History

History

Grow Your History Expertise

At Kirkwood, our History interest area focuses on the study of the human experience in relation to particular periods and places. History at Kirkwood introduces a method of thinking characterized by its attention to the context in which people lived and worked.

You'll learn to analyze and interpret different kinds of evidence, to organize it into a coherent whole, and to present it clearly. Rethinking and revising accepted historical conclusions is one of the most important tasks of the historian.

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Kirkwood has special transfer agreements with all three Iowa state universities and many other four-year institutions, including a 2+2 agreement with the University of Iowa. Transferring and earning a degree in history couldn’t be easier or more affordable!

Kirkwood is the affordable option — we have more than $3 million in scholarships available each year!

A background in history has many advantages that prepare you for a wide variety of careers. While many students in the interest area do not go on to become professional historians, many go into diverse fields including law, education, business, research, politics, archiving, and more!

Kirkwood can help you explore your future career options by providing exciting and meaningful experiences in and outside the classroom designed to help you find the best path.

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The History interest area at Kirkwood is part of our Liberal Arts program. Students will work closely with the Advising and Transfer Center as well as the history faculty when deciding which classes to take. Our faculty are experienced professionals, well-versed in their fields and are ready to help you find the right path during your journey into a rewarding career.

With many options to choose from, the advising process will also help you figure out what area of history specialty to pursue.

HIS-121 Ancient Mediterranean World
Surveys the cultural, religious, political, and social heritage of the ancient Near Eastern people as the foundation of Western civilization. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-122 Europe in the Age of Monarchy
Explores the social, cultural, intellectual, economic, and political foundations of Western civilization in Europe from the Middle Ages to Absolutism and Constitutionalism. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-123 Europe in the Age of Revolution
Studies four revolutions - the Scientific, French, Industrial, and 19th Century Liberal revolutions — which changed the traditional Western society into the modern world. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-124 Europe in the Age of Nationalism
Examines themes of modern European civilization. Emphasis is on the development of nationalism, the rise of Communism and Fascism, and the changes in the present society. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-135 Modern World Military History
Examines the development of modern warfare from the Napoleonic Era to the present, using a multi-disciplinary approach. Focuses on how national and international politics, technology, social issues, economics, religion, and ideology shape military policy, expectations, outcomes, and cultural expressions. Concentrates on key conflicts throughout multiple regions to illustrate the evolving dynamics of strategy and tactics. Discusses warfare's different forms: conventional, guerrilla, and nuclear. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-151 U.S. History to 1877
Studies the European background, the colonial experience, the revolutionary period, and 19th century history to the Civil War. Includes political, economic, and social history of this period as well as the development of American thought. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-152 U.S. History Since 1877
Studies the period from reconstruction to the present. Emphasis is upon industrialization and its impact; the development of a strong federal government; an aggressive foreign policy; and a growing involvement in an international economy. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-221 Holocaust and Genocide in Memory and Literature
Explores the reasons for the Holocaust and the nature and history of anti-Semitism. Analyzes why the Holocaust/Final Solution occurred in Germany. Studies resistance and both collaboration and resistance between Nazism and foreign countries. Compares the Holocaust aimed at the extermination of the Jews with genocide and extermination of other groups in history. Uses a comparative framework. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-254 American Indian History
Examines American Indian societies from the colonial era to the present, using a cross-cultural framework focusing on six major geographical areas of the United States: New England and the Northeast, the Southeast, the Great Lakes region, the Plains, the Southwest, and the Northwest. Emphasizes American Indian cultures, including religion and socio-political structure. Examines American Indian responses to federal Indian policy, including removal, allotment and termination, as well as present-day issues related to revitalization. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-291 History of Science
Covers major aspects of the history of science from the early modern period into the 20th century. As this is a history course, not a science or technology course, the emphasis is on the historical backgrounds of various scientific ideas. The course focuses on some of the major figures in the development of modern Western science including Newton, Darwin, Faraday, and Einstein. Credits: 3, Hours: (3/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

HIS-924 Honors Project
Allows a qualified honors student to pursue a special concentration of study under the guidance of a faculty member. Requires completion of an honors project contact. Credits: 1, Hours: (1/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A; Comments: Requires approval of supervising professor and dean

HIS-928 Independent Study
Provides readings, papers, and basic research or other projects under the individual guidance of a staff member. Credits: 1, Hours: (1/0/0/0), Prereq: none; Coreq: none; Arts & Sciences Elective Code: A

David McMahon
Title: Professor, History
Phone: 319-887-3630
Email: david.mcmahon@kirkwood.edu
Office: Iowa City Campus room 130

 

Jed Peterson
Title: Professor, History
Phone: 319-398-5899 ext. 5920
Email: jed.peterson@kirkwood.edu
Office: Cedar Hall 1047

 

RaeAnn Swanson-Evans
Title: Instructor, History
Phone: 319-398-5899 ext. 5711
Email: raeann.swanson-evans@kirkwood.edu
Office: Cedar Hall 1023

 

Dr. Robinson Yost
Title: Professor, History
Phone: 319-398-5899 ext. 5210
Email: robinson.yost@kirkwood.edu
Office: 1029 Cedar Hall
Education: B.A; Centenary College of Louisiana, M.A.; Iowa State University, Ph.D.; Iowa State University
Bio: Rob started off in mathematics and physics (as a pre-engineering student), and switched to history in graduate school. He has taught at Kirkwood since 2000, after teaching part-time at DMACC for several years. Rob has also taught for Johns-Hopkins, Center for Talented Youth (1999 – 2002), an academic summer camp for gifted and talented teenagers. At Kirkwood, he teaches all four of the Western Civilization courses as the one full-time European historian. In addition, Rob has taught History of Science since 2002 and Holocaust and Genocide in Modern Memory since 2007.

Adjunct Faculty

Brad Lockwood
Sara Nefzger
George Patterson
Max Kutilek

Photo of Max Locher

“Kirkwood is very student oriented — like getting you through and actually teaching you the stuff, not just earning you credit. If you’re behind on stuff, they’re going to come to you, email you, and try to get you up to speed, because they want to see you succeed.”

Max Locher,
Cedar Rapids, Iowa


Questions?

Social Sciences Department
2092 Cedar Hall
319-398-4911
social.sciences@kirkwood.edu