From the time that the first Europeans arrived in America, religion has been an important part of American life. This course examines the various ways in which religion has played a role in American history, with particular emphasis on the role of religion in American politics.

This course will examine military aspects of the war, as well as political developments during it, including the political history of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural. The course also examines the post-war Amendments and the Reconstruction era.

This course examines the development of American political parties, focusing on the meaning of parties and historic moments in the rise and fall of political parties from the Founding era to the present. Topics may include realigning elections, changing coalitions within American parties, and the contemporary Democratic and Republican parties.

This course will examine military aspects of the war, as well as political developments during it, including the political history of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address and the Second Inaugural. The course also examines the post-war Amendments and the Reconstruction era.

This institute explores the primary pictorial forms in American art from the British colonial settlement to the aftermath of the Civil War. The three units—portraiture, history painting, and landscape—will include a particular focus on works drawn from the National Endowment for the Humanities' new initiative "Picturing America." This NEH poster series, which has already been distributed to thousands of schools, captures 40 canonical works of American art that reflect the artistic and cultural history of the United States. Through the institute, participants will come to a deeper understanding of these works in their historical contexts and explore different methods of visual analysis. They will develop strategies and tools to use the "Picturing America" series in their classrooms.

This institute will provide educators the opportunity to engage in serious study and seminar-style discussion of basic issues of political theory and the values and principles of American constitutional democracy.

From the Continuing Education Options website:

"You will explore the history, human influences, science and stewardship of the Mississippi River during a narrated Mississippi River cruise on the Harriet Bishop river boat. You will experience pioneer life at the Oliver H. Kelley farm, a living history site set in the mid 1800's, and you will be exposed to modern farming practices, techniques, and equipment. You will visit the MN Commemorative Air Force Wing (dedicated to the preservation of WWII treasures). You will learn about the history and significance of railroading in MN from the 1930's through the 1950's on guided tours of the Jackson Street Roundhouse. We will explore the MN Landscape Arboretum and the Richardson Nature Center in Bloomington with a naturalist and discover how to utilize this experience in the classroom."