Stevens Institute of Technology
College of Arts & Letters
Program in History

FALL 2015
Tuesday, 2.00-3.40 pm; and Thursday, 2.00-2.50 pm
Classroom: Babbio Center 219

Link to Schedule, Reading List, and Assignments

Course Description and Goals:  

This course is a survey of significant themes, people, and events in American history from the colonial era to 1865. During the semester we will approach American history from several different vantage points, including the history of racism, political history, cultural history, biographical history, and the history of technology.

Course and Program Objectives and Outcomes

Textbooks to purchase (available in the campus store):

Gordon Wood
Revolutionary Characters: What Made the Founders Different
Penguin Press (2007)
ISBN: 0143112082

Eric Foner
The Story of American Freedom
W.W Norton & Co. (1999)
ISBN: 0393319628

Winthrop Jordan
The White Man's Burden: Historical Origins of Racism in the United States
Oxford University Press (1974)
ISBN: 0195017439

Steven Mintz & Sara McNeil
Digital History (2013)
http://www.digitalhistory.uh.edu

Writing and Communications Center:

The College of Arts & Letters maintains the Writing & Communications Center at Stevens in Morton 210. Their office hours are Monday-Friday, 10 am - 4 pm. You can stop in or make an appointment to get help with your papers, presentations, and all other work you do at Stevens. I have never had a student visit the WCC and come back with a lower grade on their assignment.

Academic Integrity:

Enrollment into the undergraduate class of Stevens Institute of Technology signifies a student's commitment to the Honor System. Accordingly, the provisions of the Stevens Honor System apply to all undergraduate students in coursework and Honor Board proceedings. It is the responsibility of each student to become acquainted with and to uphold the ideals set forth in the Honor System Constitution. More information about the Honor System including the constitution, bylaws, investigative procedures, and the penalty matrix can be found online at http://web.stevens.edu/honor/

The following pledge shall be written in full and signed by every student on all submitted work (including, but not limited to, homework, projects, lab reports, code, quizzes and exams) that is assigned by the course instructor. No work shall be graded unless the pledge is written in full and signed.

“I pledge my honor that I have abided by the Stevens Honor System.”

Reporting Honor System Violations: Students who believe a violation of the Honor System has been committed should report it within ten business days of the suspected violation. Students have the option to remain anonymous and can report violations online at www.stevens.edu/honor.

Exam Room Conditions: Students may not use the following devices during exams: laptops, cellphones, tablets, or smart watches. Moreover, students may not refer to handwritten notes, typed notes, textbooks, or readings during exams. Finally, students are not allowed to work with or talk to other students during exams. A student who violates any of these conditions will receive a failing grade on the exam.

If you ever have questions about academic integrity, citations, plagiarism, or how you should interpret the Honor System in relation to your work in this class, please get in touch with me.

Students with disabilities:

If you require special accommodations due to a disability, or if you need individual arrangements should the building be evacuated, you must inform the office of Student Counseling, Psychological, and Disability Services, and complete the Faculty Contact Form. Once you have done so, you should ask to meet with me so that we can work out any special arrangements that may be necessary.

Stevens Institute of Technology is dedicated to providing appropriate accommodations to students with documented disabilities. Student Counseling and Disability Services works with undergraduate and graduate students with learning disabilities, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorders, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, and psychiatric disorders in order to help students achieve their academic and personal potential. They facilitate equal access to the educational programs and opportunities offered at Stevens and coordinate reasonable accommodations for eligible students. These services are designed to encourage independence and self-advocacy with support from SCDS staff.  The SCDS staff will facilitate the provision of accommodations on a case-by-case basis. These academic accommodations are provided at no cost to the student.

Disability Services Confidentiality Policy
Student Disability Files are kept separate from academic files and are stored in a secure location within the office of Student Counseling, Psychological & Disability Services. The Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA, 20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34CFR, Part 99) regulates disclosure of disability documentation and records maintained by Stevens Disability Services. According to this act, prior written consent by the student is required before our Disability Services office may release disability documentation or records to anyone. An exception is made in unusual circumstances, such as the case of health and safety emergencies.

For more information about Disability Services and the process to receive accommodations, visit https://www.stevens.edu/sit/counseling/disability-services. If you have any questions please contact: Lauren Poleyeff, Psy.M., LCSW - Diability Services Coordinator and Staff Clinician in Student Counseling and Disability Services at Stevens Institute of Technology at [email protected] or by phone (201) 216-8728.

Inclusivity Statement:

Stevens Institute of Technology believes that diversity and inclusiveness are essential to excellence in education and innovation. Our community represents a rich variety of backgrounds, experiences, demographics and perspectives and Stevens is committed to fostering a learning environment where every individual is respected and engaged. To facilitate a dynamic and inclusive educational experience, we ask all members of the community to:

• be open to the perspectives of others
• appreciate the uniqueness their colleagues 
• take advantage of the opportunity to learn from each other       
• exchange experiences, values and beliefs
• communicate in a respectful manner
• be aware of individuals who are marginalized and involve them
• keep confidential discussions private

Grades and Course Policies:  

Attendance is mandatory. Any absences must be accounted for by notifying me before the start of class. Otherwise I will need verification from an outside authority (i.e., doctor, coach, another professor) explaining why it was necessary for you to miss class.

A note on class attendance and participation:

Cell phones should either be turned off or silenced. Computer use should be related to what we are doing in class. You should stay awake at all times. Any students in violation of these simple rules will be marked as absent for that particular class.

Grades will be based on the following criteria:

• class participation, including attendance, activity in discussions, reading responses, and one in-class oral report (30%)
• essay assignments (30%)
• mid-term exam (20%)
• final exam (20%)

Percentages are approximate. I will determine final weights at the end of the course. I reserve the right to give pop quizzes.

Link to Schedule, Reading List, and Assignments