4-credit ONLINE Summer Course!
May 23-June 24

ARCHITECTURE IN THE AMERICAN EXPERIENCE
HIST 800

An overview of the built environment in the United States from colonial settlement through the present. The course will examine how buildings and landscapes relate to American history. Emphasis is placed on the architecture of New England.

We will examine architecture, related landscapes and historic preservation as it pertains to the growth and development of the country-- from Wetus to Levittown, from the urban to the rural. Who were the designers? The builders? The users? Why have some buildings been preserved and not others? Who makes the decisions?  What are current trends in eco-conscious construction? In addition to lecture format, we will take virtual walking tours and listen to professionals in the field.

The class will provide a basic knowledge of architectural terms, styles, architects and builders, and contemporary trends, for upper level students considering a career in history, public history, building and preservation design, technology and methodology, or with an interest in museum and material culture studies. By the end of this class, you will have developed a set of  analytical skills that are essential to historians, but can be applied beyond the walls of the university in a range of occupations that require critical thinking, writing, and speaking.