Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

United States 1877-Present (Face-to-Face)

HIST 2710-01

Course: HIST 2710-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: HSOC
CRN: 11192

Course Description

A continuation of HIST 2700 with emphasis on the emergence of modern corporate enterprise and the growth of the U.S. as a world power and the growing impulse to domestic reform in the 20th century. This is a designated Service-Learning course. (Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)]

History 2710 is a broadly conceived survey course that examines the history of the United States from the end of the Reconstruction Era to the present. Learning activities illuminate the various economic systems, political developments, cultural trends, and intellectual currents that have proven central to the nation's development. The course provides factual knowledge of important developments during the modern era of United States history. Class sessions will include both lecture and active learning activities. After completing the course, students should come away better informed citizens with a firm grasp of the history of the nation from the late nineteenth century to the present.

Required Texts

U.S. History, Openstax (an open access textbook is available online for free). 

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the semester students should have gained the following knowledge and skills:
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 the fine arts, humanities, social and behavioral sciences, life and physical sciences.
  • (a) Students possess strong factual knowledge of the major historical events and cultural developments of the period
  • (b) Students have a broad understanding of the ideologies, central figures, society and theories of the time period
Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate disciplined processes of actively and skillfully conceptualizing, applying, analyzing, synthesizing, and/or evaluating information gathered from, or generated by, observation, experience, reflection, reasoning, or communication, as a guide to belief and action.
  • (a) Students have the ability to critically examine and analyze historical debates
Communication: Students develop and express ideas and will be able to do so in a variety of ways, namely in writing, by speaking, visually, kinesthetically, through design or aurally.
  • (a) Students have a strong ability to craft critical and analytical historical essays

Course Requirements

80%: Exams. There are four exams for this course, three exams during the semester and one final. They cover the materials and readings from class sessions. They include short essay and multiple-choice sections. The exams are weighted equally and will comprise 80% of the course grade. They are not cumulative. Exam dates are posted in Canvas.
20%: In-Class Activities, Assessments: Attendance, Participation, Presentations, Group Work, Video Notes and Short Writing: This grade will consist of attendance and participation during class sessions. Throughout the semester there will be several group presentations, video note assignments and short writing exercises. These will be announced at least a week before they are given or when videos are required, at least a week will be granted to submit them. This is worth 20% of your grade.
Grading Scale
  • 100-93 = A
  • 90-92 = A-
  • 87-89 = B+
  • 83-86 = B
  • 80-82 = B-
  • 77-79 = C+
  • 73-76 = C
  • 70-72 = C-
  • 67-69 = D+
  • 63-66 = D
  • 60-62 = D-
  • 59-below = F

Course Outline

WeekBeginningM Topic & Chapter Reading Assignment
One1/05Reconstruction, Industrialization, Ch. 16, begin Ch. 18
Two1/12Growing Pains of Urbanization, Ch. 18 and 19
Three1/19* 19th MLK Day; Politics of the Gilded Age, Ch. 20; Expansion Ch. 17
Four1/26Age of Empire: Modern Foreign Policy, Ch. 22
Five2/02Leading the Way: The Progressive Movement, Ch. 21; ☼ Exam 1, M 2/2
Six2/09Americans and the Great War, 1914-1919, Ch. 23
Seven2/16* 16th President’s Day; The Jazz Age, 1919-1929, Ch. 24
Eight2/23Great Depression, Ch. 25, Ch. 26; ☼ Exam II, F 2/2****7
Nine3/02Great Depression & the New Deal, Ch. 26
Ten3/09SPRING BREAK
Eleven3/16Fighting the Good Fight: WWII, Ch. 27
Twelve3/23Postwar Prosperity & Cold War Fears, 1945-1960, Ch. 28; ☼ Exam III, F 3/2****7
Thirteen3/30America in the 1960s, Ch. 29
Fourteen4/06Political Storms at Home and Abroad, 1968-1980, Ch. 30
Fifteen4/13From Cold War to Culture Wars, 1980-2000, 21st Century, Ch. 31, Ch. 32
Sixteen4/20Finals Week (see assignment tab); ☼ Exam IV, M 4/20

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

The professor will accept late work, with one letter grade taken off. 

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend class on a daily basis.  

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.