A major focus of the courses is on the development of skills in research, writing, critical reading, and critical thinking.
Select a course below to see full descriptions. (#) Indicates amount of credits per course
A study of Canadian history from the period of earliest human occupation to Confederation in 1867, this course examines major themes in Canada’s past, including: early First Nations cultures; contact and interaction between aboriginal societies and European cultures; social, economic, and political developments in New France and early British North America; struggles for control over the North American continent in the eighteenth century; immigration, industrialization, and social and political reform in the nineteenth century; the confederation question; and the emergence of Canada as a separate North American nation-state.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 099
Transfer to:
UBC ALEX HIST 101 (3) & HIST 102 (3) = UBC HIST 235 (3) & UBC HIST 2nd (3)
SFU HIST 101 (3), B-Hum
UVIC HSTR 230A (1.5)
UNBC HIST 210 (3)
TRU HIST 1120 (3)
Was Confederation a noble experiment in nationalism and self-determination? Or was it a cynical tactic by a small group of powerful men? Who benefited? And who paid the price? What have parliamentary democracy and free enterprise meant to regions, natives, women, workers, and elites? Is the history of Canada a story of adventure, patriotism, and courage, or is it a story of avarice, plunder, and pillage? Is it a history of peaceful conformity or confrontation and rebellion? This course introduces students to fundamental skills and ideas involved in studying and writing history, including critical thinking, evaluating sources, and writing.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 099
Transfer to:
UBC ALEX HIST 101 (3) & HIST 102 (3) = UBC HIST 235 (3) & UBC HIST 2nd (3)
SFU HIST 102 (3), B-Hum
UVIC HSTR 230B (1.5)
UNBC HIST 211 (3)
TRU HIST 1220 (3)
This course traces the evolutionary forces and processes that have shaped Western civilization. What does it mean to refer to Europe as modern? The course will delve into the growth of human societies, politics, and culture that arise from Western thought. Students will examine the changing social, intellectual, and political trends and popular attitudes over time, leading to the evolution of the modern consciousness. The course will examine the causes and consequences of relationships between key historical developments in European history from the period of the Black Death (1450) to the outbreak of the Cold War (1950). The course is a starting point to thinking critically about history and gain a sense of the major historical themes, issues, and ideas that pertain to the study of Europe.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 099
Transfer to:
UBC HIST 220 (3)
SFU HIST 106 (3)
UVIC HSTR 1XX (1.5)
UNBC HIST 1XX (3)
TRU HIST 1XXX (3)
This course will explore the Indigenous people and civilizations of the region known as the ‘Global South’ from pre-Contact societies to the present. The content will focus on localized and comparative case studies of Indigenous communities of South America, Africa, Australasia and the South Pacific that illustrate key concepts of global Indigenous history. Cross-cultural comparisons and connections will be emphasized to develop a thoroughly global appreciation of the experience of Indigenous peoples under imperial and modern political and economic systems.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 099
Transfer to:
UBC HIST 1st (3)
SFU HIST 1XX (3)
UVIC HSTR 1XX (1.5)
UNBC HIST 215 (3)
TRU HIST 1XXX (3)
Introduction to Ancient Greece and Rome Greco-Roman civilization forms the foundation of Western Civilization and exerts a pervasive influence on nearly every aspect of life that followed these great cultures. This course will provide a broad overview of the major features of Archaic and Classical Greece, the expansion of Hellenistic culture following Alexander the Great’s conquest of the Persian Empire, and the evolution of the Roman state from Republic to world-shaping Empire. The course will consider the politics and ideologies that shaped the evolving states and the social systems that dominated the Mediterranean from 700 BC to 300 AD. The course will balance the short-term impact of political and cultural changes with the more predictable rhythms of agriculture and trade. Long-term socio-economic patterns shaped the daily life and culture of the people in the Mediterranean world, and underpinned cultural and ideological development.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 099
Transfer to:
UBC CLST 1st (3)
SFU HS 1XX (3)
UVIC GRS 1XX (1.5)
UNBC HIST 1XX (3)
TRU HIST 1030 (3)
Students will examine aspects of Indigenous peoples’ historical experiences, from time immemorial to the twentieth century, in the place currently known as Canada. The course will focus on the multiple and contested commercial, religious, political, legal, social, and military relationships that developed between Indigenous peoples and migrants who settled in what is today called Canada. The core themes of colonization and decolonization will be featured throughout the course through a close analysis of Indigenous strategies of power and resistance and changes in the diplomatic environment from the French and British colonial societies through relations with the Canadian state.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 100, 3 credits first-year HIST
Transfer to:
UBC HIST 1st (3), FNIS_V 1st (3)
SFU HIST 2XX (3)
UVIC HSTR 2XX (1.5)
UNBC HIST 390 (3)
This course examines the history of India from the late Mughal period and the arrival of the British to the Freedom Movement and the emergence in 1947 of the independent states of India and Pakistan.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 100, 3 credits of first-year HIST
Transfer to:
UBC ASIA 2nd (3)
SFU HIST 2XX (3)
UVIC HSTR 2XX (1.5)
UNBC HIST 2XX (3)
TRU HIST 2XXX (3)
A survey of early modern European history which examines the wars of religion, the 17th century revolutions, 16th and 17th century economic development, the scientific revolution, the enlightenment, and the political and social character of the old regime.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 100, 3 credits of first-year HIST
Transfer to:
UBC ALEX HIST 223 (3) & ALEX HIST 224 (3) = UBC HIST 220 (6)
SFU HIST 223 (3), B-Hum
UVIC HSTR 240A (1.5)
UNBC HIST 2XX (3)
TRU HIST 1160 (3)
A survey of European history emphasizing the French Revolution, and Napoleonic Europe and first Industrial Revolution, liberalism and its opponents, agrarian conservatism, liberalism and conservatism, the Revolution of 1848, the struggles for political unification, the second Industrial Revolution, and the origins of the First World War.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 100, 3 credits of first-year HIST
Transfer to:
UBC HIST 223 (3) & ALEX HIST 224 (3) = UBC HIST 220 (6)
SFU HIST 224 (3), B-Hum
UVIC HSTR 240B (1.5)
UNBC HIST 2XX (3)
TRU HIST 1260 (3)
Europe in the 20th century is marked by tragedy and triumph, collapse and (re)construction. We will examine the history of Europe between 1900-2000 as a period of competing ideologies – monarchism, communism, fascism and liberal democracy – for hegemony in Europe and the world. In doing so, we will seek to understand not only why and when these ideologies were both successful and popular in particular contexts, but also how they brought radical change and destruction to the people of Europe. Scrutinizing primary source documents, we will survey Europe’s path throughout the 20th century, putting emphasis on political, social and economic themes.
Prerequisite(s):
ENGL 100, 3 credits of first-year HIST
Transfer to:
SFU HIST 225 (3)
UVIC HSTR 2XX (1.5)
UNBC HIST 2XX (3)
Both Instructors and students use a wide variety of active learning methods including film, class discussions and projects, guest speakers and multi-media presentations.
Studying history significantly supports students in developing important skills sets including communication (oral and written), research, critical thinking and analytic skills that are essential job requirements for future employment in the fields of business, industry, education, government and public service and others.
The Historical Thinking Project was designed to foster a new approach to history education — with the potential to shift how teachers teach and how students learn, in line with recent international research on history learning.
The History Education Network/Histoire et éducation en réseau (THEN/HiER) is a collaborative network across the diverse fields of history, history education and school history teaching in Canada. It brings together people from across Canada and internationally to inform, carry out, critique, and implement research into history education.
The recommended sources listed have primary documents on many subject areas in Canadian History.
The Website contains a list of suggested essay topics for which there are ample scholarly resources available.
Welcome to the best Canadian destination for point-of-view documentaries, animation films, interactive projects and Canadian films. Watch over 3,000 captivating documentaries, feature films and animation films for free.
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
Alexander College acknowledges that the land on which we usually gather is the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations. We are grateful to have the opportunity to work in this territory.
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