"Methods" is a class about how historians
think about and do history. As
an introductory class "methods" serves several functions.
It is intended to introduce students to the basics
of historical research, the process of writing history, the theoretical
perspectives used by historians today, and the implications of the digital
turn in the researching and writing of history.
It is also intended to introduce students to the work of the VT history
faculty, to the work of the VT history and area studies graduate students,
and to the professional culture that exists at Virginia Tech and abroad.
The overall objective
of the methods course is to provide you with the information, the skills,
and the tools you will need to be active members of the history profession.