Course Description

History happens in place as well as time. Experiential, collaborative research projects will allow students to map history, deploying concepts and techniques for thinking spatially about the nature of political, social, economic, and cultural change over time.

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Athena Title

Spatial History I

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Prerequisite

Any HIST course or ENGL 1101 or ENGL 1101E or ENGL 1101S or ENGL 1102 or ENGL 1102E or ENGL 1102S or POLS 1101 or POLS 1101E or POLS 1101H or POLS 1101S

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Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

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Student Learning Outcomes

• By the end of this course, students will be able to arrive at conclusions about the nature of of spatial history by gathering and weighing evidence, logical argument, and listening to counter argument.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to write stylistically appropriate papers and essays. Students will be able to analyze ideas and evidence, organize their thoughts, and revise and edit their finished essays.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to identify how spatial history shaped diverse social and cultural attitudes toward landscapes and geography, identity and experience, and ethics and intellectual consequences, encouraging them to understand diverse worldviews and experiences.
• By the end of this course, students will be able to apply appropriate methodological approaches to their analysis of primary sources and to organize their evidence to show historical continuities and discontinuities.

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Topical Outline

• A. Theories and Methods of Spatial History a. What is spatial history? b. Digital tools for humanistic inquiry c. The construction of spatial relations, or the social history of place d. Evidence, argument, and history in a digital age e. Ethics and rights in an age of “free information”
• B. Framing a Spatial History Research Project a. Finding quantitative data I: NHGIS and Census data b. Finding qualitative data I: manuscripts and archives [Special Collections Library module] c. Finding qualitative data II: libraries, both analog and digital d. Finding quantitative data II: “hidden” historical Big Data e. Composing a prospectus f. Developing a research strategy map and delegating research tasks
• C. Let’s Make History! a. Research Project Workshop I b. Research Project Workshop II c. Research Project Workshop III d. Research Project Workshop IV e. Revision, revision, revision f. Launch g. Reflections

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Institutional Competencies

Analytical Thinking

The ability to reason, interpret, analyze, and solve problems from a wide array of authentic contexts.

Communication

The ability to effectively develop, express, and exchange ideas in written, oral, interpersonal, or visual form.

Critical Thinking

The ability to pursue and comprehensively evaluate information before accepting or establishing a conclusion, decision, or action.

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