This course will trace the evolution of American foreign policy from the seventeenth through the twentieth centuries. Although the course will encompass the entire time span of American history, our focus will be on the forces and events which resulted in the growth of this country from a colonial outpost to a world power. Our objective will be to gain an understanding of contemporary American foreign policy by examining its origins. Distance learners are essentially their own teachers. The instructor in online courses establishes the course objectives, explains the course requirements and then acts as a facilitator.
Students work at their own pace and set their own goals for their performance.
The assignments are the same for both types of class. The only extra material you will need as an online student is a CD ROM which will be distributed at orientation. There is an excellent interactive Web site for the text as well which we will use more than the regular classes. There will be two major tests during the semester and a final exam. The exams will include only the work covered by the assignments listed below.