I. ASCRC General Education Form
Group
VI Historical and Cultural Studies
Dept/Program
History
Course #
Course Title
Prerequisite
Contemporary Europe
None
Credits
History 319
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Instructor
Richard Drake
9/08/08
Phone / Email
243-2981
Program Chair
Richard Drake
Dean
Jerry Fetz
III. Description and purpose of the course: General Education courses must be introductory
and foundational. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/gened/GEPreamble_final.htm
No line exists between current events and history. The writing of history began with the classic
attempts of Herodotus and Thucydides to make sense of the Persian War and the Peloponnesian
War, which were current events when they wrote about them. In surveying the impact of the
Cold War and its aftermath on European society and culture, we are following in their timehonored tradition. The rise of Europe from the destruction and chaos of World War II is our
theme. We seek to shed light on what the emergence of the European Union—the second most
powerful conglomeration of economic power on earth today—will mean for the history of the
world.
IV. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
Through lectures, films, and discussions of
primary source texts—including works of
philosophy, novels, memoirs, plays, and social
criticism—we seek to teach students how to
understand the workings of the historical
process in the contemporary life of Europe. I
expect students to evaluate the texts and
cultural artifacts of this dynamic period in the
millennial history of Europe’s peoples. We
analyze human behavior, ideas, and institutions
in their historical context.
V. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://www.umt.edu/facultysenate/ASCRCx/Adocuments/GE_Criteria5-1-08.htm
In quizzes, examinations, and a term paper I
expect students to demonstrate powers of
historical analysis at the upper-division level of
university work. This means that they should be
able to evaluate texts and cultural artifacts in
historical and cultural context.
VII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form. ⇓ The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
See syllabus
*Please note: As an instructor of a general education course, you will be expected to provide
sample assessment items and corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.