Austin Community College 

Humanities 1302- Renaissance to Present –  Spring 2026

Professor L Harter

lydia.harter@austincc.edu

Textbook: Landmarks in Humanities, 5th edition, Fiero

Besides supplemental articles and works, readings will be from the official textbook: Feiro's Landmarks in Humanites, 5th edition

Course Rationale:  In Humanities, we consider not only events and names and dates, but the voices and values of individuals during a given period to attempt to have a whole understanding of an era. We will look at literature, scholarship, art, music, and multiple sources throughout the class. The study of the humanities from a comparative and interdisciplinary perspective affords the student the opportunity not only to acquire a deeper appreciation of particular works of literature and artworks but also to gain a larger perspective on a work of art or creation of texts as an expression of the human spirit in a particular time and place.

Learning Outcomes

My overall objective is for you to walk away from my class wanting to understand the world and yourself more; wonder more, and ask more questions of your surroundings! 

After successful completion of a Humanities course, a student should be able to: 

• Identify a variety of significant texts, ideas, and works of art from various times and places in human history.
• Analyze literature, scholarship, and art within cultural and historical contexts.
• Evaluate the relationship between texts and human values.

After successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of art in its different forms (visual, aural, etc.) throughout history.
• Demonstrate general knowledge of assigned time periods and their major artistic and cultural accomplishments. 
• Demonstrate an understanding of how context affects the text (form) and subtext (meaning) of human artistic creations.
• Form a personal explanation of why (or if) the study of Humanities is necessary for education and societal growth.

General Education Competencies

• Communication Skills - Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
• Critical Thinking Skills - Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.
• Personal Responsibility - Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions and consequences
• Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness) - Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

College Policies:

Problem Resolution: I am here to help you. If you are having a problem related to this course or related to me as your professor, your first step generally should be to speak with me. If I cannot resolve the problem or satisfy your concern you can appeal to the Chair of the Department for help. If you need any other help, I am happy to guide you to the right department or person! 

Department Chair of Philosophy, Religion and Humanities Contact:

Antonio Ramirez antonio.ramirez@austincc.edu

College Policies

Withdraws: (According to ACC Policy) If you drop a course before its census date, or official reporting date, the course is deleted from your enrollment, does not earn any grade, and does not appear on your transcript. If you drop a course after the census date, a grade will be included on your transcript. Reporting dates vary, so you are strongly encouraged to consult your instructor, the course syllabus, or the Austin Community College (ACC) website for the drop and withdrawal dates for your course. 

If your first college enrollment occurred in Fall 2007 or later, you may not drop more than six courses during your cumulative enrollment at any Texas public college or university. 

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 feels 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. The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.  

For more information on the withdraws (and other policies) process see:    

https://catalog.austincc.edu/support-services-and-student-progress/student-progress/droppingwithdrawing-from-courses/#:~:text=You%20may%20withdraw%20or%20drop,semesters%20have%20prorated%20drop%20dates.

Statement on Scholastic Dishonesty: A student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. 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, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process.

Student Rights and Responsibilities: Students at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures.

Testing Center Policy: Under certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a Testing Center. Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guidelines and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam. To request an exam, one must have: ACC Photo ID and know the Course Abbreviation (e.g., ENGL) Course Number (e.g.,1301), Course Synonym (e.g., 10123), Course Section (e.g., 005), and Instructor's Name. 

Statement on Students with Disabilities: Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the office of Student Accessibility Services (SAS). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, 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 ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from SAS before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student. Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations. Additional information about Student Accessibility Services.

Use of ACC E-mail: 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 you 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. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account.

Student and Instructional Services: ACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available here. Links to many student services and other information can be found at Current Students. ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found here. For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab.

Concealed Handgun Policy: NO HANDGUNS ALLOWED ON HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES WHATSOEVER.

ACC faculty may notify students in their classes or learning environment about the Texas Campus Carry law taking effect at Austin Community College (and other Texas community colleges) on August 1, 2017. The following is recommended syllabus language, approved by legal counsel and the college. For courses including ACC-sponsored field activities, language is still being drafted. Refer to the ACC concealed handgun policy online. 

Instructor: Professor L. Harter

E-mail: lydia.harter@austincc.edu

Alternative E-mail: harterfilms@gmail.com

Phone Number: 740.818.8660

Office Hours: MW 12:40- 1:20 in classroom (or by appointment)

Course Information and Policies

Important: Submission of work for this course through Blackboard will serve as indication you have read and accept course policies as outlined in this syllabus. If there are any items in this syllabus with which you disagree, please bring them to my (Professor Harter’s)  attention prior to submitting any work through course portals.

Course Description

• Credit Hours: 3

• Classroom Contact Hours Per Week: 3

Cross disciplinary appreciation and analysis of the arts and philosophies from the Renaissance to Modern Day.  

Course Rationale

By studying the Humanities, students will gain an opportunity to appreciate a larger perspective on the human spirit and its evolution throughout the centuries. 

Discussions will remain civil and respectful. Any indication of prejudice will be dealt with swiftly. 

Departmental Course Student Learning Outcomes

After successful completion of a Humanities course a student should be able to: 

• Identify a variety of significant works of art from various times and places in human history.

• Analyze works of art within their cultural context.

• Evaluate the relationship between the arts and human values.

Instructor Course Level Outcomes

After successful completion of this course a student should be able to:

• Demonstrate an appreciation of art in its different forms (visual, aural, etc.) throughout history.

• Demonstrate general knowledge of assigned time periods and their major artistic and cultural accomplishments. 

• Demonstrate an understanding of how context affects the text (form) and subtext (meaning) of artistic creations.

• Form a personal explanation of why (or if) the study of Humanities is necessary for education and societal growth.

General Education Objectives/Outcomes

1. Communication Skills

• Develop, interpret, and express ideas and information through written, oral, and visual communication that is adapted to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.

2. Critical Thinking Skills

• Gather, analyze, synthesize, evaluate and apply information for the purposes of innovation, inquiry, and creative thinking.

3. Personal Responsibility

• Identify and apply ethical principles and practices to decision-making by connecting choices, actions, and consequences.

4. Social Responsibility (Civic and Cultural Awareness)

• Analyze differences and commonalities among peoples, ideas, aesthetic traditions, and cultural practices to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities.

Textbooks

Our course will be accessing and referring to Landmarks in Humanities, 5th Edition, by Gloria K. Fiero. McGraw-Hill, 2021.

Required: Landmarks in Humanities eBook through Connect / McGraw-Hill, accessible through our course Blackboard site.

Instructional Methodology

This course is designed to facilitate personal approaches to a breadth of material, within accepted academic discourse surrounding the areas of study. This course is dependent upon student attendance in class, and student completion of coursework in a timely fashion. The course texts will cover the broad strokes, provide a basic set of knowledge everyone will share, and serve as common sets of media with which everyone should become familiar as they complete assignments. The writing assignments allow students to explore, present, and initiate discussion on topics that most interest each individual within the given parameters.

Important: Students need to be self-motivated to succeed in this course. It is important students attend class, keep up with assignments, and reach out for assistance when needed.

Students are expected to be present, attentive, and participatory in class. Students will use the Blackboard learning management system for assignment instructions, submitting assignments, and collaborative discussions in forums, unless told otherwise by the Instructor. Sleeping, applying makeup, chatting with friends are all examples of behavior that is not permitted during lectures. 

Important: No headphones, cell phones, or tablets allowed in class unless stated otherwise. A physical notebook is required at all times to take notes.  

ACC Blackboard: https://acconline.austincc.edu

Coming to class prepared means reading the chapter ahead of time, a pen or a pencil, and your course notebook. 

Professor Course Objectives and Philosophy

My teaching philosophy involves a lot of student participation in creative and fun ways, with the intention of high retention of the material. My class will not involve endless power point presentations. Instead, students will create original works inspired by the course material. Your self expression and individual interests are essential to the class dynamic and objectives. 

Come to class with open minds and read chapters. 

Student Responsibilities and Final Grade Breakdown

Your Final Grade will be comprised of:

300 pts Participation (including Discussion Boards) 

300 pts Creative Assignments and Group Presentations

400 pts 750 Word Essay

600 pts Chapter Quizzes (6 Quizzes, 100 points each)
400 pts Final Project Proposal and Presentation 

2000 pts total

To follow the progress of your grade throughout the course, click on "My Grades" on Blackboard.

Important: Individual scores do not determine final grades due to grading policies. If you have questions or concerns about what each grade means and how it may impact your final grade, consult your instructor. 

Grading Policies

Failure to complete any above-listed assignment will be grounds for failure in the course. Late policies are included in individual assignment instructions. You must keep an original copy of all of your work throughout the semester until you receive your final course grade.

Please note: I do not deliver grades via email. I do not negotiate grades via email.  Do not email me asking for a grade or asking me how you are doing in the course. You will get this answer every time: I do not discuss grades via email. Please email me to set a time to talk in person or over zoom.

Course Organization

This course materials and assignments will be covered in this order:

Week 1

Weeks 2 - 6 Unit One: The Renaissance, Reformation, and Cross-Cultural Encounters

Weeks 7 -  10 Unit Two: Questions of Authority: the Baroque through the Romantic Era

Weeks 11 - 14 Unit Three: Industrialization, Modernism, and the New Globalism

Weeks 15- 16                    Final Project Presentations

See “Course Organization and Due Dates” below for further details.
 

Short Story Paper: Breaking Down Context in the Arts

Students will be responsible for a 750 word minimum essay concerning the historical, biographical, and cultural context of one pre-selected short story.

Final Project

Week 14 starts your final project journey: a one page proposal for the creative project AND a backup subject for an essay/presentation in lieu of the creative project. (If a student commits to a creative project and it becomes unmanageable for whatever reason, the student is then required to complete the 8 page academic essay instead. The proposals will either be approved or altered to meet guidelines of the assignment before execution.) 

The Final Project must be directly connected to the official text discussed in class. This should be an opportunity for self expression and educating your peers on what you found personally engaging. 

Thus students will be responsible for: 

An 8 page (4500 word) cited and annotated essay with a 5 minute in person presentation 

OR

An artistic, creative project, with a 2 page thesis describing the creative process and how it applies to the subject matter along with an in person presentation. 

This could be a:

-Short Story

-one act play

-short film 

-visual artwork 

-original music

-etal 

More Specific Examples: Versailles in Minecraft. A Baroque representation of your pet. A functioning mobile. A model of the Wright Brothers Plane. 

Attendance and Participation

[see Course Schedule and Due Dates for dates and times]

Success in this class is dependent upon regular attendance and punctual arrival. 

As your professor, I consider “participation” by engaging  in discussions and in-class projects. 

Each student may miss two classes, without penalty, no questions asked. Every absence after your 2nd will result in a 10 point deduction in your Attendance and Participation grade. If you fall behind for legitimate reasons, meet with me  immediately to determine a course of action for you to complete your assignments in a timely manner. It is my sincere desire that each student finish the course and I will work with you towards that end in the event that unforeseen and unforeseeable circumstances prevent your regular attendance at a point during the semester. 

Attendance also means engagement and thus no cellphones  are allowed outside of when presenting. This not only includes cell phone usage but also visiting sites inappropriate to learning during class. Unless granted official permission with a 504 exemption, headphones in class are NOT PERMITTED. Not even one ear. 

If you have anticipated conflicts such as family or work obligations that will prevent you from participating in 4 or more osessions, please touch base with Prof. Harter at Lydia.Harter@austincc.edu to discuss possible alternatives for your Participation and Attendance grade.

Writing Assignments

This is a college course and college-level writing skills are required. Your writing will be evaluated for theoretical sophistication, critical interpretation, creativity, effective argument (including thesis construction as warranted, coherent paragraphs and development, and proper citation of evidence), and style (including organization, grammar, spelling, etc.). It is expected that all work submitted is the original work of the student whose name appears on it and that the work was prepared originally for this course.
 

Policy on Scholastic Dishonesty

Ultimately, there is no excuse for representing another’s work as your own. A first infraction will result in an immediate “zero” on the assignment and follow-up instructions about how to redo the work. Subsequent infractions will result in immediate “zeros” on assignments, and further disciplinary actions per ACC Policy. Each student is responsible for knowing his or her rights and responsibilities. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process https://www.austincc.edu/students/students-rights-and-responsibilities/student-standards-of-conduct

If you are unclear as to what constitutes plagiarism, it is your obligation to seek help from a reliable source, such as an instructor, a tutor, or another qualified individual. It is also in your best interest to carefully cite all outside sources, as then your original work is easily identifiable and you will receive maximum credit for your own development, thought, and insight. 

Additional information is available in “College Policies” below.
 

Respecting Copyright

The course materials used for this course and on this site are protected by copyright law, whether I created them or someone else created them. Reproduction of protected materials and use of them as if your own intellectual property, any public distribution or commercial use, or any other activity that violates copyright law may result in legal action to rectify the situation.

Refer to the ACC Student Handbook, section Copyright and Duplication of Course Materials: https://catalog.austincc.edu

Suggestions for Success

All assigned material has been planned carefully. At times, works of art may include mature themes, graphic language, and graphic imagery. However, objection to participating in course activities and/or assignments is not anticipated for college-level study. If you have a personal concern, please notify me privately and we will discuss your circumstances.

In this course, every effort will be made to situate the primary issues within larger contexts and to understand them within their place in historical discourse. Discussion forums will provide a venue to consider various approaches to the texts and to promote critical thinking regarding issues at hand. Respect for fellow students and freedom of expression is essential, especially in situations where differences of opinion and disagreements occur. Finally, be prepared to challenge yourself by reflecting upon the material at hand and sharing with others your observations and conclusions.

Course Organization and Due Dates

Overview

Note: Course schedule and content will be changed during the session to accommodate the needs of this particular class. Check your ACCmail and Blackboard regularly! 

Information and instructions for all requirements are located in “Assignments” in their corresponding sub-folders. Please manage your time and work on assignments on the dates that best fit your life prior to due dates, and feel free to post items ahead of the due dates.

Welcome & Orientation

Week 1

>> W, Jan  21 Orientation: Course Expectations and Syllabus Review

Week 2

>> M, Jan 26 Come to class having read Chapter 9 Encounter: and the Clash of Cultures

>> W, Jan 28

Week 3

>> M, Feb 2 Chapter 9 Quiz. 

>> W, Feb 4 Come to class having read Chapter 10 Baroque: Piety and Extravagance

Week 4

>> M, Feb 9 Library Services Guest Lecture

>> W, Feb 11

Week 5

>> M, Feb 16 NO CLASS

>> W, Feb 18 Baroque Picture Paintings Due. Chapter 10 Quiz. 

Week 6

>> M, Feb 23 Come to class having read Chapter 11: Enlightenment and the New Learning 

>> W, Feb 25

Week 7

>> M, Mar 2 Philosopher Presentations. 

>> W, Mar 4 Chapter 11 Quiz. Come to class having read Chapter 12: Romanticism: Nature, passion and the sublime

Week 8

>> M, Mar 9 Come to class having read “Frankenstein” Excerpt. 

>> W, Mar 11

Week 9

>> M, Mar 16 Spring Break

>> W, Mar 18 Spring Break

Week 10

>> M, Mar 23 Come to class having read Edgar Allan Poe short story.

>> W, Mar 25 Chapter 12 Social Media Presentations. Chapter 12 Quiz. 

Week 11

>> M, Mar 30 Chapter 12 Social Media Presentations. Come to class having read Chapter 13: Materialism: The Industrial Era and the Urban Scene

>> W, Apr 1

Week 12

>> M, Apr 6 NO CLASS

>> W, Apr 8 Coming to class having read Metamorphosis Excerpt. Short Story Paper Due

Week 13

>> M, Apr 13

>> W, Apr 15 Come to class having read Chapter 14: Modernism: the Assault on Tradition

Week 14

>> M, Apr 20 Come to class having read the short story Sweat. 

>>W, Apr 22 Second Draft of Short Story Paper Due

Week 15

>> M, Apr 27

>> W, Apr 29 Academic Title and Proposals Due. Chapter 14 Quiz. Come to class having read Chapter 15: Globalism: Information, Communication, and the Digital Revolution

Week 16

>> M, May 4

>> W, May 6  

Week 17

>>M, May 11 Presentations

>>W, May 13 Presentations. Chapter 15 Quiz. 

Final Papers Due by May 15, 5 pm.