Appalachian Studies 610

APST 610
Foundations of Appalachian Studies

1. Catalog Entry

APST 610
Foundations of Appalachian Studies

Credit hours (3)

In this required course of the Appalachian Studies Certificate curriculum, students will be exposed to an overview of the history of the Appalachian Region from its earliest European explorers and their interaction with Native Americans to its settlement by various ethnic groups. There will be a heavy historical emphasis on events in the late 19th century up to the latter 20th century and how those events have shaped the formation of the Appalachian region as well as the creation and continual evolution of a formal Appalachian Studies discipline that began in the late 1960s.

2. Detailed Description of Course

The course may cover all or any of the following groups, events, and activities and how they have influenced and continue to impact the Appalachian region:
    1) Native American Presence
    2) European Colonization
    3) Slavery, Emancipation, and Jim Crow Era
    4) Civil War
    5) Natural Resource Extraction
    6) Industrialization of the U.S.
    7) Single Industry Economies
    8) Labor Unionization
    9) Local Color Writers
    10) Missionaries
    11) Folk culture
    12) Education (opportunities, policies, and beliefs)
    13) WWI and WWII
    14) War on Poverty
    15) Creation of the Appalachian Regional Commission
    16) Outmigration
    17) Absentee landownership
    18) Tourism
    19) Growth, creation, distribution, and abuse of drugs

3. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course

The course may consist of in-class instructional activities, such as lectures, guest lectures, documentary viewings, experiential learning opportunities, and discussion.  In addition, there may be online assignments and field experiences.  Students will have opportunities to interact in a variety of ways (i.e. the classroom, online, and in small groups outside of class).  Students may participate in assignments and activities, including but not limited to writing-to-learn activities, oral communication activities, and case studies.
  
4. Goals and Objectives of the Course

Students will be able to:
    1) identify historical events unique to Appalachia
    2) explain how these unique historical events have formed the region’s political economy
    3) explain how these unique historical events have shaped the region’s cultural identity
    4) explain how the region’s image has been molded by literary treatments over the course of more than a century
    5) identify Appalachian stereotypes
    6) explain how Appalachian stereotypes have served various individuals, groups, industries, and businesses
    7) explain the social and political implications of Appalachian stereotypes

5. Assessment Measures

Include but are not limited to:
    1) in-class attendance and participation
    2) online assignments
    3) experiential field assignments
    4) exams
    5) critical reading reflection logs
    6) article-length paper or detailed lesson plan for use in high school or undergraduate college classroom

6. Other Course Information

None

Review and Approval

February 15, 2013