HIST 487 - American Refugees: The History of Forced Migration and Displaced Communities in the United States

Units: 4 ; Breadth Area: GE-UD-C; Social Justice
Examines forced migrations to, and within, the United States as a result of targeted or indirect state policy and discrimination. Explores paths of movement, patterns of context and justification, and impact of policy on communities in the United States.

Strongly Recommended Preparation: Upper division status (greater than 60 earned semester units) and completion of lower division Area C requirements.
Prerequisites: Completion of GE Areas A1, A2, A3, and B4 with grade C- (CR) or better.
Possible Instructional Methods: Entirely Online, or Hybrid.
Grading: A-F or CR/NC (student choice)
Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: GE-UD-C - Upper Division Arts or Humanities, Overlay - Social Justice
Course Typically Offered: Variable Intermittently

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:
1) Analyze the global and historical complexity of the term “refugee”;

2) Read and interpret original historical documents to construct analytical narratives pertaining to the historical movement of peoples in the US;

3) Identify forced migrations in US history and analyze the context and narrative of the event, as a historical moment and potentially as part of a pattern in US history;

4) Collaborate with peers to track and digitally map paths and resettlements within the historic US;

5) Interpret the significance and application of this history for current crises of displaced peoples in the US;

6) Explore migration as an issue of social justice through the lens of the humanities.

Social Justice Overlay Learning Outcomes
1. Use a disciplinary perspective to analyze issues of social justice and equity.

2. Describe the challenges to achieving social justice.

3. Identify ways which individuals and/or groups can contribute to social justice within local communities, nations, and/or the world.