Repository logo
 

The American government and higher education: an analysis of the Morrill Act, GI Bill and political speeches of President Barack Obama

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorWhisman, Summer J., author
dc.contributor.authorKiefer, Kathleen, advisor
dc.contributor.authorSloane, Sarah, committee member
dc.contributor.authorBanning, James, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2007-01-03T05:16:33Z
dc.date.available2007-01-03T05:16:33Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractThis thesis examines the dominant discourse that perpetuates ideologies and behavior regarding higher education among Americans. The act of going to college has become a mandatory act in which students pursuing higher education seldom ask why they are going to college. I believe legislation such as the Morrill Act of 1862 and the GI Bill of 1944 have guaranteed that the union between the government and higher education will continue to influence political rhetoric and perpetuate the dominant discourse of higher education. This thesis explores the political rhetoric surrounding these acts and two of President Obama's speeches he addressed during his campaign for presidency and during his administration. The purpose of this analysis is to explore the historical contexts of these acts and current political speeches. Based on my analysis and research of these historic texts and speeches, I conclude that the American government's involvement in higher education has fostered a dominant discourse that has created an ideology that a college degree is defined more as a commodity or symbol of human capital, rather than a sign of intellectual accomplishment.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierWhisman_colostate_0053N_10371.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10217/47423
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2000-2019
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjecthigher education
dc.subjectGI Bill
dc.subjectideologies
dc.subjectMorrill Act
dc.subjectrhetoric
dc.titleThe American government and higher education: an analysis of the Morrill Act, GI Bill and political speeches of President Barack Obama
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineEnglish
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Arts (M.A.)

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Whisman_colostate_0053N_10371.pdf
Size:
505.92 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Download

Collections

2000-2019
Theses and Dissertations