This document reflects the information that the Humanities Curriculum Committee and the ASC Committee on Curriculum and Instruction require on all new course syllabi; those faculty committees also want all syllabi to have this information. The exact wording is up to you, but keep in mind that these faculty committees want all syllabi to be clear and understandable to the students.

1. General Information

a. Each syllabus should have the course number and title; the instructor’s office number, office hours, phone number, and e-mail address.

b. A course description and course objectives should be included. The Undergraduate Teaching Committee has listed the following learning objectives for the History Surveys and all courses in the History Major:

(Please Note: You are encouraged to employ your own wording for the objectives of your course. Just be sure that your objectives include the spirit of the Department of History objectives.)

Objectives/Learning Outcomes: By completing the requirements for this Historical survey, students will:

1. Acquire a perspective on history and an understanding of the factors that shape human activity. This knowledge will furnish students insights into the origins and nature of contemporary issues and a foundation for future comparative understanding of civilizations.

2. Develop critical thinking through the study of diverse interpretations of historical events.

3. Apply critical thinking through historical analysis of primary and secondary sources.

4. communications skills in exams, papers, discussions.

Objectives/Learning Outcomes: By completing the requirements for a History Major, students will:

1. Acquire a deeper understanding of the factors that shaped human activity as it changed over time in varying geographical and cultural contexts.

2. Broaden knowledge of history by completing at least two courses covering topics before 1750 and at least two courses covering topics after 1750.

3. Develop an international perspective on history by concentrating courses in a primary geographical field and supplementing that focus with at least three courses outside of the primary geographical area.

4. Enhance the ability to apply critical thinking through historical analysis of primary and secondary sources.

5. Develop the ability to analyze and evaluate diverse interpretations of historical events.

6. Advance their effectiveness in oral communications and in writing historical arguments and documenting evidence to support those arguments.

c. You should also note whether the course is a GEC offering and what GEC category it fit; whether it counts in another program (e.g., International Studies); and/or whether it is an Area A or Area B and/or pre-1750/post-1750 History course. See the end of this document for specifics on this requirement.

d. Required readings and information on where the readings can be purchased should be listed on the syllabus.

e. Reading assignments, exams, and paper due dates should be clearly listed on the weekly schedule of topics. All courses at OSU require a Final Exam. If you have an essay assignment for the final, be sure to note that it is taking the place of the final. Technically, no final exams/papers can be due before the regularly scheduled time for the class’ final exam.

f. The Chair asks that you include the following:

“All students must be officially enrolled in the course by the end of the second full week of the quarter. No requests to add the course will be approved by the Chair of the Department after that time. Enrolling officially and on time is solely the responsibility of the student.”

Please Note: You do not have to use the exact language below in 2.-5, but the substance of each category should be included on your syllabus (and/or on assignment handouts).

2. Academic Misconduct

It is the responsibility of the Committee on Academic Misconduct to investigate or establish
procedures for the investigation of all reported cases of student academic misconduct. The term
academic misconduct includes all forms of student academic misconduct wherever committed;
illustrated by, but not limited to, cases of plagiarism and dishonest practices in connection with
examinations. Instructors shall report all instances of alleged academic misconduct to the
committee (Faculty Rule 3335-5-487). For additional information, see the Code of Student
Conduct (http://studentaffairs.osu.edu/resource_csc.asp).

Here is a direct link for discussion of plagiarism: http://cstw.osu.edu/writingCenter/handouts/research_plagiarism.cfm

Here is the direct link to the OSU Writing Center: http://cstw.osu.edu

3. Disability Services

Students with disabilities that have been certified by the Office for Disability Services will be appropriately accommodated, and should inform the instructor as soon as possible of their needs. The Office for Disability Services is located in 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil Avenue; telephone
292-3307, TDD 292-0901; http://www.ods.ohio-state.edu/.

4. Grading

Your Grade in This Course: The first two exams will each count 30% of the final course grade, while the final exam will count 40%. The exam dates are noted on the “Schedule of Lectures and Exams.”

Three special comments: 1) Since the University does not record D- grades, a student earning a course average below 62 will receive an E in this course.

2) In order to pass the course, you must pass the Final Exam with at least a 62.

3) The TA and I reserve the right to consider improvement when determining final grades.

4) Here are the grade breakdowns:

A: 92.6 and above; A-: 89.6-92.5; B+: 87.6-89.5; B: 82.6-87.5; B-: 79.6-82.5; C+: 77.6-79.5; C: 72.6-77.5; C-: 69.6-72.5; D+: 67.6-69.5; D: 62-67.5; E: below 62

Grading Your Exams: Most of your grade in this course will be based on how well you communicate in writing what you have learned. You should refer to my handout, “Guide to Writing Short Answers and Essays in History.” In addition, I furnish below brief descriptions of how you will earn your essay grades:

"C” essays will include: an introductory paragraph that contains your thesis; a body of several paragraphs in which you offer evidence from the readings, lectures, and discussions to support your thesis; and a conclusion that reiterates your basic argument.

"B” essays will include: all of the above requirements for a “C” essay plus more relevant data and analyses than is found in an average essay.

"A” essays will include: all of the above requirements for a “B” essay plus more data and some indication of independent or extended thought.

As for “D” and “E” essays: usually, these essays do not include a viable thesis and/or they do not include very much information from the course.

Make-up Exams: If you have to miss the in-class portion of an exam because of illness or a verifiable emergency, you must contact me, not the TA, before the exam. To make-up any exam, you will have to take it during one of the regularly scheduled exam sessions offered by the Department of History. Only in extraordinary and verifiable cases will I give an extension on the out-of-class essay assignments.

5. Attendance Policies: Given the descriptions above with regard to what we expect on your assignments (evidence from the readings and lectures), we expect you to attend regularly. Very often material offered by students during discussions should be included in your answers. [Note: Some of us take attendance and deduct points for lack of attendance—this is acceptable!]

(See 1.c. above): History Courses Fulfilling Other GEC/Major Requirements

Except for History 151, 152, all of the Department’s historical surveys fulfill other GEC requirements, and these, too, should be noted on the syllabus:

121, 122; 141, 142; 171, 172; and 181, 182 also fulfill the “International issues non-western or global course.”

111, 112 also fulfills the “International issues western (non-United States) course.”

[For example: A syllabus for History 181 would have something like this: “This course fulfills the first half of the GEC Category 5. Arts and Humanities A. Historical Survey. It also fulfills the GEC category “International issues non-western or global course.”]

Note: The objectives listed below are from the ASC Committee on Curriculum and Instruction. Your objectives may be worded differently (and include more entries) but should cover these objectives.

Category: 5. Arts and Humanities B. Analysis of Texts and Works of Art

Goals/Rationale:

Students evaluate significant writing and works of art. Such studies develop capacities for aesthetic and historical response and judgment; interpretation and evaluation; critical listening, reading, seeing, thinking, and writing; and experience the arts and reflecting on that experience.

Learning Objectives:

1. Students develop abilities to be enlightened observers or active participants in the visual, spatial, musical, theatrical, or written arts.

2. Students describe and interpret achievement in the arts and literature.

3. Students explain how works of art and literature express social and cultural issues.

The Department of History has the following courses in this category:

3. Cultures and Ideas

306 (also fulfills International issues western (non-United States) course.)

330.01 (also fulfills International issues non-western or global course.)

346 (also fulfills Social Diversity in the United States.)

Category: Capstone Experience 8. Issues of the Contemporary World

Goals/Rationale:

Thematic upper-division courses work, drawing upon multiple disciplines, enriches students’ experiences of the contemporary world.

Learning objectives:

1. Students synthesize and apply knowledge from diverse disciplines to contemporary issues.

2. Students write about or conduct research on the contemporary world.

The Department of History has the following course in this category:

597