HomeMy WebLinkAboutHIS-144 1
Bergen Community College
School of Arts, Humanities, & Wellness
Department of History & Geography
Course Syllabus
HIS144-American Issues and Problems
Basic Information about Course and Instructor
Semester and year:
Course and Section Number:
Meeting Times and Locations:
Instructor:
Office Location:
Phone:
Departmental Secretary: [optional] Office
Hours:
Email Address:
Course Description
This course is a study in a historical context of selected political, social, economic, and
diplomatic issues and problems facing the United States in the contemporary world. The class
also serves as an introduction to basic historical methodology and historiography. Students will
acquire a solid understanding of historical facts and interpretation while gaining a sense of the
broad scope of history as a discipline.
3-credits
Student Learning Objectives:
As a result of meeting the requirements in this course, students will be able to;
1. Identify and analyze the important political, economic, social, intellectual, diplomatic and
religious issues and problems facing the United States in the contemporary world.
2. Summarize and interpret the continuity and change that occurs in contemporary American
History.
3. Demonstrate the ability to develop a thesis and support it with historical evidence both in writing
and orally.
4. Demonstrate basic research skills by locating and using source materials.
5. Summarize, paraphrase, and quote historical information in properly cited written analyses
6. Demonstrate the ability to state and support their own interpretation of historical issues concisely,
coherently, and logically.
2
Course Texts
The required text for this course is Mindy Stombler and Amanda M. Jungels, Focus on Social
Problems 2nd Edition, Oxford University Press.
Assessment and Grading
In pursuit of the foregoing goals, the course is based on the reading and discussion of historical
writings for both primary and secondary sources; the techniques of historical research and
writing are reviewed, and students are expected to use subject specific resources in their
preparation for active participation in class and for writing assignments. Students are required to
do a substantial amount of expository and critical writing in response to the material presented in
the course and by conducting outside research.
The course requires students to complete a variety of critical thinking and writing assignments.
These assignments may include class discussions and debates requiring the application of critical
thinking skills, short in-class essays, out-of-class writing projects (journals, research papers,
argument-analysis papers, book reviews, etc.), tests and examinations containing essay
components, and so forth. Instructors will respond to and comment on students' writing in detail.
Grading Policy
A student's final grade for the course is based primarily on his or her performance on the required
work for the course (writing assignments, examinations, class presentations, etc.) and on his or
her overall mastery of the material covered in the course. A student's class participation may also
be evaluated, and the grade thereon may be used as a factor in determining the student's final
grade for the course; but a class participation grade will count for no more than fifteen percent
(15%) of the final grade. Examinations can consist of objective questions such as multiple choice
and short answers, but an essay of some form should also be evaluated as part of the test. A
sample grade distribution is as follows:
1st Mid-Term Exam 20%
2nd Mid-Term Exam 20%
Final-Exam (non-comprehensive) 20%
Writing/Research Assignments 30%
Participation/Collegiality 10%
3
Total 100%
BCC Attendance Policy:
All students are expected to attend punctually every scheduled meeting of each course in which they are
registered. Attendance and lateness policies and sanctions are to be determined by the instructor for each
section of each course. These will be established in writing on the individual course outline. Attendance
will be kept by the instructor for administrative and counseling purposes.
History and Geography Departmental Attendance Policy:
It is imperative that students attend class on a daily basis in order to secure the knowledge necessary to
succeed in the course. Coming to class on time and staying for the entire class period is expected.
Excessive absences will have a detrimental effect on your performance in this course. Attendance will be
taken at each class session. It is expected that class will be conducted such that students will benefit in
their written work by the lectures and class discussion. If students occasionally arrive late, they should be
encouraged to enter quietly, not disturbing the class. If students miss class, they should be encouraged to
use the course calendar to stay abreast of material. It is probably a good idea for students to find study
partners and to exchange telephone numbers. Make-ups for examinations should be allowed by the
instructor if, in the instructor's judgment, the student has presented a good excuse for missing the work.
Instructors may penalize work which is late; however, the instructor's policies for make -ups and late work
must be clearly specified on the student guide. Collegiality is expected at all times during the course.
Academic Dishonesty (From BCC Handbook):
Bergen Community College is committed to academic integrity—the honest, fair, and continuing
pursuit of knowledge, free from fraud and deception. Students are responsible for their own
work. Faculty and academic support services staff will take appropriate measures to discourage
academic dishonesty. The college recognizes the following general categories of violations of
academic integrity whenever a student does one of more of the following: uses unauthorized
assistance in any academic work, copies from another student’s exam, gives unauthorized
assistance to other students, fabricates data in support of an academic assignment,
inappropriately or unethically uses technical means to gain academic advantage, and commits
plagiarism.
Student and Faculty Support Services
The Henry and Edith Cerullo
Learning Assistance Center
Room L-
125 of
Pitkin
Building
Includes the Tutoring Center, English Language
Resource Center, and Writing Center. 201-
4477489
The Distance Learning Office
– for any problems you may
have accessing your online
courses
201-612-5581 psimms@bergen.edu
4
The Tutorial Center Room S-
118 of
Pitkin
Building
201-447-7908
The English Language
Resource Center
Room 126 in
Ender Hall
For students whose native language is not English.
The Writing Center Room L-
125 of
Pitkin
Building
201-447-7136
The Online Writing Lab
(OWL)
www.bergen.edu/owl This website will help
students with all aspects of the writing process in
every discipline.
The Office of Specialized
Services (for Students with
Disabilities)
L-115 of
Pitkin
Building
Students with documented disabilities who
require accommodations by the Americans with
Disabilities Act (ADA) can request support
services from the Office of Specialized Services.
www.bergen.edu/pages/5175
The Sidney Silverman Library 2nd Level of
Pitkin
Building
Sample Format for Course Outline and Calendar
Note to Students: The following Course Outline and Calendar is tentative and subject to
change, depending upon the progress of the class.
Date Lecture Topic Learning
Objectives Assignments/Events
Introduction: Course Information,
History and Social Problems
Wealth and Income Inequality
Poverty
Racial and Ethnic Inequality
Gender Inequality
5
Social Problems Related to Sexuality
Exam I
Social Problems Related to Media
Social Problems Related to
Education
Social Problems Related to Families
Social Problems Related to Health
and Healthcare System
Exam 2
Social Problems Related to Crime
and Criminal Justice System
Social Problems Related to Economy
and Work
Social Problems Related to
Environment and Food System
Strategies for Social Change
Writing/Research Workshop
3rd and Final Exam