Pacific
Union College’s
Department of History and Social Science
Classes Taught
Geography
Upper-division courses:
World Regional Geography
A survey of regions of the world, demonstrating cultural,
historical, climatic, and economic similarities or diversities. Emphasis on
current developments. Even years.
GEOG 327 3 W
Geography of the Americas
A study of climate, natural resources, political, and
economic geography of North and South America. Odd years.
History
Lower-division courses:
HIST 101-102 4-4 A-W, W-S
A History of World Civilizations
An examination, based on secondary and primary texts, of the
major characteristics and developments in world civilizations. Also integral:
discussion of history’s place in the liberal arts and of the problems of the
historical method.
HIST 134-135 4-4 A-W, W-S
History of the United States
A survey of the United States from colonial beginnings to the
present time. The central theme is the growth of American democracy
with its implications for government and society, racial and religious
minorities and the emergence of the nation as a world power.
HIST 290 2 A
Seminar in the Study of History
An introduction to writing history, featuring research
techniques and use of style manuals and culminating in a paper based on
original sources.
Upper-division courses:
HIST 320 3 W
Christian History: To 1500
Developments in the Christian Church from its pre-Christian
origins to the Renaissance. Special emphasis on those social, political,
intellectual, and religious pressures that brought significant change to the
Church and its teachings. Detailed examination of significant
HIST 321 3 S
Christian History: 1500 to the Present
Developments in the Christian Church from the beginnings of
“the modern world” to the present day. Emphasis on the effects on the Church of
major cultural movements, such as the Reformation, the Enlightenment,
colonization and imperialism, modern warfare, and ecumenism. Detailed
examination of significant works by Christians in response to “the modern
world.”
HIST 334 4 A
Nineteenth-Century Europe
An examination of political, social, and religious trends
during the century following the Treaty of Vienna, including the decline of
absolutism and the rise of parliamentary democracy, socialism, and nationalism.
Odd years.
HIST 335 4 A
Europe Since 1914
The contemporary world with Europe as the focal point.
Problems of ideology and power politics in relation to the two world wars, as
well as efforts at international organization and the impact of the Cold War.
Even years.
HIST 337 3 S
History of California
An introduction to geographic, economic, social, and
historical factors which have contributed to the development of California.
Even years.
HIST 340 4 S
Adventist History and the Ministry of Ellen G. White
An interdisciplinary course covering theological and
historical issues important to an understanding of the Advent Movement and the
ministry of Ellen G. White. Special treatment of an adequate hermeneutic for
the writings of Ellen G. White. Meets the requirement in Prophetic Guidance and
Denominational History for SDA teaching credentials.
HIST 355 4 W
Colonial America
A survey of the discovery, settlement, and growth of the
European colonies in America, emphasizing those religious, political, and economic
developments, particularly in the English colonies, that prepared the way for
independence. Even years.
HIST 356 4 W
The New Nation: 1763-1845
A survey of the formative period of American national
identity between 1763 and 1845. Includes intensive study of the creation
and development of the U.S. Constitution. Odd years.
HIST 357 4 A
Division and Reunion: 1845-1917
The basic issues of the nature of the Union and of slavery,
the immediate and permanent effects of the Reconstruction on America’s society
and government, industrialization, and the close of the frontier. Even years.
HIST 358 4 S
America Since 1917
A study of the rapid changes in American society, economy,
and politics in the modern era, emphasizing the nation’s emergence as a world
power. Odd years.
HIST 364 4 A
Modern Asia
A survey of historical, political, social, and cultural
developments, emphasizing the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and the rise
and decline of European imperial-ism. Odd years.
HIST 365 3 W
Seminar in American Slavery and Freedom
(Also ENGL 365) A cultural and political study of
African-Americans in the history of the United States. Primary texts,
including novels, essays, poetry, and biography, are used to
examine the impact of slavery, emancipation, and segregation upon American
democracy. Even years.
HIST 366 4 S
Modern Latin America
A history of Latin America since the early nineteenth
century. Emphasis on cultural, political, and economic trends. Odd years.
HIST 390 3 S
History and Philosophy of Science
The historical roots of modern science, the nature of
scientific knowledge, its development and methodology, the impact of science
onculture (and vice versa), and the influence of philosophical and theological
concepts on science. Meets in part the college-level Science/Mathematics
general-education requirement and is one of the electives of the Honors
Program. Pre-requisites: PHYS 105 or CHEM 105, or equivalent, and PHIL 101 or
permission of the instructor. Even years.
HIST 420 4 S
Renaissance and Reformation Europe
European history from the fourteenth to seventeenth
centuries, when experiments in art, literature, political theories and systems,
and religion were a prominent feature of society. The causes of such
developments as the Renaissance and the Reformation; ideas about the
HIST 423 4 W
Medieval Europe
The vital period from 300 to 1500 saw the creation of Europe.
The priorities and characteristics of the civilization were determined in the
emergence of a multi-faceted medieval society, a discrete historical entity,
and ancestor of the modern world. Even years.
HIST 425 4 W
Reason and Revolution
European history from 1648 to 1815, with special attention to
the effect of the Age of Reason on the modern mind, the growth of the bureaucratic state,
and the impact of the era of revolution. Even years.
HIST 434 4 S
The History of Modern Russia
A survey of Russian political, social, and intellectual
development in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Odd years.
HIST 440 4 S
Religion in American Culture
A survey of American religious history and its impact on
American culture. Emphasis on how religious belief and practice have influenced
and been influenced by the development of American identity. Odd years.
Modern Britain
Survey of the political, social, and economic history of
Britain in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Treats such major themes of
the period as imperial-ism, the Irish question, the reform of Parliament, the
changing role of women in society, the development of the Labor
The Classical World
(Also ENGL 485.) Ancient Greece and Rome studied through
primary texts, including Greek and Roman epics, dramas, histories, and
philosophical works. Even years.
HIST 490 3 W
Seminar in the Philosophy of History
A survey of various approaches to interpreting history and
social studies. Designed to assist in the development of a
Christian Philosophy of history. Required for departmental majors. Two
hours of credit may be applied toward the general-education requirement in religion.
Odd years.
HIST 495 1-3 A, W, S
Independent Study
An individual research course open by permission of the
department chair to advanced students with an adequate background. Maximum of
three hours.
HIST 499 2 A, W, S
Senior Seminar
Continuation of the study of research methods introduced in
HIST 290 combined with selected readings from historians representing different
historical and critical methods. Requires completion of an individual research
project based on primary sources and its presentation to students and faculty
in the department. Enrollment limited to upper-division students.
Political Science
Lower-division courses:
PLSC 124 3 A
Introduction to American Government
The basic elements of the development and functioning of the
American machinery of government and a study of the political processes, both
formal and informal, in which the citizen is involved.
PLSC 274 3 A
Introduction to Political Thought
An introduction to the perennial questions and major thinkers
in this area of philosophy.
Upper-division courses:
PLSC 328 3 S
Critical World Issues
An important issue is selected by the instructor, discussed
in class, and studied as a research topic. May include one or more of the following:
the elements of national power, the dynamics of state conflict, national traits
and policy patterns, the role of ideologies or moral considerations in the
decision-making process, and the relationship between a society’s world view
and the realities of policy-making.
PLSC 334 3 W
History of Political Thought I
A study of selected ancient and medieval political theorists.
Prerequisite : PLSC 274. Odd years.
PLSC 335 3 S
History of Political Thought II
A study of the political philosophy of selected modern
political thinkers. Prerequisite: PLSC 274. Odd years.
PLSC 344 3 W
Modern Comparative Government
The theory and function of typical governments, with special
attention to their effects upon their citizens and the relative success with
which they meet the needs of their societies. Even years.
PLSC 444 4 A
Constitutional Development of England
The growth of British institutions from Roman times to the
present, with special emphasis on the development of parliamentary and legal
systems. Odd years.
PLSC 485 3 A
Foreign Relations of the United States
A study in depth of episodes selected from the history of
American foreign relations to illustrate the development of U.S. foreign
policy. Odd years.
PLSC 495 1-3 A, W, S
Independent Study
An individual research course open only by permission of the
department chair to advanced students with an adequate background. Maximum of
three hours.
Last Updated April 2004