Course Description

This course is a basic introduction to Humanities that focuses on central concepts, historical developments, and the fundamental nature of philosophy, architecture, music, religion, and art. Concepts from these disciplines will be integrated with contemporary American culture. The course will focus on the following Western cultural periods: Classical Greece, Republican and Imperial Rome, Renaissance, Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment, Romantic Period, and Early Modern Period. There is no prerequisite for this course. It is not a Gordon Rule writing course and therefore will not satisfy the Gordon Rule requirements of the State Board of Education, Rule 6A-10.30.

Learning Outcomes

As a result of taking this course, students will be able to:

• Articulate connections between humanities and life
• Interpret a work of art, literature, philosophy, or religion
• Show sensitivity towards different cultural perspectives

Credit Hours: 3

Teaching Philosophy

My Humanities class requires mutual respect and empathy for all people of this multicultural world. I respect people and their contributions through the lens of ethnicities, racial, cultural, and sexual orientations. The recognition of diversity as an integral and undeniable definition of humanity leads to understanding the stories and principles of our growth toward reaching social and institutional equity. My goal in Humanities is to learn, teach and value the contributions of people from different backgrounds, religions, and cultures in addition to our own contemporary western concentration. I hope to contribute to student understanding that the philosophical principles of humanity are not through a single history, a single civilization or even a single popular belief.

Online Course Environment

An Online course is a class in which all the content is delivered online at Valencia using the college-approved course management system.  Online courses can provide opportunities for students to access their class material from anywhere; however, the student must take responsibility for their own learning. In any education program, the capacity for self-directed learning is crucial. While instructors and fellow students can provide some support, the student is expected to provide the internal motivation to manage their own learning during the course of study and have a basic grasp of Internet navigation skills and word processing skills. Canvas is used to deliver all assignments and exams in this course and the student is responsible to learn to use this delivery system. Students should visit the course at least every 48 hours to remain up-to-date on communications from the instructor and fellow students.

Instructor Contact Information

Email: Students may contact the instructor either through Canvas messages or through my Valencia email address:  sgreen34@valenciacollege.edu. When using Valencia email, please remember to put your name and the name of the course ("HUM 1020 Mon 8:30am ") in the subject line of your email.

Please note: When you send me an email, please do not expect a reply instantaneously but I will monitor email every day. (If you send me an email over the weekend, you will not get a response right away, so plan ahead!)

Humanities Dept. Phone #: (407) 582-2036 or 582-2341 leave message

College Main Phone #: (407) 299-5000

Required Text

The following text is required and must be purchased by each student for successful completion of the course:

Landmarks in Humanities by Gloria Fiero, 5th edition (Valencia custom edition)

Basis of Evaluation/Your Grade

Students will be evaluated on the basis of:

Class Grade Specifics:

15% Discussions

50% Exams

35% In class Assignments 

=100% possible

Grade distribution will be as follows:

Points Earned Final Grade

90-100 %  A

80-89% B

70-79% C

60-69% D

less than 60% F

Grade Determination:

Exams 

There are four exams.  The format of each exam will include multiple choice questions and an original written paragraph. The Online Class Modules tested are not available on the day of the exam. There is not a cumulative final exam.  

Interrupted Exams or Assignments 

Occasionally it happens that your server, computer, or Canvas has an error while you are taking a quiz or an exam, and you need to have the exam or quiz reset. If that happens, you can contact me to help you if I am able to—only if the deadline has not passed. Please be aware of and take into account my office hours. If you email me at 11:55 pm when your quiz is due by 11:59 pm that same day, you should not expect a response from me before the deadline. By the following morning, when I read your email, the deadline will have passed and you will not be eligible to retake or take the quiz you missed. Please plan accordingly.

Assignments 

Worksheets based on class related readings posted in Canvas. Generally, multiple choice questions with some short answers based on the reading.  The readings correlate directly with what we study in class and hopefully expand your understanding of the particular culture.

Discussions

Students will post to a Discussion Board using class material.  Here you interact with each other in an online environment engaging in the course content and sharing points of view on the assigned topic. 

Attendance Policy

The College recognizes the correlation between attendance and both student retention and achievement. Per College Policy 6Hx28:4-07 Students are expected to attend all classes, actively participate and complete all assigned course work for all courses for which they are registered. For online classes, attendance is determined by consistently logging in and accessing the course content and completing courses in accordance with the syllabus. Simply logging in to an online class does NOT count as attendance. Students must engage in an academically-related activity every week of class.  

If you are unable to participate in the course due to illness, family emergency, etc., please communicate with me as soon as possible in order to create a plan to complete any missed assignments so that your learning can progress in your course. In the case of a prolonged online absence, please communicate with me as soon as possible in order to create a plan for the best course of action

If you are an international studentLinks to an external site., or a student on financial aidLinks to an external site., it is your responsibility to know how a "W" will affect your status.

Student Withdrawal Policy / Withdrawal Deadline

Oct 28, 2028 at 11:59 pm is the deadline for withdrawing from a class for the Fall 2022 term. If you withdraw from a course prior to this date, you will automatically receive a “W,” regardless of the grade you were earning at the time. 

Food/Housing Insecurity

Any student who has difficulty accessing sufficient food to eat, or who lacks
a safe and stable place to live, and believes this may affect his or her performance in the course, is urged to meet with a Counselor in the Advising Center for information about resources that may be available from the college or community.

Emergencies related to Covid-19 Pandemic

If you are unable to participate in the course due to
illness, family emergency, etc., please communicate with me as soon as possible in order to create a plan to complete any missed assignments so that your learning can progress in your course. In the case of a prolonged online absence, please communicate with me as soon as possible in order to create a plan for the best course of action.

Disability Accommodations

Students with disabilities who qualify for academic accommodations must provide a notification from the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) and discuss specific needs with the instructor, preferably during the first two weeks of class. The OSD determines accommodations based on appropriate documentation of disabilities. The East Campus Office is located in Building 5, Room 216.

Valencia Photo ID

Every student must have a new Valencia photo ID in order to check out library books or to use any of the facilities in the library such as the Testing Center. You can get a new ID card in the Security Office on the second floor of building 5 on East Campus.

Academic Honesty

Valencia Policy on Academic Dishonesty: 6Hx28:10-16
All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia College. Academic dishonesty
includes, but is not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery,
alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a testing situation, and misuse of
identification with intent to defraud or deceive.
All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the students' individual thoughts,
research, and self-expression. Whenever a student uses ideas, wording, or organization from
another source, the source shall be appropriately acknowledged.
Students shall take special notice that the assignment of course grades is the responsibility of
the students' individual professor. When the professor has reason to believe that an act of
academic dishonesty has occurred, and before sanctions are imposed, the student shall be given
informal notice and an opportunity to be heard by the professor. Any student determined by the
professor to have been guilty of engaging in an act of academic dishonesty shall be liable to a
range of academic penalties as determined by the professor which may include, but not be
limited to, one or more of the following: loss of credit for an assignment, examination, or
project; a reduction in the course grade; or a grade of "F" in the course. At the option of the
professor, the campus provost may be furnished with written notification of the occurrence and
the action taken. If such written notice is given, a copy shall be provided to the student.
Students guilty of engaging in a gross or flagrant act of academic dishonesty or repeated
instances of academic dishonesty shall also be subject to administrative and/or disciplinary
penalties which may include warning, probation, suspension and/or expulsion from the College.

Valencia Student Code of Conduct: 6Hx28:10-03

Classroom Behavior:

Valencia College is dedicated to promoting honorable personal and social conduct. By enrolling
at Valencia, a student assumes the responsibility for knowing and abiding by the rules
articulated in the Student Code of Conduct (6Hx28:10-03). The instructor reserves the right to
refer students who engage in activities that are disruptive to the learning environment to the
Dean of Students for disciplinary action. The following list, though not exhaustive, includes
things which are disruptive to the learning environment:
Use of any electronic devices including but not restricted to: Cell phones, iPods, and laptop
computers (documentation from OSD will be taken into consideration); Preparing homework for
other courses during class; Engaging in private conversations with classmates while class is in
session; Excessive tardiness; Leaving and re-entering the classroom while the class is in session.
In addition, Valencia College strives to provide a drug-free learning environment for all those
involved in the academic experience. Our policy is as follows:
In compliance with the provisions of the Federal Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989,
Valencia College will take such steps as are necessary in order to adopt and implement a program to prevent the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of illicit drugs and alcohol by Valencia College students or employees on college premises or as part of any college activity.