Syllabus

Course Number:

HUM 103 JA

Course Name:

Humanities I: Our Cultural Heritage

Semester Date:

Fall 2015, Session I

MW 8:30-11:00am, Fulmer, Rm. 36

Instructor:
Office:

Dr. Mary Wheeling

Arts & Sciences Suite, #6
Fulmer Center Annex
Phone:
302-225-6361
E-mail:
wheeling@gbc.edu
Homepage:
http://www.gbc.edu/faculty/wheeling/index.html
Office Hours:
MW 1:00-3:00; TR 2:00-3:00
______________________________________________________
Textbook:
Matthews, Platt, and Noble, Experience Humanities, Combined 8th ed., NY: McGraw-Hill, 2014.
Course Description:
Humanities I: Our Cultural Heritage (HUM 103) explores the cultural and intellectual roots of
Western society through an integrated study of the humanities. As defined by the course,
humanities encompasses humankind's search for meaning and expression--the journey to know
and understand the world. Students will explore this definition on the historical, philosophical,
literary, and aesthetic levels. HUM 103 covers intellectual and artistic movements
chronologically, from prehistory through the late Middle Ages. 3 credit hours.
Prerequisite:
None.
Course Materials:
The textbook (see above), as well as handouts, Internet resources, and audio-visual materials
presented in class.
Learning Objectives/Goals:
Upon completion of Humanities I: Our Cultural Heritage, students will be able to
1.

Identify and explain major historical, philosophical, religious, literary, and artistic
trends of the Western tradition from prehistory through the late Middle Ages.

2.

Situate foundations of present-day political, economic, social, and cultural institutions

in the period from prehistory through the late Middle Ages, particularly in the Greek
and Roman eras.

3.

Identify origins and growth of the three major monotheistic, Abrahamic religions,
Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

HUM 103 JA: Syllabus

Fall 2015, Session I

Topics Covered:
1. Prehistory and Near Eastern Civilizations
2. Aegean Civilizations
3. Classical Greek Civilization
4. Hellenistic Civilization

5. Classical Rome
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.

Judaism and the Rise of Christianity

Roman Imperial Civilization and the Triumph of Christianity
The Heirs to the Roman Empire: Byzantium and the West in the Early Middle Ages
The World of Islam
The High Middle Ages
The Late Middle Ages

Course Format:
HUM 103 is a combination of lecture, discussion, and individual and group learning activities,
including writing assignments and tests. Students will complete course requirements meant to
foster fulfillment of the Learning Objectives. Much course content will be transmitted face-toface and on paper during class, so it is important to attend every class meeting. Missed
classwork and tests cannot be made up. Consult the HUM 103 Course Schedule for specific
reading and assignment dates.
Policies:
Attendance
If a student misses four 2.5-hour classes, he or she will receive an F for the course. (We will only
meet 14 times this session.)
A few equations you should understand:
1. Missing four 2.5-hour classes = grade of F for HUM 103.
2. Missing 10 (TEN) hours in any combination = F for HUM 103.

Tardiness and leaving class early (partial absences) will accrue toward total absences.
ALL absences count toward four-class absence rule (even athletic and medical) and will
be marked Unexcused on the Campus Web attendance roster for efficiencys sake. I
understand that all students have unavoidable absences from time to time.

Important Note on Scheduled Absences

If you know in advance that you must miss classes for athletic events, a business trip, or a
scheduled medical procedure, for example, please notify me in writing as soon as you have the
details. If you know you will have to miss an important assignments due date, it is your
responsibility to get your work in or take your test BEFORE the absence occurs, unless you are
choosing to drop that assignment or test.
GBC athletes who have games that will take them out of class during the semester must present
the professor with a game schedule, showing what days and times the student will need to miss.
A missed test for an athletic absence can either be dropped or scheduled and taken before the
absence occurs.
Created August 18, 2015

HUM 103 JA: Syllabus

Fall 2015, Session I

Missed Activities, Assignments, Journals, and Tests

Missed in-class activities, journals, and tests cannot be made up. For this reason, I allow
everyone to DROP the lowest score of each category. As stated earlier, if you know in advance
you will be absent for an important requirement, you must hand in the work EARLY, or schedule
and take the test EARLY.
Classroom Courtesy
We have to work together in a large group this session. Please show respectful behavior toward
your professor and fellow students by
Keeping your electronic devices turned to silent and out of sight during class instruction,
Arriving on time to class and after break,
Staying until class is dismissed,
Not talking to others during class unless part of the assigned activity.
Academic Honesty
All courses taught at Goldey-Beacom College are governed by the GBC Academic Honor Code. A
full description of the honor code and related procedures is available on the web at
http://www.gbc.edu/advisement/honorcode.html. Remember that ignorance of the proper use
of sources is no excuse for a violation. Any alleged academic dishonesty in this class will be
addressed according to official procedures. It is the professors prerogative to determine the
appropriate penalty for academic offenses. Penalties for violations of the honor code in my class
can range from a zero on the work in question to an F for the entire course.
I require that all work submitted be produced originally for this course. Recycling your old
assignments or simultaneously submitting something for HUM 103 and another class defeats
the purpose of our classs unique learning process and gives you an unfair academic advantage.
Semester Grade:
Grade Weights of Assignments
Assignment Type

Value of Type

2/3 Tests (lowest dropped)

Poss. Pts.
per
Assignment
100 pts. each

200 pts. total

Percentage
Weight
of Final Grade
33.33%

4/5 Journal Entries (lowest dropped)

25 pts. each

100 pts. total

33.33%

4/5 In-class Activities (lowest

dropped)

25 pts. each

100 pts. total

33.33%

400 pts. Total

100%

Homework and tests

In-class Activities
Students will take part in frequent in-class activities, five of which will be graded at a possible 25
points each. Students should be prepared for such activities at every class meeting. In-class
assignments missed due to absence or tardiness cannot be made up. The lowest of the 5 activity
scores will be dropped. These activities will count for a possible total of 100 points, serving as
33.33% of the total HUM 103 grade.
Created August 18, 2015

HUM 103 JA: Syllabus

Fall 2015, Session I

Humanities Journals
For HUM 103, you will complete five in-class journal entries, including a Final Reflection. The
Humanities Journal assignments are meant to help you synthesize the course material, relate it
to your life, and reflect on some of humankinds Big Questions. Journal entries missed due to
absence or tardiness cannot be made up. The lowest of the 5 journal scores will be dropped. For
each of the five entries, you will receive a score out of 25 points, based on your fulfillment of the
rubric criteria. The overall journal score will be a possible 100 points, 33.33% of the total HUM
103 grade.
Tests
Students will take 3 tests throughout the term, the highest 2 scores of which will create the Test
average. Tests assess understanding of the readings, lectures, handouts, and discussion content
through multiple choice questions; they also allow students the opportunity to demonstrate
higher-level thinking through essay questions. Multiple choice questions mainly focus on the
material after the last test; however, because learning is cumulative, the essay questions will
require students to draw on information from the beginning of the course on. Tests missed due
to absence or tardiness cannot be made up. Each test is worth a possible 100 points, and the
average of the two highest test scores count for 33.33% of the total HUM 103 grade.
Grading
I follow GBCs undergraduate grading scale for issuing final letter grades
(http://www.gbc.edu/academic/policies-u.html):
A+
97-100
C+
77-79
A
94-96
C
74-76
A90-93
C70-73
B+
87-89
D
65-69
B
84-86
F
64 and below
B80-83
Getting Help:
You are encouraged to email or see me in person with any questions about the course.
If you have a physical, learning, or other disability that might hinder your access to or
performance in the class, please let me know so we can arrange appropriate accommodations.
At the Academic Resource Center (ARC), you can schedule tutoring, reviews, or proctored tests.
Find ARC Quick Facts and Services (location, hours, appointment procedure, etc.) on this
page: http://www.gbc.edu/arc/index.html. Phone the ARC at 302-225-6245.
Academic Honor Code: http://www.gbc.edu/advisement/honorcode.html.

Created August 18, 2015