Welcome to History 7b!
I’ve created this website to serve as a companion to my course podcasts, available on iTunes. Many of you listeners have written to ask about the course and my background so I hope that this website will answer some of your questions. Happy listening!
About me:
I received my undergraduate degree in American history from Harvard University, and my Ph.D. in History from the University of California, Berkeley. My current academic interests focus on the history of American conservatism, and right now I’m writing a book about the libertarian philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand. You can find copies of my articles and CV through the links above.
During the academic year 2007-2008 I will be a Campbell National Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. In the fall of 2008, I will join the faculty at the University of Virginia as Assistant Professor of History.
About History 7b:
History 7b, Introduction to the History of the United States, 1865-2005, is the basic introductory class for 20th century American history at UC Berkeley. With an enrollment that usually tops 500 students, it is the history department’s largest class and one of the largest classes at the university. History 7b is a pre-requisite for several different majors, including history, political science, and mass communications. It also fulfills the university’s American Cultures requirement. As such, the course is geared to non-majors and assumes little prior knowledge of American history. For this reason, I keep the lectures basic and also try to cover a little bit of everything over the 40-odd sessions. As I tell my students, view this class as a survey and overview, rather than the last word! My hope is that a topic I cover briefly will capture your interest, inspiring you to more in-depth learning and understanding.
Why podcasting?
Many of you have written to ask why Berkeley makes these podcasts available for free. Although web and podcasting originally started as a way to enhance the learning experience of Berkeley students, the university believes that podcasting is a natural fit with its public-service mission. Under the provisions of the 1960 California Plan for Higher Education, Berkeley, its sister UCs, the Cal State system, and California’s community colleges are charged with the task of making some form of higher education available to everyone, regardless of their economic means. Public education comes in for a lot of justifiable criticism these days, but let’s remember the success stories too!
Future projects:
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What Listeners Are Saying
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"You truly have a way of making history come alive."
- Paul A.
"I am listening to these wonderful lectures just for fun. I didn't have much interest in history when I last took history courses (middle school and high school), and it's just terrific to be able to download these onto my iPod. I think Dr. Burns is a great teacher and she has inspired me to do some further reading on the subject."
- Dan H.
"I wanted to thank you for the ability to listen in on your course. I know I will never get to go to college but thanks to your pod cast, I feel like I have the next best thing."
- Wanda Z.
"As I listened to your lectures, I became more and more enchanted with your delivery and stories and found them addictive. Thank you for making American history so interesting!"
- Janet B.