HIST 373
Appalachian History (US)
Catalog Entry
HIST 373
Appalachian History (US)
Three hours lecture: (3)
Prerequisite: Three hours of History at the 100 level.
Inquiry into uniqueness of the Appalachian region including the people and their history,
livelihood, religion, speech, music, social mores, folklore, and politics. Emphasis
on 20th century.
Note(s): Cultural or Behavioral Analysis designated course.
Detailed Description of Content of Course
The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of the historical
trends and developments in the Appalachian region of the American South.
1. Settlement Patterns: 18th and 19th centuries
2. The Pre-Industrial Self-Sufficient Mountain Farmer
3. A Culture Under Attack: The Emergence of Large Scale Industrial Capitalism in Appalachia
4. Labor Wars
5. Cultural Reflections
6. The New Deal and the Great Society
7. Modernization and Its Legacy in Appalachia
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
The course is taught according to the lecture/discussion method. Lectures and discussions
are supplemented with videos, slides, music, and guest lecturers.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
Department Goals:
1. Students will practice thinking critically and analytically about historical issues,
acquire a broader knowledge and deeper understanding of pertinent historical events
and processes, and cultivate a familiarity with the concepts of historical argument
and interpretation.
2. Students will develop disciplinary research skills by designing strategies to locate
and analyze primary and secondary source evidence, processing and organizing the resultant
data, and composing proper citation and bibliographical entries.
3. Students will apply their critical thinking, research, and compositional skills
to the creation and presentation of thesis driven essays that discuss, for example,
historical social, economic, political, and/or cultural developments and that address
issues such as the causes and consequences of historical change and continuity.
Course Goals:
1. Students will be able to develop a foundation for understanding and interpreting
Appalachian
History.
2. Students will be able to explore Appalachian history as a part of American history.
Assessment Measures
Knowledge and understanding of the material covered in this course will be measured
using an array of assessment tools that may include, among other things, class attendance
and participation, written examinations, formal writing assignments of various types,
and informal writing assignments. All exercises are designed to expand the student's
ability to evaluate historical events and to develop his or her ability to compose
persuasive arguments.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
October 2010 Reviewed and Approved by Sharon A. Roger Hepburn, Chair
04/2011
March 01, 2021