Gene Bourgeois

Provost Gene Bourgeois, 2021Professor and Provost: Vice President for Academic Affairs
Office: JCK-1060
Email: eb04@txstate.edu
Phone: 512.245.2257

Dr. Gene Bourgeois, Professor and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, earned the degree of Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge. His publications include A Cambridgeshire Lieutenancy Letterbook 1595-1605 (1997) and The Ruling Elite of Cambridgeshire, England, Circa 1520-1603 (2003). Prior to serving as chair, he directed the Texas State Honors Program, founded and directed the Texas State in England Study Abroad Program, and served as founding Faculty Coordinator for the Texas State Residential Colleges, among other activities. In 1996 he was awarded the Texas State Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching and subsequently was nominated for the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching U.S. Professors of the Year Award in 1997 and 1998.

As the university’s chief academic officer, he is responsible for the administration and oversight of the quality of the university’s academic instructional and research programs, and for the coordination of the university’s administrative and support functions central to its academic mission.

Integral to his role as Provost, he actively supports economic development and quality of life efforts for San Marcos and the central Texas region, including civic work with the Greater San Marcos Partnership, San Marcos Economic Development Board, and E3 Alliance, in addition to initiatives associated with the university’s academic units and its Science, Technology and Advanced Research Park and business incubator.

Courses Taught

HIST 2310 | Western Civilization to 1715 
This course is a general survey of western civilization from the earliest times to the beginning of the eighteenth century.

HIST 2320 | Western Civilization Since 1715
This course is a general survey of western civilization since the beginning of the eighteenth century.

HIST 3315 | History of England to 1603
A broad and general survey of English history from the Roman era to circa 1603, this course combines lectures with readings from a textbook, collection of documents, and monographs.  The intention is to provide a sound introduction to issues, personalities, movements and developments in English history, encompassing political, governmental, constitutional, social, religious and cultural topics.

HIST 3316 | History of England Since 1603
A broad and general survey of English history from 1603 to the present, this course combines lectures with readings from a textbook, collection of documents, and monographs.  The intention is to provide a sound introduction to issues, personalities, movements and developments in English history, encompassing political, governmental, constitutional, social, religious and cultural topics.

HIST 4317 | Tudor-Stuart England
A detailed survey of Tudor-Stuart English history (ca. 1485-1689), this course combines lectures with readings from two textbooks, several monographs and various class-handouts.  The intention is to provide an introduction to issues, personalities, movements and developments of the Tudor-Stuart era, by examining in some detail political, governmental, social, economic, cultural and legal topics.

HIST 4390 | History Practicum: Researching, Writing, and Publishing Texas Local History
This course involves students in researching, writing, and publishing short [48-64 pages] historical guidebooks to sites or areas, such as San Marcos, the San Antonio Missions, Austin, etc.  The guidebooks, which are illustrated with photographs, maps, and images from the past, are produced and marketed by the class.

HIST 4388 | Problems in History
This is an independent study course arranged with permission of the instructor, who may allow a readings-based study of a topic in English history or a research project that focuses on some aspect of early-modern English history.

HIST 5318B | England: The Age of the Tudors
This seminar on early modern European history will focus on England during the age of the Tudors (1485-1603).  Essentially a readings seminar, it is designed to introduce graduate students to major topics in Tudor history primarily through intensive reading of secondary sources.  Constitutional, political, governmental, social, religious and cultural aspects of the age will be covered.  Each class meeting students will be responsible for "two" readings: 1) the appropriate selections from the required readings list and/or handouts, and 2) a book or article(s) as assigned.  The selections from the required readings generally will serve as introductory pieces and provide requisite background information.  The additional reading will be a quite specific one dealing with the topic at hand.  Each student must submit a brief (3 pages minimum , typed double-space) content analysis of the additional reading and discuss it at the seminar.

HIST 5377 | Public History Porject
This graduate public history course is designed to give students practical training and experience in researching, writing and publishing local history for the mass market.  An historic town or site in central Texas will be the subject of the guidebook.  Lectures and background readings on the history of Texas and the chosen site will provide the necessary context for the introductory section and research findings.  The research will be conducted in local archives and libraries, and will involve original and secondary sources, possibly including oral interviews.  Writing, editing and word-processing activities are emphasized for all students, though students on the layout team will be directly responsible for desktop-publishing duties.  The class also will be responsible for locating and creating reproduceable photographic images to compliment the text.  Teamwork skills also will be emphasized-students will be placed on two teams during the course of the semester.

HIST 5390 | Problems in Historical Research
This is an independent study course arranged with permission of the instructor, who may allow a readings-based study of a topic in English history or a research project that focuses on some aspect of early-modern English history.