I have taught actively since 2015, first as a graduate instructor and later adjunct faculty member at NC State University, and as an adjunct and later full-time faculty member at Wake Technical Community College, both in Raleigh, NC. Below is a list of courses I have developed and/or taught at those institutions.
Teaching Philosophy (in brevia)
Education liberates us and prepares us to understand, coexist with, and even change the world around us. It is among the most powerful capacities that human beings have developed. But education does not, in and of itself, have a moral compass. Thus it falls to the educators to guide humanity’s innate curiosity toward the betterment of our species. This is why I teach, and specifically why I teach history. The teachers and historians who have facilitated my own education have inspired me to assume that role, to guide the curious through a journey of exploration that liberates them and engenders in them a desire to serve humanity instead of exploiting it.
- American History I, to 1877
- Survey of American history from pre-history through the Civil War era. Topics include the migrations to the Americas, the colonial and revolutionary periods, the development of the Republic, and the Civil War. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in early American history.
- American History II, since 1877
- Survey of American history from the Civil War era to the present. Topics include industrialization, immigration, the Great Depression, the major American wars, the Cold War, and social conflict. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in American history since the Civil War.
- North Carolina History
- The history of North Carolina from early European exploration to the present. Features of North Carolina society which made this state similar to and different from other southern states and the nation as a whole. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze the development of North Carolina as a colony and a state and to evaluate North Carolina’s relation to the United States in general.
- Technology & Society
- This course considers technological change from historical, artistic, and philosophical perspectives and its effect on human needs and concerns. Emphasis is placed on the causes and consequences of technological change. Upon completion, students should be able to critically evaluate the implications of technology.
- World Civilizations I, to 1500
- This course introduces world history from the dawn of civilization to the early modern era. Topics include Eurasian, African, American, and Greco-Roman civilizations and Christian, Islamic and Byzantine cultures. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze significant political, socioeconomic, and cultural developments in pre-modern world civilizations.
- Modern American Culture, 1700-Present
- This course introduces the humanities as a record in American literature, music, art, history, religion, and philosophy of humankind’s answers to the fundamental questions of existence. Emphasis is placed on the interconnectedness of various aspects of cultures from early modern times to the present. Upon completion, students should be able to identify significant figures and cultural contributions of the periods studied.
- Historical Methodology and Writing
- Introduction to the process of researching and writing history. Techniques for locating and interpreting primary and secondary sources. Analysis and criticism of the varieties of history. The craft of historical writing. Because this course is designed to prepare students for research and writing in the History major, it should be taken before the student takes Departmental Advanced Electives in History.
In addition to teaching classes, I also advise two student organizations.
- Wake Tech History Club
- The Wake Tech History Club is a student-run organization dedicated to fostering an open environment for student and faculty discussion and interaction regarding historical themes, concepts, and activities. Members of the History Club engage in historical inquiry to find meaning in the current national and global trends and issues; explore vocational and educational pathways within the field of history; and engage in activities to promote campus and community awareness of the vital importance of studying history in the 21st century. Activities include, but are not limited to: guest speakers/lectures, film screenings, local excursions, historical simulations (board gaming), and more!
- Phi Theta Kappa, Beta Alpha Zeta Chapter
- Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society of the two-year college, offers opportunities in scholarship, leadership, service, and fellowship to fellow scholars (PTK students). To be eligible for membership, a student must have completed 12 credit hours of course work in an A.A., A.S., or A.A.S. curriculum program at WTCC with at least a 3.5 GPA.
James R. Wils, PhD 