HISTORY DEPARTMENT
UNDERGRADUATE COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
Spring 2016
The following course descriptions are presented as a guide for students and academic advisors. Although major
alterations are unlikely, instructors reserve the right to make changes in content and requirements.
Foundation Courses
HIS 100 (8976) (3crs)
American Political and Social History I
Pastore, Christopher (cpastore@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 10:25am-11:20am
LC 019
Emphasizing trans-Atlantic patterns of movement, migration, and exchange, this course surveys American history
from approximately 1492 to the end of the Civil War. We will examine encounters between the Old World and New
as well as the impact of European colonization on the native peoples of North America. We also examine American
religion, the significance of slavery in American history, the American Revolution, early industrialization, westward
expansion, and the political tensions that tore America in two.
*Note: Students registering for this course must FIRST register for one of the discussion sections below.
Discussion Sections for HIS 101 (8976)
Call #
Day/Time
8975
Wed 11:30am-12:25pm
8977
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8978
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8979
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
8980
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
8981
Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
8982
Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
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HIS 100 (10238) (3crs)
TBD
Mon, Wed, Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
HU 20
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Room
SS 117
BBB 221
BBB 003
BBB 217
ED 125
BBB 356
ED 22
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Instructor
Pastore, Christopher
Pastore, Christopher
Pastore, Christopher
Pastore, Christopher
Pastore, Christopher
Pastore, Christopher
Pastore, Christopher
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American Political and Social History I
Survey of American history from early times to the Civil War, with emphasis on the development of political,
constitutional, economic, social, and cultural institutions.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 101 (8106) (3crs)
Graves, Kori (kgraves@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 9:20am-10:15am
LC 21
American Political and Social History II
The decades following the Civil War were years of dynamic change in the United States. The U.S. economy
benefitted from the industrial expansion of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries that transformed the
domestic economy and the nation’s involvement in foreign markets. In the area of foreign relations, the U.S.
abandoned its noninterventionist stance and, because of improvements in the nation’s military preparedness,
became a principal player in international conflicts. The nation’s political leaders enjoyed greater influence in world
affairs and promoted the supremacy of democracy and capitalism around the globe. In less than a century, the U.S.
grew from a fragile republic recovering from a devastating civil war to a leading world power. At the same time,
economic, social, and political inequalities in the nation inspired various forms of resistance that changed the ways
people related to state and federal institutions.
In AHIS 101, we will examine the cultural, economic, political, and social factors that shaped the country’s
development into a modern nation. This chronological survey is organized around five themes that we will use to
assess how people – individually or collectively – attempted to expand or redefine the terms of their citizenship.
Throughout the semester, we will use the terms “Laborers,” “Reformers,” “Producers,” “Consumers,” and
“Protesters” as sign posts to guide our analysis of the ways diverse groups influenced and were influenced by the
changes that occurred in the years after the Civil War to the late twentieth century.
*Note: Students registering for this course must FIRST register for one of the discussion sections below.
Discussion Sections for HIS 101 (8106)
Call #
Day/Time
8107
Fri 9:20am-10:15am
8108
Fri 9:20am-10:15am
8109
Fri 9:20am-10:15am
8110
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8111
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8112
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
8113
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
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Room
SS 117
ED 22
BBB 362
ED 22
BBB 007
BBB 205
BBB 004
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Instructor
Graves, Kori
Graves, Kori
Graves, Kori
Graves, Kori
Graves, Kori
Graves, Kori
Graves, Kori
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June 29, 2016
HIS 101 (10072) (3crs)
American Political and Social History II
Wittern-Keller, Laura (lwittern-keller@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 9:20am-10:15am
LC 01
This introductory course covers the transformation of the United States from a decentralized agrarian nation to an
industrial giant and world power. Using a traditional text as our framework, we will use class lecture time to delve
deeper into the political, social, cultural, and diplomatic evolution of U.S. history while examining global influences.
Students will watch brief documentaries each week, discussing their content and style in the Friday discussions.
Additionally, students will adopt a persona who will react in an online journal to world and U.S. events each week.
*Note: Students registering for this course must FIRST register for one of the discussion sections below.
Discussion Sections for HIS 101 (10072)
Call #
Day/Time
10076
Fri 9:20am-10:15am
10077
Fri 9:20am-10:15am
10078
Fri 9:20am-10:15am
10079
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
10080
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
10081
Fri 10:25am-11:30am
10082
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
10083
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
10084
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
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Room
ED 21
BBB 003
BBB 007
BA 215
BA 209
BA 216
BA 215
BA 212
BA 216
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Instructor
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
Wittern-Keller, L.
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HIS 101 (10074) (3crs)
American Political and Social History II
Kozakiewicz, Laurie (lkozakiewicz@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 11:30am-12:25pm
LC 24
This course introduces students to the political, economic, social, and cultural changes that have revolutionized
American life from the end of the Civil War to the present. Themes covered include the growing influence of the
federal government at home and abroad, the impact of immigration and industrialization on American society, and
the emergence of a mass consumption society. We also consider how differences of gender, race, and ethnicity
affect people’s ability to be equal partners in America’s growth. Course requirements include short papers
analyzing primary documents, a mid-term and a final exam.
*Note: Students registering for this course must FIRST register for one of the discussion sections below.
Discussion Sections for HIS 101 (10074)
Call #
Day/Time
10086
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
10087
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
10088
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
10089
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
10090
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
10091
Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
10092
Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
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Room
SS 117
ES 108
ED 21
BA 211
BA 231
BBB 205
BBB 141
Instructor
Kozakiewicz, L.
Kozakiewicz, L.
Kozakiewicz, L.
Kozakiewicz, L.
Kozakiewicz, L.
Kozakiewicz, L.
Kozakiewicz, L.
June 29, 2016
HIS 131 (10213) (3crs)
History of European Civilization II
Lenart, Camelia (ilenart@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 1:40pm-2:35pm
ED 120
This class is a survey of European political, cultural, and social history from 1700 to the present. Together we will
examine a wide range of topics chronologically, answering questions like when, where but even more importantly,
how things happened. We will learn about the way in which the European countries developed, formed alliances or
confronted each other, and how their economies evolved. We will discover the way people lived as individuals and
communities and how they shaped their national identities. Last but not least, we will see how culture defined the
European society and how the society reflected the culture of the time. We will not focus only on events but also on
important personalities who affected the way the European history developed.
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HIS 158 (8332) (3crs)
Irwin, Ryan (RIrwin@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 10:25am-11:20am
LC 023
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The World in the Twentieth Century
The twentieth century witnessed tremendous social, political, cultural and economic change and the course explores
these changes in a global perspective. The course draws upon select themes which have been points of connection
and contention in the modern world. Course content will emphasize the increasing interdependence between
societies and regions and the forces which shaped the lives of people around the globe.
*Note: Students registering for this course must FIRST register for one of the discussion sections below.
Discussion Sections for HIS 158 (8332)
Call #
Day/Time
8993
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8994
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8995
Fri 10:25am-11:20am
8996
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
8997
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
8998
Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
10094
Fri 12:25pm-1:30pm
10095
Fri 12:25pm-1:30pm
10096
Fri 12:25pm-1:30pm
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Room
SLG 24
BBB 014
BBB 129
BBB 014
BBB 129
SLG 24
SLG 24
BBB 14
BBB 125
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Instructor
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
Irwin, R.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 177 (10287) (3crs)
East Asia: Its Culture and History
Chan, Michael (mchan@albany.edu)
ONLINE COURSE
*Cross-Listed with EAS 177 (TBA)
An introduction to the history and cultures of East Asia (China, Japan, and Korea), their major institutions and
religious and philosophical traditions from ancient times to the present.
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Courses in U.S. History
HIS 220(10097) (3crs)
Public Policy in Modern America
Peabody, Tina (tpeabody@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 9:20am-10:15am
HU 109
This course focuses on the history of four major domestic policies: welfare, civil rights, economic policy, and health
policy. Students assess the relevance of history to current political debates and analysis of public policy. Group
workshops and debates will enable students to engage in active learning while grappling these larger questions.
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HIS 290 (10105) (3crs)
Drugs and Alcohol in America
Beach, Robert (blbeach@albany.edu)
Tue, Thu 11:45am-1:05pm
HU 109
This course will survey the political, economic, and social aspects of drugs and alcohol in the United States from the
colonial period to the present with a focus on the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. We will explore
some of the major themes, events, and struggles in American history through the lens of drugs and alcohol.
Students will come away with a better understanding of how drugs and alcohol have altered the dynamics of
government, the economy, and society.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 290 (10106) (3crs)
Introduction to Digital History
Kane, Maeve (mkane2@albany.edu)
Tue, Thurs 10:15am-11:35am
SLG 12
This course introduces students to digital research and analysis tools for historians, as well as the presentation of
that research on the web. Students will gain skills in writing history for a public audience, conducting communitybased research, analyzing quantitative sources and working with historical data. The Spring 2016 offering of this
course will focus on the history of race and business in Albany before 1860. As a class we will partner with the
Healthy Historic Walking Paths project of the Albany YMCA to research Albany's historic South End neighborhood
and develop mobile-internet guided walking tours of downtown Albany's history. Internet access outside of class is
required and home use of a computer is strongly suggested. No previous computer skills are necessary. A HIS 100:
Introduction to American Political and Social History I or A HIS 305: Colonial America to 1763 are suggested
preparation.
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HIS 290 (10107) (3crs)
History and the Future
Hochfelder, David (dhochfelder@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
HU 109
If current life expectancy trends continue as they have for the past century, one-third of class participants will live to
see the 22nd century. The 21st century will hold major challenges for us: human-caused global warming, the peaking of
fossil fuel production, and technological unemployment. At the same time, the 21st century will likely see a
continuation of rapid technological change, continued reduction in warfare and violence, and growth in freedom
and lifestyle choices.
This course explores ways that historians can apply our skills, methods, and insights to address these and other
future social issues. We will investigate several issues, including the following:
 How can historians be relevant to today’s policy debates?
 How can historical thinking enhance citizenship?
 How can we apply historical methods and skills to analyze probable futures and to help create preferred
futures?
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June 29, 2016
HIS 290 (9990) (3crs)
History of the Hudson River Valley
Pastore, Christopher (cpastore@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 1:40pm-2:35pm
HU 109
In 1899 educational reformer John Dewey lamented that when schools overlook their immediate surroundings they
risk “isolation from life.” This course, conversely, examines the Hudson River Valley from pre-European contact to
the present with a goal of directly engaging the world just outside our doors. Through focused study and careful
observation, we will examine the ways New Yorkers (and others) grappled with politics, religion, race, changing
gender roles, and the environment. Specifically, we will explore the interactions between Native Americans and
early Dutch and English settlers and the ways the Hudson River shaped patterns of Atlantic world and continental
exchange. We will examine slavery and the region’s role in the American Revolution. We will also examine, among
numerous other topics, industrialization, the growth of cities, immigration, tourism, and suburban sprawl. By making
explicit connections between the local and global, between human decisions in the past and the moral choices we
make today, this course aims to foster environmental awareness, cultural sensitivity, and civic engagement in the
place we call home.
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HIS 308 (7291) (3crs)
Division and Reunion 1848-1877
Ballard, Allen (aballard@albany.edu)
Tue, Thu 11:45am-1:05pm
ED 120
This course will being with an examination of the causes of the Civil War, then move directly into a chronological
survey of its event s with extensive use of audio-visual aids. Students will be actively engaged in the process, doing
group-based presentations on various aspects of the war under the direction of the instructor. The Reconstruction
and its aftermath will be treated in similar fashion. Grades in the course will be based on a combination of class
participation, exams, and a required term paper of twelve pages in length.
*Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History.
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HIS 310 (6803) (3crs)
Graves, Kori (kgraves@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 10:25am-11:20am
HU 109
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History of Women in the United States
As mothers, activists, laborers, institution builders, and reformers, women have pushed to eliminate gender
inequality in U.S. laws and customs. Collectively, these efforts have resulted in dramatic changes in women’s lives.
However, the advances made by some groups created the conditions for greater inequality between women based
on differences of class, status, race, ethnicity, and sexuality. In this survey, we will consider the reasons for this
seeming contradiction by exploring the nature of women’s involvement in U.S. political, social, economic, and
cultural institutions from the 17th century to the present. Through the analysis of primary documents, scholarly
journal articles, monographs, and popular media; students will investigate topics that expose the significance of
work, reform movements, family life, education, and politics in determining a woman’s place in U.S. society.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 315 (10108) (3crs)
From Roosevelt to Reagan: U.S. Political History, 1932-1980
Wittern-Keller, Laura (lwittern-keller@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 2:45pm-4:05pm
AS 14
This reading-intensive course will cover the political history of the U.S. from the Great Depression through World War
II, the Cold War, the turbulent '50s and '60s, the crisis decade of the ‘70s, and the beginning of the conservative
resurgence of the 1970s. There will be three main frameworks of the course: (1) the presidencies of FDR, Truman,
Eisenhower, JFK, LBJ, Nixon/Ford, and Carter (2) the U.S. role in and reactions to world events and (3) economic
crises. Beyond lecture, students will gain additional insight through their reading into the three most pivotal
presidencies of the era, FDR, LBJ, and Nixon. By the course’s end, students will have gained a bifocal view of midcentury presidents: both how they were seen at the time and how they are viewed in retrospect.
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HIS 325 (10112) (3 crs)
The Quest for Equality in United States
Kozakiewicz, Laurie (lkozakiewicz@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 12:35pm-1 :30pm
AS 14
Americans are known for their pursuit of what’s new, what’s improved, or what’s fairer. This course looks at
American history through the lens of reformers and their movements. We examine the issues, ideas, and conditions
that moved people to try and change society and then assess what effect they had on American life from the
colonial period through the mid-20th century. Topics covered range from utopian communities to prohibition to civil
rights. We will use primary and secondary sources to explore these issues in writing and class discussion.
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HIS 327 (10115) (3crs)
The Roles of Law in American History
Hamm, Richard (rhamm@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 10:25am-11:20am
HU 20
This course explores law in American social and political contexts. It is composed of topical units in which you read
mostly primary materials and meet to discuss them. Among the topics will be the criminal law of slavery and
changing law of child custody. During this course it is hoped that you will become better history students by
learning to better deal with sources and arguments made by historians, by learning how to think about the past like
historians, and by learning how to better write about the past. Beyond the daily reading and discussions (20% of the
course grade) there will be in-class essay exams.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 335 (7315) (3crs)
History and Theory of Documentary Film
Zahavi, Gerry (gzahavi@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 4:15pm-5:35pm
LC 03B
*Cross-listed with DOC 335 (9143)
This course will introduce students to the history and theory of documentary cinema. We will review and analyze –
through extensive readings and viewings – the evolution of the documentary film genre and the varieties of
approaches adopted by non-fiction filmmakers engaged in producing films focusing on diverse political, economic,
cultural, social, and historical subjects. We will systematically unravel the various elements and the techniques that
contribute to the creation of informative, moving, and powerful documentary films. We'll look at the modes or
styles that have evolved in the course of the genre's development: expository, observational, interactive, reflective,
and assorted hybrid modes. We'll also explore a number of other important areas that are central in documentary
filmmaking, including ethical and legal questions and the importance of deep and thorough research. Finally, in the
second part of the course, we'll devote considerable time to exploring recent documentary work in political,
biographical, autobiographical, historical, scientific/environmental, labor, and other subjects.
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HIS 356 (1999) (3crs)
The World at War, 1939-1945
Krosby, H.P. (hkrosby@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 10:15am-11:30am
ED 120
A comprehensive history of the Second World War. Topics covered include the rise of fascism and the origins of the
war; the campaigns on land, at sea, and in the air in the European, North African, and Pacific theaters of war, the
pervasiveness of racism; the Holocaust and other atrocities; and the costs and legacies of the war. Prerequisite:
junior and seniors only!
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HIS 390 (8114) (3crs)
Advanced Topics in US History: Generalship in the Pacific & Far East in World War II
Krosby, H.P. (hkrosby@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 2:45pm-4:05pm
SS 117
This course covers the quality of command in the Pacific, Far East, and Southeast Asia during World War II.
Conducted as a seminar, it requires active student participation in all class discussions. Readings include a textbook
and the best available Internet articles on the commanders covered, admirals as well as generals. Grading will be
based on participation, essay tests, and a research paper. Prerequisite: junior and seniors only!
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June 29, 2016
HIS 394 (6875) (3crs)
Workshop in Oral History
McCormick, Susan (smccormick@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, 2:45pm-4:05pm
SLG 024
*Cross listed with ADOC 394 (8126)
This course offers a broad introduction to the history, theory, and practice of oral history – the collection of oral
histories; the uses of oral history in historical research, documentary production, and public history; and the
interviewing and recording skills needed to conduct successful interviews. Students will explore approaches to
interviewing, recording, and editing oral histories, while considering the issues and problems that are part of
collecting and using oral histories to construct historical narratives. The class will examine and analyze historical
texts and documentary works heavily based on oral history interviews. Students will learn the basics of audio
recording and editing will complete several recorded interviews and will complete an extended oral history
interview and contextual essay as part of their final project.
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HIS 406 (6375) (4crs)
Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking
Becker, David (dbecker@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 7:15pm-8:35pm
BBB 004
*Cross listed with DOC 406 (6376)
This is a hands-on production course. Student working in teams will make original 10-15 minute historical
documentary films during the semester. Along the way they will learn each step of the production process:
Research, pitching, writing treatments, pre-production, shooting, script writing, editing and post-production. The
class will emphasize developing strong storytelling skills: Digging through the past to find good stories, then figuring
out how to tell them both dramatically and accurately. Labs will introduce students to the camera, lighting & sound
technical skills necessary to shoot professionally as well as basic editing skills. Giving and receiving criticism is an
essential part of the creative process, so substantial class time will be devoted to critiquing each other’s work
throughout the semester.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 407 (9016) (4crs)
Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia
Kane, Maeve (MKane2@albany.edu)
Tues 2:45pm-5:35pm
SLG 020
*Cross listed with ADOC 407 (9017)
This course introduces students to major new directions in the practice of history on the web and the growing
distinction between digital history as method and digital history as medium. Students will gain skills in web
publishing, identifying avenues for public engagement, and using digital tools for historical analysis. Through a series
of case studies on social networks, mapping, text analysis, and narrative, students will build a collaborative, publicly
engaged historical project. The Spring 2016 offering of this course will focus on the history of Albany before 1860, so
A HIS 100: Introduction to American Political and Social History I or A HIS 305: Colonial America to 1763 are strongly
suggested as preparation. Home use of a computer with the ability to install software is required. Students with no
previous primary research experience or software installation experience should take A HIS 290: Introduction to
Digital History before enrolling in A HIS 407. Only one version of A HIS 407 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s):
permission of instructor. Undergraduate students must contact the instructor for a permission number.
Courses in European History
HIS 235 (10098) (3crs)
Early & Medieval Christianity
Monfasani, John (jmonfasani@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 5:45pm-7:05pm
ES 147
This course will cover the history of Christianity from the apostles to the Reformation. It is common to think of the
Reformation as a complete break with the Middle Ages. We shall see that it is not. The core of the course will consist
of lectures and weekly discussion texts starting with sections of the New Testament and continuing through the
Patristic period and the Middle Ages to the Reformation. There will be a two in-class mid-term examinations and an
in-class final examination. The format of the examinations will be identification questions requiring short narrative
answers.
HIS 250 (8120) (3crs)
The Holocaust in History
Brenner, Arthur (abrenner@albany.edu)
Tue, Thur 8:45am-10:05am
LC 03A
*Cross-listed with AJST (8066)
The Holocaust is a singular and central event in twentieth century world history. The assault on European Jewry and
others by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II irrevocably changed the course of Jewish and world
history. This course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the specific social and political context in
which the Holocaust occurred, how it was carried out, and some of its effects.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 254 (10100) (3crs)
The Jews in the Modern World
Brenner, Arthur (abrenner@albany.edu)
Tue, Thu 11:45am-1:05pm
HU 132
*Cross-listed with AJST 254 (10052)
Beginning with the end of the late Middle Ages and the emergence of the Enlightenment, this class explores how
Jewish communities responded to the demands of an ever-expanding modern world. Examines the ways in which
Jews and Jewish communities sought to create modern expressions of Judaism and the response of rabbinic
Judaism to these challenges. Explores the rise of Hasidism, the aims of “Enlightened” Jewry, nationalism, the
creation of secular Jewish cultures, the World Wars, modern anti-Semitism and the Nazi Holocaust, and the
emergence of new Jewish centers in the United States and Israel.
*
*
*
HIS 264Z (10101) (4crs)
N. Kizenko (NKizenko@albany.edu)
Tue, Thu 2:45pm-4:05pm
BBB 10
*
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Art, Music and History: A Multimedia Approach II
Russia, Ukraine, and Poland have occupied the front pages for much of the past year. Demonstrations on the
Maidan, the annexation of Crimea, and civil war have brought Ukraine to a political, economic, and civilizational
crossroads. Poland and Russia, the neighbors who have ruled Ukrainians for much of their history, represent two
major cultural and political choices contemporary Ukrainians face. This course examines the intertwined histories of
Poland, Ukraine, and Russia through such cultural works as saints' cults, paintings, processions, music,
war/Holocaust memorials and museums, comedy, and films in which all sides depict each other—but also those
aspects which they see as being most distinctively national.
This is a writing intensive class. This means that there is NO MIDTERM EXAM OR FINAL EXAM. Your grade will be
assessed on the writing you do, both in class and outside it. By the end of this class, you will be able to write better
articles, papers, and presentations. You will also be able to argue complicated positions from different points of
view. This course will thus be excellent preparation for careers in journalism, diplomacy, law, education,
government and NGOs, public relations, advertising, and business.
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HIS 288 (10102) (3crs)
Drifting Away: The Political, Social and Cultural Consequences of the Cold War on
Eastern European Countries, 1945-1989
Lenart, Camelia (ilenart@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
HU 109
This course analyzes the dramatic consequences of the Cold War on the Eastern European countries. Students will
see how the Iron Curtain created Eastern Europe as a separate world, isolated and hermetic, marked by a rigid
political life, censorship and surveillance, a lack of democracy and insane policies, stagnating and unsuccessful
economies, and a culture plagued by propaganda. Students will be able to reconstruct how complicated and
challenging everyday life for people living in communism was, and see which were their ways of coping and
opposing this cruel political system. Last but not least, the course will analyze the major crisis of the system, its
ultimate demise, and the aftermath of the disappearance (or not?) of communism in Europe.
12
June 29, 2016
HIS 288 (10103) (3crs)
Treason in Nazi-Occupied Europe
Krosby, Peter (hkrosby@albany.edu)
Tue, Thurs 1:15pm-2:35pm
HU 109
This course covers the history of treasonous collaboration of all kinds with their Nazi conquerors and occupiers
during World War II by governments, organizations, and individuals, from Norway in the north to Greece in the south
and from France in the west to Russia in the east. The retribution that followed at the end of the war is also
covered.
*
*
*
HIS 336 (10116) (3crs)
P. Nold (PNold@albany.edu)
Tue, Thurs 10:15am-11:35am
AS 14
*
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*
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*
*
*
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History of the Early Middle Ages
This course surveys the main themes and events of European history until AD 1000. It is an introduction to early
medieval European political, social, and cultural history.
*
*
*
HIS 337 (9010) (3crs)
Nold, Patrick (PNold@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 1:15pm-2:35pm
HU 123
*
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The High Middle Ages
This course is a survey of the intellectual, cultural, and political history of Europe between, roughly, the years 10001400: major themes will include the formation of nation-states, the rise of the papacy, the growth of cities, the
militaristic expansion of Europe through conquest and crusade, the commercialization of the economy, and the
systematization of knowledge in universities. No prior knowledge of the medieval period required.
*
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HIS 349 (10118) (3crs)
History of France Since 1815
Veeder, Stacy (sveeder@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 2:45pm-4:05pm
HU 109
A survey of French political, cultural, and social history from the end of the Napoleonic Era through the Fifth
Republic of today. Topics include the legacy of the French Revolutionary tradition; modernization and
industrialization; the rise and fall of the French colonial empire; the Great War; Vichy France and the Occupation;
contemporary problems of immigration, race, and national identity; the history of women and gender; and the place
of France in the new Europe and the world.
13
June 29, 2016
HIS 350 (10119) (3crs)
Iberia and Latin America to 1810
Schwaller, John F. (jschwaller@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 10:15am-11:35am
HU 109
This class will focus on the basic issues of colonial Latin America and its relation to Spain. The history of Spain up to
1492 will introduce the course. We will then look at the nuances of the Spanish and Portuguese colonization of Latin
America. The role of the state in the development of the region will be a topic, looking at systems of land and labor
allocation, and the Catholic Church as an arm of the state. The students will consider the importance of the native
populations in the historical development of the region. Some consideration will also be given to the development
of Spain and Portugal in the period. Lastly the course will study the changes in colonial administration that led up to
the wars for Independence in the region.
*
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HIS 351 (10120) (3crs)
History of Germany
White, Dan S. (dwhite@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 11:45am-1:05pm
ES 147
Germany from 1806 to the present From a collection of disunited and relatively backward states in 1806, Germany
evolved into the leading power of Europe in 1900, nearly its master in successive world wars, an unequally divided
nation after 1945, and now again a single state. In tracing these changes the course will consider the influence of
personalities (Bismarck, William II, Hitler), the social and economic forces which worked against and for democratic
development, and the origins and significance of Nazism. Readings will consist of 6-8 paperbacks. There will be a
mid-semester exam, a short paper (6-8 pages), and a final exam.
*
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HIS 356 (1990) (3crs)
The World at War, 1939-1945
Krosby, H.P. (hkrosby@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 10:15am-11:35am
ED 120
A comprehensive history of the Second World War. Topics covered include the rise of fascism and the origins of the
war; the campaigns on land, at sea, and in the air in the European, North African, and Pacific theaters of war, the
pervasiveness of racism; the Holocaust and other atrocities; and the costs and legacies of the war. Prerequisite:
junior or senior standing.
*
14
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June 29, 2016
HIS 360 (10121) (3crs)
Bearing Witness: Holocaust Diaries and Memoirs
Trachtenberg, Barry (btrachtenberg@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 2:45pm-4:05pm
HU 124
*Cross Listed with JST 360 (10053)
This course is a study in diaries, autobiographies, and memoirs of Jews written during and after the Nazi Holocaust.
In our exploration, we will consider historical and historiographical questions raised by such works, including: What
can be learned about the assault on European Jewry through autobiographical writing? To what extent were the
authors aware of the scope of the attacks beyond their own immediate experience? What responses were available
to Jews during this period? How did the authors understand their experiences? What are the merits and limitations
of autobiographical writing as a resource for historians? How do accounts of the period change as the authors’
historical proximity to the events decreases? How does the study of autobiographical writing inform
historiographical debates on the Holocaust?
*
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Courses in World History
HIS 286 (5167) (3crs)
African Civilization
Kitissou, Marcel (mkitissou@albany.edu)
Tue, Thu 10:15am-11:35am
SS 256
*Cross-listed with AFS 286
This course will provide an introductory overview of the civilizations of Africa from prehistoric times to the 17th
century. Emphasis will be on the classical and pre-modern civilizations of Africa. The class will explore the use of
Africa centered paradigm including concepts, ideas, and methods of conceiving, creating and interpreting
phenomena, and will also explore a variety of sources that historians of Africa use to examine issues such as state
formation, trade and commerce, gender and society, slavery, and European imperialism and colonialism.
*
HIS 286 (6476) (3crs)
TBD
Wed 5:45pm-8:35pm
SS 256
*Cross-listed with AFS 286
*
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African Civilizations
This course will provide an introductory overview of the civilizations of Africa from prehistoric times to the 17th
century. Emphasis will be on the classical and pre-modern civilizations of Africa. The class will explore the use of
Africa centered paradigm including concepts, ideas, and methods of conceiving, creating and interpreting
phenomena, and will also explore a variety of sources that historians of Africa use to examine issues such as state
formation, trade and commerce, gender and society, slavery, and European imperialism and colonialism.
15
June 29, 2016
HIS 287 (5168) (3crs)
Essien, Frank (fessien@albany.edu)
Mon 5:45pm-8:35pm
SS 256
*Cross-listed with A AFS 287
Africa in the Modern World
This course studies modern and contemporary Africa, surveying historical developments from the period of
European colonization in the nineteenth century to contemporary period. It is concerned with how such historical
developments as colonization, new economic and political systems, Christianization, western education,
urbanization, nationalism and independence affected societies and changed people’s lives. Also, the course
examines relations within Africa, issues of unity and stability, population growth and urbanization, and Africa’s
relations with the rest of the world. While it emphasizes effects of colonial and post-independence conditions,
discussing significance of internal factors in determining conditions in Africa, the course focuses on problems of
everyday life, gender issues, and contemporary difficulties in environment, politics, economy and social life. Finally,
it highlights achievement of African peoples, self-development and prospects for the future.
*
*
*
HIS 287 (9585) (3crs)
Panzer, M. (mpanzer@albany.edu)
Thurs 5:45pm-8:35pm
SS 256
*Cross-listed with AFS 287
*
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Africa in the Modern World
This course is intended to provide students with basic understanding of the major political, economic, social, and
cultural issues that continental African peoples had to deal with in modern and contemporary Africa. The class will
pay attention to the impact on Africa of the European Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, European Industrial Revolution,
Berlin Conference, Colonialism, First and Second World Wars, Pan-Africanism and Nationalism, the Liberation
Movement, Independence and Post-Independence realities, as well as Africa’s current role in World Affairs.
*
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HIS 289 (9003) (3crs)
Vietnam War
Aso, Michitake (MAso@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 2:45pm-4:05pm
HU 109
This course examines the history of the Vietnam War. “Vietnam” refers to more than just a war and this course
introduces students to the key events, people, places, and themes in Vietnam’s past. It begins with the states and
societies of the Red River Delta, moves to Nguyen dynasty rule and French colonization of Indochina, and finally
examines American involvement in Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam during the Cold War. This introduction to the
broad sweep of Vietnamese history is meant to help students appreciate the profound changes and lasting
continuities in Vietnamese culture and society during the 19th and 20th centuries. This course also interrogates the
legacies of the Vietnam War. From lawsuits filed by Agent Orange victims to lessons for U.S. involvement in Iraq and
Afghanistan, Vietnam's past continues to play an important role in how Americans comprehend the exercise of U.S.
military, economic, and political power abroad.
16
June 29, 2016
HIS 289 (10104) (3crs)
Introduction to the Religious History of Latin America
Schwaller, John (jschwaller@albany.edu)
Tue, Thurs 8:45am-10:05am
HU 109
This course will survey the role of religion in Latin America from the period before the arrival of the Spanish up until
the current day. In particular the class will focus on indigenous religions as practiced by important civilizations such
as the Aztec and Inca. The efforts of early missionaries in the conversion to Christianity will form an important part
of the class, as will the indigenous response. The varied roles of the Catholic Church in the colonial period will be
studied. The rise of Protestant denominations in the nineteenth and twentieth century will be analyzed, as will the
important political role played by the Catholic Church in Latin America. Lastly, we will focus on the rise of Liberation
Theology and the evolving role of Pope Francis.
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HIS 350 (10119) (3crs)
Iberia and Latin America to 1810
Schwaller, John F. (jschwaller@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 10:15am-11:35am
HU 109
This class will focus on the basic issues of colonial Latin America and its relation to Spain. The history of Spain up to
1492 will introduce the course. We will then look at the nuances of the Spanish and Portuguese colonization of Latin
America. The role of the state in the development of the region will be a topic, looking at systems of land and labor
allocation, and the Catholic Church as an arm of the state. The students will consider the importance of the native
populations in the historical development of the region. Some consideration will also be given to the development
of Spain and Portugal in the period. Lastly the course will study the changes in colonial administration that led up to
the wars for Independence in the region.
*
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HIS 356 (1999) (3crs)
The World at War, 1939-1945
Krosby, H.P. (hkrosby@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 10:15am-11:35am
ED 120
A comprehensive history of the Second World War. Topics covered include the rise of fascism and the origins of the
war; the campaigns on land, at sea, and in the air in the European, North African, and Pacific theaters of war, the
pervasiveness of racism; the Holocaust and other atrocities; and the costs and legacies of the war. Prerequisite:
junior or senior standing.
*
17
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June 29, 2016
HIS 373 (9012) (3crs)
Gauss, Susan (sgauss@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 2:45pm-4:05pm
FA 126
*Cross-listed with A LCS 373
History of Modern Mexico
An in-depth survey of Mexico since Independence, this course emphasizes agrarian change and peasant rebellion;
foreign intervention and U.S.-Mexican relations; indigenous and mestizo identities; gender and culture; political
stability and economic development; authoritarianism, democratization, and globalization; and Latinos in the U.S.
Prerequisite: Junior or Senior standing, or 3 credits in History or Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
*
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HIS 374 (10122) (3crs)
Crime and Punishment in Traditional China
Deblasi, Anthony (ADeblasi@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 2:45pm-4:05pm
HU 133
*Cross-listed with A EAC 374
This course will examine the distinctive understanding of crime and the law in China from the 7th to the 19th
centuries. We will be particularly interested in theories of law during this period, the institutions of the imperial
justice system, varieties of crime and punishment, and popular representations 0f the criminal justice system.
Readings will include primary sources such as legal codes, case histories, and crime stories as well as secondary
works on Chinese legal history. There are no prerequisites in this course, although some background in Chinese
Studies will be helpful.
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HIS 380 (7316) (3crs)
History of China II
DeBlasi, Anthony (adeblasi@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 5:45pm-7:05pm
HU 132
*Cross-listed with A EAC 380
This course is a survey of China's history during the late imperial and modern periods. It begins with the founding of
the Ming dynasty in the late 14th century and concludes with the present day. Of particular interest is the interplay of
political, social, and intellectual history during this period. Only one version of A HIS 380 may be taken for credit.
Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in East Asian Studies or History.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 381 (10125) (3crs)
History of the Middle East I
Korobeynikov, Dmitri (dkorobeynikov@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 5:45pm-7:05pm
BBB 010
Mohammed, Islam as a religion in a way of life; the Umayyad, Abbasid, Byzantine, and Persian empires, and the
Ottoman Empire to 1789. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Standing.
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HIS 385 (10130) (3crs)
History of Japan II
Person, John D. (jperson@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
HU 123
*Cross-listed with A EAJ 398
This course is a survey of the history of Japan from the mid-18th century to the present. We will examine the political,
economic, social, and cultural institutions of Japan in relation to the everyday lives of its inhabitants. Though
scholars typically call these periods the early modern and modern era of Japanese history, the way in which scholars,
critics and popular discourse have understood the words “modern” and “Japan” have gone through many changes,
as has the basic assumptions that govern the field of Japanese history. We will pay particular attention to these
issues as we attempt to formulate our own narratives of the history of Japan throughout the semester.
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June 29, 2016
Senior Research Seminar
HIS 489Z (7143) (3crs)
Gauss, Susan (sgauss@albany.edu)
Mon 4:15pm-7:05pm
SLG 24
Senior Research Seminar
Why did one soldier in late nineteenth century Brazil receive 20 days in jail for drunkenness, while another received
25 days for rape and theft? How and why did the CIA collaborate in the illegal movement of cocaine from Central
America to Los Angeles in the 1980s? Why is domestic violence seen as a crime in some global communities, yet
considered a way to reassert familial honor in others? Crime and violence have been central to the definition and
enforcement of order and progress across historical cultures and time periods. They both reflect and shape the
ways in which societies around the world identify deviance and reinforce order.
This research seminar will explore the global history of crime and violence, and welcomes senior History majors in
the World, European, or U.S. history concentration. During the semester, each student will be required to research,
write, and present a 15-20 page essay on some aspect of the history of crime and violence. In the first part of the
course, we will discuss research methods, identify sources, and explore case studies to understand different
scholarly approaches to the history of crime and violence. Students will also begin the process of choosing their
own topics, which can explore some aspect of a larger issue ranging from state violence, street crime or
environmental violence to domestic violence, corporate crime, or the violence of everyday life. For the remainder of
the semester, sstudent’s will identify primary and secondary sources on their topic, conduct original research,
develop an argument, write a rough draft, engage in peer review, and complete a final, polished essay. Permission
of instructor required.
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HIS 489Z (7144) (3crs)
Senior Research Seminar
Wittern-Keller, Laura (lwittern-keller@albany.edu)
Tues 2:45pm-5:35pm
SLG 24
In this intensive research and writing-based course, senior history majors will move from their roles as consumers of
knowledge to new roles as producers of knowledge by researching, writing, and presenting an article relative to law
and order in the United States. During the semester, students will become working historians, asking questions of
original sources such as primary archival and web-based documents, analyzing the answers, and presenting the
findings in a paper of fifteen to twenty pages. Each phase of creating a scholarly article will be guided starting with
the choice of topic and moving to the proposal, bibliography, outline, first draft, final draft, and presentation. The
research focus of this seminar will be people who have made a difference in the law: not the Earl Warren variety, but
people whose contributions may have been overlooked. Sources at the Grenander Archives and the New York State
Library will offer many possibilities from crusading women lawyers to convicted criminals and death penalty
activists. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor is required for this course.
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June 29, 2016
HIS 489Z (9019) (3crs)
Aso, Michitake (maso@albany.edu)
Mon 4:15pm-7:05pm
SS 145
Senior Research Seminar
What is a commodity? What gives commodities their value? Why have some commodities been legal while others
illegal? Why have some commodities become fetishes? And how in general have commodity production and
consumption shaped human societies? In Volume I of Capital, Karl Marx wrote: "A commodity appears, at first sight,
a very trivial thing, and easily understood. Its analysis shows that it is, in reality, a very queer thing, abounding in
metaphysical subtleties and theological niceties." The place of commodities in society has changed since Marx's
time but his insights have continued to inspire work on this topic. Furthermore, research on commodities remains as
timely as ever because of their current role in many problems that face humanity.
This research seminar will explore the global history of commodities. By the end of the semester, each student will
have researched, written, and presented a 15-20 page paper on some aspect of the social, cultural, political, and
environmental consequences of commodity production and consumption. Students will start by choosing a
research topic, identifying appropriate primary and secondary courses, and developing an argument. Then students
will write a rough draft, engage in peer review, and finally turn in a completed paper. Throughout the course, we
will discuss different approaches to reading and writing history and look at different methods and models of
history. Just as humans are both consumers and producers of commodities, students will learn how to be more
sophisticated consumers and producers of history.
This course welcomes senior History majors in the World, European, or U.S. history concentration. Permission of
instructor required.
Senior Honors Course
HIS 496z (4701) (4crs)
Senior Honors Thesis
Hamm, Richard (rhamm@albany.edu)
Thu 2:45pm-5:35pm
SS 145
Preparation of a substantial honors thesis under the supervision of a member of the Department of History.
Students present periodic progress reports, criticize each other's work, and deliver an oral summary of the
completed thesis. Students in the honors program must satisfactorily complete both A HIS 495Z and 496Z.
Prerequisite(s): admission to the history honors program.
Independent Study and Projects in History
HIS 497 (ARR) (2-4crs)
TBD
Arranged
Independent Study in History
Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in history. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s):
permission of instructor and director of undergraduate studies; junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. S/U
graded.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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June 29, 2016
HIS 497Z (ARR) (2-4crs)
TBD
Arranged
Independent Study in History
Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in history. May be repeated for credit. Prerequisite(s):
permission of instructor and director of undergraduate studies; junior or senior standing, or 3 credits in History. S/U
graded.
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HIS 499 (ARR) (1-3crs)
TBD
Arranged
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Special Projects in History
Supervised work on projects in coordination with local museums and historical agencies. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, a minimum GPA of 2.50, and permission of the instructor. S/U graded.
HIS 499 (ARR) (3crs)
Special Projects in History
Zahavi, Gerry (gzahavi@albany.edu)
Arranged
Supervised work on projects in coordination with local museums and historical agencies. Course may be repeated
for credit. Prerequisite(s): permission of instructor and department chair. S/U graded.
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June 29, 2016
Judaic Studies Program
JST 151(9027) (3crs)
Foundational Jewish Texts
Cashman, Donald (dcashman@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 1:15pm-2:35pm
FA 126
*Cross-listed with A REL 151
In every era, Jews have responded to their political, geographical and historical situations through a variety of
textual means. Many of these literary works became elevated to the status of the sacred and were thus employed
by subsequent generations as a way of comprehending the events and situations of their own time. Furthermore,
previous textual responses became guides for setting future paths and direction for Jewish continuity. In other
words, what was significant then is often significant now, and may be significant for the future.
The critical study of texts requires us to understand them in the context of time and place. In this course we will
examine a variety of canonical Jewish texts from ancient times until the present. We will consider how each was a
meaningful voice regarding the affairs of its own era and to what extent it remains significant in our own day. With
each topic, therefore, students will read a variety of primary sources and related secondary sources.
Through the study analysis of these works, students will be able by the end of the course to demonstrate knowledge
of foundational Jewish texts. In so doing, students will gain an awareness of Jewish issues, concerns, values, and
responses at various historical moments and in relation to and interaction with host cultures in Asia, Africa, Europe,
and the Western Hemisphere.
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JST 250 (8066) (3crs)
The Holocaust in History
Brenner, Arthur (abrenner@albany.edu)
Tue, Thur 8:45am-10:05am
LC 03A
*Cross-listed with AHIS 250 (8120)
The Holocaust is a singular and central event in twentieth century world history. The assault on European Jewry and
others by Nazi Germany and its allies during World War II irrevocably changed the course of Jewish and world
history. This course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the specific social and political context in
which the Holocaust occurred, how it was carried out, and some of its effects.
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June 29, 2016
JST 254 (10052) (3crs)
The Jews in the Modern World
Brenner, Arthur (abrenner@albany.edu)
Tue, Thu 11:45am-1:05pm
HU 132
*Cross-listed with AHIS 254
Beginning with the end of the late Middle Ages and the emergence of the Enlightenment, this class explores how
Jewish communities responded to the demands of an ever-expanding modern world. Examines the ways in which
Jews and Jewish communities sought to create modern expressions of Judaism and the response of rabbinic
Judaism to these challenges. Explores the rise of Hasidism, the aims of “Enlightened” Jewry, nationalism, the
creation of secular Jewish cultures, the World Wars, modern anti-Semitism and the Nazi Holocaust, and the
emergence of new Jewish centers in the United States and Israel.
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JST 309 (7197) (3crs)
20th Century Hebrew Literature—Breaking the Silence by the Second Generation
Israeli Holocaust Survivors
Moskowitz, Sarit (smoskowitz@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 12:35pm-1:30pm
HU 116
*Cross-listed with A HEB 309
The emotional ramifications of the Holocaust were not much of a theme in modern Israeli writing until the late
1960's. Where were the voices of the Holocaust survivors? What were the causes for their silence, and what were
the forces behind the breaking of this silence? What was the literature on the topic of the Holocaust like in Israel
prior to the 60's and how did it change its character, and what caused the change? In this course we will explore the
reasons for the silence as well as the reasons for breaking it. We will explore the role of the first and the second
generations in changing the character of the literature on this topic. Through short stories, novels, bibliographies, as
well as interviews by a number of different modern Israeli writers. In this course we will analyze the role of literature
in exposing the trauma of the Holocaust, and examine the extent to which the literature served as an agent of
healing. We will further explore the manner in which male and female authors wrote and dealt with the trauma of
the Holocaust. The class will examine the authors’ backgrounds in order to understand what influenced their
writings. We will examine the literary devices used by the writers to present and deal with this emotionally charged
topic. The different styles of writing and the various ways in which the narrative was constructed will be explored.
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June 29, 2016
JST 360 (10053) (3crs)
Bearing Witness: Holocaust Diaries and Memoirs
Trachtenberg, Barry (btrachtenberg@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 2:45pm-4:05pm
HU 124
*Cross Listed with HIS 360 (10121)
This course is a study in diaries, autobiographies, and memoirs of Jews written during and after the Nazi Holocaust.
In our exploration, we will consider historical and historiographical questions raised by such works, including: What
can be learned about the assault on European Jewry through autobiographical writing? To what extent were the
authors aware of the scope of the attacks beyond their own immediate experience? What responses were available
to Jews during this period? How did the authors understand their experiences? What are the merits and limitations
of autobiographical writing as a resource for historians? How do accounts of the period change as the authors’
historical proximity to the events decreases? How does the study of autobiographical writing inform
historiographical debates on the Holocaust?
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JST 497 (8499)(9030) (1-6crs)
Independent Study in Judaic Studies
Trachtenberg, Barry (btrachtenberg@albany.edu)
Arranged
Directed reading and conferences on selected topics in Judaic studies. May be repeated for credit when content
varies. Prerequisite(s): permission of department chair.
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June 29, 2016
Documentary Studies Program
DOC 324 (7170) (3crs)
Introduction to Documentary Photography
VanAcker, Katherine (kvanacker@albany.edu)
Thurs 2:45pm-5:35pm
SLG 02
*Cross listed with JRL 324
*Meets with HIS 530 (7393)
From Matthew Brady’s Civil War photographs, to the work of photographers of the U.S. Farm Security
Administration in the 1930s, and through the stunning and emotive images of contemporary social, ethnographic,
scientific, and war photographers, documentary photography has experienced a long and vigorous development. In
this introductory hands-on workshop, students will examine the long heritage of documentary photography as well
as the practical lessons to be learned from renowned practitioners. Students will research and photograph a
documentary issue as part of a project that will be sustained throughout the semester (students may choose to also
incorporate video components). Students should have a working knowledge of computers and of the fundamentals
of digital camera operation, and are required to have access to a digital SLR camera with a zoom lens and flash.
Prerequisite(s): restricted to Documentary Studies Program and Journalism majors and minors. Others may be admitted
space permitting, and with permission from the instructor.
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DOC 335 (9143) (3crs)
History and Theory of Documentary Film
Zahavi, Gerry (gzahavi@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 4:15pm-5:35pm
LC 03B
*Cross-listed with HIS 335 (7315)
This course will introduce students to the history and theory of documentary cinema. We will review and analyze –
through extensive readings and viewings – the evolution of the documentary film genre and the varieties of
approaches adopted by non-fiction filmmakers engaged in producing films focusing on diverse political, economic,
cultural, social, and historical subjects. We will systematically unravel the various elements and the techniques that
contribute to the creation of informative, moving, and powerful documentary films. We'll look at the modes or
styles that have evolved in the course of the genre's development: expository, observational, interactive, reflective,
and assorted hybrid modes. We'll also explore a number of other important areas that are central in documentary
filmmaking, including ethical and legal questions and the importance of deep and thorough research. Finally, in the
second part of the course, we'll devote considerable time to exploring recent documentary work in political,
biographical, autobiographical, historical, scientific/environmental, labor, and other subjects.
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June 29, 2016
DOC 394 (8126) (3crs)
Workshop in Oral History
McCormick, Susan (smccormick@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, 2:45pm-4:05pm
SLG 024
*Cross listed with AHIS 394 (6875)
This course offers a broad introduction to the history, theory, and practice of oral history – the collection of oral
histories; the uses of oral history in historical research, documentary production, and public history; and the
interviewing and recording skills needed to conduct successful interviews. Students will explore approaches to
interviewing, recording, and editing oral histories, while considering the issues and problems that are part of
collecting and using oral histories to construct historical narratives. The class will examine and analyze historical
texts and documentary works heavily based on oral history interviews. Students will learn the basics of audio
recording and editing will complete several recorded interviews and will complete an extended oral history
interview and contextual essay as part of their final project.
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DOC 406 (6376) (4crs)
Practicum in Historical Documentary Filmmaking
Becker, David (dbecker@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 7:15pm-8:35pm
BBB 004
*Cross listed with AHIS 406 (6375)
This is a hands-on production course. Student working in teams will make original 10-15 minute historical
documentary films during the semester. Along the way they will learn each step of the production process:
Research, pitching, writing treatments, pre-production, shooting, script writing, editing and post-production. The
class will emphasize developing strong storytelling skills: Digging through the past to find good stories, then figuring
out how to tell them both dramatically and accurately. Labs will introduce students to the camera, lighting & sound
technical skills necessary to shoot professionally as well as basic editing skills. Giving and receiving criticism is an
essential part of the creative process, so substantial class time will be devoted to critiquing each other’s work
throughout the semester.
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DOC 407 (9017) (4crs)
Readings and Practicum in Digital History and Hypermedia
Kane, Maeve (MKane2@albany.edu)
Tues 2:45pm-5:35pm
SLG 020
*Cross listed with AHIS 407 (9016)
This course introduces students to major new directions in the practice of history on the web and the growing
distinction between digital history as method and digital history as medium. Students will gain skills in web
publishing, identifying avenues for public engagement, and using digital tools for historical analysis. Through a series
of case studies on social networks, mapping, text analysis, and narrative, students will build a collaborative, publicly
engaged historical project. The Spring 2016 offering of this course will focus on the history of Albany before 1860, so
A HIS 100: Introduction to American Political and Social History I or A HIS 305: Colonial America to 1763 are strongly
suggested as preparation. Home use of a computer with the ability to install software is required. Students with no
previous primary research experience or software installation experience should take A HIS 290: Introduction to
Digital History before enrolling in A HIS 407. Only one version of A HIS 407 may be taken for credit. Prerequisite(s):
permission of instructor. Undergraduate students must contact the instructor for a permission number.
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June 29, 2016
DOC 450 (4936) (4crs)
Documentary Studies Seminar and Fieldwork Practicum
Zahavi, Gerald (gzahavi@albany.edu)
Tues 5:45pm-8:35pm
BBB 004
*Taught with HIS 607 (4879)
This course is required for the completion of the Major and Minor Documentary Studies. All students are expected
to come into the course with skills needed to complete a substantial research-based documentary project in any one
of the following forms: audio, video, digital/Web, still photography (with an “exhibit catalog”), or text. Class
members will work with oversight from the course instructor as well as appropriate on-campus experts; they will
receive feedback, as well, from fellow students enrolled in the course. Discussion of such topics as research, project
planning, prospectus preparation, scriptwriting, media ethics, and workflow organization will assist students
undertaking their research, production, and postproduction work. Supplementary advanced workshops on specific
research and production topics may be offered, but – to emphasize- since this is a senior-level course, students are
expected to come in with sufficient production skills in their chosen documentary format to complete their work
with minimal technical assistance.
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DOC 499 (5175) (1-4crs)
TBD
Arranged
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Special Projects and Internship in Documentary Studies
This is a course designed for students interested in engaging in documentary fieldwork and production projects
through internships with on-campus and off-campus organizations, or on their own with close faculty supervision.
Students should already have the specific production skills (e.g. filmmaking, photography, audio recording/editing,
hypermedia authoring) necessary for the project or internship they wish to undertake. Typical projects or internship
they wish to undertake. Typical projects or internships might involve mounting documentary photography exhibits,
participating in documentary editing projects (including online, nonfiction journals), designing virtual museums and
podcasting/video-casting websites, or working as production members on film/video or radio projects. Credit load
will depend on the level of engagement and time obligations associated with the specific project undertaken by the
student. This course may be repeated for a total of 6 credits. Prerequisite(s): junior or senior standing, a minimum GPA
of 2.50, and permission of the instructor. S/U graded.
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June 29, 2016
Religious Studies Program
REL 100 (2627) (3crs)
Introduction into the Study of Religion
Korobeynikov, Dmitri (dkorobeynikov@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
LC 004
Exploration of the religious dimension of life with an introduction to the theory and practice of religion, including
such topics as myth, ritual, belief, reason, revelation, mysticism, religious organization, etc. , and their relation to
other personal, social and cultural aspects of human experience, past and present.
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REL 151 (8842) (3crs)
Foundational Jewish Texts
Cashman, Donald (dcashman@albany.edu)
Tues, Thurs 1:15pm-2:35pm
FA 126
*Cross-listed with A JST 151 (9027)
In every era, Jews have responded to their political, geographical and historical situations through a variety of
textual means. Many of these literary works became elevated to the status of the sacred and were thus employed
by subsequent generations as a way of comprehending the events and situations of their own time. Furthermore,
previous textual responses became guides for setting future paths and direction for Jewish continuity. In other
words, what was significant then is often significant now, and may be significant for the future.
The critical study of texts requires us to understand them in the context of time and place. In this course we will
examine a variety of canonical Jewish texts from ancient times until the present. We will consider how each was a
meaningful voice regarding the affairs of its own era and to what extent it remains significant in our own day. With
each topic, therefore, students will read a variety of primary sources and related secondary sources.
Through the study analysis of these works, students will be able by the end of the course to demonstrate knowledge
of foundational Jewish texts. In so doing, students will gain an awareness of Jewish issues, concerns, values, and
responses at various historical moments and in relation to and interaction with host cultures in Asia, Africa, Europe,
and the Western Hemisphere.
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REL 299(3927) (3crs)
Stovall, John (jstovall@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 10:25am-11:20am
SS 133
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Biblical Interpretation
This course in Religious Studies will acquaint you with one of the most significant texts in human existence—the Hebrew
and Christian Scriptures. It will train you in basic content, historical and literary context, and reception history; in other
words, you will learn what these texts say, how they talk, and how interpreters have approached them. No matter your
major, the task of interpretation involves a wide array of methods, from archeology to philosophy, from statistics to
linguistics, so myriad perspectives are welcome.
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June 29, 2016
REL 357 (10345) (3crs)
Zen Buddhism
Proffitt, Aaron (aproffitt@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed, Fri 11:30am-12:25pm
HU 128
An introduction to the religious, philosophical, and artistic tradition of Zen Buddhism in China, Korea, and Japan and
the West. This course looks at the birth and subsequent historical evolution of the Zen or Ch’an school of Buddhism
in East Asia. We will look at the intersection of: Buddhist and Chinese presumptions about spirituality that gave rise
to this unusual religious form, discussing precisely what is and is not iconoclastic about its tenets. The experience of
American Zen communities will also be considered.
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REL 397 (2628) (3crs)
Independent Study of Religious Studies
Kizenko, Nadia (nkizenko@albany.edu)
ARR
Independent reading and research on selected topics under the direction of a faculty member. May be repeated for
credit when topics differ. Prerequisite: Junior or Senior Standing, permission of faculty member, and approval of
program director.
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REL 450 (10346) (3crs)
Readings in Buddhist Texts
Proffitt, Aaron (aproffitts@albany.edu)
Mon, Wed 4:15pm-5:35pm
HU 129
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This is an advanced course in the study of Buddhism that will focus on the close reading of Buddhist scriptures in
English translation. Prerequisite: AREL 265; AREL 266, or permission of the instructor.
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REL 499 (2629) (3crs)
Senior Seminar in Religious Studies
Kizenko, Nadia (nkizenko@albany.edu)
ARR
Seminar on selected topics in religious studies. Preparation of a paper under the direction of a faculty member. Open
to seniors with permission of the instructor.
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June 29, 2016