History (MA) — Eligibility for Courses

Please note: Graduate courses are open to graduate students, and to undergraduates by permission of the instructor only. History 600 and 605 are not open to undergraduates.

Courses

HIST 600
Research Seminar

This is the introductory course in historical research and methods. Readings draw upon diverse historical materials, with special attention to primary materials. Emphasis is given to the development of research and writing skills. It is normally taught in American history. (Course offered every semester.)
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Di Scala, Ms Winch, and Staff

HIST L602 (AMST L602)
Historical Sequence I: American Society and Political Culture: 1600-1865

The course follows the evolution of American society and political culture from the colonial period to the Civil War. The concept “political culture,” as used here, embraces institutions, public behavior, and above all, attitudes—beliefs, values, expectations, fears—regarding the distribution and exercise of political power. Two momentous events, the wars for independence and union, are major course milestones at which the development of political culture is assessed from the perspective of different social groups, including leaders, artists, writers, women, workers, and slaves. A central theme is the interplay between regional divergences and national convergences. Thematic questions running through the course are: Did a common political culture emerge? Who was included, who excluded? Was American political culture distinctive?
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Chu and Staff

HIST 605
Colloquium

This is the introductory course in historiography. A topic, varying from year to year, is treated in the light of past and present schools of historical thought. Emphasis is given to the development of analytical skills. The colloquium is normally taught in European history. (Course offered every semester.)
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Di Scala, Mr Smith, Mr Smuts, and Staff

HIST 610
American Historical Tradition

The history of American historical writing from the eighteenth century to the present. Topics include the Progressive, Consensus, New Left, New Social, and other schools of historical interpretation. (Course offered every year.)
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Winch

HIST 615
European Historical Tradition

The history of European historical writing from Voltaire to the present, including both classic and contemporary historians. (Course offered every other year.)
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Staff

HIST 631
Fall of the Roman Empire

This course examines one of the great problems of European history and in the process surveys the entire period from the third century to the early seventh. It considers the reasons for the fall of the Roman empire and discusses some of the explanations that have been proposed. Topics include the crisis of the third century; Diocletian and Constantine; the Germanic invasions; and the reign of Justinian.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Bartson

HIST 636
Weimar Germany

An examination of German life and culture under the Weimar Republic, chiefly through studies of diverse primary sources ranging from memoirs and public addresses to literature, the arts, and architecture. Each student investigates one aspect of Weimar history using the available primary source material (in translation) and delivers an oral presentation and a final major paper.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Bookbinder

HIST 646
The Early New England Town

This course uses the early history of New England towns to examine the social life of Americans from the first settlements to the American Civil War. Through the study of the town, students consider topics in social, political, legal, economic, demographic, and environmental history.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Chu

HIST L650 (AMST L650)
Leadership in 19th-Century Antebellum America

This course explores leadership in 19th-century America and the contributions of various leaders to the development of the nation. Topics include reform leaders, political leaders, and lesser-known leaders.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Staff

HIST 681
Topics in European History

Examinations of important themes in European political, social, cultural, and intellectual history. Topics vary.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

HIST 682
Topics in American History

Examinations of important themes in American political, social, cultural, and intellectual history. Topics vary.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

HIST 685
Topics in Atlantic History

This course is an examination of important themes in the history of the Atlantic world between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. Such themes will involve economic, cultural, social, and/or political interactions between peoples and countries on both sides of the Atlantic.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

HIST 689
Capstone Project

A 30-page research paper on a topic selected by the student and approved by the graduate program director. The paper must include a curricular section discussing the methods and materials that would be used in teaching this topic or subject area on the secondary school level. The paper will be defended before a committee consisting of a faculty supervisor and two other readers.
Hrs by arrangement, 3 Credits

HIST 690
Thesis Preparation

This is a one-semester supervised individual course to help students develop a viable thesis topic. Subjects will vary according to the student’s interest and will include extensive guided reading.
Hrs by arrangement, 3 Credits

HIST 696
Independent Study

Advanced course of independent readings under the guidance and subject to the examination of the instructor. Areas and topics according to student need. May be taken only once.
Prerequisite: Permission of graduate program director.
Hrs by arrangement, 3 Credits

HIST 699
Master of Arts Thesis

Under the supervision of the appointed advisor. All topics must be previously approved by the program’s graduate committee. The thesis will be defended before a committee of three faculty members who will also judge its suitability as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the master of arts degree.
Hrs by arrangement, 6 Credits

HIST L747 (PPOL G L747)
Law and Public Policy

This course exposes students to differing theoretical perspectives in the academic literature, as well as to important areas of law. The course focuses on judicial policy making and on the nature of the litigious US society. In addition to examining why the courts are such central actors in US policy making, participants also explore the consequences of the distinctive role the courts play in various policy areas—for example, abortion, civil rights, desegregation, the environment, health care, labor policy, social legislation, special education, and welfare.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Ms Bussiere

Anthropology — Courses

ANTH 515
Public Archaeology

An examination of cultural resource management in New England and the United States. This course studies the significance of state and federal environmental and historic preservation legislation, and the implementation of these laws from drafting proposals and the granting of contracts to the collection of data and its analysis for recommendations to mitigate the impact of construction on archaeological sites. Students learn the processes of national register nomination, problem-oriented proposal and report writing, and calculation of budget estimates for proposed work.
Prerequisite: ANTH 241 or equivalent, or expertise in contract archaeology.
3 Lect Hrs, 4 Credits
Mr Mrozowski

ANTH 525
Graduate Seminar in Historical Archaeology

This course provides an overview of the field of Historical Archaeology. Since its emergence in the 1960’s, historical archaeology has grown to become the most rapidly expanding field of archaeological research. Starting with a focus on North America, historical archaeology is now a global field that concentrates on the study of the emergence of the modern world and other complex societies. Drawing on a rich palette of interdisciplinary approaches, historical archaeology explores complex global processes such as colonization, industrialization, urbanization, and globalization. This course will focus on the methods employed by the field’s practitioners, the various contexts in which this work is conducted, and the theoretical underpinnings of the field as a whole.
Prerequisite: ANTH 240 or equivalent.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Lab Hrs, 5 Credits
Mr Mrozowski

ANTH 530
Seminar in the Prehistory of the Americas

The course introduces key topics and literature in the precontact traditions, politics, lifeways, and material practices of the indigenous people of the Americas. The course is designed as a seminar discussion that runs concurrently with a lecture-based course at the undergraduate level. Topics will vary per semester among the following four options: Ancient North America, Ancient Peru, Ancient Mesoamerica, and New England Prehistory. By approval of the Graduate Committee, the course may be repeated for credit if topical focus varies.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

ANTH 540
Archaeological Methods and Analysis

This course introduces the practice of historical archaeology in the laboratory and in the field through considerations of research design, methodology, material culture, and technical analyses of archaeological remains. The first portion of the course will involve discussions and readings on research design, field methodology, and sampling and recovery. The remaining segments will cover material culture and technical analyses in the laboratory, with a focus on ceramics, metal, glass, stone, plant remains, animal remains, and conservation techniques. The latter component of the course will be strongly devoted to hands-on, practical training in laboratory techniques and material identification.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

ANTH 545
Topics in Environmental Archaeology

This course provides an overview of tools and techniques archaeologists use to investigate the interrelationship between culture and their environments. We will explore how archaeologists and environmental scientists study past human-environment interactions, including human alteration of the environment and cultural responses to environmental change. Discussions of case studies provide examples of the interpretive power of interdisciplinary environmental archaeology research. Laboratory work with collections from archaeological sites provides practical experience and the basis for student research projects.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

ANTH 550
Materials in Ancient Societies

A one- or two-semester laboratory course offered as part of the teaching program of the Boston Area Center for Materials Research in Archaeology and Ethnology, of which UMass Boston is a member. The topic of the course rotates annually among lithic materials, ceramics, faunal/floral materials, metals, and archaeological data analysis. The course may be taken more than once.
3 Lect Hrs, 7 Lab Hrs, 5 Credits

ANTH 565
Graduate Seminar in Archaeology

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive background in current archaeological method and theory. It focuses on the major theoretical schools in archaeology, and their historical development. The course includes lectures and discussions on theory and method in archaeology, as well as discussions of methods employed in other historical disciplines. Emphasis is also given to the articulation of social theory as developed in anthropology, history, and archaeological research.
Prerequisites: ANTH 240 and 241 or equivalent.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits
Mr Mrozowski

ANTH 570
Research Methods in Historical Archaeology

This course introduces the methods, analytical concerns, and theoretical approaches employed by anthropologists investigating past societies through documentary evidence. Readings for the course will range from the foundational literature of ethnohistory, with its primary focus on the historical study of marginalized cultures traditionally the subject of anthropological scrutiny, to recent trends in historical archaeology that reflect both a broader global bias and a heightened sensitivity to issues raised by feminist, postcolonial, and indigenous scholars. Using historiographic tools outlined in class, students will conduct small documentary research projects during the term.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

ANTH 572
Culture Contact and Colonialism in the Americas

This course explores the multifaceted nature of colonial encounters between Europeans and indigenous people. Using the Americas as the geographical focus, the course devotes special attention to the analytical and theoretical discourse-shaping anthropological approaches to colonialism through the topics of material culture, gender, ideology, ethnicity, race, identity, labor, class, and resistance. Readings and discussions will draw on data and perspectives from ethnohistory, historical archaeology, and cultural anthropology to tackle the simultaneously global and local nature of colonialism.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

ANTH L575 (AMST L575)
Cultural Theory in Anthropology

This course surveys 20th century sociocultural theory, providing students in historical archaeology, American studies, and other disciplines with a complementary background in cultural anthropology. The emphasis is on American anthropologists, their theories of culture, and the attention these theories give to history, as well as the discursive contexts within which these various theories have emerged.
3 Lect Hrs, 3 Credits

ANTH 585
Summer Field School in Historical Archaeology

Summer field survey or excavation in historical archaeology for 6-8 weeks in the Boston or New England area. Credit will be given for any other appropriate field school or internship at another institution.
Prerequisites: ANTH 525 and 565.
3 Lect Hrs, 6 Credits
Mr Mrozowski

ANTH 596
Individual Research in Archaeology

Students may take this course in addition to those required in the program in order to pursue research relevant to the program of study.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4 Credits

ANTH 597
Special Topics in Archaeology

The content of this course, while always relevant to the program, will vary depending on the specialty of the visiting or permanent faculty member who may teach this course on a one-time basis.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
4 Credits

ANTH 598
Practicum in Archaeology

For this course, graduate classroom education is applied in a practical situation, such as field work or a research project for a public archaeology contract agency, a museum, an archaeological laboratory, an historical commission, or a preservation agency. In the practicum students develop a wide range of valuable skills and experience related to possible future employment.
Prerequisites: ANTH 525, 565, and permission of instructor.
Variable Hrs (depending on credits), 4-10 Credits

ANTH 599
Thesis Research Projects in Historical Archaeology

In this course, an MA thesis will be developed from a problem-oriented analysis of documentary and archaeological data. The MA thesis will include a description of the problem in the context of the disciplines of anthropology and history, its application to the data, a description of the analyses undertaken, and their results with reference to the problem. In the conclusion the results of the research project should be discussed in relation to other current research in the field. The MA thesis must be read and approved by an examining committee made up of three faculty readers, one from the History Program, one from the Anthropology Department, and one from a department to be determined.
Prerequisites: ANTH 525, 565, 585, and permission of instructor.
6-10 Credits