The Study of European history requires the reconstruction of human actions and events, ordered chronologically or topically from the Enlightenment (17^th & 18^th centuries) to the Contemporary Period. "The reconstruction of events depends upon the acquisition of knowledge, the incorporation of facts principles, theories, ideas, practices and methods. Students of European history analyze written, oral, visual, and material evidence. Their analyses yield generalizations, interpretations, and understandings that placed in context reveal the process of change over time."

This course emphasizes the development of four essential competencies: an understanding of the knowledge of European history and it global relationships during the modern period; the ability to critically analyze documents, facts, images, and maps and films; the awareness of cultural diversity in different societies at different times; and the ability to communicate knowledge, understanding, and perspectives in a clear, logical, and convincing manner.

Through engagement with the past, students come to recognize the continuing need to rethink the past, reinterpreting it in the light of new evidence and new concerns. If rethinking history is a continuing theme in the humanities, students will carry their abilities to inquire, analyze, and interpret into their studies in other fields and into all aspects of their lives and work. They will be equipped to approach knowledge sensitively, with a respect for cultural and geographical differences, and an ability to think critically, and communicate their perceptions in whatever career they choose.