COURSE

SYLLABU
S

WLDC 202: WORLD CULTURES II

SYLLABUS SPRING 2015
COURSE INFORMATION
PREREQUISITE

CREDITS
DAYS AND
TIMES

Section E: UTR 3-3:50 p.m.

Section F: UTR 4-4:50 p.m.

LOCATION

WLDC 201
C-409

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
NAME

Dr. Perri
Giovannucci

E-MAIL

OFFICE

C-427

OFFICE
HOURS

pgiovannucci@aud.
edu

PHONE

04/3183471

TBA

DESCRIPTION
A study of the development of the culture, ideas, and values of the early
modern world to the present. Emphasis is on the Protestant Reformation, initial
contacts between Europe and other cultures, the rise of secularism, the
Enlightenment, the American and French Revolutions, the Industrial Revolution;
Renaissance, Baroque, Romantic, and Modern styles in art, music and literature.
Students are exposed to the creative process by reading from primary works of
literature and philosophy and critically reviewing works of art, music, theater
and dance, both in and out of class.

LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course students will be able to:
1. Identify, orally and in writing, specific characteristics of some of the
cultures which had major impacts in the world from 1300 to the present
2. Analyze the influences of geographical, social, and historical factors on
the various continents (Europe, the New World)
3. Identify, orally and in writing, specific characteristics of the major
intellectual and cultural movements in religion, science, philosophy,
literature and art of the modern world from 1300 through the 20th century
4. Describe, analyze and interpret the on-going attempts of both secular
philosophy and religion to provide meaning for the human experience,
and trace their cultural significance/contributions throughout the time
period covered
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5. Trace how the answer to the search for meaning has changed and
developed during the time period studied

TEXTBOOKS
1.

2.
3.

AND

ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Janetta Benton and Robert DiYanni, Arts and Culture: An Introduction to the
Humanities, Prentice Hall, 2012 (to be purchased at the AUD bookstore).
Additional Readings. Posted on Blackboard, under Content Area, occasionally as
needed.
A supply of A4 lined paper for class work
Access to a computer and printer
Portable storage devices on which to store writing assignments

TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Lectures, class discussions, small group work, appropriate viewings of videos
and films, music, field trips and/or guest speakers

STUDENT EVALUATION PLAN

Students will be evaluated based on the following components.
Short Paper #1
10%
Short Paper #2
10%
Oral presentation
5%
Midterm Exam I
25%
Midterm Exam 2
25%
Final Examination
25%

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Examinations:
Exams will be given during regular class periods and will cover material from the
lecture and textbook. If a student has a legitimate excuse for missing an exam,
he/she must notify the instructor in advance. The final will be given during
exam week.
Homework:
Homework, classwork, short papers, etc., may be assigned periodically, and
must be handed in at the beginning of the lecture period. Late assignments
will not be accepted. All work must be neatly written or typed and logically
organized.
Short Paper 1 & 2
Students will be required to write a short paper on a topic related to some
aspect of the course material. It could be based on the readings or the class
discussion. The instructor will provide the criteria and emphasis for evaluating
the papers at the beginning of the semester, but can present the topic for the
assignment whenever it is appropriate.
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GRADING SCALE
LETTER
CODE

PERCENTAG
E

LETTER
CODE

PERCENTAG
E

90-100

70-73

AB+
B
BC+

8789
84-86
80-83
77-79
74-76

CD+
D
F
W

67-69
64-66
60-63
< 60
n/a

Note: To obtain a W grade, students must withdraw from the course prior to
week 9 for Fall and Spring semesters or before the end of the week 4 for the
Summer term. After this date, it is not possible to withdraw from the course.

ACADEMIC POLICIES
Academic Integrity
Academic honesty is of utmost importance at AUD, as described in the Student
Handbook. Students are expected to demonstrate academic integrity by completing
their own work, assignments and other assessment exercises. Submission of work from
another person, whether it is from printed sources or someone other than the student;
previously graded papers; papers submitted without proper citations; or submitting the
same paper to multiple courses without the knowledge of all instructors involved can
result in a failing grade. Incidents involving academic dishonesty will be reported to
university officials for appropriate sanctions.
Furthermore, students must always submit work that represents their original words or
ideas. If any words or ideas used in a class posting or assignment submission do not
represent the students original words or ideas, all relevant sources must be cited along
with the extent to which such sources were used. Words or ideas that require citation
include, but are not limited to, all hard copy or electronic publications, whether
copyrighted or not, and all verbal or visual communication when the content of such
communication clearly originates from an identifiable source.
Attendance
Due to the nature of the course, attendance and class participation are both important
aspects of the learning experience. For this reason, students are expected to arrive to
class on-time, to attend all classes, and actively participate in class discussions.
Students are required to abide by the university policy on attendance published in the
Undergraduate Catalog and the Student Handbook.
Make-up
Scheduled class meetings that do not take place because of declared holidays,
instructor illness or any unforeseen circumstances will be rescheduled by the University
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or the instructor. These make up class session will be scheduled during the Study/Makeup period allotted at the end of the semester or by arrangement with the instructor.
Any class activity (lecture, exam, class presentation, etc.) that cannot be performed
because of such class cancellations will take place during the first class meeting held
after reconvening, in order to preserve the order of the class schedule as much as
possible.

World Cultures Mature Behavior Policy

Students should note the following departmental policies relating to class behavior:
Mobile phones must be switched OFF (not even on vibrate) in class and
stowed out of sight.
Students should show respect to others in the class at all times. If a student is
disrespectful to the professor or another student, damages University property,
or is disruptive in any way, she/he will be asked to leave the class.
Students are expected to take an active role in their educational experience and
to participate in all class activities and discussions.
Furthermore, students should be aware that disruptive behaviors such as talking in
class while the professor is lecturing, texting or using mobile phones during class, and
that inappropriate behavior such as putting ones head down on the desk in an attempt
to sleep or doze are not only unacceptable behaviors, but they are insulting behaviors
toward the professor and to other students.
Insulting and unacceptable behaviors impede the quality of the educational experience
and are violations of the AUD Code of Student Conduct as described below:
[AUD] Code of Student Conduct
AUD is an academic community committed to the educational and personal growth of
its students. Behavior that infringes upon rights, safety or privileges or that impedes
the educational process is unacceptable and may lead to sanctions up to and including
dismissal from the university. [] An offense related to the operation of the university is
committed when a student: []

disrupts or interferes with any university event, program, class or facility

(AUD Student Handbook 2011-2012; 28)
Violations of Conduct
Students are expected to conduct themselves with an exemplary level of maturity. All
violations of AUDs Code of Conduct are taken very seriously and are dealt with fairly
and judiciously. Certain conduct violations are subject to the universitys Conduct
Council. [] The following summarizes possible violations

inappropriate class behavior

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Arts and Sciences

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COURSE TOPICS
(***THIS

ONLY A ROUGH DRAFT AND WILL DEVELOPED

RE-DISTRIBUTED, AT THE NEXT CLASS MEETING.***)

SCHEDULE IS

AND FINALIZED, AND

WEEK
Week 1
Week 2

Week 3

TOPICS TO BE COVERED
Course introduction; Pre-Modern Europe
Drop/Add Week
Pre-Modern Europe;
Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy
READ: Chapter 13/ppg. 288-298; 303-313 Top; 314
(from Machiavelli) -322.
Renaissance and Mannerism in Italy, continued

Week 4

Northern Europe; Protestant Reformation

READ: Chapter 14/ppg. 333-341 & Turn the page to
see Bruegels Peasant Wedding

Week 5

The Counter Reformation;

The Baroque Age
READ: Chapter 15/ppg. 352-360; 364 (Jan Vermeer)365; & 367 Top.

Week 6

Baroque, continued

Week 7

Beyond Europe: Ottomans, Mughals, & Safavids

Week 8

Ottomans, Mughal, Safavids, continued

Week 9
Week 10

Week 12

The Eighteenth Century; The Enlightenment;

The French Revolution
READ: Chapter 16/ppg. 388-393; 398-402;
407 Bottom (Literature) - 410 Top
Romanticism and Realism
READ: Chapter 17/ppg. 427 (Philosophy)-432; 438445 Top;
446 (Literature)- 450
Romanticism and Realism, continued

Week 13

Impressionism and Post Impressionism

Week 11

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READ: Chapter 18/ppg. 454-459; 462-472;

Latin America
READ: Chapter 21/ppg. 520 Bottom-526
Week 14

Week 15

Student Group Presentations

Early 20th Century
READ: Chapter 22/ ppg. 530-536 Top; 536 (Great
War)-544; 544 (Modern Lit)-549 Top; 549 (Russian
Film)-550; 550 (Repression/Depression)-558 Top;
560 Top; 561 Top; & 562 Top
Mid-Twentieth Century and Later
Chapter 23/ppg. 566-574; 577 (Popular culture)-581
Top
Course Wrap-Up

Week 16
FINAL EXAM
WEEK

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