History of American Entrepreneurship
HIUS-360

An in-depth study of America’s economic development is essential in understanding that nation’s unique and powerful role in the world. Without falling into the extremes of economic determinism, it is nonetheless necessary to have a working knowledge of American economic history to understand and assess human motivations within a free society.

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify the major shifts in American economic development from the colonial period to the present.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of American monetary and banking policies throughout the period.
3. Assess and articulate the values of a free market society and the extent to which government should or should not intervene.
4. Interact with secondary and primary sources relevant to American economic history.
5. Articulate the evolvement of and arguments for/against an American national debt.
6. Draw meaningful relevancy between the content learned and the dynamics of “real-world” economics.
7. Explore comparisons of the United States market economy with other world economies in the context of entrepreneurial experiences.
8. Begin to develop a Christian worldview of American economic history.

Foundational Skills Learning Outcomes (FSLO): Communication and Information Literacy Outcomes (CIL):

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. CIL 1: Discover and evaluate information to accomplish a specific purpose.
2. CIL 2: Communicate information effectively in the English language, orally and/or through writing, for a variety of purposes, using technology when appropriate.
3. CIL 3: Analyze and assess various forms of information and expression to determine their meaning, employing technology when relevant.
4. CIL 4: Demonstrate a basic understanding of the role of research and scholarship in order to apply it in various contexts.
5. CIL 5: Relate communication and information literacy to participation in God’s redemptive work.

Click on the following link to view the required resource(s) for the term in which you are registered: Liberty University Online Bookstore

Additional Materials for Learning

1. Computer with basic audio/video output equipment
2. Internet access (broadband recommended)
3. Canvas recommended browsers
4. Microsoft Office
5. Digital video recorder or similar device

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

The discussion assignments in this course are meant to be collaborative learning experiences that foster a spirit of community and collegiality, but they must also be viewed as an academic assignment with formal requirements. The first discussion in this course will expand the student's Christian worldview, and the second will have the student compare world economies to understand the development of global markets better (MLO: C, F, G, H; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 5).

The research design is a detailed explanation of the topic to be studied, the process by which the student answers a question of historical significance, and the principal sources for research. It must include a research topic, research thesis, research question(s), explanation of historical significance, and a preliminary (non-annotated) bibliography. This assignment will provide the student with a plan for completing their research paper assignment (MLO: D, F; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 4).

The student will perform a stock market analysis by selecting shares of various stocks, then monitoring their value over a period of time. This assignment will provide the student with a cursory understanding of the stock market, the causes of fluctuations in it, and how those can affect a business and the economic stability in an economy. It will provide the student with the knowledge of locating, using, and analyzing stock market data and financial news reports. The student will submit a report documenting the steps of this process (MLO: B, C, D, F; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3, 4).

The student will research items most commonly used in daily life. The student will complete a short assessment on the items and information found using the provided template. It will provide the student with a cursory understanding of inflation in an economy and how it affects the prices of goods and services over time. It will also allow the student to form an educated opinion on the country’s monetary and fiscal policies and understand how those can affect inflation. (MLO: B, C, D; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3).

The student will write a 3-4 page research-based paper in current Turabian format that focuses on some aspect of historical significance in American economic or business history before 1960. The research paper will allow the student to synthesize the content examined and learned in this course. The paper must include at least 5 total sources (3 primary and 2 scholarly secondary sources). It will enable them to demonstrate their ability to form historical interpretations and logical arguments based on evidence gathered from primary and secondary source materials (MLO: A, B, C, D, E, F; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3, 4).

Each module, the student will complete a quiz on the materials for that module. Quiz questions may consist of multiple-choice, true/false, or short answer questions. (MLO: B, D, E; FSLO: CIL 1, 2, 3, 4).

Course Assignments, including discussions, exams, and other graded assignments, should be submitted on time.

If the student is unable to complete an assignment on time, then he or she must contact the instructor immediately by email.

Assignments that are submitted after the due date without prior approval from the instructor will receive the following deductions:

1. Late assignments submitted within one week after the due date will receive up to a 10% deduction.
2. Assignments submitted more than one week and less than 2 weeks late will receive up to a 20% deduction.
3. Assignments submitted two weeks late or after the final date of the course will not be accepted outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.
4. Group projects, including group discussion threads and/or replies, and assignments will not be accepted after the due date outside of special circumstances (e.g. death in the family, significant personal health issues), which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis by the instructor.

Students with a disability and those with medical conditions associated with pregnancy may contact Liberty University’s Online Office of Disability Accommodation Support (ODAS) at [email protected] for accommodations.  Such accommodations require appropriate documentation of your condition.   For more information about ODAS and the accommodations process, including how to request an accommodation, please visit https://www.liberty.edu/online/online-disability-accommodation-support/. Requests for accommodations not related to disabilities or pregnancy must be directed to the Registrar’s Office, which generally handles medical needs support.

If you have a complaint related to disability discrimination or an accommodation that was not provided, you may contact ODAS or the Office of Equity and Compliance by phone at (434) 592-4999 or by email at [email protected].  Click to see a full copy of Liberty’s Discrimination, Harassment, and Sexual Misconduct Policy or the Student Disability Grievance Policy and Procedures.

In an effort to comply with U.S. Department of Education policies, attendance is measured by physical class attendance or any submission of a required assignment within the enrollment dates of the course (such as examinations, written papers or projects, any discussion posts, etc.) or initiating any communication with one’s professor regarding an academic subject. More information regarding the attendance policy can be found in the Academic Course Catalogs. Regular attendance in online courses is expected throughout the length of the term. Students who do not attend within the first week of a sub-term by submitting a required academic assignment (such as the Course Requirements Checklist, an examination, written paper or project, discussion post, or other academic activity) will be dropped from the course. Students who wish to re-engage in the course are encouraged to contact Academic Advising to discuss their enrollment options. Students who begin an online course, but at some point in the semester cease attending, and do not provide official notification to withdraw, will be assigned a grade of “FN” (Failure for Non-Attendance). Students wishing to withdraw from courses after the official start date should familiarize themselves with the withdrawal policy.

For courses with a Pass/NP final grade, please refer to the Course Grading section of this syllabus for the assignment requirements and/or point value required to earn a Passing final grade.

The full policy statement and procedures are published in the Policy Directory.

Liberty University comprises a network of students, Alumni, faculty, staff and supporters that together form a Christian community based upon the truth of the Bible. This truth defines our foundational principles, from our Doctrinal Statement to the Code of Honor. These principles irrevocably align Liberty University’s operational procedures with the long tradition of university culture, which remains distinctively Christian, designed to preserve and advance truth. Our desire is to create a safe, comfortable environment within our community of learning, and we extend our academic and spiritual resources to all of our students with the goal of fostering academic maturity, spiritual growth and character development.

Communities are predicated on shared values and goals. The Code of Honor, an expression of the values from which our Doctrinal Statement was born, defines the fundamental principles by which our community exists. At the core of this code lie two essential concepts: a belief in the significance of all individuals, and a reliance on the existence of objective truth.

While we acknowledge that some may disagree with various elements of the Code of Honor, we maintain the expectation that our students will commit to respect and uphold the Code while enrolled at Liberty University.

Adherence to the principles and concepts established within facilitates the success of our students and strengthens the Liberty community.

The Code of Honor can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.liberty.edu/index.cfm?PID=19155.