HIST 4495 U.S. Foreign Policy I
Fulfills the US History requirement for History Majors This course is the first half of a two semester survey of the history of U.S. foreign relations from the Revolutionary War through the present day. Students will examine conflicting interpretations of America's role in the world and trace how that role has changed as the nation grew from thirteen isolated, parochial communities on the Atlantic coast to the greatest military and economic superpower in history. Important topics include the territorial expansion of the American empire, the development of - and debate over - constitutional powers, and the struggle for American markets in Asia and elsewhere.
Course overview
- Department
- History
- School
- MCAS
- Credits
- 3
- Level
- Both
- Offered
- Periodically in the Fall
Catalog details
- Prerequisites
- History core I or II, or equivalent in AP credit
Requirements fulfilled
- History: Free history electives (two courses at the 2000 or 4000 level) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- History: LAMA electives in Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, or Africa (two courses at the 2000 or 4000 level) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- History: U.S. History elective (one course at the 2000 or 4000 level) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
- History: Upper-division history electives (three courses at the 4000 level) (Current University Catalog; students should confirm their catalog year)
Course evaluations
- Course rating
- 4.11 / 5 · Very Good
- Instructor rating
- 4.36 / 5 · Very Good
- Terms evaluated
- 4
| Term | Instructor | Course overall | Instructor overall | Well organized | Clear learning objectives | Intellectually challenging | Helpful assignments | Applicable beyond course | Attendance necessary | Weekly effort | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | Seth Jacobs | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 1–3 hrs/week | 17 of 27 |
| Fall 2023 | Seth Jacobs | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 41 of 47 |
| Fall 2022 | Seth Jacobs | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.0 | — | 35 of 47 |
| Fall 2021 | Seth Jacobs | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 1–3 hrs/week | 33 of 49 |