Survey of American History Survey of European History

 European History To 1815  European History Since 1815  American History To 1877  American History Since 1877  Enroll about 1500 Students per Year  Most of whom (70-85%) for Gen Ed  Fewer (10-15%) for Major Requirements

 One European History Course.  One American History Course.  One Section of each per Semester.  Replace 27 Sections with 4 Sections for General Education Students.

 Weekly Textbook Assignment Required Reading Quiz  Weekly One Hour Thematic Lecture  Weekly Primary Source Assignment Required Online Discussion

 Creating Courses Targeted toward General Education Learning Objectives  Which Ones? System Local

 knowledge of a basic narrative of American history: political, economic, social, and cultural, including knowledge of unity and diversity in American society.  knowledge of common institutions in American society and how they have affected different groups.  understanding of America's evolving relationship with the rest of the world.

 demonstrate knowledge of the development of the distinctive features of the history, institutions, economy, society, culture, etc., of Western civilization.  relate the development of Western civilization to that of other regions of the world.

 New Courses differ from Traditional Courses in Temporal Scope Thematic Focus  No Common Standards in Discipline  Considerable Variation among Courses Offered

 Minimal Additional Work—for Faculty or Students: Measures Integral to Courses as Offered.  Capture Data from Current Measures of Student Learning.

 Factual Knowledge: Capture data demonstrating student performance relative to criteria.  Narrative Ability: Capture data demonstrating student performance relative to criteria.

 Example: AH Criteria 2: Common Institutions, and their effect on various groups.  Consider Constitution: How it was understood with regard to race, class, and gender over time.  Measures: “Objective” Exam Questions.

 Example: WC Criteria 2: relate the development of Western civilization to that of other regions of the world.  Consider Scientific Revolution: How (and how well) did Enlightenment ideals of rationality serve to justify conquest and subjugation of peoples of Africa, Asia, and the Americas?  Measure: Essay Exam

 Track Responses to Specific Questions Specific Kinds of Questions  Initially: Compare Responses on Selected Multiple Choice and Essay Questions to Traditional Course  Ongoing: Maintain Data over Time