Contact Hour Total:48 A survey of United States history that begins with the migrations of people to the western hemisphere and continues through the Civil War and Reconstruction period. The course focuses on the periods of discovery, colonization, revolution, and nation building. Material presented covers a wide variety of topics encompassing social, cultural, intellectual, military and political history. 48 contact hours. Credit: Three semester hours. Prerequisite(s): Student must be college reading ready according to Texas Success Initiatives Standards (TSI). Please see the Catalog section under Texas Success Initiative. Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Lower Division Academic Course Guide Manual (ACGM) course