Richard Weikart
Department
History
Biography
One of the most pivotal events in my life was my conversion to Christianity at age 16, which radically transformed my character. It also impacted my academic interests, since before that time, I had been interested primarily in math and science. Thereafter I became more interested in people, so I turned to the study of history. After completing my B.A., I taught high school biology (my minor) for one year. I then moved to Germany to learn the language and spent several years there. Best of all, I met my precious wife there. After returning to the U.S., I went to graduate school and completed my doctorate in 1994. I joined the faculty at CSU Stanislaus that same year. My wife and I now have seven children, whom we homeschool.
Academic Credentials
B.A. (summa cum laude)
M.A., Texas Christian University
Ph.D., University of Iowa
Area of expertise
My expertise is in modern European history, especially modern Germany and European intellectual history. My research has been mostly on the history of Darwinism, especially the ethical and social implications of Darwinism. I'm currently working on a book entitled, Hitler's Ethic, which expands the final chapter of my previous book, From Darwin to Hitler: Evolutionary Ethics, Eugenics, and Racism in Germany (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004).
What have you learned from your students?
When I arrived here, I was overenthusiastic, thinking I could teach my students in one semester everything I had learned in eleven years of college. Well, not quite, but you get the drift. Interacting with students keeps reminding me that learning takes a lot of time and is a lifelong process, not just a matter of one or two years. My students' questions also continually remind me of how little I know.
Why do students choose CSU Stanislaus?
Students know they will get a rigorous education with high-quality faculty who care about their success. Faculty here are committed to developing students' knowledge and skills. In my department, for instance, we have some excellent historians who publish regularly in important journals and with major scholarly presses. However, they all spend lots of time and energy interacting with students.
How do students succeed in your class?
I (and my whole department) require a good deal of writing in our classes, which compels students to think clearly, frame arguments, express themselves lucidly, and conduct research. Students succeed not only in my classes, but hopefully in their careers as well as they learn to express themselves coherently in writing.
If you were not teaching, what other career do you see yourself in?
If you were not teaching, what other career do you see yourself in?
I seriously considered becoming a limnologist, i.e., a specialist in freshwater ecology. I minored in biology, because I greatly enjoy nature and science. I also love the outdoors, and I am a strong believer in conservation.
Describe a former student who has attained professional success.
Many of my former students are successful as teachers or lawyers or in other professions. I was especially delighted when one of my students, Tom Johnson, received a position as a professor of history at Columbia College. Positions at community colleges are very competitive, so it was an honor for him to get it.
E-mail Address
rweikart@csustan.edu
