Take Me to the River: The History and Science of U.S. Waterways

6 credits

This is a COMPLEX PROBLEM course and is open to FRESHMEN only. You must enroll in both EESC1721 and HIST1737.From colonial grist mills to modern megadams, from Civil War battles of ironclad steamboats to contemporary battles over environmental legislation, rivers course with the lifeblood of American history. In this course, we will use telling moments in the history of U.S. waterways to explore how Americans have encountered, managed, and lived next to rivers. We will also build from these episodes to investigate the science of hydrology, watersheds, climate change, and sediment management. As we trace the role of waterways in U.S. policy-making, energy production, and governance, we will also pay attention to how waters touch the American spirit -- through imagination, exploration, baptism, and the Blues. Satisfies Core requirement for: Cultural Diversity,History II,Natural Science