SYLLABUS
HIST 1302 ONL

INSTRUCTOR
Cameron Addis
1430.05 HLC
512-223-7764
Virtual Office Hours: M & W 2:30-5 and By Appointment via Zoom
caddis@austincc.edu 

If you cannot agree to take exams online with video proctoring, you will have to withdraw from this class, as alternative testing is not available.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Study of the history of the United States from 1877 to present.

• Credit Hours: 3

 
COURSE RATIONALE
We provide each student with six semester hours of U.S. History instruction to meet the requirements of the Texas Education Code (51.303).  The Texas Legislature requires students to take 6 hours of American history to graduate from an institution of higher learning in Texas. This course helps fulfill that requirement with 3 credit hours. Always check with your advisor concerning which classes transfer to which colleges.  Students taking either History 1301 or 1302 can expect to improve their reading and writing competencies, critical thinking skills, research skills, etc., all of which help students succeed in life outside academia.

PREREQUISITES: None

REQUIRED TEXTS/MATERIALS/SOFTWARE:
Textbook: History Hub (Free, Digital OER)
Software: Respondus Monitor (Specs & Download Link in Bb) / PDF Guide

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:  Online.
Consult the Blackboard Home Page Announcements for a video and guide to navigating the course.  Students will read the online text and take five objective exams on Respondus along with posting an essay (and follow-up) to the Discussion Board.

DISTANCE EDUCATION:
This is an online course; you won’t be attending lectures or an orientation.  Students enrolling in Distance Learning courses will need maturity, ability, and self-discipline to successfully complete the requirements. The student will be required to do the same amount of work and the same quality of work as students enrolling in the in-class sections. Distance Learning courses are designed for mature and capable students endowed with a great degree of self-discipline and responsibility.  Keep in mind that the course load is equivalent to a 16-week college course, even if you’ve signed up for the 5-, 6-, 8- or 12-week course.  It transfers to 4-year schools like Texas, Texas State, A&M, Tech, etc.  It’s doable if you put in the time, effort and thought, but it’s not an easy backdoor route to college credit.  Those in the 5-week sessions, for instance, should plan on spending at least 3 hours per day on coursework.  You won’t be handed a “review sheet” before the exams to avoid real work (as often requested).  You’ll create your own notes by reading chapters in conjunction with learning objectives.  Early in the course, put the course deadlines listed in Blackboard into your personal calendar.   

Review the ACC Distance Education General Information available at: https://online.austincc.edu/faq

Students will use the Blackboard learning management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, and collaboration.

GRADING SYSTEM

250 Points Total =
150 = 5 Exams x ~30 Pts. Each, Based On History Hub Chapters
50 = 1 Interpretive Essay & Follow-Up
40 = 1 Analysis of Social Media History Post & Analysis of Social Media Lecture
5 = 1 Check-In (1) & Sample Test (4) 
5 = Early Alert Unit 1 Analytical Paragraph 

Scale:
A: 225-250 (90%)
B: 200-224 (80%)
C: 150-199 (60%)
D: 125-149 (50%)
F: < 124

There is no extra credit or re-testing, and tests are not open note.

COURSE OUTLINE/CALENDAR: For the date-specific calendar, see Blackboard and the hard-copy syllabus attached in Blackboard.

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance/Class Participation
The course is asynchronous.  Regular and timely completion of work is expected of all students.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.  The student is responsible for communicating with their professor during school closures and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor.  The student is responsible for communicating with their professor during any weather or pandemic-related closures and completing any assignments or other activities designated by their professor.

Missed Exam and Late Work Policies
Any late work will incur a five-point penalty.  No work will be accepted after the last day of the semester.

Statement on Academic Integrity
Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process.  Acts of academic dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements and expect to benefit from the claimed knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism and use of generative artificial intelligence, cheating, fabrication, collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources. Further information is available at https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process

Course Specific: Students guilty of cheating or collusion on exams or plagiarizing written work will receive an automatic F for the course.  No headphones or earbuds are allowed when taking exams.  Any use of headphones while taking exams will also result in an F for the course.

WITHDRAWAL POLICY
It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the rolls should they decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is recorded before the Final Withdrawal Date, which can be found in Blackboard and on the syllabus hard copy (also attached in Blackboard).  The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.  There are no retroactive withdrawals.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals. 

INCOMPLETES
An incomplete (grade of "I") will only be given for extenuating circumstances as defined by medical hardship (hospitalization, etc.) if 66% of the coursework is complete.  General life complications (work, personal life, etc.) do not qualify as extenuating circumstances.  If a grade of I is given, the remaining course work must be completed by a date set by the student and professor.  This date may not be later than two weeks prior to the end of the following semester.  A grade of I also requires completion and submission of the Incomplete Grade form, to be signed by the faculty member (and student if possible) and submitted to the department chair.

Students may request an Incomplete from their faculty member if they believe circumstances warrant.  The faculty member will determine whether the Incomplete is appropriate to award or not.  The following processes must be followed when awarding a student an I grade. 

1.    Prior to the end of the semester in which the “I” is to be awarded, the student must meet with the instructor to determine the assignments and exams that must be completed prior to the deadline date.  This meeting can occur virtually or in person.  The instructor should complete the Report of Incomplete Grade form.

2.    The faculty member will complete the form, including all requirements to complete the course and the due date, sign (by typing in name) and then email it to the student.  The student will then complete his/her section, sign (by typing in name), and return the completed form to the faculty member to complete the agreement.  A copy of the fully completed form can then be emailed by the faculty member to the student and the department chair for each grade of Incomplete that the faculty member submits at the end of the semester.   

3.    The student must complete all remaining work by the date specified on the form above.  This date is determined by the instructor in collaboration with the student, but it may not be later than the final withdrawal deadline in the subsequent long semester.  

4.    Students will retain access to the course Blackboard page through the subsequent semester in order to submit work and complete the course. Students will be able to log on to Blackboard and have access to the course section materials, assignments, and grades from the course and semester in which the Incomplete was awarded.  

5.    When the student completes the required work by the Incomplete deadline, the instructor will submit an electronic Grade Change Form to change the student’s performance grade from an “I” to the earned grade of A, B, C, D, or F. 

If an Incomplete is not resolved by the deadline, the grade automatically converts to an “F.”  Approval to carry an Incomplete for longer than the following semester or session deadline is not frequently granted.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES, GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES, & SCANS
No SCANS Competencies Required.  Students will need good reading, writing and study skills to succeed in this course.  Per Program Student Learning Outcomes (PSLOs), students will be able to identify and analyze major developments in American History.  Students will be expected to read about 550 pages of textbook, and, depending on the individual instructor, may be obliged to read an outside book and/or do a research paper. Students will have to write essays, book reports, and/or research papers and will be expected to observe decent English grammar and spelling rules. Although students will be told when tests will take place and be given detailed learning objectives to facilitate study, students will be expected to study information in detail to prepare for the tests.

STUDENT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT
Austin Community College provides free, secure drive-up WiFi to students and employees in the parking lots of all campus locations. WiFi can be accessed seven days a week, 7 am to 11 pm. Additional details are available at https://www.austincc.edu/sts.  Students can also access the Respondus Lockdown Browser from Accelerators on four campuses: Highland, Rio Grande, San Gabriel, and Round Rock.

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators, etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc. To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

This course has a free, online digital OER textbook: History Hub

COURSE DESCRIPTION
HIST 1302: Study of the history of the United States from 1877 to the present

Link to Departmental Learning Outcomes
Link to Course Learning Objectives