Master Syllabus Course Title: Business in America Course Number: HST 1040 Credits: Three Prerequisites: No prerequisites

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1 Master Syllabus Course Title: Business in America Course Number: HST 1040 Credits: Three Prerequisites: No prerequisites Course Description: Business in America is a multidisciplinary examination of the mutual influences that American cultural values and American business activities have exerted upon one another. The course will explore the enduring and complex interrelationship between American history and American business, and will emphasize the interplay between business and American society, in the areas of politics, economics, technology and culture. Required Texts: Peter Baida, Poor Richard's Almanac, John dos Passos, The Big Money McGraw-Hill, Primis, History 1040, Articles on Blackboard Various Objectives: Core Learning Areas: The Core Learning Areas represent a common body of skills and knowledge to which all graduates with associate s degrees should be exposed and for which the college may determine certain levels of competency which will be assessed through the general education curriculum. Cultural Awareness Cultural Awareness is the ability to discern the interdependence of local and transnational political, social, economic, artistic and cultural networks in the context of their aesthetic and historical importance. Competency in this area is measured by the ability to: 35. Articulate how historical change shapes the arts, ideas, and social and political structures. Information Literacy Information literacy is the ability to recognize a need for information and to use an efficient process to obtain reliable information that meets the need. Competency in this area is measured by the ability to: 39. Formulate a focused research question 40. Implement a viable research strategy 41. Retrieve information legally, responsibly, and ethically 1

2 History Program Goals: 1. Students will develop an understanding of major cultures and religions of the world. 2. Students will learn to evaluate primary sources. 3. Students will develop analytical and critical thinking skills. 4. Students will develop and demonstrate effective communication skills when describing, discussing, critiquing, and analyzing historical events and ideas. 5. Students will develop and demonstrate effective research skills and proper documentation of resources. Specific Course Learning Objectives: 1. Understand the critical role business and entrepreneurialism has played in the development of American culture. 2. Understand the interplay in the United States between business and politics, economics, and social movements. 3. Explore the tensions in American history between business interests and social and environmental concerns. 4. Understand the evolution of American business at it influenced, and was influenced by, technology, global competition, and a changing population. 5. Understand the viewpoints of those who have been critical of, and those who have praised, American business practices and values. 6. Identify and understand the influence of major figures in American business culture, such as Benjamin Franklin, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, Ralph Nader, and others. 7. Recognize the positive and negative impact upon American culture of business values. Potential Outline of Topics: Introduction: The Business of America is Business Colonial America Business and Markets in the New Nation Industrialism: Chattel Slavery and "Wage Slaves" Civil War and the Gilded Age The Rise of Modern Business The Consolidation of Capital and the Rise of Unions Dissent and Response Mass Production, the Promise of Success and the Costs of Industrialism Business and the Culture of Abundance 2

3 The Great Depression America and the Global Economy Would Ben Franklin Shop at Wal-Mart? Would You? Should You? Wrapping it all up. What does it all mean? Course Requirements and Procedures: This course is a participatory effort, and is a course about ideas. All members of the class are expected to contribute their thoughts, comments and insights. To take part, one should have completed the readings (at least most of those assigned), follow the discussion, and attempt to contribute something to the class. Possible Assignments: All written assignments MUST be typed. Summaries on readings and films: Summaries should represent an active response to the material, and be analytical as well as summative. Try to engage the thematic issues raised in the readings and films, and to identify and respond to the author s thesis and point of view. You should also place the work into historical context, and connect each week's readings (and films) to previous readings. Each summary should be at least two pages long, and should make specific textual references, which should be cited using either Chicago or MLA format. Essay: Each student will write an essay on the novel, The Big Money. In this novel, you will identify and explore themes and ideas relating to American business history and ethics. Specific instructions and topics will be distributed. Students are required to use the Chicago format of citation for this essay. Final Examination: The final exam may be given in class or may be in the form of a take-home essay. Written Assignments: Other types of written assignments may be given to evaluate the students knowledge and understanding of the history of business in the United States. Behavior Policy: Disruption in the classroom will not be tolerated. Examples of what are consider disruptions include but are not limited to: talking to other students, sleeping, heads on desks, doing work for other classes, listening to or operated any cell phone, calculator, mp3 player, etc. Students may use laptops, but not to play games, check , Google, instant message, work on papers for other classes, etc. Academic Honesty: Honesty is the bedrock upon which is based all academic endeavor. It is always expected in this course, and in every other course, that work which you submit as your own will indeed be your 3

4 own. This means that all information not common knowledge, which you use in your written work, must be cited as to source. For a description of academic dishonesty, please consult the CSM Student Handbook. The Handbook clearly delineates the College s policy, and the student s rights and responsibilities under this policy. If you have any question about what constitutes academic honesty, please do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with faculty member teaching the course. Unauthorized persons in the workplace: The college strongly discourages students from bringing unauthorized persons into the classroom or laboratory while instruction or testing is ongoing. If childcare difficulties, for example, prevent you from attending class, you are encouraged to comply with the instructor s policy on absenteeism, including informing the instructor and arranging to make up the work missed. It is important to recognize, however, that your grade may be jeopardized as a result of excessive absences, regardless of the reasons for them. Important dates: Please be aware of the last day to withdraw from a class without a grade and change a credit to an audit or an audit to a credit. Audit policy for this class: In order to receive audit credit for this class, students must participate in all class discussions and all in-class work. Potential Electronic Reserve (ERes): This course may use an electronic reserve system. Articles assigned will be found on electronic reserve- ERes. ERes can be accessed from any computer with internet access. To access ERes, you will need to do the following: from the Internet, go to the ERes gateway: After clicking on the "Course Index" box, the Course Page may be accessed 3 different ways: By department: select "History" and click on GO or By instructor: select "Arnold-Lourie, Christine" and click on GO or By QuickSearch: type in "hst" and click on GO. The password is csmhst I 040. Please note that the "login" box on the ERes gateway is for System Administration only. You will probably be required to print out the articles, and bring them to class with you on the day they are due to be discussed. Failure to bring the articles will result in a five-point deduction from your grade. You would be well advised to use a binder to keeps articles in order. 4

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