This course surveys the major developments in the history of the United States and its people from 1877 to the present.  It also includes examples of conflicting interpretations of the progress of that history and a program of historical research.

This section is a self-paced version of the standard United States History survey course.   The student will be required to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work as students enrolling in the classroom equivalent of the course.   This self-paced course is designed for mature and capable students endowed with a great degree of self discipline and responsibility.  If this description does not sound like you, then you should consider dropping this section.  YOU WILL NEED maturity, ability, and self discipline to successfully complete the requirements of any self-paced  course.

Course Objectives

The objectives for this course are detailed in the Study Guide.  For the Course Rationale, go to the History Department Webpage.

Required Reading

The text for this course is:

Robert A. Divine, et al., America Past and Present, vol. II, Since 1865, 9th edition (New York: Harper/Collins, 2010).

Course Orientation

Each student MUST fill out the Online Orientation form to be enrolled in this class. You MUST complete the Online Orientation form and e-mail this form to me by the date listed in the Course Schedule.  If you do not email this form to me or contact me by the date listed in the Course Schedule WILL BE DROPPED from the course.

Student Contact

The student's final course grade is determined by the quality and quantity of the student's work.   The following requirements are non-negotiable:  For the grades of D, C, B, and A YOU MUST CONTACT ME, either in person, e-mail, or by telephone, TWICE during the semester:  once after the completion of Exam #3 (and before the 4th Exam), and again after the completion of Exam #5.  Anyone failing to make these contacts will not receive credit for the course.  See the Course Schedule for those deadlines.

Grading Policy

For the grade of B

Option One:  In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 exams, and make make at least 80% (24 out of 30 questions), or better ON EACH TEST.  See the Course Schedule for the exam deadlines.

If you do not score at least 24 on each of the 5 exams, then see Option Two.

Option Two:   In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 exams, and make an overall course average of 80% (24 out of 30 questions);

AND

complete one B-Level objective:  the analytical book review.  See the Course Schedule for the exam deadlines and the deadlines by which you must:

a.) submit your choice for the analytical book review;
b.) submit the outline for your analytical book review; and
c.) turn in the completed  book review.

For the grade of A

In addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 exams, and make an overall course average of 80% (24 out of 30 questions)

AND

produce one A-Level Objective:  the Oral History Report.  See the Course Schedule for the exam deadlines and the deadline by which you must:

a.) submit the respondent for your oral history report;
b.) submit the outline for your oral history report; and
c.) turn in the completed oral history report.

NOTE:  You do NOT have to complete the Book Review AND the Oral History Report to qualify for an A in the course.  You do the Book Review for a B OR the Oral History Report for an A.

Remember, in addition to the two course contacts, the student must take all 5 exams, and make an overall course average of 80% (24 out of 30 questions) to be eligible to complete the Book Review for a B OR the Oral History Report for an A.

Testing Policy

Students must take all exams in the ACC Testing Centers.  You may take the exams as soon as you are ready and you may take an exam at any time during the semester up to and including the deadline date.  Students must take exams no later than the deadline listed in the Course Schedule.  For hours and locations see the ACC Testing Centers.

Each unit has a 30 question exam that focuses on the learning objectives found in the Study Guide.  You MUST score 21 correct answers out of 30 (70%) to pass each exam.  (Remember it is your overall course average which determines your final grade.  In that sense, you may fail one or more exams and still pass the course provided that your average of all 5 grades is 21 or better.) 

Re-testing

If you do not pass any or all of the five exams the first time you take the exam, then you may retest each exam once (and only once).  There are two restrictions on the retest:

WARNING:  If you use the RGC Testing Center for this self-paced course, please be sure to mark the Testing Center Student Request Form for "self-paced."  Otherwise, you may receive my classroom test that is all essay.

Deadlines

YOU MUST complete the Online Orientation form and e-mail this form to me no later than 5:00 pm on the deadline listed in the Course Schedule.  If you do not email this form to me or contact me by the deadline listed in the Course Schedule you WILL BE DROPPED from the course.

YOU MUST take all exams in the ACC Testing Centers.  You may take the exams as soon as you are ready.

YOU MUST take the exams by the DEADLINES listed in the Course Schedule. 

YOU MUST contact me after you take the THIRD and FIFTH exam, either by phone, e-mail, or in person by the DEADLINES listed in the Course Schedule.

YOU MUST submit the book choice for the B-Level Objective (the Book Review), or submit the topic for your A-Level Objective (the Oral History Report), for approval by the instructor no later than 5:00 pm on the deadline listed in the Course Schedule.

YOU MUST submit your outline for for the B-Level Objective (the Book Review), or the A-Level Objective (the Oral History Report), for approval by the instructor no later than 5:00 pm on the deadline listed in the Course Schedule.

YOU MUST turn in the Final Draft of your B-Level Objective (the Book Review) or your A-Level Objective (the Oral History Report) no later than 5:00 pm on the deadline listed in the Course Schedule.

Course Completion Verification

Each student is REQUIRED to contact the instructor, either via e-mail, in person, or by telephone, after they have completed test #3 and test #5.  The contact after test #5 will serve as a course completion verification and must be done no later than the deadline listed in the Course Schedule.  During this conference, we will verify your test scores, review any projects submitted for and A or B, and determine your course grade.  FAILURE TO COMPLETE THIS CONFERENCE REQUIREMENT MAY IMPERIL THE PROMPT REPORTING OF YOUR GRADE!!!   This is as much a requirement of the course as any other grading requirement.

Students with Disabilities

Each Austin Community College campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities. Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office of Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take a majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.

Scholastic Dishonesty

WARNING:  Scholastic dishonesty will NOT be tolerated.  Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty, included but not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work.  Academic work is defined as, but not limited to tests, quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations, and homework.  Any student guilty of scholastic dishonesty will automatically receive an F in the course and be remanded to the appropriate Austin Community College authorities for disciplinary action.  See the ACC Student Handbook for details on scholastic dishonesty.

Incompletes

Incompletes will be given ONLY with a medical excuse certified by a physician.  All incompletes MUST be completed within the first four weeks of the following session.  THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS POLICY.

Withdrawals

Student Withdrawals:

Students may withdraw from the course for academic reasons.  Withdrawals must be completed according to the guidelines of Austin Community College.  See the ACC Catalog procedures for withdrawing from a class and the Course Schedule for the deadline by which you must withdraw from a class.  Students may also withdraw from the course for non-academic reasons.  Once again, see the guidelines in the ACC Catalog for details and the Course Schedule for the deadline by which you must withdraw from a class.

Instructor Withdrawals:

The instructor will NOT withdraw students for failing to fulfill any of the course requirements, see above.  Instead, students will receive a grade based on their performance in the course.  Students who fail to fulfill any of the course requirements will receive a F.  Therefore, if a student registers for a course it is the student's responsibility to satisfy the course requirements.  If "life happens" and you cannot finish the course, be sure to withdraw.  Once again, see the guidelines in the ACC Catalog for details and the Course Schedule for the deadline by which you must withdraw from a class.

Office Hours

It is essential that students and the instructor make a concerted effort to maintain open lines of communication.  In other words, talk to me.  Problems generally are easier to solve BEFORE they happen.  You are encouraged to discuss any questions you may have regarding the course, the material, and your performance.  To that end, I have scheduled time to meet with students.  My office hours are listed above and on my home page.  If those times do not fit your schedule, please feel free to make an appointment.  You may also contact me via e-mail at:  dlauderb@austincc.edu.  I do have one request.  If you make an appointment, please make every effort to keep that appointment.

Use of ACC email

ACC sends all email communication solely to the student's ACCmail account and expects students to read the messages in a timely manner. So that means all important information and emergency details will go only to your ACCmail . Students should expect to receive from, and send email to, their instructors from their ACCmail account. To set up an account, students can go to ACCmail for instructions.

Safety Statement

ACC is committeed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. Students are expected to learn and to comply with ACC environmental, health, and safety procedures and to follow ACC safety policies. See the Environmental Health and Safety link for more details. The College also asks that each student become familiar with the Emergency Procedures and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. See ACC Emergency Alerts to sign up for electronic notices in the event of a serious emeergency.

GO TO THE STUDY GUIDE

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