Reel vs. Real: Lisa McClain to Host "Braveheart"

Phi Alpha Theta is sponsoring another 'Reel vs. Real' event:

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Papa Joe's Italian Restaurant (in the TV lounge area)

1301 S. Capitol Blvd.

7:00 p.m.

The movie is: Braveheart

The professor leading the discussion will be Dr. Lisa McClain.

Synopsis:

This 1995 film is about William Wallace, a Scottish rebel who leads an uprising against the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks, who wishes to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. When he was a young boy, William Wallace's father and brother, along with many others, lost their lives trying to free Scotland. Once he loses another of his loved ones, William Wallace begins his long quest to make Scotland free once and for all, along with the assistance of Robert the Bruce.

Both food and drink are available for purchase. Join Phi Alpha Theta for this fun, 'historical' gathering!

If you have questions or want more information, please feel free to call!

Megan Jamison, Phi Alpha Theta President

meganjamison@u.boisestate.edu

426-1255

Scholarship Applications Due February 15

The History Department has scholarships to offer students. They range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per year, so they are worth the effort of applying. The application deadline is February 15, which is approaching fast. For details, check out the BSU and History Department scholarship information sites.

More Scenes from the Inauguration Party

Scenes from an Inauguration Party

This morning's inauguration-viewing-party, hosted by the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs, was a huge success, with wall-to wall attendance estimated at 600 people. The history department was well represented, with Professors Klein and Schackel bringing their classes (Jill Gill's 200-student section watched in their lecture hall, fearing they would overstuff the Jordan Ballroom).

Presidential Inauguration Gathering January 20

On January 20, between 9 and noon, there will be a Presidential Inauguration watch party and information session in the Jordan Ballroom, hosted by the College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs.The swearing-in is supposed to take place “around” 9:30 mountain time, but the big screen televisions will be showing the subsequent news and analysis, and some experts from SSPA will be on hand. This is a “drop-in” affair, so come over when you can.

Changes to the History Major for 2009-2010

This year, the department developed a series of changes to the history major, all of which we believe will benefit students. These changes will take effect in the 2009-2010 catalog. Overall, we have reduced the size of the major from 45 to 36 credits. This reduction will allow students to minor in other fields more easily, and brings the size of our major into line with others nationwide. More specificially, we have introduced new lower division surveys on Islam, Africa, and Latin America, some of which all majors will now have to take. Finally, we’ve introduced a new “capstone” seminar (History 498), which will be offered three times a year and will be required of all majors. This course will be devoted entirely to writing a research paper in a seminar setting. Different professors will offer the seminars. In the fall, our first two seminars will be offered by professors Michael Zirinsky and Shelton Woods, and students who take those seminars will write research papers that fall into those professors’ areas of expertise.

The changes in the major will force many students to make a choice: graduate under the new requirements, or under the old ones? Generally, if you are well on the way to graduating under the old requirements, you should probably continue on that path. But if you have questions, get in touch with a faculty member in the department, who can advise you on the best strategy for you.

Please note that the History/Secondary Education and History/Social Sciences/Secondary Education majors will not change.