Ever wonder what groups constitute the Asian American communities in the state of Massachusetts, especially in Western Massachusetts, and what they are doing to empower and help themselves? This course combines the methods of historical inquiry and civic engagement, and is designed for students who are willing to learn more about Asian Americans both inside and outside the classroom. In the first half of the course, students will learn about the general history of specific Asian subgroups (e.g. Chinese, Korean, Indian, Japanese, Cambodian, Vietnamese, etc).

Media headlines across the world today contain news of the humanitarian, political, economic, and social implications of the refugee crises that have resulted from the Arab Spring. Seen through the lens of history, however, these recent events form part of a long tradition in which people have been displaced during the modern era. This course will connect contemporary events to the history of mass migration in the Middle East, taking the settlement of major cities during the mid-eighteenth century as our starting point.

This course will investigate several different Islamic religious movements. It will focus on the ideas and beliefs of each movement, their cultural and historical contexts, and the historical effect that these movements have had. Topics will include the Sunni-Shiite division, Mysticism, Islamic Modernism, Malcolm X and the Nation of Islam, and "Fundamentallism" or Political Islam.

General view of the cultural, economic, and political development of Latin America, 1492 to 1824. Topics include the Iberian and Indian backgrounds; Spanish and Portuguese imperial organization; role of Indians, Blacks, and Europeans in the New World; the coming of independence. (Gen.Ed. HS, DG)

General view of the cultural, economic, and political development of Latin America, 1492 to 1824. Topics include the Iberian and Indian backgrounds; Spanish and Portuguese imperial organization; role of Indians, Blacks, and Europeans in the New World; the coming of independence. (Gen.Ed. HS, DG)

General view of the cultural, economic, and political development of Latin America, 1492 to 1824. Topics include the Iberian and Indian backgrounds; Spanish and Portuguese imperial organization; role of Indians, Blacks, and Europeans in the New World; the coming of independence. (Gen.Ed. HS, DG)

The Civil War era as the central epoch in American history; the crucial issues: development of sectional hostilities; why and how the war came, course and conduct of the war; attention to Lincoln and emancipation. Emphasis on the people. Biographies, narratives, and historical fiction.

The Civil War era as the central epoch in American history; the crucial issues: development of sectional hostilities; why and how the war came, course and conduct of the war; attention to Lincoln and emancipation. Emphasis on the people. Biographies, narratives, and historical fiction.

The Civil War era as the central epoch in American history; the crucial issues: development of sectional hostilities; why and how the war came, course and conduct of the war; attention to Lincoln and emancipation. Emphasis on the people. Biographies, narratives, and historical fiction.