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Southern Utah University

Summer Semester 2026

History of the American Southwest (Online)

HIST 3880-30I

Course:	HIST 3880-30I
Credits:	3
Term:	Summer Semester 2026
Department:	HSOC
CRN:	20560

Course Description

This course covers the American Southwest from prehistoric times to the present and reviews Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American history. Major themes include the multi-cultural interaction in the area and economic development since the 17th century, including land and water use.
Welcome to HIST 3880. The History of the Southwest is a broadly conceived course deigned to explore major themes in the history of the region, a geographical expanse including both modern-day Northern Mexico and the region known as the American Southwest in this country (the core states of Arizona and New Mexico and parts of Texas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, and California); it is an upper-division course centered upon the history of the region from prehistoric times to the latter twentieth century and includes a review of American Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and United States' rule of this region, and the cultural and social impacts these peoples and nations left upon the arid landscape; generally peripheral in the past, this dynamic region promises to become increasingly important to future generations. Factual data primarily comes from the textbook that examines major ethnic groups, pioneering immigrants, frontier zones of cultural interactions and conflicts, and territorial and later state development. The rich racial and cultural heritage of the Southwest is the major theme of the course as it illuminates the Native, Hispanic, Anglo-American and other cultures that contributed to the rich mosaic that today characterizes the region, making it, in the mind's eye of many, live up to New Mexico's motto: "The Land of Enchantment."

Required Texts

Lavender, David. The Southwest. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press.**** All Mini-Tests are from this book

Lorey, David E. The US-Mexico Border in the Twentieth Century. Wilmington, DE: Scholarly Resources.**** Quizzes are from this book.

Book for Papers (E-book versions are free to enrolled students: see "Pages" section to the left). I would strongly suggest students purchase these books. There is only 1 e version available at at time. If students wait to read the book, it is likely they will have trouble accessing it.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the semester students should have gained the following knowledge and skills:

1. 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) demonstrate factual and critical knowledge of the major historical figures, events and cultural developments in the history of the American Southwest

(b) demonstrate a broad understanding of the ideologies, society and theories (economic, social, political) of the history of the American Southwest

2. 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) critically examine, assess, and analyze various sides to arguments in historical debates in the study of the American Southwest

3. 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.

(b) communicate historical arguments effectively both orally and in written form, including having a strong ability to craft well-organized critical and analytical essays that utilize historical data (sources) in support of a thesis

Course Requirements

Course Schedule:

This is a Self-Paced course. All assignments except for the first unit are due toward the end of the semester and due dates are noted on assignments. The first mini-tests are due about a month after the course starts. This deadline is designed so students can get a feel for the level of testing. Please make sure to work at a pace that will ensure you will meet the deadlines.

Assignments:

Mini-Tests: There are 18 short exams in this course, with questions drawn from the Lavender textbook. Each is worth 20 points. Canvas will automatically drop the lowest 3 test scores. You can have 2 tries per exam. 60% of the final grade.

Position Paper: There is one position paper for the class over the David Lorey book. Please see assignment tab for specifics. 20% of the final grade.

Quizzes: There are 8 quizzes over the Lorey book. You have 2 tries on each. The lowest score will be dropped. 20% of the final grade.

Course Outline

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

The professor will accept late work but it must be turned in within one week of the due date and one letter grade will be taken off.

Attendance Policy

This is an online class with no attendance in class required.

Course Fees

There are no course fees for 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.

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