3 credits
Fall 2025 Lecture Upper Division
This course explores how Americans have understood insanity and asylums. We analyze historical concepts of insanity, the evolution of asylums, how psychiatrists have debated therapeutics, and how ordinary people have experienced treatments and diagnoses.
Learning Outcomes1Gain knowledge of some of the major debates in the history of insanity.
2Be able to identify a research question, conduct primary source research, and form a thesis.
3Use a variety of databases to assemble a range of primary sources.
4Learn to interrogate and compare primary sources for viewpoint and implicit value system.
5Gain knowledge of some of the major theoretical approaches and frameworks used for studying the history of insanity.
6Be able to discuss ideas and research in formal writing and in seminar discussion.
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