Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

American History (Online)

HIST 1700-33I

Course: HIST 1700-33I
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: HSOC
CRN: 33118

Course Description

The fundamentals of American history including political, economic, and social development of American institutions and ideas. Successful completion of this course meets the American Institutions requirement established by the state legislature. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: American Institutions

Required Texts

The required textbook is available for purchase through the SUU Bookstore:  Rebecca Edwards et al., Achieve for America's History, ISBN: 9781319480966R180.  This is the “combined” volume.  Please go to the SUU Bookstore site for information and to purchase the text.  We have secured a deal with the publisher to have "instant access" to this book through the SUU Bookstore.  *** Students will need to purchase the book this way so please do not buy a used book online because it will not be up to date.  

 

Achieve is an integrated learning tool designed to provide interactive, engaged learning of material covered in each textbook chapter.  It is part of the Ebook for the course described above.  Achive has quizzes that are intuitive meaning that when a person answers a question correctly, the subsequent questions are incrementally more analytical and/or detailed.  If a student gets an answer wrong, he/she can choose several options, including "Read Chapter Section", "Get a Hint," etc. that will help guide them to the correct response.  Being interactive and designed so students can seek answers themselves, Launchpad provides a "substitute" classroom in an online learning environment.  Students work toward achieving a "Target" score for each chapter and can have as much time and as many tries as they need to achieve goals.  Once a student achieves the "Target" score they will receive full credit for the assignment.  

Learning Outcomes

  • Learners will utilize chronological thinking to place the history of the United States in proper chronological framework.
  • SUU ELO: "Knowledge of Human Cultures and the Physical and Natural World."  Students demonstrate knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world through study in fine arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, life and physical sciences. 
  • Learners will develop historical comprehension, identify central questions of each time period, and draw upon data presented in text, maps, charts, and graphs.
  • GE ELO: "Civic Engagement": students demonstrate that they possess the combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make a difference in the civic life of their community and to promote the enhancement of the quality of life in a community through both political and non-political processes.
  • GE ELO: "Information Literacy": students identify, locate, evaluate, attribute and share information effectively and ethically
  • Learners will be able to make historical analysis and interpretations, to compare and contrast, to differentiate historical facts and interpretations, consider multiple perspectives, analyze cause and effect relationships, compare competing historical analyses, and recognize the tentative nature of historical interpretations.
  • Learners will develop an ability to construct their own historical interpretations.
  • Learners will be able to identify main issues and problems in United States history, and will be able to evaluate historical evidence and interpretations.
  • Learners will develop historical understanding of the social, political, economic, and cultural developments in the United States from approximately 1500 to the present.

Course Requirements

Grade/Assignment Percentages:

 

Achieve Assessments: 30% 

30 Achieve Assessments; * lowest 10 scores dropped

Exams: 30% 

7 Exams; * lowest 2 scores dropped

Written Assignments: 40%

1 Analytical Primary Sources Paper

1 Group Presentation over Historical Monuments Controversies

4-5 Critical thinking papers over videos  

 

Section Exams

You should read the chapters in sequential order to best prepare for the seven (7) section exams that correspond with the seven parts of America, A Concise History.  Each of the seven tests will feature the same format and will consist of thirty (30) multiple-choice questions that will draw upon all material covered during that part of the course.  Each question will be worth one point.  These exams will be timed.  Exams are closed book. Please see the Honor Code at SUU. Questions from chapter quizzes and from the companion web site may appear on the section exams.  Although some questions will test your factual knowledge and others probe your analytical abilities, all questions will require critical thinking more than mere memorization.  As with the chapter quizzes, your preparation in reading the textbook and utilizing the publisher’s web site will shape success in the section exams.  Students can drop their 2 lowest test scores; Canvas Grade Book is set up to automatically do so. 

Short Written Assignments

Through several critical thinking papers, you will be required to submit responses about different types of historical issues, themes, sources, and information.   Your completed assignments will be submitted to your instructor via a plagiarism detection web site that is integrated with the Canvas LMS.  

 

Submitting Written Assignments

Your written work submitted for this course should be typed and follow the standard rules of grammar, punctuation, and English usage.  For all written assignments, try to write in your own words, but if you wish to quote from course materials or other sources, please place all quoted material in quotation marks and add a page reference or citation in parentheses at the end of that sentence.  Do not plagiarize, and be aware that you are expected to submit original and independent work by all deadlines.  All work will be submitted through a plagiarism detection software package.  Feel free to be imaginative in exploring the questions asked in this course, and ask questions if you are unclear about assignments or expectations.

 

Course Outline


Course Schedule 


 

Week 1                                    Unit 1: Indigenous & Colonial America 
(Aug. 24-29)
 
Week 2                                    Colonial Era: Labor Systems, Societies, Conflicts 
(Sept. 1-5)
 
Week 3                                    Unit 2: Becoming American 
(Sept. 8-12)
 
Week 4                                    Imperialism, American Independence, Constitution & Early Republic
(Sept. 15-19)
 
Week 5                                    Unit 3: Nineteenth Century America 
(Sept. 22-26)
 
Week 6                                    Expansion, Labor Systems, Civil War Era 
(Sept./Oct. 29-3)
 
Week 7                                    Unit 4: Urbanization, Industrialization, Reform 
(Oct. 6-10)                               
 
Week 8                                    Progressivism, Wars, & Modernization 
(Oct. 13-17)
 
Week 9                                    Unit 5: World Wars & America at Crossroads
(Oct. 20-24)
 
Week 10                                  WWI, Great Depression Era
(Oct. 27-31)
 
Week 11                                  Unit 6: Cold War America                      
(Nov. 3-7)
 
Week 12                                  Social Development, Reform, Economic Growth, Being a Super Power
(Nov. 10-14)
 
Week 13                                  Unit 7: Politics, Social Reform, Economics 1965-1990s
(Nov. 17-21)
 
Week 14                                  Globalism, Exchanges, pos-Cold War America 
(Nov. 24-28)
 
Week 15                                  Challenges and Hope in the 21st Century  * Last Day of Class 12/5)
(Dec. 1-5)
 
Week 16                                  Finals Week 
 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

The professor will accept late work and make ups but one letter grade will be taken off. 

Attendance Policy

As this is an online course, there is no formal attendance policy. 

Course Fees

There are no special course fees with this class.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.