Hillsdale College’s Online Course, “The Great American Story,” Revised for High School Students
Three-week course examines the history of America as a land of hope founded on high principles; more than 10,000 individuals already enrolled
Hillsdale, Mich. — Hillsdale College has made its online course, “The Great American Story: A Land of Hope,” available at a high school level for students as many complete their semester online. The course is taught by award-winning author and historian Wilfred McClay, with an introduction by Hillsdale College president Larry P. Arnn. The 25-lecture course has been organized to present a shorter, three-week variation for high school students and presents a full, unbiased account of America’s past, from its discovery to the present day. The three-week course began on March 23, but students may join at any time.
“Because students across the nation are learning through online forums, the College has prepared this online mini-class and its resources especially for high school students,” said Kyle Murnen, director of online courses at Hillsdale College. “Dr. McClay and Dr. Arnn provide great insight into our nation’s past in a thought-provoking way that we can all benefit from.”
The online course is based on McClay’s recent book, Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story. Each lecture focuses on a particular time in American history, starting with the early settlements of America and ending in the present day. The lectures are divided into daily lessons over three weeks, averaging two lectures per lesson. Each lesson includes a video, recommended readings, discussion questions, and a quiz. At the end of the course, students who score 80 percent or higher on the final quiz will receive a digital completion certificate. An essay contest is open to high school students; final essays are due April 17. More than 10,000 students have already enrolled.
Wilfred McClay is a distinguished teaching fellow at Hillsdale College and serves as the G.T. and Libby Blankenship Chair in the History of Liberty at the University of Oklahoma. He is the author of several books, including Land of Hope: An Invitation to the Great American Story, Why Place Matters: Geography, Identity, and Civic Life in Modern America, A Student’s Guide to U.S. History, and The Masterless: Self and Society in Modern America. McClay earned his B.A. from St. John’s College and his Ph.D. in history from Johns Hopkins University.
For more details and to sign up for the free course, visit https://online.hillsdale.edu/study-group/the-great-american-story.