Heartland Community College
Master Course Syllabus
Division name: Humanities and Fine Arts
COURSE PREFIX & NUMBER: HUMA 290
COURSE TITLE: CULTURE AND SCIENCE
DATE PREPARED: August 23, 1995
DATE REVISED: March, 2004
PCS/CIP/ID NO: 11 300101 11
IAI NO. (if available): N/A
EFFECTIVE DATE OF FIRST CLASS:
CREDIT HOURS:
CONTACT HOURS:
LECTURE HOURS: 3
LABORATORY HOURS: 0
CATALOG DESCRIPTION (Include specific prerequisites):
Prerequisite: ENGL 101 or equivalent with a grade of “C” or better. Interdisciplinary
study tracing the interrelation between culture and science and the impact of science
and the natural world on philosophy, religion, and art from ancient to contemporary
civilizations. This study includes both classroom and field experiences.
TEXTBOOKS:
J. Bronowski. The Ascent of Man. Boston: Little, Brown, 1973.
RELATIONSHIP TO ACADEMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS AND
TRANSFERABILITY:
HUMA 290 fulfills 3 hours of elective credit for the A.A. and A.S. degrees. It should
transfer to most colleges and universities as an elective course. However, since HUMA 290
is not part of either the General Education Core Curriculum or a baccalaureate major
program described in the Illinois Articulation Initiative, students should check with an
academic advisor for information about its transferability to other institutions. HUMA 290
fulfills the SOAR graduation requirement at Heartland Community College.
COURSE OBJECTIVES (Learning Outcomes)
Students in this course will be able to:
LO
Assessment
Generate ideas and gather supporting materials in order
to develop an interdisciplinary approach to writing and
speaking about the sciences and humanities.
C3
Describe issues, trends, philosophical and scientific
movements, and principal ideas relating to scientific and
cultural interrelationships.
Define key cultural and scientific terms, such as natural
philosophy, atrium, axial plan, collage, Naturalism,
Romanticism, panorama, shaman, symmetry, etc.
Articulate both in writing and speech those personal
thoughts and observations that have come about due to
the class assignments and discussions.
Demonstrate awareness, tolerance, and appreciation of
the extent and impact of cultural and scientific diversity
on our society.
Appreciate how human knowledge and experience is
broadened by the interdisciplinary study of the sciences
and humanities.
Compose a thesis, arrange material to support that thesis,
and present it in a journalistic manuscript for a specific
audience.
Apply research skills and data collection techniques to
aid in designing and implementing solutions and
interpretations of natural phenomena.
D5
individual/
collaborative oral
presentations, informal
writings
formal/informal
writing, oral
presentations
test items
COURSE/LAB OUTLINE:
I. Humanities - Literature
A.
Classical Writings
B.
Natural Philosophy
C.
Romantic Essays and Poetry
D.
Ecological Writings
E.
Cultural-Environmental Writings
II. Humanities - Art
A.
Classical Nature Painting
B.
Romantic Nature Painting
C.
Basic Drawing
D.
Watercolors
PS5
collaborative
presentations, writing
D1
formal/informal
extended writing
C1
field journal
PS5
research formal writing
E.
Photography
III. Biology
A.
Hunter/gatherer societies, and the development of agriculture and cities.
B.
Classical Greek and Roman philosophy in biology and medicine.
C.
Medieval society and Scholasticism's influence on science.
D.
Development of modern biology during the 16th through 19th centuries.
E.
Current issues and philosophies related to biology, medicine, and the
environment
.
IV. Earth Science
A.
Landforms
B.
Geological Processes
C.
Geological Time
D.
Depositional Environments
V. Astronomy
A.
Astronomy in the Ancient World
B.
Astronomy in folklore
C.
The birth of modern astronomy during the Renaissance
D.
Contemporary trends in astronomical study
METHOD OF EVALUATION (Tests/Exams, Grading System):
Because HUMA 290 is a writing intensive course, students' grades will be determined by
portfolio evaluation. Each student will complete a series of interdisciplinary essays (20-50
pages total) that explore both specific and broad areas of study. The portfolio will include a
narrative of experiments and observations in biology, geology, and astronomy, as well as
shorter essays (position papers) that address the humanities in environmental settings. The
portfolio will also include the students' collection of drawings, watercolors, and photographs
to complement reading and writing assignments.
Final grades will be determined according to the following scale:
92 to 100% = A
83 to 91% = B
74 to 82% = C
65 to 73% = D
Below 65% = F
REQUIRED WRITING AND READING:
Each student will complete a series of interdisciplinary essays (20 - 50 pages total) that
explore both specific and broad areas of study. Selected essays and poems that best define
the sciences and humanities will be assigned. These will include both in-class and outside
readings. The will be approximately fifty (ten per discipline) readings in total.