You are in the official 1997-98 General Catalog
for California State University, Fresno.
Department of History
School of Social Sciences
WARREN E. GADE, Chair
Social Science Building, Room 101
(559) 278-2153
B.A. in History
M.A. in History
Minor in History
Single Subject Teaching Credential
in Social Science
Faculty
Warren E. Gade, Chair
Warren E. Gade, Undergraduate Advisor
Robert J. Dinkin, Graduate Advisor
Dan Orbeck, Social Science Credential Advisor
D. Loy Bilderback
John W. Bohnstedt
James M. Brouwer
Sidney H. H. Chang
Warren E. Gade
H. Marshall Goodwin Jr.
David C. Hudson
David N. Jones
John C. Kendall
W. Hudson Kensel
Peter J. Klassen
Jesus Luna
Malik Simba
Robert M. Smetherman
Ephraim K. Smith Jr.
Go to Faculty and Administration Directory
The Department of History has 18 faculty members offering a wide variety of courses in the history of Europe, the United States, Latin America, the British Empire, Africa, the Middle East, and the Far East, as well as courses in intellectual and cultural history, social history, military history, and the history of women.
History is the study of man's recorded past. It encompasses all aspects
of human behavior, social organization, and cultural development. The arts
and the sciences, the development of technology, and changing economic forces
are as much a part of history as is politics or social conflict.
Students of history are engaged in a journey through time in which they
can witness and compare the development of a variety of cultures and the
interrelations between people in many different circum stances. Through
the study of past events, history provides a great storehouse of experience
by which the theories of the other social sciences can be tested. And through
its analysis of the development of institutions and cultures, it provides
one of our best tools for understanding social phenomena.
History is also one of the broadest and most universal of the humanities.
Just as the personalities of individuals are shaped through the totality
of their past experiences, so cultures and institutions also develop in
time. The study of history can help students understand themselves and their
culture better and develop a more tolerant and humane spirit toward others.
In this way, as in so many others, a knowledge of the past can help all
of us meet the problems of today with greater under standing and compassion.
Program
The History Department offers a major and minor in history for the Bachelor
of Arts degree, a graduate program leading to the Master of Arts, and courses
for use in the teaching credential program. It participates in the interdisciplinary
programs and minors in Armenian studies, Asian studies, classical studies,
Latin American studies, Russian area studies, and women's studies. History
courses may also be used as electives toward graduation in most other majors,
and the History Department encourages students to take minors and second
majors in other fields as well.
Career Opportunities
History majors are trained to read with comprehension and to compare
and analyze both written and oral material. In addition they must know how
to evaluate evidence and sources, how to critique the writing of others,
and how to do research and writing on their own. These are highly valued
skills in many occupations and professions today, and the History Department
offers preparation for careers in teaching, law, government service, librarianship,
journalism, publishing, and business. Career opportunities may also be found
in such diverse fields as marketing, advertising, insurance, public relations,
social services, urban planning, and the foreign service.
Students with questions related to their future careers are encouraged to
consult with the faculty advisers of the History Department, as well as
with the Office of Advising Services and the Office of Career Planning and
Placement Services, which can provide much useful information with regard
to career planning and current job market trends.
