ADVANCED U.S. HISTORY COURSE SYLLABUS
Coconino Community College Dual Enrollment Program
HIS 131 United States History to 1877 (3 credit hours)
HIS 132 United States History from 1877 (3 credit hours)
Ms. Heather Walker
Williams High School
Room 18
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (928) 635-4474 ext. 218
Website: Accessible through Staff Pages on
WHS Website
Welcome to Advanced U.S. History! I am proud of you for making the decision to take advanced coursework and begin
your college education. I eagerly anticipate the year ahead of us and I’m excited to get to know you more. This course
will challenge you and help prepare you for your continued education after high school.
Please read the following information carefully and complete the signature page that follows, which will need to be
returned to me. If you have any questions or concerns now or during the year, please contact me at the phone number
or email address above. Email contact is preferred. Thank you!
Course Description:
A study of U.S. History is integral for students to analyze our national experience through time, to recognize the
relationships of events and people, and to interpret significant patterns, themes, ideas, beliefs, and turning points in
Arizona and American history. Students will be able to apply the lessons of American History to their lives as citizens of
the United States. Much of this course will be dedicated to the work of historians including analyzing primary source
material, conducting historical investigations and forming opinions based on evidence. The first semester of this course
will cover U.S. History from European exploration to Reconstruction, up to the year 1877. The second semester of this
course will cover the year 1877 to the present beginning with the Gilded Age leading up to modern day America.
Semester 1 Course Units: (1400-1877)
Textbook Chapters 1-16
 Original Inhabitants
 Exploration and Colonization
 The American Revolution
 Building a New Nation
 Expansion & Transformation
 The Civil War & Reconstruction
Semester 2 Course Units: (1877-Present)
Textbook Chapters 17-31
 Gilded Age
 Rise to World Power
 Great Depression & New Deal
 World War II
 Cold War Era
 Civil Rights Movement
 Contemporary United States
Course Objectives:
Students will be able to…
 Describe prehistoric cultures of the North American continent.
 Review the reciprocal impact resulting from early European contact with indigenous peoples.
 Describe the reasons for colonization of America.
 Assess the economic, political, and social reasons for the American Revolution.
 Analyze how the new national government was created.
 Trace the growth of the American nation during the period of western expansion.
 Describe the impact of European-American expansion on native peoples.
 Describe the impact of the Industrial Revolution on the United States.
 Explain the economic, social, and political causes of the Civil War.
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Analyze immediate and long term effects of Reconstruction in America.
Analyze how industrialization transformed the American economy in the late 19th century.
Assess how social developments influenced American society in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
Explain America’s increasing role around the world prior to World War I.
Describe causes and effects of the Great Depression.
Describe the impact of American involvement in World War II.
Analyze aspects of America’s post World War II foreign policy including involvement in the Cold War.
Explain how the Civil Rights movement brought change for certain groups of Americans.
Describe key political, social, environmental, and economic events of the late 20th century and early 21st century
Course Texts:
Goldfield, David, et al. The American Journey: A History of the United States. Pearson. 6th Edition. 2011.
Weber, David J. What Caused the Pueblo Revolt of 1680? Bedford St. Martin’s. 1999.
Required Daily Materials:
Three-ring binder with tabbed dividers, lined paper, writing utensil & textbook.
A USB storage device is highly recommended.
All students are required to obtain and maintain a three-ring binder for warm ups, notes, handouts and graded
assignments. This binder will be graded periodically.
Classroom Rules & Expectations
1. SHOW RESPECT.
Respect other’s rights, ideas and property. Respect my right to teach. Raise your hand before speaking. Ask to
get out of your seat.
2. COME PREPARED.
Be on time to class with all required materials ready to learn! Do not come to class without a pen or pencil.
3. PARTICIPATE.
Learning is an active process therefore you are expected to participate in activities, discussions, group work and
note taking in class.
Electronic devices may be only be used under the teacher’s discretion. If the teacher has not given permission to use a
cell phone or mp3 player, the device will be confiscated. No food is allowed in class. All drinks must have a secure lid or
cap.
Students will use their handbook as their hall pass. Students must have their handbook for me to sign in order for them
to leave the classroom for any reason.
Attendance Policy
Regular attendance is essential for success in this class. You will not pass this class if you do not show up. Attendance
will be taken during the first ten minutes of class. A student will be marked tardy if they are not in their seat when the
bell rings. Class ends when the bell rings and there will be no movement or packing up until it does so. See WHS
handbook for detailed school attendance policy.
Assignments can only be made up for EXCUSED absences, including quizzes and tests. Students will have the same
number of days that they were absent in order to turn in missed assignments or makeup quizzes or tests. Upon your
return, please see me for make-up work. Student athletes must ask for work before missing class for travel.
If you miss a quiz or exam, you need to schedule a testing appointment the day you return in order to make it up. It is
best to schedule ahead of time if you know you will be absent.
Late Work Policy
I will only accept late work ONE day after the due date and it will be worth no more than 50% of the point total.
Example: Homework due Monday for 20 points will be worth 10 points on Tuesday and 0 points on Wednesday. The
purpose of this policy is to enforce responsibility and real world consequences.
Grading Policy
The course will be graded on total points. All work will be given a point value toward the student’s final grade. In class
assignments, homework, quizzes and tests will be added to the total points available for the course.
Students will be notified of their grade periodically in class. Parents are encouraged to keep track of their student’s
progress online through PowerSchool or they may request a grade check by email or phone. PowerSchool will be
updated weekly.
Submitting assignments via email is encouraged. All citations will be done in the MLA format. Work must be cited using
in-text citations as well as a works cited page. Please see the MLA guide available in class or online for guidelines.
Cheating will not be tolerated. If you are caught copying someone’s work, you will be given zero points and punished
according to school policy.
Final Semester Grade Reporting:
90% - All Course Work
10% - Final Semester Exam
Grading Scale: A = 90% & up, B = 80%-89%, C = 70%-79%, D = 60%-69%, F = Below 60%
Dual Enrollment Expectations and Requirements
Student and parent please initial below in spaces provided.
We agree and understand to the following:
_________ _________
This is a college course and will therefore be treated as such.
_________ _________
Students will be responsible for material covered in assigned readings. Reading is
expected to be completed and course success will be dependent on reading.
_________ _________
The grade earned in this class will appear on college transcripts.
_________ _________
If a grade lower than a C average is earned, the grade will appear on college
transcripts, but will NOT be applied towards a future degree or as a prerequisite to
another class.
_________ _________
We understand the late work policy.
_________ _________
We understand that plagiarism and/or cheating will not be tolerated and will result in
a grade of zero for that assignment.
_________ _________
Students can earn 6 college credit hours upon successful completion of this course. In
order to receive college credit, the fee of $150 must be paid. Cost $25 per credit hour.
I have read the syllabus and agree to the expectations for Ms. Walker’s class.
____________________________________
Student Name
____________________________________
Student Signature
___________________________________
Parent/Guardian Name
_____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
___________________________________
Parent/Guardian Phone Number
____________________________________
Parent/Guardian Email
*Please tear off signature page to turn in and keep syllabus in your binder.