Santorum Claims (Falsely) That California Universities Don't Teach American History

Rick Santorum has returned to the issue of higher education. Appearing in Wisconsin Monday, he charged that "seven or eight of the California system of universities don't even teach an American history course. It's not even available to be taught." (Think Progress, a liberal organization, noted the statement, and also posted video of it.) One problem with Santorum's claim is that it's not true. The only University of California campus without American history is the system's medical and health professions campus. In fact, the University of California requires undergraduates to study American history. There is also no shortage of history courses (although some sections appear to be at capacity) at California State University campuses. At California State University at Chico, for example, this semester alone one can find courses being taught in United States history (several sections plus honors sections), America in the 1960s, post-1877 American history, the American Indian, Mexican heritage in the United States, the history of California, America's Vietnam experience, and the history of U.S. foreign policy. Other Cal State campuses appear to have similar offerings.