OSHR 1100 - 20th Century American Historical Perspectives on Current Issues: 1945 and Beyond

Noncredit

Delivery/Location: Fort Collins

This course is offered through the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Colorado State University.

Note: Part one of this course was a Spring 2007 OLLI offering. It surveyed the period from 1890-1945 but is not a prerequisite for this continuation. The instructor will provide some opportunity to new members to review the major issues and themes covered in the previous course. Information will be mailed prior to the class regarding this review process.

This course will provide a survey of American History from 1945 to the present with a focus on gaining historical insight into today's social, political, economic, cultural, and international challenges. Participants will draw on the recent past to better understand today's issues and, hopefully, shape a more favorable future for us all.

Topics will include:

  • What is History and How Can it be Helpful?,
  • Foreign Policy and America’s Role in the World in the Age
  • The Immigration Debate in Perspective
  • Characteristics of Great Leadership and the Modern Presidency,
  • Religion in American Politics,
  • Cultural Clashes/Culture Wars,
  • Modern Political Parties (beliefs, goals, and philosophical underpinnings),
  • Free Enterprise vs. the Welfare State,
  • The American Education System: Promises and Problems.

Noncredit courses do not produce academic credit nor appear on a Colorado State University academic transcript.

Instructors

Tom Michoski
Tom.Michoski@comcast.net

Tom Michoski received his B.A. in history and sociology from Adams State College and an M.A. in American History from Colorado State University. He has a passion for the study of history and has done graduate study in international affairs. (European, Middle Eastern, and Chinese history). His extensive experience includes 31 years at Rocky Mountain High School where he taught primarily Advanced Placement U.S. History and Advanced Placement Modern European History for college credit as well as Modern Social Problems classes. Mr. Michoski earned a reputation for being an outstanding faculty member, not only by his students, but also by their parents! He focuses on key concepts, big ideas, themes, insightful generalizations, and debatable theories aimed at sparking dialogue and understanding. His OLLI students keep asking for more. This is the third course Tom has taught for OLLI, each on a different topic.