HIST 300W - Our State, Our Futures: Writing California Political Histories

Units: 3; Breadth Area: US-3; UWR
Investigation of California’s political histories and their significance in contests over governance, representation, and rights in the United States. A writing intensive course examining unique concentrations of wealth and power as challenged by reformers, radicals, countercultures, and uprisings.

Breadth Area(s) Satisfied: US-3, University Writing Requirement
Prerequisites: Satisfaction of Second Composition and junior or senior standing.
Grading: A-F grading only.
Course Typically Offered: Fall & Spring

Student Learning Outcomes - Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Practice the skills of historical writing, interpretation, and organization;
Craft original, balanced arguments in writing, with attention to audience, in order to participate in debates and discussions inside the classroom and beyond;
Investigate California’s political histories from perspectives other than your own;
Examine California political history as a case study on the relationship between the US Constitution, local political movements, and the state constitution;
Analyze contests over power between communities with distinct social identities and the political, economic, educational, and social outcomes of these struggles.

US-3. California Government Learning Outcomes

Describe the role of California’s Constitution in state and local government;
Explain the place of California’s Constitution in the evolution of federal-state relations;
Describe the political processes that enable cooperation and conflict resolution between state and/or local governments and the federal government.