United States History I Syllabus for 2023-2024
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Course Information

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Course

HIST-1301-003 United States History I

Prerequisites

Course Description

A survey of the social, political, economic, cultural and intellectual history of the United States from the pre-Columbian era to the Civil War/Reconstruction period. United States History I includes the study of pre-Columbian, colonial, revolutionary, early national, slavery and sectionalism, and the Civil War/Reconstruction eras. Themes that may be addressed in United States History I include: American settlement and diversity, American culture, religion, civil and human rights, technological change, economic change, immigration and migration, and creation of the federal government.

Student ResourcesStudent Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Online Course

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

  The textbook is required for this course.

David Shi, America:  The Essential Learning Edition, vol. I, 3rd Edition, 2022.  You do not need the access code for the "Inquizitive" quizzes.


 

Supplies

This is an online course, so access to a computer with reliable internet is necessary.

Student Performance

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

Behavioral Expectations: Students caught cheating on exams or homework assignments will receive an F on the assignment and possibly face institutional discipline. 

Withdrawals: You must see the registrar to withdraw from the class. The last day to withdraw is December 6.

Any student who has not completed a quiz or the first Weekly Assignment by the Census Date (October 30) , will be administratively dropped from the course.  Logging into the course does not count as "participating" in the class.

In order to initiate the withdraw process, you must fill out the "Academic Withdrawal Request" form, which can be found in the Blackboard class under the tab "Withdrawal Form".  This form must be filled out by the student and signed by the instructor.  It can be signed electronically or scanned into an email.
 

Grading Criteria

Composition of final grade will be based on the average of four exams, a paper, a syllabus quiz and weekly assignments. The grade scale is as follows: A = 89.5 and above B = 79.5-89.4 C = 79.4-69.5 D = 69.4-59.5 F = below 59.4 Required Examinations:  There will be four exams during the course of the semester.   Exams will be multiple choice & true/false and will come from the assigned chapters in your textbook.  The exams are publisher-generated, so reading the assigned chapter is essential for success on the exams.  The four exams will comprise 50% of your class grade. See attached schedule for exam dates. Exams must be taken using the Respondus Lock-Down Browser. Instructions are in the Blackboard class. An exam will not appear until the date it is opened. Note on the Final Exam:  The final exam will NOT be comprehensive.  It will be weighted the same as the other exams.  Think of it as Exam #4. Make-up Policy:  All make-up exams must be arranged with the instructor.  If the student misses an exam, the student must arrange to take the exam within one week of the scheduled test date.  It is the decision of the instructor whether a student will be allowed to make-up an exam. Unexcused misses for exams will be deducted -10 points. Access to a reliable computer and internet are the student's responsibility. Computer issues (such as updating during an exam, battery dying, internet not working, etc.) are not considered excused reasons for missing an exam and will result in point deductions. Thinking Like a Historian Assignment:  Instructions for this assignment are in the Blackboard class. The written assignment will comprise 15% of the total grade. Late papers will be deducted -10 points for everyday they are late. This assignment will be submitted in Blackboard. The paper must be an original paper that is used only for this course. Weekly Assignments:  Every week, students will have a homework assignment to submit in Blackboard.  These assignments are found in the "Weekly Assignments" folder in the class and are due on the due date listed in the folder.  Late homework will be deducted -10 points for every day it is late.  Most weeks the homework will consist of two assignments that are to be submitted together.  The homework grade will be updated weekly and will make up 30% of the overall course grade.  The lowest class homework grade during the semester will be dropped.  Do NOT email homework.  It must be submitted through Blackboard. Students are expected to use their textbook to complete the assignments, not the WEB or AI. Any assignments submitted that do not use the textbook as the source will be given a 0. Syllabus Quiz:  There is a syllabus quiz worth 5% of overall grade. Students get multiple chances to take the quiz. Grade Breakdown: Four exams:  50% Weekly Assignments:  30% Thinking Like a Historian: 15% Syllabus Quiz:  5% Total:     100% **All assignments and exams are on Central Standard Time zone.

Attendance

This is an online course so we do not have scheduled class meeting times.

Calendar

Additional Information

This class is a general survey of United States History from pre-Columbian Native America to Reconstruction.  The study includes political, economic, social, and cultural aspects of life in this country and follows the development of the United States as a world power.  HIST 1301 is not a prerequisite for 1302. The Instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus and/or the calendar if needed.