U.S. History and Culture

9 units · Undergraduate

Intermittent: 9 units This is an introductory survey of American history from colonial times to the present. The course focuses on cultural history instead of the more traditional emphasis on presidents, wars, and memorizing facts or timelines. The major theme of the course is the changing meaning of freedom over three centuries. Required readings include several short books and historical documents, which will be paired with class lectures to provide students with context needed to think about and understand America's cultural history. Past examples of assignments have included short essays, blog posts, and a final research project on a form of popular culture of the student's choosing, developed over the course of the semester.