Goals of the IWU History Department

I. FOR THE UNIVERSITY:

1. To contribute a range of courses for the General Education program;
2. To provide a curriculum for the study of history as a major discipline;
3. To produce a range of courses contributing to the curricula of interdisciplinary programs, such as International Studies, American Studies, Women’s Studies, Greek & Roman Studies, and Environmental Studies.

II. FOR OUR MAJORS:

1. To explore the breadth and depth of history by
   1. studying the key historical processes of at least three geographical areas at the 100-level;
   2. examining pre-1800 history in at least one course;
   3. engaging in the in-depth study of historical subjects or periods in at least four upper-level courses;

2. To foster the development of critical thinking through such skills as
   1. appreciating both the objective and the subjective elements of historical inquiry;
   2. reading, understanding, analyzing, and evaluating texts, particularly within their own historical contexts;
   3. discerning causes and effects of events, thoughts and activities;
   4. honing the ability to approach a myriad of facts, and to prioritize and structure those facts through the identification and application of various historical themes. (Here themes/categories would include, for example, thought/ideology, gender, class, race, global relationships of domination/subjugation, culture, politics, and economics);

3. To gain the practical skill of research:
   1. identifying an appropriate research question;
   2. locating appropriate written texts, both primary and secondary;
   3. learning to interrogate one’s sources;
   4. knowing how to borrow ideas from others in shaping and refining one’s own;

4. To communicate the findings of historical inquiry orally and, most particularly, through scholarly writing;
5. To critique responsibly the scholarly work of others.