HIST451 HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES ON SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
| Course Code: | 2400451 |
| METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week): | 3 (3.00 - 0.00) |
| ECTS Credit: | 6.0 |
| Department: | History |
| Language of Instruction: | English |
| Level of Study: | Undergraduate |
| Course Coordinator: | Prof.Dr. FERDAN ERGUT |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Explore Key Theoretical Contributions: Analyze the theoretical and methodological contributions of major social science figures to historical studies, understanding how their ideas have shaped the field of historical inquiry.
Evaluate Interdisciplinary Approaches: Critically assess how social science theories, such as sociology, economics, political science, and anthropology, intersect with historical research to offer new perspectives on the past.
Examine Key Concepts in Social Change: Investigate how different scholars have understood and interpreted social change, with particular focus on the processes of state formation, revolutions, and the development of citizenship.
Assess Theories on Political and Economic Systems: Study how the origins of democracy, totalitarianism, and capitalism have been approached by historians and social scientists, considering both theoretical frameworks and historical evidence.
Analyze the Role of Wars in Social Transformation: Examine the transformative role of wars in shaping history, through the lens of social science theories, and analyze their impact on political, economic, and social structures.
Course Content
This course explores the theoretical and methodological contributions of major figures in social sciences to historical studies. In critically analyzing the works of these scholars, the focus is on how they bring theoretical concerns and historical evidence to bear upon one another, and on the different aspects of `social change`. The issues that are covered range from the processes of state formation to revolutions; from the origins of democracy and totalitarianism to the development of citizenship; from the debates on the origins of capitalism to the transformative role of wars in history.
Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course, students will:
Demonstrate Knowledge of Key Theorists and Theories: Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the major social science theorists and their contributions to historical studies, including their perspectives on social change, political systems, and economic development.
Critically Assess Theoretical Perspectives: Critically evaluate the theoretical frameworks provided by major social science figures, considering their strengths, weaknesses, and applicability to historical research.
Analyze Social Change through Historical Evidence: Exhibit the ability to analyze historical events and processes through the lens of social science theories, particularly focusing on state formation, revolutions, democracy, totalitarianism, capitalism, and war.
Apply Social Science Theories to Historical Contexts: Apply key concepts from social science, such as class, power, citizenship, and modernity, to historical contexts, demonstrating the ability to make interdisciplinary connections between theory and historical evidence.
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | are familiar with general world historical periods and trends; demonstrate knowledge of key facts, ideas, societies, organizations, cultures, structures and processes related to a variety of historical contexts. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | are familiar with existing scholarly literature, historiography and historical methodology; and have developed the ability to approach them critically. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | are acquainted with interdisciplinary approaches. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | are able to generate research questions and conduct independent historical research by locating and analyzing primary and/or secondary sources; can construct viable arguments based on source interpretation. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | have developed sufficient English language skills; additionally, they have acquired the skill to read both printed texts and manuscripts in Ottoman Turkish. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | are able to present research results both in oral and written form. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | are able to work individually or as part of a team. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | are equipped with academic ethics. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | are aware of modern day issues and current events; have the skills and knowledge to generate informed opinions. | ✔ | |||
0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution