PELLISSIPPI STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
MASTER SYLLABUS
U.S. HISTORY II
HIS 2220
Class Hours:3.0   Credit Hours: 3.0  
Laboratory Hours: 0.0   Date Revised: Spring 01  
       
Catalog Course Description:    
  A survey of United States history from 1877 to the present.
Entry Level Standards:    
  Students must be able to read with a questioning mind and write essay answers to examination questions in order to perform well in this course.  They must be “active learners” in the sense that they should seek to do more than memorize and passively absorb reading and lecture material.
Prerequisites:    
  None
Textbook(s) and Other Reference Materials Basic to the Course:  
  Henretta, et al. America’s History, 4th edition
I. Week/Unit/Topic Basis:    
  Week  Topic
  1 The Economic Transformation of America
  2 Urban Growth and Farm Protest
  3 Domestic Turmoil and Overseas Expansion
  4 Theodore Roosevelt and the Progressive Program
  5 Progressivism at Its Height
  6 Over There and Over Here: The Impact of World War I
  7 The Age of Jazz and Mass Culture
  8 The Great Depression
  9 The New Deal
  10 The Second World War
  11 Postwar America
  12 The Eisenhower Years
  13 Turbulent Years
  14 Crisis of Confidence
  15 The Reagan-Bush Years
  16 Toward the New Millenium; Final Exam Period
II. Course Objectives*:    
  A. Gain a basic understanding of the American past through a survey of key events and personalities between 1877 and the present. IV.1, IV.3
  B. Establish major political, cultural, social and economic themes and trace continuity and change during the 19th and 20th centuries. IV.1, IV.3
  C. Analyze how past societies differed from our contemporary world. IV.1, IV.3
  D. Analyze what post societies have contributed to our contemporary world. IV.1, IV.3
*Roman numerals after course objectives reference goals of the university parallel program.
III. Instructional Processes*:     
Students will:      
  1. Read the text and use critical thinking skills to relate factual material to the themes of the course. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Information Literacy Outcome
  2. Listen effectively to lectures, take notes, and use critical thinking skills to organize their lecture notes in preparation for exams. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome, Active Learning Strategy
  3. Write analytical essays about the past. Communication Outcome, Problem Solving and Decision Making Outcome
  4. Through participation in class discussions and/or group projects, engage in an exchange of ideas with their peers. Communication Outcome, Personal Development Outcome, Cultural Diversity and Social Adaptation Outcome, Transitional Strategy
*Strategies and outcomes listed after instructional processes reference Pellissippi State’s goals for strengthening general education knowledge and skills, connecting coursework to experiences beyond the classroom, and encouraging students to take active and responsible roles in the educational process.
IV. Expectations for Student Performance*: 
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:
1. Understand the significant stages of development in American history. A, B
2. Understand how different cultures hold values different from their own. A, B, C
3. Develop a greater appreciation of cultures and beliefs different from their own. A, B, C, D
4. Understand how present assumptions, values and practices emerged and evolved. A, B, D
5. Be more aware of political, social, economic, and environmental issues in contemporary society. D
6. Possess a fuller capacity for analytical and conceptual thought. B, C, D
7. Demonstrate the ability to write analytical essays about historical issues. B
*Letters after performance expectations reference the course objectives listed above.
V. Evaluation:
A. Testing Procedures:
Students will also be given quizzes that evaluate their comprehension of the assigned reading materials.
B. Laboratory Expectations:
Students will be asked to write a series of essays that require them to create a factually based interpretation of the past.
C. Field Work:
N/A
D. Other Evaluation Methods:
N/A
VI. Policies:
Attendance Policy:
Pellissippi State Technical Community College expects students to attend all scheduled instructional activities.  As a minimum, stu-dents in all courses must be present for at least 75 percent of their scheduled class and laboratory meetings in order to receive credit for the course.

1. Students in MWF classes may miss six meetings without penalty. Students in TR classes may miss 4 meetings without penalty.  Students in the night class may miss 2 meetings without penalty.  After the maximum number of class periods has been missed, one-half letter grade will be deducted from a student's final average for every class missed after the maximum. 
2. Three tardies will equal one absence.