gather, interpret, and evaluate evidence from a variety of historical and contemporary sources and points of view, and produce well-reasoned arguments using this evidence to support conclusions.
  2. Evaluate primary and secondary sources in analyzing key historical topics.
  3. Examine and analyze the development of societies in different periods and regions, including the roles of ethnicity, gender, language, sexual orientation, and belief.
Why Study History?

BCC’s History classes are designed to challenge and improve your skills in

  1. Writing 
  2. Reading
  3. Oral communication
  4. Research 
  5. Critical Thinking

These are all transferable skills that are useful both professionally and academically, especially if you decide to transfer to a 4-year school. Furthermore, studying History doesn’t automatically mean you need to become a History teacher. History majors have entered Management (Business, Science, and Arts); Legal Occupations; Sales; Office and Admin Support; Business Operations; Arts, Design, Sports, and Media; Community and Social Services; as well as Education, Training, and Library professions.

Read more from the American Historical Association.

Spring 2025 Course Electives

In addition to courses in Modern World History (HIS 10 and HIS 11), U.S. History (HIS 20), Modern World Geography (GEO 10), and Philosophy (PHL 11), in Fall 2024 we also offer:

HIS 29 D01W 17251
History of Women in the United States

Dr. Kate Culkin
Hybrid, meets in person Wednesdays, 12:30pm – 1:45pm
Writing Intensive
Flex Core B: US Experience in its Diveristy
This course examines the history of women in the United States, from the colonial era through the 21st century. Students will analyze how major developments in the history of the country, including wars, western expansion, slavery, waves of immigration, and the fight for equal rights, have shaped the experiences of diverse women. They will also analyze how women have shaped those developments. The class will address how ideas about gender have developed over time, including how concepts of what it means to be American have influenced those ideas.

 

HIS 31 D01W (17504)
Latin American History
Dr. Raquel Otheguy
Hybrid, meets in person Thursdays, 12pm – 1:45pm
Writing Intensive
Flex Core A: World Cultures and Global Issues
A study of the historical development of Latin America from the pre-colonial period to the present. Covers major themes in the history of Latin America such as European conquest, colonialism and its continued legacies, New World Slavery, the independence movements, caudillismo (strongman rule), populism, reform and revolution, neo-imperialism, and Latino immigration to the United States.

 

HIS 31 D01W (17249)
History of Africa

Prof. Sibongile Mhlaba
In Person, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10am – 11:15am
Writing Intensive
Flex Core A: World Cultures and Global Issues
This is an introductory survey of the history of Africa from the pre-colonial period to the post-independence era. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the course will cover some of the major themes in African history including pre-colonial social and political hierarchies, state formation, internal and external trade, the slave trade and slavery, Imperialism, nationalism and liberation struggles and post-independence, contemporary issues. Throughout the course attention will be drawn to the diversity of the African experience as well as the political, social and economic interactions between Africa and the global community.

Course Finder

We offer courses in History, Geography, and Philosophy. Course scheduling can be found at the college’s course finder

Course Descriptions

See course descriptions for History, Geography, and Philosophy below.

Contact Us

Main Office: Colston Hall, Room 301
Phone: 718-289-5653
Email: history@bcc.cuny.edu
Professor and Chairperson: Dr. Mara Lazda
Professors: K. Culkin, S. Davis, J. Getman-Eraso, D. Gordon, C. Grenda, W. deJong-Lambert, W. Roczniak, T. Rothenberg
Associate Professors: S. Duncan, E. Hardman, P. Kanakamedala, S. Offenbach, R. Otheguy
Lecturer: S. Mhlaba
Approximately 10 adjuncts per semester
Administrative Assistant: Ms. Paulette Randall
Phone: 718-289-5653

Directory

Geography

GEO 10 
3 rec 3 cr
World Regional Geography
This course introduces geographical concepts and perspectives and builds basic map skills and locational knowledge of countries, cities, physical features and regions. Issues addressed include climate change, the global economy, natural resource use, culture, and geopolitics.
Corequisite: RDL 02 or ENG 02 if required.
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

GEO 33
3 rec 3 cr
Human Dimensions of Climate Change
This course examines the human dimensions of climate change highlighting the increasing global vulnerability to climate change; adaptation to climate change; and local, regional, and global mitigation strategies. Although students are introduced to the science of climate change and the debates surrounding it, the emphasis in this course is on the human contribution to climate change and on climate change impacts on political, economic, social, and defense systems. To highlight the differential impact of climate change and raise student awareness of local cultural and/or political factors that inform policies and debates, we use case studies from different regions.
Prerequisite: RDL 02 or ENG 02 if required.
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

History

HIS 10 
3 rec 3 cr
History of the Modern World
Exploration of outstanding political, intellectual, philosophical, social and economic trends, movements and events from mid-18th century to present. Analysis of forces that have shaped the modern world.
Prerequisite: ENG 2 and RDL 2, if required.
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

HIS 11 
4 rec 3 cr
Introduction to the Modern World
Exploration of outstanding political, intellectual, philosophical, social and economic trends, movements and events from mid-18th century to present. Analysis of forces that have shaped the modern world. This course is identical in academic content and in assessment to HIS 10, but adds a fourth developmental hour and limits class size to 28 to allow the instructor to work closely with students in English/Reading remediation to assist them in building a conceptual framework as well as developing academic comprehension, expressive and interpretive skills.
Prerequisite: RDL 01 and ENG 01, if required 
Corequisite: RDL 02 or ENG 02 or ENG 10.
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

HIS 13 
3 rec 3 cr
History of the Ancient World
Four major River Valley civilizations—Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, China—will be covered. Examination of the florescence and decline of Greek and Roman civilizations. Focus on significant achievements of each people, assessing their impact on contemporary cultures as well as their legacy to ours. Readings from religious texts, poetry, drama and philosophy.
Prerequisite: HIS 10 or 11
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

HIS 14 
3 rec 3 cr
Medieval History 
This introductory course studies medieval culture, politics, religion, society, and warfare, from the fragmentation of the Roman Empire to the fifteenth century. The focus is on Europe, but emphasis also is placed on interactions with, and comparisons to, the Middle East and North Africa. The impact of social, gender, and religious status on the individual’s life and opportunities will be considered.
Prerequisite: ENG 2 or RDL 2, if required
Flexible Core – Individual and Society

HIS 15 
3 rec 3 cr
Intellectual and Social History of Modern Europe
Effects of major ideas in Western society from the 18th century in their political and cultural context. The revolutionary dynamic in democracy, romanticism and conservatism, changing situation of religion, role of women in modern society, socialism in 19th and communism in 20th centuries, interaction between philosophy and politics extending from idealism to existentialism, class conflict and social stability, racism and egalitarianism, scientism and irrationalism.
Prerequisite: HIS 10 or 11.

HIS 20 
3 rec 3 cr
The American Nation: The Political & Social Development of a People
The American Nation is a one-semester survey of American history covering significant political, social and cultural currents of the last 400 years. This class will introduce students to the major developments of the American past, with a focus on how they influenced Americans’ lives and how they were influenced by Americans’ actions. Students will analyze how these developments helped shape American society and the United States’ role in the global community
Prerequisite: ENG 02 and RDL 02, if required.
Flexible Core – US Experience in its Diversity

HIS 23 
3 rec 3 cr
Social and Intellectual History of Modern America
Fundamental concepts of the American experience that permeate our lives today, including puritanism, class consciousness, prejudice, violence, feminism and pragmatism.
Prerequisite: HIS 10 or 11.
Flexible Core – US Experience in its Diversity

HIS 24 
3 rec 3 cr
The History of American Foreign Relations
Major developments in the foreign relations of the U.S., from the American Revolution to Vietnam and their domestic and international effects. Emphasis on the policies of this century; evolution of the republic into a world power and the consequent tensions and crises. Origins and progress of efforts at international cooperation and peace.
Prerequisite: ENG 02 and RDL 02, if required.
Flexible Core – US Experience in its Diversity

HIS 28 
3 rec 3 cr
Women: The Historical Perspective
This course examines the ways in which women in different times and different eras have shaped and been shaped by the societies in which they lived. The influence of cultural ideas about gender on women’s lives and women’s part in shaping and challenging those ideas receive particular attention.
Prerequisite: ENG 02 and RDL 02, if required.
Flexible Core – Individual and Society

HIS 29
3 rec 3 cr

History of Women in the United States
This course examines the history of women in the United States, from the colonial era through the 21st century. Students will analyze how major developments in the history of the country, including wars, western expansion, slavery, waves of immigration, and the fight for equal rights, have shaped the experiences of diverse women. They will also analyze how women have shaped those developments. The class will address how ideas about gender have developed over time, including how concepts of what it means to be American have influenced those ideas.
Prerequisite: ENG 2 and RDL 2, if required
Flexible Core – US Experience in its Diversity

HIS 31 
3 rec 3 cr
Modern Latin American History
A study of the historical development of Latin America from the pre-colonial period to the present. Covers major themes in the history of Latin America such as European conquest, colonialism and its continued legacies, New World Slavery, the independence movements, caudillismo (strongman rule), populism, reform and revolution, neo-imperialism, and Latino immigration to the United States.
Prerequisite: ENG 02 and RDL 02 if required.
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

HIS 34 
3 rec 3 cr
History of Science and Technology
Major developments in science and technology in the Western world and their impact on man and society. Growth and interaction of science and technology from the dawn of civilization to the present day.
Prerequisite: HIS 10 or 11.

HIS 35 
3 rec 3 cr
History of Africa
This is an introductory survey of the history of Africa from the pre-colonial period to the post-independence era. Through a multidisciplinary approach, the course will cover some of the major themes in African history including pre-colonial social and political hierarchies, state formation, internal and external trade, the slave trade and slavery, Imperialism, nationalism and liberation struggles and post-independence, contemporary issues. Throughout the course attention will be drawn to the diversity of the African experience as well as the political, social and economic interactions between Africa and the global community.
Prerequisite: ENG 02 and RDL 02, if required.
Flexible Core – World Cultures & Global Issues

HIS 36 
3 rec 3 cr
History of Modern Russia
The history, culture, and economic and social development of Russia in modern times, with some emphasis on Russia’s relations with her neighbors in Eastern Europe.
Prerequisite: HIS 10 or 11.

HIS 37 
3 rec 3 cr
African-American History
This course examines, both chronologically and thematically, 400 years of African-American history from slavery through to the election of Barack Obama in 2008. The course will expand on topics such as slavery, antebellum free Black communities, the Great Migration, and the Civil Rights movement. The course will make extensive use of primary documents, oral histories, and secondary reading.
Prerequisite: ENG 2 and RDL 2, if required
Flexible Core – U.S. Experience in its Diversity

HIS 39
3 rec 3 cr
History of the Caribbean
This is a pan-Caribbean course that introduces students to conceptual, comparative and integrative issues of the Caribbean by exploring colonialism, revolution and abolition in the 19th century, U.S.-Caribbean relations, nationalist movements and migrations in the 20th century. Students will examine how these comparative legacies have influenced the region’s contemporary culture, society and diasporas. Special emphasis will be placed on the themes of politics, race/ethnicity, gender, culture and labor/economics particularly in Jamaica, Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
Prerequisite: ENG 2 and RDL 2, if required
Flexible Core – World Cultures and Global Issues

HIS 45 
3 rec 3 cr
The History of Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing in the Modern World
An introduction to the political, economic and social explanations for genocide, mass murder and ethnic cleansing in twentieth century Europe, Africa and Asia. Case studies will include the murder of Greeks and Armenians at the beginning of the century, the Holocaust, and genocide in Rwanda and Darfur.
Prerequisite: HIS 10 or 11.

HIS 46
3 rec 3 cr
The Cold War: Road to Armageddon
This course will examine the many ways in which the Cold War shaped the culture and geopolitics of the twentieth century. The course will inspect the military and economic competition between the United States and Soviet Union, decolonization efforts in Asia and Africa, the conflicts in Latin America, and how the Cold War spurred the rise of globalization.
Prerequisite: HIS 10, HIS 11, or HIS 20
Flexible Core – World Cultures and Global Issues

HIS 51 
3 rec 3 cr
History of New York City
This course examines the social, economic and political history of New York City from its Dutch origins in Lenape territory to the present, with emphasis on immigration, innovation, conflict and consideration of the city’s role in the U.S. and global economy.
Prerequisite: ENG 02 and RDL 02 if required.
Flexible Core – US Experience in its Diversity

Philosophy

PHL 11 
3 rec 3 cr
Introduction to Philosophy
Fundamental questions of human experience, and basic problems of philosophy; survey of major philosophers (classical and modern).
Corequisite: ENG 02 or RDL 02 if required.
Flexible Core – Individual and Society

PHL 90 
3 rec 3 cr
Introduction to Religion
Humanistic and academic orientation to study of religion, treating each of the major world religions systematically.  Course includes both historical and contemporary material.
Corequisite: ENG 02 or RDL 02 if required.

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