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HIS-20145 - Module Specification
School of Humanities
Faculty of Business, Law, Humanities & Social Sciences

For academic year: 2026/27 Last Updated: 17 March 2026

HIS-20145 - Race, The Environment and Struggles for Justice in American History
Coordinator: David Ballantyne Tel: +44 1782 7 34409
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733147

Programme/Approved Electives for 2026/27

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2026/27

The United States has a powerful mythology of abundance and independent landownership. But throughout its history, clashes over land use, dispossession, and environmental degradation have undermined access to this dream for many. This module explores clashes over African American and Native American rights, land use, and environmentalism. In this module, you will continue to hone both public-facing and academic writing and communication skills.

Aims
This module seeks to engage students in critical discussions relating to race, the environment; and struggles over race, land use, and environmental justice in the history of United States. In doing so, it also seeks to develop students' public-facing and academic writing and communication skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe and analyse key developments in struggles for justice relating to race and/or the environment in the United States; and engage with differing interpretations of events during this period: 1,2
discuss and interpret sources, and present findings in appropriate oral and/or written form: 1,2
evaluate evidence critically, argue logically, and challenge taken-for-granted assumptions: 1,2
apply critical understanding of historical processes through the analysis of a range of primary and secondary sources relating to struggles relating race and/or the environment in the United States: 1,2

Study hours

12 x 1-hour lectures
12 x 1-hour seminars
11 x 4 hours of preparation for seminars
29 hours of preparation for Group Vlog/Podcast Assessment
55 hours of preparation for Individual Assignment

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Group Assessment weighted 35%
Group Vlog/Podcast
A Group Vlog or Podcast relating one major module focus to a non-academic audience. There is an expected contribution of 5 minutes per student in the group. Students may choose either to focus their Vlog on one of the weekly topics covered or, by prior agreement with the module tutor, a broader theme that encompasses issues addressed in multiple weeks.

2: Assignment weighted 65%
Individual Project
A 2000-word individual project. This will either be a 2000-word essay from a choice of options, or a public-facing project with a methodological reflection. Students will have the opportunity to design their own question or project in consultation with their module tutor.

The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 17 March 2026