The New AP World History Course: How Will It Compare with College World History Courses?

Abstract

Interest in world history has fluctuated during the twentieth century, being particularly strong during periods of intense United States involvement in international affairs. It is not surprising, therefore, that during three such periods in the last half century-in the 1940s and 1960s and again in the 1980s-attempts were made to establish the world history course as a standard course in American universities and colleges. Each time conferences were held, teachers were encouraged to retool to teach the subject, and textbooks' and articles and books2 extolling the virtues of world history courses were published. Success did not come easily, however. Indeed, in the early 1950s and 1960s interest in world history courses quickly waned after an initial burst of enthusiasm, leaving publishers with unsold books and the Western civilization course unchallenged as the principal vehicle for exposing United States undergraduates to non-American history. The third time,