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World History at Kean University

HISTORY DEPARTMENT: WORLD HISTORY CENTER
       To help faculty, students, and eventually, we hope, world history teachers from around the state, we are accumulating primarily online material for a World History Center. We also have print and media material in T107 and you can check there for world history textbooks and support materials, for material on the topic of world history itself, for important scholarly texts on both specific regions and events important throughout world history, plus the increasing number of scholarly works that chart comparative themes. We also have an extensive collection of media materials, particularly CD's. Our plan is to accumulate significant listings and links to teaching units and materials for both the collegiate and precollegiate classroom. We plan to offer regular teacher institutes, both long and short term, for graduate credit and/or professional development credit.  

HISTORY DEPARTMENT: ACTIVITIES AND PROGRAMS
       The Kean University History Department is very active, and many of its programs fall under the topic of world history. Keep abreast of activities in the department by regularly checking its website: www.kean.edu/~history. The department--including its KU Historical Society and honorary society, Phi Alpha Theta advised by Dr. Abigail Perkiss and Dr Elizabeth Hyde respectively--frequently sponsors speakers, symposia, panel discussions, films, book discussions.
      
KEAN UNIVERSITY: INTERNATIONAL AND AREA STUDIES PROGRAMS
       At Kean there has long been a commitment to giving voice and recognition to traditions and cultures from around the world. Some of this reflects the diverse student body at Kean; it also reflects the broad-ranging cosmopolitan interests of students, faculty, and staff at Kean which is sited in this very rich location in the greater NY/NJ metropolitan area. At Kean the following programs are either degree or certificate granting:

  • Asian Studies Program: This program is now a degree granting program with a BA in Asian Studies available for the first time. Contact Dr. Xurong Kong at 908 737-0257 or her office in T107.  Each year there are special events around various Asian fall festivals and spring Lunar New  Year festivals. 
  • Minor in Chinese Studies:  Kean also grants a minor in Chinese Studies with language and culture study available at Kean and, increasingly, in China itself. For this program, also contact Dr. Kong at xkong@kean.edu.
  • Africana Studies: This program highlights the experience of African Americans in the US and traces the history of this community throughout the diasporic African world, particularly but not exclusively in the Americas North and South, and the Caribbean. A very vibrant program with many activities throughout the year, it confers a certificate at graduation. Contact Dr. James Conyers at 908 737-4054 or jconyers@kean.edu for more information. Keep a look out for posters advertising their events.
  • Human Rights Institute: Visit our Human Rights Center in the library just as you enter. There are often events: speakers, exhibits, symposia. Each spring there is a major conference with national and internationally famous speakers around an important human rights theme. Past years themes have been: slavery, Darfur, immigration. For more information, go to the HRI page on the Kean website.
  • Jewish Studies: Kean boasts a very active Jewish Studies program which also confers a certificate upon graduation. The director of Jewish Studies, Dr. Dennis Klein, is in the History Department and brings important national and international speakers and films to Kean each semester. Check out his website:www.kean.edu/~klein.  Dr. Klein is also director of our Master's in Holocaust and Genocide Studies which has events of interest to those concerned about these themes in world history and it has a new website.  
  • Latin American Studies centered in the Political Science Department with advisor Nazih Richani hosts activities throughout the year, especially noted speakers and new films on Latin America. Certificate for graduates with LA concentration. Contact Dr. Richani at nrichani@kean.edu.
  • Global MBA program affiliated with the School of Global Business at Kean with Dr. Michael Cooper as the new Dean. This innovative program requires study and work abroad and often sponsors events on campus.
  • School for Global Education and Innovation under the College of Education. Contact Dr. Michael Searson at 908 737-3150 or stop by the office in J305. This program sponsors many globally aware activities with a particular focus on teacher training, and for the last two years it has offered a for-credit summer institute, Startalk Hindi, on Indian language and culture. This is also where Spanish and Hindi foreign language courses are found.  
  • Courses with international or diasporic themes cam be found in many departments, from the History, English, and Art History  Departments to the Political Science and Economics programs. We have a very vibrant Spanish Program on campus with both majors and minors.   

KEAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
       Just as with the international programs that reflect both the cosmopolitan background and interests of the Kean community, Kean University also boats an enormous range of international student organizations. Whatever area of the world interests you, there is probably a student organization that reflects it.  These organizations meet frequently, and each one has its own creative cycle of yearly activities. Here are just a few of them: Indian Students Organization,  Chinese Student Organization, Haitian Student Organization. Stop by the Student Org office in the University Center for up-to-date info.