Integrated Humanities: American History

This Integrated American Humanities course is a philosophical, historical, and literary study of the American people and the United States from Colonial America to the late twentieth century.It seeks to cultivate knowledge of historical causes, emphasize law, custom, and individual human choice, develop moral insight into the character of the nation through a balanced admiration of its ancestors, and foster a responsive understanding shaped by great American and Western writers. To develop careful reading, thoughtful writing, and mature discussion about enduring questions, students engage with primary sources and literature, including works by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Willa Cather, Mark Twain, Stephen Crane, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ray Bradbury, and Wendell Berry. Furthermore, through ongoing Socratic seminars, students develop their understanding of civic and social virtues, appreciate American contributions to art and music, and consider the responsibilities of citizenship in a free society. Writing includes analytical, informative, and narrative forms, culminating in a major thesis paper integrating literature and history, while independent reading and seminar engagement strengthen the reading, analytical, and writing skills necessary for college and lifelong inquiry