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American Environmental History

History 170
University of San Diego
Fall Semester 2000
MWF 1:15 - 2:20

Dr. Rachel D. Shaw

Office Phone: (619) 260-4600 x 4485
History Dept. (619) 260-4756
Trailer Annex #105 (near Hughes Admin.)
Office Hours: M & W, 2:30-4:30pm

E-mail: rshaw @ ucsd.edu

Table of Contents
(click to go to that part of the syllabus) Welcome to environmental history! This course will explore the environment and human history of the United States. In particular, we will be interested in questions of how human beings have perceived and interacted with their environments over time. We will begin with the arrival of Europeans in the New World, and conclude with environmental issues that continue to affect us today.
Along the way, we will look at a variety of readings and lectures, ranging from popular literature to more scholarly examinations of particular subjects. In-class time will be divided between lectures and discussions.

Students will explore an environmental topic of your choice (approved by me) in a project designed to encourage analysis, synthesis, and original research; this project will deal with some aspect of American environmental history in a way that demonstrates your ability to do original research and synthesize existing interpretations. You will have your knowledge of course themes and materials tested with one midterm and one final examination.

The complexity of this topic requires that students be focused and engaged with the materials. This means attending class on a regular basis, and keeping up with the readings. The course is intended to be challenging; be sure to budget your time accordingly.

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(Available through the bookstore and on reserve in the library.)

William Cronon, Changes in the Land.
Timothy H. Silver, A New Face on the Countryside.
Donald Worster, Under Western Skies.
Richard White, The Organic Machine.
Mike Davis, Ecology of Fear.

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Midterm 25%
Proposal 10%
Project 30%
Final 35%

NOTE: Failure to meet all of these requirements will result in failure of the class.

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(Subject to change. Changes will be announced in class and posted online.)

NOTE: In order to get the most out of the course, you will need to have the readings FINISHED before our mid-week discussion. It is NOT a good idea to wait until the night before, as most assignments are too large to be finished in one evening. Plan accordingly!

Week 1:

Friday, September 8

Week 2: Overview of Issues

Worster, Chapter 11.
Hand out project description.

Monday, September 11

Wednesday, September 13
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, September 15
SPECIAL TIME to allow for the Mass of the Holy Spirit: 1:40-2:20pm.

Week 3: The Northeast

Cronon, Chapters 1-4.

Monday, September 18

Wednesday, September 20
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, September 22

Week 4:

Cronon, Chapters 5-8.

Monday, September 25

Wednesday, September 27
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, September 29
No scheduled class. PROPOSALS DUE at my office.
LATE work will be penalized; get it in before the department closes!

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Week 5: The South

Silver, Chapters 1-4.

Monday, October 2

Wednesday, October 4
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, October 6

Week 6:

Silver, Chapters 5-7.

Monday, October 9

Wednesday, October 11
Discussion of readings and lectures.
Pick up TAKE-HOME MIDTERM.

Friday, October 13
No scheduled class. TAKE-HOME MIDTERM DUE. Remember that the office closes at 4pm!

Week 7: The Great Plains

Worster, Chapters 1-3.

Monday, October 16

Wednesday, October 18
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, October 20
FALL HOLIDAY: No class!

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Week 8:

Worster, Chapters 7-8.

Monday, October 23

Wednesday, October 25
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, October 27

Week 9: The Great Basin and Rocky Mountains

Worster, Chapters 6 and 10.

Monday, October 30

Wednesday, November 1
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, November 3

Week 10: The Southwest

Worster, Chapters 4-5.
Davis, Chapter 1.

Monday, November 6

Wednesday, November 8
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, November 10

Week 11:

Davis, Chapter 2.
White, Introduction and Chapters 1-2.

Monday, November 13

Wednesday, November 15
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, November 17

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Week 12: The Northwest

White, Chapters 3-4.

Monday, November 20

Wednesday, November 22
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, November 24
THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: No class!

Week 13: California

Davis, Chapter 3.

Monday, November 27
PROJECTS DUE at beginning of class.

Wednesday, November 29
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, December 1

Week 14: California, Alaska and Hawaii

Davis, Chapters 4-5.
Worster, Chapter 9.

Monday, December 4

Wednesday, December 6
Discussion of readings and lectures.

Friday, December 8

Week 15: Conclusion

Review notes
Optional: Davis, Chapters 6-7

Monday, December 11
Last day of class

Wednesday, December 13
Dead Day

FINAL: Monday, December 18, 12:30-2:30pm.

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