Kathryn L. MacKay, Ph.D.

office: SL309M
phone:626-6782
email: kmackay@weber.edu
Office Hours: W 7:30 - 10:00 AM, TTH 11:00 - 12:00 and by appointment

Learning Schedule

As defined by the Census Bureau, the western United States includes 13 states:Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah,Washington, and Wyoming.

Other scholars define the West as the 22 states west of the Mississippi.

This course examines both the “place” and the “process” of the history of the U.S. West.

The West is a shifting region of Native North America that was the object first of Spanish, French, English, and then American expansionism.
The West is a distinct region with a unique relationship to the U.S. federal government, distinctive patterns of race relations, and a unique place in American cultural memory. While this course is a general survey of the west as a region,

This course will examine the West as both a geographic and as an idea in American culture and in the popular imagination. The focus will be on the historical development of the trans-Mississippi west stretching from the Great Plains to the Pacific Ocean.

This course will be built on films, monographs, memoirs, letters, and academic articles and literary fiction in order to explore the struggle for land, resources, identity, and power, which have characterized the West and its role in the history of the American nation.

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About Accommodations:

Any student requiring accommodations or services dues to a disability must contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) in room 181 of the Student Service Center. SSD can also arrange to provide course materials (including this syllabus) in alternative formats if necessary.
Weber State University recognizes that there are times when course content may differ from a student's core beliefs. Faculty, however, have a responsibility to teach content that is related to the discipline and that has a reasonable relationship to pedagogical goals. If you, as a student, believe that the content of the course conflicts with your ability to pursue the topic, you may request a resolution from the instructor. (See PPM 6-22.)

About Plagiarism:

Plagiarism on any of your work will result in failure of the project in question. Plagiarism may also be grounds for failing the course. If at any time, you are unsure about what might constitute plagiarism, just ask. I'll be glad to help you figure out where and when you need to document sources or credit others with ideas you wish to borrow.

Emergency Closure:

Look for announcements on Weber e-mail. Code Purple is a good way to be alerted to campus closures, and you are encouraged to sign up for it