Ghandi once said, "A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” Loyno’s history department seeks to do just that. In the pursuit of justice, we guide our students through an exploration of the past and all of its intricacies and nuances. Those higher levels of historical thought can only come through a scholarly search for understanding. In our program, you’ll learn to investigate and analyze the historical movements that have shaped contemporary society. Our graduates use those skills to excel in fields such as education, law, government, business, management, public relations, writing, and research. We’ll give you the tools you’ll need to follow St. Ignatius’ charge to “go forth and set the world on fire."
Overview of Courses
In addition to a core set of courses exploring global history, U.S. history, and historical research methods, you’ll select electives to tailor the program to your interests. Here’s a sample of what you can expect to learn and do:
- Saints & Demons in Medieval Europe
The medieval church played a central role influencing the lives of Western Christians. This course examines the depth of that influence, emphasizing forms of religious expression, the church’s role in everyday life, canon law, and lay involvement in the church. - Women in African History
This course examines women in African history from ancient times to present, focusing on religious practices, colonialism, and social class. Students examine the construction of gender, social systems, reproduction, women’s exercise of power, and the attempt to control female bodies. - Oppression and Resistance
This course challenges students to critically evaluate the roles that racism, sexism, and prejudice have played in shaping the modern world. Students compare case studies of slavery, persecution, subjugation, and genocide and explore the violent and nonviolent resistance of marginalized peoples. - Money as Meaning
This course focuses on the relationship between money and other forms of communication, such as writing and printing. It examines the changing roles of various kinds of money across time, from early stone-age exchange systems through the birth of capitalism.
Curriculum
- HIST T124 Global History II
- HIST A200 U.S. History I
- HIST A201 U.S. History II
- HIST A202 Historical Methods Lab
- 3 credit hours in U.S. History
- 3 credit hours in European History
- 6 credit hours in non-U.S./Euro History
- 9 credit hours of history electives of the student’s choice
- HIST A400 Historiography
- Plus 32 credit hours of general electives
History Course Information
Find out more about the history major:
Teacher Education
Students looking for teacher preparation in Social Studies take the major courses from the History degree along with focus-area courses for teacher education.