Course Syllabus

POLS 1000 American Heritage

Course Description

This course introduces students to the political, historical, and economic foundations of the United States Constitution.; Through examining and critically analyzing primary sources, students will develop a deeper understanding of the varied ideas and forces that founded, reinforces, and challenges our current constitutional system.; This process will enable students to engage in all levels of politics as more informed and deliberate actors.

Justification

This course satisfies the American Institutions (AI) requirement established by the Utah Legislature and USHE. This course is an effort to expand AI offerings at this institution. It provides a cross-discipline understanding of the founding and development of the United States constitution; thus strengthening students' civic awareness.

General Education Outcomes

1. A student who completes the GE curriculum has a fundamental knowledge of human cultures and the natural world. After completing this course, students are prepared to recognize and appreciate the differences in ideas that constitute American political and economic institutions. Students read and discuss a variety of primary sources in order to understand these ideas from a variety of perspectives. Essays, essay-exams, and class discussions will ask students to consider readings in a variety of contexts.
2. A student who completes the GE curriculum can read and research effectively within disciplines. After completing this course, students are prepared to work competently with a variety of media sources as they engage in American political and economic activity. Students read, watch, and listen to a variety of primary media and are assessed, in discussion and written response, on content. Discussion questions, essays, and essay exams are designed to elicit constructive and critical responses.
3. A student who completes the GE curriculum can draw from multiple disciplines to address complex problems. American Heritage is designed to analyze the history of politics and economics of early and later America. This course's main intent is to understand American Heritage from three disciplines--history, political science, and economics.
4. A student who completes the GE curriculum can reason analytically, critically, and creatively. The founding and perpetuations of American society (historical, political, and economic) is demonstrated by cultural and historical markers. Every issue can be analyzed and/or interpreted in these contexts. Students must demonstrate an understanding of cultural and historical influence to some degree in every class discussion, essay, and essay-exam. Understanding "America" requires reasoning analytically, critically, and creatively about multiple factors.

General Education Knowledge Area Outcomes

1. Through the study of primary source documents students will examine a variety of factors that explain the founding, perpetuation, and challenges to the political and economic system of United States. Class discussions, essays, and essay-exams will allow students to demonstrate they can articulate ways in which scholars and critics have addressed these factors; they will also allow students to demonstrate they can participate in the conversation. Through the study of primary source documents students will examine a variety of factors that explain the founding, perpetuation, and challenges to the political and economic system of United States. Class discussions, essays, and essay-exams will allow students to demonstrate they can articulate ways in which scholars and critics have addressed these factors; they will also allow students to demonstrate they can participate in the conversation.
2. Explain and use historically, politically, and economically relevant information. Students will be introduced to the disciplinary standards of History, Political Science, and Economics. Through reading texts within these disciplines, students will understand how to evaluate and use historically, politically, and economically relevant information to make and critique arguments about the political and economic system of United States. Students will be asked to demonstrate their ability to use historically, politically, and economically relevant information in essays and essay-exams.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Students will explain and use historically, politically, and economically relevant information.
   
2. Students will communicate effectively about the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States.
3. Students will engage a variety of viewpoints in a constructive manner that contributes to a dialogue about the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States.Through reading a broad range of primary source documents, students will understand multiple viewpoints on the history, principles, form of government, and economic system of the United States. They will be able to discuss these viewpoints in historical context and be able to articulate connections with contemporary issues.
4. Students will use historical, political, and economic methods to come to an understanding of the United States that integrates various viewpoints.Students will be introduced to the methods of History, Political Science, and Economics. Through reading texts within these disciplines, students will understand how to use these methods to come to an understanding of the United States that reflects the diversity of and within these fields.

Course Content

American Heritage will provide students with content geared toward examining the political, historical, and economic foundations of the United States Constitution and government. The course topics listed below will allow for a class discussion of various cultural and social issues in relation to these topics.Topic outline:1. Why Study a Founding?2. Human Nature in Society3. The First Colonial Communities4. English Rule of Law5. Economic Principles and Roots of the Founding6. The Declaration of Independence7. The Constitutional Convention8. The Bill of Rights9. Founding Parties10. Early American Politics11. Slavery and the Politics of Abolition12. The Progressive Era13. The Great Depression and New Deal14. America's Role in the World15. Civil Rights16. Modern Politics and Polarization