HI 130: Are We There Yet? The Great American Road Trip

Explore U.S. history, culture, and identity through one of America’s most iconic ideas: the open road. This year, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the nation's first paved cross-country highway running from Chicago to Los Angeles. In this First-Year Seminar, we'll take a deep dive into the history of Route 66 and the great American road trip as a way to ask big questions about freedom, opportunity, and belonging. You’ll analyze memoirs, maps, music, photographs, films, and archival sources to see how travel has shaped American life, and who has been included, or excluded, along the way. The course emphasizes discussion, creativity, and hands-on learning, while helping you build essential college skills such as research, writing, and collaboration. For your final project, you'll plan your own trip to a place or around a theme you care about. This course is perfect for anyone in any major, including history, education, business, communication, health sciences, environmental studies, and STEM. Buckle up and get ready to ask big questions, tell meaningful stories, and hit the open road.