Common Course Description: A chronological analysis of the historical and cultural contexts of the visual arts from prehistoric times to the 14th century.

Common Course Rationale: The purpose of Art History I is to introduce students to the development of period styles from prehistoric times through the Middle Ages.  Students will acquire knowledge of important examples of art and architecture from different cultures of this period. This class fulfills the Creative Arts requirement of the Core Curriculum outline.

Common Course Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

• Identify and describe works of art based on their chronology and style, using standard categories and terminology.
• Investigate major artistic developments and significant works of art from prehistoric times to the late Middle Ages.
• Analyze the relationship of art to history by placing works of art within cultural, historical and chronological contexts.
• Critically interpret and evaluate works of art.

Discipline Specific Program Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of the course, students will:

• Write meaningful formal descriptions and critical analyses of art works.
• Explain how formal and compositional properties express and convey content.
• Recognize, comparatively analyze, and contextualize differences in artistic styles.
• Gain insight to diverse perspectives and relate art history to broader life experiences.

General Education Outcomes:

• Civic and Cultural Awareness - Analyzing and critiquing competing perspectives in a democratic society; comparing, contrasting, and interpreting differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices
• Critical Thinking - Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information. 
• Personal Responsibility: Identifying and applying ethical principles and practices; demonstrating effective learning, creative thinking, and personal responsibility.
• Interpersonal Skills - Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals
• Written, Oral and Visual Communication - Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
• Technology Skills:  Using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information.

REQUIRED COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY:

This Distance Learning course requires computer and internet access. Students should have basic computer and internet skills and be able to send and receive email, attach files, navigate the course’s Blackboard site, and open and print course documents from Blackboard. Course documents may appear in various formats, including Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, Adobe PDF, and SoftChalk. If you have problems opening any of the documents, inform your instructor immediately. If you cannot open documents on your home computer, you may need to use ACC’s open computer labs. You may also contact the Distance Learning Center for technical assistance related to the course. Exams must be taken through an online Proctor and require a webcam and a working microphone. Tests are computer-based, but they can only be accessed and opened if online proctoring is used.

GRADING POLICY AND SCALE:

Course requirements and distribution:

Grading Scale:

            A         90%-100%     

            B         80%- 89%      

            C         70%- 79%      

            D         60%-69%       

            F          below 60%    

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF COURSE ACTIVITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS:

Students will be evaluated for the course based on their completion of the following assignments in accordance with the course objectives.

EXAMS:

There will be three non-cumulative exams given over the course of the semester. These exams will cover material from lessons, videos, discussions, and textbook. Questions may be comprised of multiple choice questions, slide IDs, short answers (vocabulary and unknown attributions), comparisons, and/or essay questions.  Further information regarding exam content will be provided throughout the semester prior to each exam.

Important:  All exams must be taken with an online proctor on or before the due dates listed on the course schedule. Failure to take an exam by the assigned date will result in a “0” for that exam. Students are responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate technology (computer with a webcam and a working microphone) and that their testing environment meets the requirements. Make up exams taken after the testing deadline will only be approved with documentation of an emergency.

DISCUSSION BOARDS:

Students will participate in three topical discussions (plus one introductory discussion) in which they will be expected to make multiple contributions over a five-day period. These sessions will be moderated by the instructor and will follow a strict set of guidelines. See the Discussion Board Rubric on Blackboard for an outline of student expectations and grading format.

WEEKLY COMPREHENSION QUIZZES:

At the end of each week students will be responsible for completing quizzes pertaining to chapters from Gardners’ Art Through the Ages and the video podcasts assigned that week. These quizzes can be found on the last page of the lesson assigned for any given week. You can attempt each quiz a maximum of two times during the week it is given. Your grade will be calculated by taking the average of those two attempts. Each quiz is worth just 1% of your overall class grade, though together they total to 16% of your grade for the course. Therefore, it is important that you complete them in a timely and studied manner, though an occasional poor performance or a missed quiz will not affect your course grade too gravely.

REQUIRED TEXT:  Available via ACC’s bookstore

Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art Through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Volume I. 16th ed. Boston, MA: Wadsworth, 2019.

COURSE SCHEDULE (SUBJECT TO CHANGE):

COURSE POLICIES:

• Blackboard: All course materials, including announcements, syllabus, lessons, quizzes, discussion boards, assignment instructions, study guides, and grading rubrics will be posted on the course Blackboard site. Students should check the site regularly for new materials and announcements. Log in from ACC’s main web page. You will need your EID and password.
• ACC Email: Students must use ACC email for communication purposes with the instructor. All students must have access to their ACC email account and must check it regularly to keep current on important course information. (To activate and log into your account, go to: http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/.) Emailed communication through Blackboard is automatically directed to ACC student email accounts. Students who do not check their ACC email daily must change their account settings so messages will be forwarded to their preferred email account (see http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=10957). When emailing with questions regarding our course, please let me know that you are in my Distance Learning class.
• Video Podcasts: To come as close as possible to replicating the in-class experience of an art history course, this class includes many short video podcasts. It is important that you watch each video carefully and take notes on their content, as tests and quizzes will partially derive from this content. Closed captioning is offered on all videos, and transcripts are also available.
• Late work: Assignments submitted after their due date will not be considered for a grade. Exams will no longer be available in testing centers after the final deadlines listed in the course schedule. A grade of zero will result if a test is missed. Only discussion board posts that occur within the specified time frame are eligible for grading.
• Plagiarism:  Students’ papers and online postings to the forums must be their own work.  It is imperative that students put everything into their own words or use proper quotation marks and citations.  Quotations should not be extensively used; only key phrases or a sentence or two should be quoted. Copying from the textbook or other sources including those on the Internet is plagiarism, a serious academic offense.  No credit will be awarded for any assignment including plagiarized content, and further disciplinary action may be taken if professor sees fit. 
• General Advice: Check in to blackboard regularly, keep up with the readings and videos, take good notes and this course should be extremely manageable. If, however, you choose to neglect blackboard and cram for exams a day or two before they are administered, you’ll find this course to be overwhelming and extremely difficult.

College-Wide Policies and Support Services

Health & Safety Protocols

Operational areas of ACC campuses and centers are fully open and accessible through all public entrances.  The college encourages its staff, faculty, and students to be mindful of the well-being of all individuals on campus.  If you feel sick, feverish, or unwell, please do not come to campus.

Some important things to remember:

• If you have not done so, ACC encourages all students, faculty, and staff to get vaccinated. COVID-19 vaccines are now widely available throughout the community. Visit www.vaccines.gov/ to find a vaccine location near you.
• Campuses are open to faculty, staff, and students.  The college and its departments and offices may invite internal and external guests to their events and activities, though access is still restricted for external parties seeking to host activities at ACC.  The college’s Appian Health Screening App remains available to everyone who visits campus. This continues to be a good way to check your own health before coming to class or work. 

• If you are experiencing COVID-19-related symptoms, please get a COVID-19 test as soon as possible before returning to an ACC facility.  Testing is now widely available.  To find testing locations near you, click this link.
• If you test positive, please report it on the ACC self-reporting tool located here.
• ACC continues to welcome face masks on campus.  Per CDC guidelines, face masks remain a good way to protect yourself from COVID-19. 
• The college asks that we all continue to respect the personal space of others. We are encouraging 3 feet of social distancing.
• Please be sure to carry your student, faculty, or staff ID badge at all times while on campus.

Because of the everchanging situation, please go to ACC’s Covid website at https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus?ref=audiencemenu for the latest updates and guidance.

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, 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

Student Rights & Responsibilities

Students at ACC have the same rights and protections under the Constitution of the United States. These rights include freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition and association. As members of the community, students have the right to express their own views, but must also take responsibility for according the same rights to others and not interfere or disrupt the learning environment. Students are entitled to fair treatment, are expected to act consistently with the values of the college, and obey local, state, and federal laws. www.austincc.edu/srr

As a student of Austin Community College you are expected to abide by the Student Standards of Conduct. https://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-standards-of-conduct 

Senate Bill 212 and Title IX Reporting Requirements 

Under Senate Bill 212 (SB 212), the faculty and all College employees are required to report any information concerning incidents of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking committed by or against an ACC student or employee. Federal Title IX law and College policy also require reporting incidents of sex- and gender-based discrimination and sexual misconduct. This means faculty and non-clinical counseling staff cannot keep confidential information about any such incidents that you share with them.

If you would like to talk with someone confidentiality, please contact the District Clinical Counseling Team who can connect you with a clinical counselor on any ACC campus:  (512) 223-2616, or to schedule online:  https://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling . 

While students are not required to report, they are encouraged to contact the Compliance Office for resources and options:  Charlene Buckley, District Title IX Officer, (512) 223-7964;  compliance@austincc.edu .

If a student makes a report to a faculty member, the faculty member will contact the District Title IX Officer for follow-up.

Student Complaints

A defined process applies to complaints about an instructor or other college employee. You are encouraged to discuss concerns and complaints with college personnel and should expect a timely and appropriate response. When possible, students should first address their concerns through informal conferences with those immediately involved; formal due process is available when informal resolution cannot be achieved.

Student complaints may include (but are not limited to) issues regarding classroom instruction, college services and offices on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or disability.

Further information about the complaints process, including the form used to submit complaints, is available at: http://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-complaint-procedures

Statement on Privacy

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) protects confidentiality of students’ educational records. Grades cannot be provided by faculty over the phone, by e-mail, or to a fellow student.

Recording Policy

To ensure compliance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student recording of class lectures or other activities is generally prohibited without the explicit written permission of the instructor and notification of other students enrolled in the class section.  Exceptions are made for approved accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

Recording of lectures and other class activities may be made by faculty to facilitate instruction, especially for classes taught remotely through BlackBoard Collaborate or another platform.  Participation in such activities implies consent for the student to be recorded during the instructional activity.  Such recordings are intended for educational and academic purposes only.

Safety Statement

Health and safety are of paramount importance in classrooms, laboratories, and field activities. Students are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies.  Emergency Procedures posters and Campus Safety Plans are posted in each classroom and should be reviewed at the beginning of each semester.  All incidents (injuries/illness/fire/property damage/near miss) should be immediately reported to the course instructor. Additional information about safety procedures and how to sign up to be notified in case of an emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency

Everyone is expected to conduct themselves professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual may be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity and will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action.

In the event of disruption of normal classroom activities due to an emergency situation or an outbreak of illness, the format for this course may be modified to enable completion of the course. In that event, students will be provided an addendum to the class syllabus that will supersede the original version.

Campus Carry

The Austin Community College District concealed handgun policy ensures compliance with Section 411.2031 of the Texas Government Code (also known as the Campus Carry Law), while maintaining ACC’s commitment to provide a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff, and visitors. Beginning August 1, 2017, individuals who are licensed to carry (LTC) may do so on campus premises except in locations and at activities prohibited by state or federal law, or the college’s concealed handgun policy.    

It is the responsibility of license holders to conceal their handguns at all times. Persons who see a handgun on campus are asked to contact the ACC Police Department by dialing 512-223-1231. Please refer to the concealed handgun policy online at http://austincc.edu/campuscarry

Discrimination Prohibited

The College seeks to maintain an educational environment free from any form of discrimination or harassment including but not limited to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability.

Faculty at the College are required to report concerns regarding sexual misconduct (including all forms of sexual harassment and sex and gender-based discrimination) to the Manager of Title IX/Title VI/ADA Compliance.  Licensed clinical counselors are available across the District and serve as confidential resources for students.

Additional information about Title VI, Title IX, and ADA compliance can be found in the ACC Compliance Resource Guide available at: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xfmZHOPD_H1wgGKq1N7Irv6gvXxOXzbZ/view

Use of ACC email

All College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify students of any college- related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account.  Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff.  Information about ACC email accounts, including instructions for accessing it, are available at:  http://www.austincc.edu/help/accmail/questions-and-answers

Use of the Testing Center

The Testing Centers will allow only limited in person testing and testing time will be limited to the standard class time, typically one and one-half hours.  Specifically, only the following will be allowed in the Testing Centers:

• Student Accessibility Services (SAS) Testing: All approved SAS testing
• Assessments Tests: Institutionally approved assessment tests (e.g., TSIA or TABE)
• Placement Tests: Placement tests (e.g., ALEKS)
• Make-Up Exams (for students who missed the original test): Make-up testing is available for all lecture courses but will be limited to no more than 25% of students enrolled in each section for each of four tests

• Programs incorporating industry certification exams: Such programs (e.g., Microsoft, Adobe, etc.) may utilize the ACC Business Assessment Center for the industry certification exams (BACT) at HLC or RRC

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

The success of our students is paramount, and ACC offers a variety of support services to help, as well as providing numerous opportunities for community engagement and personal growth.

Student Support

ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services.  Information on these campus services and resources is available at  http://www.austincc.edu/students.  A comprehensive array of student support services is available online at:

https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/remote-student-support 

Student Accessibility Services

Austin Community College (ACC) is committed to providing a supportive, accessible, and inclusive learning environment for all students.  Each campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through Student Accessibility Services (SAS).

Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of each semester they are enrolled, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the legal document titled “Notice of Approved Accommodations (NAA)” from SAS.

Until the instructor receives the NAA from the student accommodations should not be provided.  Once the NAA is received, accommodations must be provided.  Accommodations are not retroactive, so it is in the student’s best interest to deliver the NAA on the first day of class.  

Please contact SAS@austincc.edu for more information.

Academic Support

ACC offers academic support services on all of its campuses. These services, which include online tutoring, academic coaching, and supplemental instruction, are free to enrolled ACC students. Tutors are available in a variety of subjects ranging from accounting to pharmacology. Students may receive these services on both a drop-in and referral basis. 

An online tutor request can be made here:

https://de.austincc.edu/bbsupport/online-tutoring-request/

Additional tutoring information can be found here:

austincc.edu/onlinetutoring

 Library Services

ACC Library Services offers both in-person and extensive online services, with research and assignment assistance available in-person during limited hours of service. Although all college services are subject to change, plans include ACC students signing up for study space and use of computers at open libraries, extensive online instruction in classes, online reference assistance 24/7 and reference with ACC faculty librarians. In addition, currently enrolled students, faculty and staff can access Library Services online (also 24/7) via the ACC Library website and by using their ACCeID to access all online materials (ebooks, articles from library databases, and streaming videos). ACC Libraries offer these services in numerous ways such as: "Get Help from a Faculty Librarian: the 24/7 Ask a Librarian chat service," an online form for in-depth research Q and A sessions, one-on-one video appointments, email, and phone (voicemail is monitored regularly).

• Library Website: http://library.austincc.edu
• Library Information & Services during COVID-19: https://researchguides.austincc.edu/LSinfoCOVID19
• Ask a Librarian 24/7 chat and form: https://library.austincc.edu/help/ask.php
• Library Hours of Operation by Location: https://library.austincc.edu/loc/
• Email: library@austincc.edu

Student Organizations

ACC has over seventy student organizations, offering a variety of cultural, academic, vocational, and social opportunities.  They provide a chance to meet with other students who have the same interests, engage in service-learning, participate in intramural sports, gain valuable field experience related to career goals, and much else.  Student Life coordinates many of these activities, and additional information is available at http://sites.austincc.edu/sl/.

Personal Support

Resources to support students are available at every campus. To learn more, ask your professor or visit the campus Support Center. All resources and services are free and confidential. Some examples include, among others:

• Food resources including community pantries and bank drives can be found here:

https://www.centraltexasfoodbank.org/food-assistance/get-food-now

• Assistance with childcare or utility bills is available at any campus Support Center: http://www.austincc.edu/students/support-center.
• The Student Emergency Fund can help with unexpected expenses that may cause you to withdraw from one or more classes: http://www.austincc.edu/SEF.
• Help with budgeting for college and family life is available through the Student Money Management Office: http://sites.austincc.edu/money/.  
• A full listing of services for student parents is available at: https://www.austincc.edu/students/child-care

• The CARES Act Student Aid will help eligible students pay expenses related to COVID-19: 

https://www.austincc.edu/coronavirus/cares-act-student-aid.   

Mental health counseling services are available throughout the ACC Student Services District to address personal and or mental health concerns: http://www.austincc.edu/students/counseling .

If you are struggling with a mental health or personal crisis, call one of the following numbers to connect with resources for help.  However, if you are afraid that you might hurt yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.

Free Crisis Hotline Numbers:

• Austin / Travis County 24-hour Crisis & Suicide hotline: 512-472-HELP (4357)
• The Williamson County 24-hour Crisis hotline: 1-800-841-1255
• Bastrop County Family Crisis Center hotline: 1-888-311-7755
• Hays County 24 Hour Crisis Hotline: 1-877-466-0660
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
• Crisis Text Line: Text “home” to 741741
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline:   1-800-662-HELP (4357)
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Helpline:1-800-950-NAMI (6264)