Goals for HIST 431/631

This page states my goals for the course. These are my goals. I also welcome discussion of your own goals in taking this course, and we'll see if we can accommodate them.

Five Basic Goals

To acquire an understanding of the concepts and terms that constitute regional history. These concepts and terms, laid out in early lectures of the course, should be applied and reassessed throughout.
To master basic facts and interpretations associated with the most important themes in the history of the North American Plains.
To cultivate the historical perspective, that is, to practice thinking like a historian.
To reinforce and advance the traditional skills of discourse--reading, reflection, discussion, writing--via both conventional and electronic means of communication.
To foster an appreciation of and ongoing interest in the diverse cultures composing our regional society.

General Education

This course is approved for the NDSU general education program. It counts toward NDSU general education requirements in two categories, as defined in the Bulletin.

"Humanities systematically explore cultural and intellectual forces shaping events, individual expression and social values." This is what we do in relation to the concepts and themes mentioned in Goal #1 and Goal #2 above.

"Cultural Diversity focuses on the social, personal, and interpersonal effects of variety and differences among cultures." The course addresses cultural diversity throughout. In relation to Goal #1 above, it sets out a cultural model for regional history, positing that there is a regional society comprising various regional cultures. These ideas permeate the treatment of the themes mentioned in Goal #2. The appreciation and interest in regional cultures mentioned in Goal #5 flows from the orientation and content of the course.

The course also contributes to two other, more general concerns in general education at NDSU: lifelong learning (see Goal #5 above) and computer facility.

History Major

This course is designed to serve learning in the History major in specific respects according with the "Intended Student Outcomes" for the major. These standards require students majoring in History to demonstrate "critical thinking skills" and "historical thinking skills" and to show them through writing essays. Goals #3 and 4 above are intended to cultivate these skills.

If you're not a History major, but you might be interested, check out the Home Page of the History Department.