American Revolution Student Seminar
The Economics Department is hosting a student seminar in Fall 2026 focused on the economic history and ideas leading up to and after the American Revolution. The program is organized and will be moderated by Darwyyn Deyo (Associate Professor of Economics) and Justin Rietz (Associate Professor of Economics).
The seminar is open to current junior, senior, and graduate students from San José State University who can apply for a competitive student fellowship ($200) in the seminar program. The fellowship includes participation in the reading group, a scholarship award, and eligibility to present a student paper on this topic in the annual College of Social Sciences student research competition. Participation in the seminar is extracurricular and not for academic credit. Students need two faculty recommendations in order to apply for the seminar program. Applications are due by May 15, 2026.
The seminar program will be a biweekly program with six meetings of students and faculty. The first two meetings will focus on readings and discussion from the period before the American Revolution (1763 – 1774) and will deal with the economic history around protectionism, immigration, and other economic issues listed in the Declaration of Independence. The middle two meetings will focus on readings and discussion from the period of the American Revolution (1775 – 1783) and will deal with the economic history and policy of the Continental Congress in contrast to pre-Revolutionary economic policy. The last two meetings will focus on readings and discussion from the post-Revolutionary period (1783 – 1787) and will deal with the economic issues arising from the Articles of Confederation and the economic reasons for the transition to the U.S. Constitution.
Students will prepare for each seminar by reading three to four articles or other readings on the topic for that week. Reading groups will follow a seminar discussion setting, beginning with students sharing their thoughts on the readings and responding to a specific prompt before the group opens up to general discussion on the topic. Deyo and Rietz will moderate and guide the discussion.
Seminar Schedule:
- September 3
- September 17
- October 1
- October 15
- October 29
- November 12
Link to flyer
2026 American Revolution Student Seminar Application
