Course Syllabus

HUMN 101

Humanities in Western Culture

Course Description

A survey course which concentrates on the development of Western Culture. It is an integrated study of the visual arts, drama and music, and the discipline of philosophy that permeates all the arts.

Rationale

The study of the humanities is foundational to a liberal arts education. We will be studying what culture is and how values shape the character and direction of a culture. We are all (in part) the products of culture—and so studying culture is one of the ways we can understand ourselves better and our relationship to the world around us. Such studies are especially important to Christians, who are in but not of the world (John 17:14-16), and who are called to be “salt” and “light” within their culture (Matthew 5:13-15).

     I.               Prerequisites

None

  II.               Required Resource Purchase

Babcock, Michael. A. The Story of Western Culture. 2nd ed. Lynchburg, VA: HPS

Publishing, 2011. ISBN 13: 978-0-9857507-0-1

Disclaimer: The above resource provides information consistent with the latest research regarding the subject area. Liberty University does not necessarily endorse specific personal, religious, philosophical, or political positions found in this resource.

III.               Additional Materials for Learning

A.                Computer with basic audio/video output equipment

B.                 Internet access (broadband recommended)

C.                 Microsoft Word (optional)

(Microsoft Office is available at a special discount to Liberty University students.)

IV.               Measurable Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A.                Identify the types of artistic works that make up the western canon.

B.                 Define the key intellectual achievements that have shaped western thought.

C.                 Evaluate the diverse ways a culture expresses its values through what it produces.

D.                Explain how change and conflict in culture result from shifts in worldview.

E.                 Critique cultural values within the framework of a biblical worldview.

  V.               Core Competency Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

A.                Evaluate information to determine if it is supported by the evidence.

B.                 Generate conclusions based on credible research, analysis, and interpretation.

C.                 Apply reading comprehension strategies including interpreting, evaluating, and analyzing written content.

VI.               Course Requirements and Assignments

A.                Textbook readings and lecture presentations. (Comprehension of this material will be assessed through weekly quizzes.)

B.                 Course Requirements Checklist

As the first activity in this course, please read the syllabus and Student Expectations.  After reading the syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will then complete the related checklist found in Module/Week 1.

C.                 Discussion Board forums (8)

You will have eight Discussion Board forums (one per module/week) in this course. In each module/week, your professor will select one topic from three options for you to write on. This selection will be communicated to you in the weekly announcement and e-mail. You will post an initial thread of 250-300 words and you must provide the word count in parentheses at the end of your Discussion board post. Do not upload document files for this assignment, but paste your text directly in the dialogue box for the assignment. Your initial thread is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of the module/week assigned. You will also reply to two of your fellow classmates. Each reply should be 100-150 words in length. Your replies are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the module/week assigned except for Module/Week 8 when replies are due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday. Please see the attached rubric for specific guidelines and grading criteria.

D.                Learning Activity (8)

The student is required to complete one Learning Activity by the end of each module/week. Each learning activity is a one-page assignment (firm 250–300-word limit) in which the student applies what is being learned in a flexible and creative way. No research is necessary for these assignments, unless specifically requested. These activities should be pasted directly into the submission box for the assignment. The student must not upload document files. Each learning activity is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the module/week assigned except Learning Activity 8, which is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.

E.                 Quiz (8)

The student is required to complete a 20-question quiz consisting of multiple-choice and true/false questions over the Reading & Study material at the end of each module/week. Each quiz is open-book/open-notes and time restricted to 30 minutes. Points may be deducted if the time limit is exceeded. None of the quizzes are cumulative; they cover only the material for that specific module/week’s reading assignments. Each quiz is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Monday of the module/week assigned, except for Quiz 8 which is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday of Module/Week 8.

VII.               Course Grading and Policies

A.                Points

B.                 Scale

A = 900–1010      B = 800–899     C = 700–799     D = 600–699     F = 0–599

C.                 Late Assignment Policy

Each assignment should be completed by the end of the module in which it is assigned. Without prior permission from the instructor, no assignments will be accepted late without penalty. All late work will be assessed a deduction of 5% per day of the assignment’s point value. In cases of documented medical emergency, military deployment, or other extenuating circumstances addressed by Liberty University Online policy, the late penalty does not apply.

D.                Disability Assistance

Students with a documented disability may contact Liberty University Online’s Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) at [email protected] to make arrangements for academic accommodations. Further information can be found at www.liberty.edu/disabilitysupport .

       VIII.            Bibliography

Bishop, Philip E. Adventures in the Human Spirit. Prentice-Hall, 2004 (and

subsequent editions).

Clark, Kenneth. Civilisation. Harper & Row, 1969 (and subsequent editions).

Lamm, Robert. Humanities in Western Culture. 10^th ed. McGraw-Hill,

1995 (and subsequent editions).

Schaeffer, Francis. How Should We Then Live? Revell, 1976 (and subsequent

editions).