CGS History Courses
CGS HIS 100 First Year Seminar in History: Selected Topics
3 cr.
In this seminar style course designed for first semester freshmen, students will learn about a historical topic in depth and from different angles while also focusing on critical thinking, analysis of various types of sources, historical interpretation, and debates among historians. Students will also be introduced to college level expectations and study habits.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 101 History of the United States: From the Era of the Columbian Exchange to the Era of the Civil War
3 cr.
A survey of American political, economic, social, and intellectual history from the Age of European Exploration and the period of colonization to the era of the American Civil War. As an Ethnic Studies ES course, this course thoroughly integrates the experiences of African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and/or Asian Americans into US history in a manner that fosters understanding and appreciation of the perspectives and experiences of at least two of these groups as well as their contributions to, and interactions within, American society.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS, CD
Last Taught: Fall 2024.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 102X History of the United States: From the Era of the Civil War to the Present
3 cr.
Survey of American political, economic, social, and intellectual history from the era of the Civil War to the Present; includes experiences and interactions/contributions of African Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, and/or Asian Americans.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS, CD
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Summer 2024, Spring 2024, Fall 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 105 History of Western Civilization from Ancient Times to the Era of the Renaissance
3-4 cr.
Survey of Western Civilization from ancient times through the Renaissance, emphasizing the distinctive features of Western culture, political development, economic development, and the contributions made by non-Western people.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Summer 2020, Fall 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 106 History of Western Civilization from the Era of the Renaissance to Contemporary Times
3-4 cr.
Survey of Western Civilization from the Renaissance to contemporary times, emphasizing the further development of Western culture, political institutions, and economic institutions, including reference to the interaction among the peoples of the modern world.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 111 Ancient History
3 cr.
Survey of the history of civilization from the beginnings in Mesopotamia and Egypt through Classical Greece with emphasis on institutional and social development.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Summer 2022.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 112 Ancient History
3 cr.
Survey of the history of civilization from Alexander the Great through the fall of the Roman Empire with emphasis on institutional and social development.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Spring 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 127 The World in the Twentieth Century
3 cr.
Survey of the major trends in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas since 1900; the two world wars; the social and political revolutions of our time; Fascism and Communism; and the new states of Africa and Asia.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Fall 2021, Fall 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 161 World History to 1500
3-4 cr.
A topical approach to the history of premodern humankind. Special attention will be given to the emergence, development, and interaction of civilizations in Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Fall 2023, Fall 2022.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 162 World History Since 1500
3-4 cr.
A topical history of global humankind with emphasis on the rise of the West to world dominance and the various ways in which the peoples of Africa, Asia, and Latin America have responded to the Western challenge.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Spring 2024.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 204 Introduction to Public History
3 cr.
An introduction to the field of public history with topics for classroom discussion including the concept of public memory, historic preservation theory and practice, creation of museum exhibits, and career opportunities in the field of history outside of education. Students will apply knowledge gained from the course to evaluate historic exhibits and gain field work by undertaking their own exhibit, archival or preservation project.
Prerequisites: None.
General Education Requirements: AP
Last Taught: Spring 2022.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 208 The Film as Social History
3 cr.
Feature and documentary films produced in a particular historical period or on a specific historical topic. Through viewing selected films, the student will gain a deeper understanding of the motion picture's significance as an historical document, as well as its function as a propaganda device. The course will relate the thematic content of the selected films to the specific historical context in which they were produced and consumed.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 213 The United States and Latin America's Cold War
3 cr.
Recent development of Hispanic and Portuguese America, emphasizing the evolution of independent states.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Fall 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 218 The United States and Vietnam
3 cr.
An investigation of the war in Southeast Asia, 1945-1975, focusing on these topics: Southeast Asian historical context, French colonialism, Southeast Asian cultural and political contexts, Vietnamese nationalism, the role of the Cold War, American involvement, the debate on American policy, experiences of US soldiers and South East Asian participants, American withdrawal, conclusion of the fighting, and long-term effects in the United States, in South East Asia and globally.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Spring 2025, Spring 2024.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 254 American Foreign Relations, 1763 to the Present
3 cr.
America's interactions with the world, emphasizing the global and domestic economic, political and ideological elements influencing policy.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 255 Proseminar in History
3 cr.
This course will explore a historical topic through readings, discussion, and written assignments.
Prerequisites: none.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 256 Topics in History:
1-3 cr.
This course will explore in depth an historical topic through lectures, discussions, readings, and written assignments.
Prerequisites: none.
Last Taught: Spring 2021, Fall 2020.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 258 The Holocaust: Politics of Peace, Nationalism, and War
3 cr.
Historical background and current scholarly debate about the best documented genocide in recent history. Students will explore a variety of sources produced during and after the period, including films, posters and literature.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Summer 2020, Fall 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 270 American Business History
3 cr.
The role of business in American society from colonial times to the present. Origins of American capitalism, appearance of corporate organization, work patterns, changing business ethics and their legal environment, government regulation, and international trade.
Prerequisites: none.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 272 History and Culture of the Sciences
3 cr.
This course will examine, in a historical context , how science has been constructed and how it has interacted with other aspects of society, such as politics, religion, culture, and economics. These themes will be addressed by closely studying two transformations in scientific and human thought: first, the shift from an Earth-centered to a sun-centered universe, and second, the development of the theory of Evolution by natural selection. Finally, we will briefly consider the emergence of new major scientific and cultural transitions which are now occurring.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: HU
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 277 Indians in American History
3 cr.
This course surveys U.S. history with emphasis on contact in the age of exploration, interactions over time between Europeans and Native Americans, and adaptations and conflicts that emerged. The course will approach this from social, political, and economic perspectives from the colonial period to the present. This course focuses on understanding the perspectives of Native Americans.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: CD, SS
Last Taught: Fall 2024, Fall 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 283 War and American Society
3 cr.
An investigation of the impact of wars on American society. Wars from the earliest European settlement through the wars of the early 21st century may be included. The home front will be emphasized, with attention to wartime politics and economy, civil liberties, the experience of non-combatants, and the larger social effects of war.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Fall 2021.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 290 History of Wisconsin
3 cr.
History of Wisconsin from the beginning of the historical period to the present, with emphasis on the economic and social aspects of Wisconsin history since 1815.
Prerequisites: none.
General Education Requirements: SS
Last Taught: Spring 2024, Spring 2023.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/
CGS HIS 299 Independent Studies
1-3 cr.
Extensive reading for the purpose of surveying the literature on a particular historical subject, possibly including a research project, under the personal supervision of the instructor.
Prerequisites: consent of instructor.
Course Rules: Repeatable. Subject matter is open, to be determined by the student and instructor. Students will be encouraged to use off-campus resources when available.
Last Taught: Spring 2022, Fall 2019.
Current Offerings: https://catalog.uwm.edu/course-search/