U.S. Government or History

Higher education in a free society is also the education of citizens. Colleges and universities must ensure that students have a working knowledge of the history and governing institutions of their country. An understanding of American history and government is indispensable for the formation of responsible citizens and for the preservation of free institutions.

What Will They Learn?TM gives schools credit for U.S. Government or History if they require a survey course in either U.S. government or history with enough chronological and topical breadth to expose students to the sweep of American history and institutions. Narrow, niche courses do not count for the requirement, nor do courses that only focus on a limited chronological period or a specific state or region. State- or university-administered, and/or state-mandated, exams are accepted for credit on a case-by-case basis dependent upon the rigor required.

What's on This Website?

What Will They Learn?TM provides unique information on whether colleges make sure their students learn the things they need to know. You can find what they expect their graduates to study outside their majors, how much they are charging, how many of their students graduate, and what the colleges say about the education they offer. You can find out which ones follow the best practice of using a standardized assessment to measure student learning gains in core collegiate skills. There are more than 1,000 institutions currently covered, and we'll be updating continuously.

What Will They Learn?™ is a project of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni (ACTA). © ACTA 1995-2013. All Rights Reserved. Donate | Terms & Conditions