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History Department
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History 101, 102, 103: What's the Difference? Which Should I Take?
HIST 102 Political & Social History of the United States, to 1877
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54 with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC*
*UC credit limits may apply. HIST 201, HIST 202 and HIST 101 combined: maximum credit, 2 courses.
HIST 103 Political & Social History of the United States, 1877-Present
A survey of cultural, diplomatic, economic, ethnic, political and social trends in
recent United States history from 1877 to the present, focusing on the roles played
by the diverse peoples and cultures who shared in the development of the United States.
An emphasis may be placed on one or more of these factors. (Formerly HIST 202)
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54
with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC*
*UC credit limits may apply. HIST 201, HIST 202 and HIST 101 combined: maximum credit,
2 courses. HIST 202 and HIST 210 combined: maximum credit, one course.
HIST 120 History of California
This course is an historical examination of the cultural, political, and economic
forces that have shaped contemporary California. It focuses on the roles played by
the diverse people who shared in its development from early Native American societies
through the Spanish and Mexican periods and U.S. conquest to the present.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or ENGL 20
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher and satisfactory completion
of the Reading Placement Process or READ 43 with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
HIST 204 Women in American History
This lecture/discussion course will survey women's history in the United States from
colonial times to the present. It will focus on defining the similarities and differences
in historical experiences of women based on their social class, race, and ethnicity.
Topics of concentration include the changing roles of women in the private and public
spheres; an analysis of the agendas, strategies, and consequences of the women's movements;
and the historical evolution of the definitions of feminism and social construction
of gender. This course is not open to students who are enrolled in or have received
credit in WS 204.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of an American history survey course, the
Reading Placement Process or READ 54, and the English Placement process or ENGL 52
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU
HIST 210 Post-World War II History
This lecture/discussion course examines and analyzes the development of the United
States from 1945 to the present. Attention is given to the political, social, intellectual,
cultural, and economic changes in American society. Included as areas of inquiry will
be the impact of the Cold War on foreign and domestic policies and society; the effect
of social protest movements on society; the interconnected influence of economic,
demographic, and cultural changes on policy and society; the expansion and contraction
of the social welfare state; the ways that the Vietnam conflict, emergence of multiculturalism,
and the new environmentalism have shaped contemporary policy and attitudes, and the
pervasive and lasting influence of mass culture, technology and media.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher and satisfactory completion
of the English Placement Process or ENGL 52 or equivalent with a grade of Credit or
"C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC*
*UC credit limits may apply. HIST 202 and HIST 210 combined: maximum credit, one course.
HIST 230 History Of Mexico
This course is an examination of the origins and evolution of the cultural, social,
economic and political institutions, trends, events, issues, and leading personalities
of Mexican History from the Pre-Columbian period to contemporary society.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or ENGL 20
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher and satisfactory completion
of the Reading Placement Process or READ 43 with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
HIST 235 History Of Latin America
This course is a study of the history of Latin America from the development of pre-Columbian
cultures to the present. The experiences of individual countries are studied as an
integrated whole focusing on the roles played by the diverse peoples and cultures
who shaped their development. Major political, economic, social and cultural factors
and issues are presented.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or ENGL 52
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or ìCî or higher and satisfactory completion
of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54 with a grade of Credit or ìCî or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
HIST 242 Western Civilization
History 242 is a survey course in the history of modern Europe and the Western world
from the mid-seventeenth century to the present. It emphasizes broad economic, social
and changing political trends, with special attention given to the role of science,
the arts and technology in creating the modern world.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
HIST 245 World Civilizations: Antiquity to 1500
This is a survey course of the roots and development of civilizations in Africa, the
Americas, Asia, and Europe from the Neolithic Revolution until the age of European
exploration of the Americas (1500). The civilizations of Ancient, Classical, Postclassical,
and Early European periods will be studies, emphasizing interaction between civilizations
and major cultures.
Recommendation: READ 54 and ENGL 52 or equivalent with grades of Credit or ìCî or
higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU;UC
HIST 250 History of England/Britain/Comwealth
History 250 is a survey of the history and institutions of Britain, the British Empire
and The Commonwealth from the Norman Conquest to the present. It will focus upon medieval
and early modern England, the creation of the first and second British Empires, and
upon the development of Britain's economic, political and social institutions since
the Glorious Revolution. The evolution of The Commonwealth and developing relations
with the United States will also be studied. This course is not open to students who
have credit in both HIST 5.1 and HIST 5.2.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or ENGL 52
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher and satisfactory completion
of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54 with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
HIST 260 Survey of the History of Asia
This course presents a general survey of the historical evolution of cultural, social,
economic and political institutions and customs of the nations of Asia. The pre-19th
Century sections of the course will emphasize institutions such as family, philosophies,
religious viewpoints and life style. The post 18th Century periods will emphasize
Western imperialism in Asia, nationalism, the independence movements, and the development
of modern Asian states and societies.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the English Placement Process or ENGL 20
or equivalent with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher and satisfactory completion
of the Reading Placement Process or READ 43 with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC
HIST 270 Special Topics in History: Global Issues in a Post-9/11 World
This course will expand on subjects and themes introduced in the core history curriculum
offerings. Each topic will focus on themes, perspectives and issues of special interest
to students. The specific focus of a particular offering will be decided by the course
instructor and announced in the Schedule of Classes. This course may be taken for
a maximum of 2 times.
Transfer Credit: CSU, UC TBD after admit.
HIST 101 American History & Constitution
History 101 is a survey of the history of the United States from pre-colonial times
to the present. Major political, social, economic, and cultural factors will be presented
focusing on the roles played by the diverse peoples and cultures who shared in the
development of United States history. An emphasis may be placed on one or more of
these factors.
Recommendation: Satisfactory completion of the Reading Placement Process or READ 54
with a grade of Credit or "C" or higher.
Transfer Credit: CSU; UC*
*UC credit limits may apply. HIST 201, HIST 202 and HIST 101 combined: maximum credit,
2 courses. American History
American History General Education Requirements: What's the Difference?
Most academic programs at Cerritos College, whether for the AA degree or to transfer
to a four-year university, require students to take one course in United States history.
You have your choice of any of three courses to fulfill this requirement: History
101, History 102,orHistory 103.
All three courses introduce the history of the United States, and are intended for
first- or second-year college students. For non-history majors, any one of the three
will be the only American history course you need for your requirements. You don't
have to (and most students won't) take History 101 before History 102, or History
102 before History 103. The prerequisites are the same for all three classes: readiness
for college-level reading and writing, as demonstrated by classes (Reading 54 and
English 52) or placement tests. None of the three classes require, or expect, prior
knowledge of either history or United States history.
So what's the difference?
History 101 covers the entire timeline of American history, from colonization to present.
History 102 covers the first half of American History, from colonization to after
the Civil War.
History 103 covers the second half of American History, from 1877 to the present.
So choose one based on what's most interesting to you. If you're interested in American
Indian life before colonization, or in George Washington and Abigail Adams and the
other founders, or in African American slavery, or in the Revolutionary War or the
Civil War, then History 102 is the course for you. If you'd rather learn about Teddy
Roosevelt and Jane Addams, World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights
Movement and the Women's Movement, Ronald Reagan and Hillary Clinton, then History
103 is the course for you.
History 101, on the other hand, moves you very quickly through all of American history.
Most colleges today do not offer a single-semester United States history course, because
such a compressed course may sacrifice depth and understanding to cover the whole
time period. If you are planning to transfer, you will find that History 102 and History
103 match up with similar courses in almost any college catalog. History 101, however,
may not.
There are a couple of exceptions to this advice. If you are planning to major in American
History or Political Science at a four year university, you will likely be required
to take both parts of a two-part survey, either before you transfer or after, so it's
probably wise to take either 102 or 103. (Check the requirements for history majors
at the institution you plan to attend.) If you are in the Teacher TRAC program or
planning to become a K-6 teacher, you will need History 102.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact any of the History faculty.
--George Jarrett, Instructor, History
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