Santorum claims that "7 or 8" U of California campuses don't teach American history
 

...From a PolitiFact article:

On the stump in Wisconsin on April 2, 2012, the Republican presidential candidate filled in his audience on something he was "just reading … last night."

"I think it’s seven or eight of the California system of universities don’t even teach an American history course. It’s not even available to be taught," he said. "Just to tell you how bad it's gotten in this country, where we're trying to disconnect the American people from the roots of who we are, so they have an understanding of what America should be."

Um, wrong. The only UC campus that doesn't offer an American history course is UC-San Francisco, which is a medical school.

I mean... UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine are all in the top 50 university rankings according to US News and World Reports. Seems weird that they wouldn't offer a single American history course to the over 139,000 undergraduate students who attend those campuses, ESPECIALY when all of those campuses offer a history major.

The rest of the article is at PolitiFact:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-me...ot-available-/

The video of Santorum's speech can be seen here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/0...ml?ref=college

The blatant ignorance is frightening.

I wonder what it was that he was "just reading" that gave him that impression. The Onion? .Someone pulling facts out of their butt? Or maybe it specified a TYPE of Am History (Women's American History or African American History) and he didn't read that part....

Or perhaps they don't have a course titled simply "American History."

I think he must have been reading conspiracy theories.

My guess is wishful thinking on Santorum's part. I guess it's just easier for him to mentally write off California as Communistfornia.

true. last month he was touting how the elderly in the Netherlands fear going to hospitals because approximately 10 percent of them are "euthanized" annually. completely unsubstianted. :rolleyes:

Ok, so I actually read the article and they think he was using a WSJ piece that said it wasn't required at the collegiate level at several of the campuses. I don't think I had a history requirement at WIU, but it could have been waived due to taking honors history classes in high school and I didn't realize it.

Oh I saw that one, just makes him look like a tool.

I didn't have to have an American History class in college. It wasn't required for my major. I did have to have a history class. I took English History: Pre-Roman through 1649.

I, apparently unlike the presidential candidate, know the difference between a course not being required and a course not being available.

Well, this is a guy who said he lived in a place that I would be surprised if he ever actually walked through the door so there you go.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_274635.html

You said it much more tactfully than I would have!

That's a first. I'm not generally known for my tact, but thanks!

I had to take a Western Civ and a Non-Western Civ. The former was fulfilled by a good score on the AP US History exam; the latter by studying in Japan. I always assumed that most universities have the same sort of requirements for people not majoring in the humanities.

What a dumbass.

I don't think we had a "general" American history course because, Hi AP/Honors American History in 11th grade! I took several very specific courses (America's Involvement in Vietnam, 1954-1975 is an example), but felt no need to repeat any part of high school.

I guess because it's California and "it's crazy out there!" (I just got back and it's no crazier than NYC, but I guess neither of those places are the real America.)

I graduated from one of the crazy UC schools and why would the university waste their time repeating a course that was required for you to take in HS? I just looked up our list of history courses and no, we don't offer the plain version of American History but there other course that build upon you already having taken that in HS. (American Ethnic History, Native American History, The Formation of American Society, Problems in History: United States)

^^^^ I guess he was right then?

That was only one UC and I can't speak for the others.

How are American Ethnic History and Native American History not American History?

I'm not sure why a college would offer a general version of American History, since it's a requirement for virtually every college-bound HS student. It's not like Art History where it's the first time a lot of students are being introduced to the field...

I went to UCSB. There's a lengthy list of courses that come up when I type in "American History".

See for yourself: http://my.sa.ucsb.edu/Catalog/Curren...chResults.aspx

And IIRC the History department at UCSB is well-respected. But I agree with Mevara - why would UCSB offer a basic, intro to AmHist course that was a requirement in HS?

Gotcha.

They are but not in the literal sense that he was probably talking about. My school offers History of Michigan and History of Detroit which technically falls under the umbrella of American History yet I'm sure Rick wouldn't think it would be a proper alternative to taking a general American History course.

My school offered it :o
http://classschedule.wayne.edu/courses_new.cfm?Subj=HIS

(Hope you know I'm not attacking you for Santorum's statements lol)

Like others have said, my state requires US History (which is the "American" History I'm sure he's referring to) in order to graduate, so college students will be familiar with the basics. It's counterproductive to have an entire course dedicated to going over basics that everyone should already know.

If he's upset about this, why not get mad that there isn't an Arithmetic 101 available? Where does it stop?

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/graduation.aspx

From the UC Davis History department course catalogue:

and more!

Berkeley from Fall 2011
and more!

UCLA Winter Quarter Courses
and more!

UC Irvine
and a ton more (seems like they might even have a division in the department about American History.

UC Merced
and you guessed it: MORE!

UC Riverside Winter Courses
+ More

UCSD Winter Term
and so much more.

UCSB
UCSC
There are too many to choose from.

Santorum, you failed. It's 9 teach American history.

hearted.

Wait, isn't it 8 out of 8?

Yeah double posting.

I'm a history major (for my second degree). We have to take American history classes in addition to Non-Western and European history classes. I know I took history classes at my undergrad colleges. I don't remember if they were an actual requirement or just a way to fill my humanities/social sciences requirements.

I'm sorry the quote from Santorum was "7 or 8 don't even teach US history." So it should be 9 out of 10 or something similar to it. My bad.

I have to disagree with you at the bolded. Since college courses are more comprehensive then high school courses, I don't find it to be counterproductive. Should colleges not offer Political Science or Speech or Algebra courses since most high school seniors have to take these classes in order to graduate?

Since colleges are more comprehensive THAN (fixed that for you) high school courses, wouldn't it also follow that they would also be more in depth (as in focused on a smaller period of time or specific issue) than a general survey course?

^^ That was my point. Thanks, amIblue.

I don't need a college course to tell me who the presidents were, but I may be interested in a course telling me about the impact of JFK's decisions during the Cuban Missle Crisis.

I can tell you I never took Speech/Poli Sci in HS it wasn't a requirement. At least in California there are certain classes that are required to get into a UC and those are not on the list. I also can't see plain Algebra being offered as it is assumed you already have taken it in HS. (It is a requirement to take 3 years of math in HS)

ETA: At UC Irvine Pre-Calc is the "lowest" level math they offer.

Totally agree with this which is why I don't think they offer plain "American History" and have specialized courses that go over specific time/issue.

At my HS Poli Sci was a required course for all seniors. It wasn't your intention but you just sort of proved my point for me.

To say that universities shouldn't offer a certain course because all students should already be fluent in that area of study is short sighted. Shall we also do away with placement testing as well since all students start college with the same educational background and skills?

Lets just divorce Rick Santorum from this topic because I think some of y'alls dislike of him is swaying your opinion here. Trust me, I am not a fan of him myself.

I'm not sure about UofM but all of the other state universities in MI offer Algebra and Trig. Is that a bad thing?

Umm....That is plain "American History". It's usually broken into 50-100 year timespans (American His 1877-1945, 1945-Present) but it's still "plain" American History.

Are you under the impression that I'm speaking of a one semester, 9th grade level class that covers American History from Columbus to 9/11?

This makes me think of this scene from Good Will Hunting.

In this scene the role of Rick Santorum will be played by Ben Affleck; the role of Mitt Romney will be played by Douchebaggy Blonde; and the role of Barack Obama will be played by Matt Damon.

That asshat gives other Catholic Republicans a bad name.

Santorum can suck it.

I don't get it. Obama will defend Santorum form Romney? :confused: