The United States since 1945 HIST5148
- Academic Session: 2022-23
- School: School of Humanities
- Credits: 20
- Level: Level 5 (SCQF level 11)
- Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: No
- Available to Erasmus Students: No
Short Description
This is an advanced-level introduction to the history United States since 1945. Organised thematically, it exposes students to major historiographical debates and controversies from the history of capitalism and conservatism to the study of civil rights, religion, crime, populism, and the relationship between democracy and corporations.
Timetable
10 x weekly 2-hour seminar as scheduled in mycampus
Requirements of Entry
Standard entry to Masters at College level.
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
Essay (3,000 words): 60%
Report on primary source (2,000 words): 40%
Course Aims
This course aims to:
■ Provide the basis for the development of a critical understanding of US history since 1945
■ Introduce new themes in US History, such as the history of capitalism and conservatism, religion, crime and populism.
■ Enable engagement with major historiographical debates in US history since 1945
■ Explore a wide variety of primary sources related to the specialized secondary literature on key topics in US history since 1945
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ Critically evaluate specific issues in American history within a contextual broad knowledge of trends in US history since 1945
■ Appraise historiographical debates relating to US history in this period
■ Analyse relevant primary sources and specialized secondary literature on key topics in post-1945 US History
■ Propose arguments on key themes in US history since 1945 combining primary and secondary material, connecting analysis of sources to historiographical debates
Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits
Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.