This course provides an examination of the origins and development of major social, political, economic, and intellectual institutions of European civilization from the 17th century onward. The objectives are:

1. To examine the main political, cultural and societal trends in the development of European/Western Civilization from the Enlightenment to the present day
2. To enhance students’ critical thinking skills through examination and analysis of historical events.
3. To enhance writing skills through multiple course assignments and a research paper.
4. To promote good research skills and source evaluation by writing a research paper.
5. To contribute to a student’s liberal arts knowledge base; this, in turn, plays an important role in an individual’s ‘whole knowledge.’
6. To examine the implications of globalization in the Western world today.

This course participates in the Global Studies Initiative in Social Sciences.

Examples of student work from this class are by participants in the Honors Program.