Frontier Heroes

Bachelor Degree in American Studies

AMR 280

Breyer State University

Instructor: Dale Mueller, EdD, RN

SYLLABUS

COURSE OVERVIEW: American cultural and historical icons and their symbolism in American life will be the focus of this class. Focus will be on what the existence of these icons reflects about American beliefs, ideals, and culture. The life and times of notables such as Davy Crockett, Annie Oakley, Jesse James, Bill Hickok, Andrew Jackson, Sitting Bull and others will be included in this course.

TIME FRAME: This is a six (6) hour course. You have ten weeks to finish all of the class assignments. Your semester will begin when you register for the course, or when you contact me and let me know that you have received the books and are ready to begin.

You must finish all course work within the allotted time frame. Failing to do so may result in no credit for the class. Incompletes and extensions are only appropriate under extenuating circumstances and must be agrees upon by both you and I.

TEXTBOOKS: You are required to purchase a minimum of two books for this course, selected from the list provided. You may purchase alternative texts that have a similar scope of information, but prior approval from me should be obtained prior to selecting alternative texts.

Select two texts from this list

Note that hardcover editions may be substituted for paperback editions, and purchase of used books is also acceptable . Students may choose alternative books instead of two from this list, with the prior approval of the instructor.

Gold dust and Gunsmoke: Tales of Gold Rush Outlaws, Gunfighters, Lawmen and Vigilantes. Boessenecker, J. Wiley (2000) ISBN # 0471390186.

Wyatt Earp: The Life Behind the Legend. Tefertiller, C. Wiley (1999) ISBN # 0471283622.

Deadly Dozen: Twelve Forgotten Gunfighters of the Old West. Dearment, R. University of Oklahoma Press (2003) ISBN # 080613559X.

Winning the Wild West: The Epic Saga of the American Foonteir, 1800-1899. McMurtry, L. & Stegner, P. Free Press (2002) ISBN # 0743232917.

Buffalo Bill's Wild West: Celebrity, Memory, and Popular History. Kasson, J. Hill and Wang (2001) ISBN # 0809032449.

Age of the Gunfighter: Men and Weapons on the Frontier, 1840-1900. Rosa, J. University of Oklahoma Press (1999) ISBN # 0806127619.

The Negro Cowboys. Durham, P. & Jones, E. University of Nebraska Press (1980) ISBN # 0803265603.

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West. Brown, D. Henry Holt & Company (2001) ISBN # 0805066691.

Pioneer Women: The Lives of Women on the Frontier. Peavy, L. & Smith, U. Smithmark Publishers (1996) ISBN # 0831772204.

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ASSIGNMENTS: There are two assignments for this course. Please check the assignment section of the classroom.

EXAMS: Each exam is a book review. They are to be 10 pages. For more details please check the exams section of the classroom.

The Midterm book review is due in Week Five

The Final book review is due in Week Ten

GRADING: The mid-term is worth 50 points, and the final is worth 50 points. There are a total of 100 points possible. The grade breakdown is as follows:

ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR: My name is Dale Mueller, and I hold a doctorate in education from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, USA My area of concentration when I attended the University of California at Los Angeles was history. Much about frontier life in US history has become idealized and it is often difficult to separate fact from lore. It is interesting to take a deeper look at the facts behind the characters and circumstances that have made their way into many popular Hollywood movies, novels, and fictionalized accounts of US history. I hope you will enjoy the journey into the past of the Wild West and will make friendly acquaintances of the colorful characters who made their mark in history in one way or another.

COURSE CONTENT: The life and times covered in the scope of this course include:

1). The westward expansion.
2). Frontier life.
3). Laws and lawlessness.
4). Pioneer fortitude and recollection.
5). Pursuit of the American dream.

INFORMATION: If you have any questions regarding this program, you may contact your instructor at drdale.breyer@earthlink.net

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