Time Schedule:
George K Behlmer
HIST 498
Seattle Campus
Each seminar examines a different subject or problem. A quarterly list of the seminars and their instructors is available in the Department of History undergraduate advising office.
Class description
“Utopian Visions in the Industrial Age”
How have humans imagined the ideal society? To what extent have social ideals changed over time in the English-speaking world? These are the core questions addressed in this course, a seminar designed for advanced undergraduates. It is assumed in HIST 498A that utopian (or, in the case of Huxley's "Brave New World," dystopian) literature always functions as social criticism. Thus, this seminar will focus on the critical discourses contained in five utopian novels rather than on their literary merits per se.
Student learning goals
It will be the goal of this seminar to hone students' skills in writing and speaking with precision.
This seminar will also seek to sharpen students' skills in conducting "primary source"-based historical research.
General method of instruction
Recommended preparation
One must be a History major in order to take this seminar.
Class assignments and grading
Students will write four, primary source-based research papers.
Each of the four research papers will account for 20% of the course grade. The remaining 20% will reflect a student's informed participation during seminar meetings.
