SYLLABUS ART 100 ONLINE
1. Basic Course Information (IAI codes, catalog description, textbook)
BLACK HAWK COLLEGE
COLLEGE MISSION STATEMENT: “Black Hawk College provides the environment and
resources for individuals to become lifelong learners.” Our core values are appreciation of
diversity, caring and compassion, fairness, honesty, integrity, respect, and responsibility.
COLLEGE WEB ADDRESS: www.bhc.edu
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Please consult your current BHC Student Handbook for important information about college
processes, policies, and procedures.
Instructor: Melissa Hebert
Office: QC Campus 4-123A
Phone: 309-796-5465
Email: hebertm@bhc.edu
BASIC COURSE INFORMATION:
ART 100 ART APPRECIATION
COURSE CATALOG DESCRIPTION
Introduction of the world of fine and applied arts. Great works of art are examined as expressions
of a culture, a historical period, the creative personality, and process of making art.
IAI CODE(S): F2 900
PREREQUISITES: none
REQUIRED READING:
Prebles’ Artforms, 8th edition, by Patrick Frank. Prentice Hall, 2006. ISBN: 0-13-193081-8
Notes about the Textbook:
Previous editions may not be substituted.
We will not use the CD that comes with the book in our class, however, it does have some
interesting multimedia files on it that you may want to peruse at your leisure.
You do not have to buy a handout packet for the online section.
2. Course Objectives & Requirements
COURSE OBJECTIVES & REQUIREMENTS
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
a) Identify great works of art as expressions of world culture
b) Know the creative personalities of great artists, art movements, and cultures.
c) Understand the various creative processes involved in making art.
d) Be introduced to the world of the visual fine and applied arts through important works of art.
e) Discuss the form and content of significant works of art.
CLASS SUMMARY
During this session, the student will learn about all aspects of art appreciation. The student will
study the visual elements and the principles of design and will use that information in analyses of
works of art. The student will also be able to identify the function and meaning of specific works
as part of material culture, as well as learn to appreciate the technical skill required to use various
media. All of these serve to fulfill the central function of the course: to give the student the tools
necessary to further his or her own interest in art later in life. Students will come to value the
contributions of art to our global society and apply that appreciation as appropriate in their cultural
lives and/or careers.
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS
Digital audio & visual lecture/slide presentations
Independent study
Online class/group discussions
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
4 Exams @ 50 pts each
Discussions
Art Analysis Paper
Art Project
TOTAL
200
100
100
100
500 points
GRADING SCALE
450-500 = A
400-449 = B
350-399 = C
300-349 = D
299 or below = F
3. Grading Policies: Late Work Policy
GRADING POLICIES
Exams - Exam questions are in multiple choice, T/F, and short essay formats, and are
administered online in a time-limited format. An exam will include material from lecture &
textbook.
Assignments - You will have two major assignments this semester: the Art Analysis Paper and
the Art Project. Assignments are graded on their conformation to specifications as well as their
quality in execution & effort. The format of each assignment will be fully explained several weeks
before it is due.
Late Assignments: In an online class, you have the benefit of being able to turn in your
assignments electronically at your own convenience. Therefore, make-up exams and late
assignments, including discussions, are only accepted under emergency or extraordinary
circumstances. Before your first assignment is due, we will discuss how to electronically submit
an assignment.
Technical difficulties are only rarely accepted as excuses for late work. In cases such as a shut
down of MyBlackHawk, extensions may be given. However, individual end-user problems
(modem/broadband not working at last minute, browser problems, etc) are not reasons for
extension. More information on technical difficulties is provided in the Orientation ("Getting
Started").
Discussions - Discussion Assignments are an important part of class participation. The weekly
Discussion Assignments are worth 6-8 points each. You must complete them by the Module due
date (every Monday at 9:30 AM) in order to get credit.
Absences - Because you can access this course from anywhere with an internet connection, our
normal understanding of "absence" doesn't really apply. However, I understand that at times a
student may be completely unavailable for several days due to an emergency. If you foresee the
need for a lengthy absence away from a computer, such as a scheduled hospitalization, notify me
immediately. Otherwise, contact me immediately upon return from your absence.
Excused absences must be documented and are granted solely at my discretion.
Drops - "Non-attending students" will be withdrawn from the course at any time the ICCB or the
Financial Aid office requests such action, or if the student fails to respond to contact from the
instructor. A “non-attending student” has not logged in for 2 weeks without prior notification of
absence, has not completed discussion assignments/exams for 2 weeks or more, and has made
no meaningful contact with the instructor during that time.
Extra Credit - Extra credit may be given in the form of a discussion assignment later in the
semester.
4. Assessment of Student Learning
ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING
In order to assess the success of classroom strategies, your instructor has developed student
learning outcomes tools to be administered at various points throughout the semester as
"Surveys". These tools have no bearing on your grade, but provide the instructor and department
with invaluable information. Also, written work submitted by students may be copied for inclusion
in the BHC portfolio of general education artifacts. If your work is submitted to the collection, your
anonymity will be ensured.
5. Students with Special Needs
STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
For student convenience and to anticipate accommodating some special needs students, your
content is presented in both text and audio format. If you feel you will need special assistance
due to the impact of a disability, please contact Disability Services at 796-5900 (796-5903 TTY) in
Building 1 Room 240 to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented
disabilities.
Once you have discussed your needs with Disability Services, email me to discuss your specific
needs. I am always happy to work with you to get you the support services you need.
6. Course Content Disclaimer
COURSE CONTENT
In their work, artists sometimes engage subjects that can be offensive to some people. Images
we see in class reflect these topics, and so you will see works that depict nudity, violence, and
lifestyles and religions to which you do not subscribe. As in any college-level class, some
objectivity and open-mindedness is required on your part in the study of art and art history.
By remaining registered for this course after reading the syllabus, you agree that, as an adult
student, you do not hold the instructor responsible for protecting you from imagery or knowledge
that doesn’t conform to your personal beliefs. Specifically, you understand that the instructor will
not censor images that contain nudity.
7. Student Conduct
POLICIES CONCERNING STUDENT CONDUCT
Since we don't actually meet face to face in this course, our student conduct concerns are very
different. We don't have to worry about cell phones going off, or people chatting during lecture, or
students looking over one another's shoulders during an exam. But, as you can imagine, there is
a whole new set of issues of conduct that come with an online course.
There are some very basic tenets of conduct that we will follow:
First, treat your classmates and instructor with respect during online contact.
Attempt to apply standard written grammar, spelling, and punctuation in threaded discussions,
emails, and online office hours. This demonstrates your respect for your fellow classmates and
instructor.
Finally, academic dishonesty is reason for failure and/or dismissal from the course. Academic
integrity is discussed in the next section.
8. Academic Integrity: Cheating, Plagiarism
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
A student should always be concerned with the appearance of his or her academic integrity.
"Academic dishonesty" is defined as a violation of academic integrity. Academic dishonesty
includes cheating and plagiarism in any work submitted for evaluation, including exams, papers,
discussion contributions, and artwork.
CHEATING
The definition of in-class cheating encompasses any method of subverting or attempting to
subvert the integrity of the exam environment. In this online course, cheating includes looking at
notes or your book during the exam, or accepting help from others during an exam. While our
exams are not proctored, you will be expected to follow the honor system. If she has reason to
believe a student is not following the honor system, the instructor reserves the right to submit that
student to an essay examination or give a grade of "0", whichever is more appropriate.
PLAGIARISM
Plagiarism (cheating on outside work) includes but is not limited to the following actions:
- Submitting a work (written or artistic) produced wholly or in part by someone else, or with an
amount or degree of help that would be considered excessive by a reasonable person.
- Quoting or paraphrasing a source in a way that implies the student is the author of the idea or
language (e.g. failure to use quotation marks and/or footnotes when warranted).
- Borrowing theses, theories, outlines, artistic compositions, or other ideas or organizational
structures from others without citing a source and/or changing it significantly.
While not considered “plagiarism” per se, it is also cheating to submit any work (written or artistic)
you produced in a different course or in a previous semester without the consent of the instructor.
Although plagiarism is sometimes not a deliberate act of deception, but an oversight on the part
of the student, intent is something that cannot be proven. For this reason, you should be
concerned with the appearance of academic integrity from your first semester in college, if not
earlier.
Academic integrity is sometimes more complicated than we realize, and so it should not be a
taboo subject. If you aren't sure if your work conforms to standards of academic integrity, I will be
happy to help you. Since plagiarism is against the law, claiming ignorance of it no excuse. You
are responsible for your own academic integrity. When in doubt as to whether he/she is
plagiarizing, an academically honest student will ask for help from the instructor.
Academic dishonesty is a serious violation. The minimum penalty is a 0 for the exam/assignment,
but further action may be taken. In the event that a student exhibits academic dishonesty more
than once, the student will be subject to further action as described in the Student and Faculty
Handbooks.