Application for Certification of a Course as a General Education Course
CTE HUMANITIES AND FINE ARTS CATEGORY
Applicant: Cynthia Smith(for the department)
Course Alpha and Number: History 151
Course Title: World History to 1500
Explain how the learning taking place in this course (required course only) meets the hallmarks listed below for the
Humanities and Fine Arts General Education Category. Do one or both of the following:
Identify specific course SLOs that align with each hallmark.
Describe class assignments or activities in which students learn and/or demonstrate the hallmark objective.
Assignments and/or activities cited should be sufficiently important in terms of both time spent on them and
their impact on students’ final grades in the course.
Try to address all of the hallmarks. The strength of some responses should counterbalance the weakness of others. See
hallmark questions that should be addressed in response to each of the hallmarks. Also attach a copy of the official
course outline.
The Hallmarks:
There are five core SLOs common to all World History courses. Most or all of these SLOs directly meet all
four Hallmarks.
World History to 1500 (History 151) SLOs
1. demonstrate the ability to analyze and explain cause and effect relationships in history
2. summarize key ideas in history, including major world philosophies, religions, and political theories and systems
3. demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast historical experiences across cultures and time
4. describe and define major historical events, ideas, places, people, and other items of historical import
5. demonstrate their understanding of the historical roots of current events
The course…
1. promotes knowledge of the major trends, persons, and events in the historical development of world cultures.
SLO 1. demonstrate the ability to analyze and explain cause and effect relationships in history
SLO 2. summarize key ideas in history, including major world philosophies, religions, and political theories and systems
SLO 3. demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast historical experiences across cultures and time
SLO 4. describe and define major historical events, ideas, places, people, and other items of historical import
SLO 5. demonstrate their understanding of the historical roots of current events
2. promotes an understanding of how the arts and humanities reinforce human values and constitute
significant human activity in the creation and expression of those values.
SLO 2. summarize key ideas in history, including major world philosophies, religions, and political theories and systems
SLO 3. demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast historical experiences across cultures and time
SLO 4. describe and define major historical events, ideas, places, people, and other items of historical import
3. promotes the critical evaluation of different points of view and helps students develop reasoned and
persuasive arguments in support of different historical, philosophical, religious, political, and ethical concerns or
issues.
SLO 1. demonstrate the ability to analyze and explain cause and effect relationships in history
SLO 2. summarize key ideas in history, including major world philosophies, religions, and political theories and systems
SLO 3. demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast historical experiences across cultures and time
SLO 4. describe and define major historical events, ideas, places, people, and other items of historical import
SLO 5. demonstrate their understanding of the historical roots of current events
4. promotes an understanding and ability to interpret, through critical inquiry or direct experience, one or more
forms of artistic and humanistic expression (e.g., writing, visual or performing arts, historical analysis,
philosophical inquiry).
SLO 1. demonstrate the ability to analyze and explain cause and effect relationships in history
SLO 2. summarize key ideas in history, including major world philosophies, religions, and political theories and systems
SLO 3. demonstrate an ability to compare and contrast historical experiences across cultures and time
SLO 4. describe and define major historical events, ideas, places, people, and other items of historical import
SLO 5. demonstrate their understanding of the historical roots of current events
Applicant’s signature: _____________________________________________________ Date: _________________
Please submit this application to your division secretary
CTE Categories Hallmark Questions
CTE Humanities and Fine Arts Hallmark Questions
History 151 World History to 1500
Different instructors teach this course using common SLOs and similar assignments to promote students
mastery of these SLOs.
1. The course promotes knowledge of the major trends, persons, and events in the historical development of
world cultures.
Does the course content devote time tracing the stories of major events and influences in the historical experience of
world cultures. Yes. This course provides an overview of major world cultures from the origin of settled
civilizations (about 4,000 BCE) to the 16th century CE. Emphasis is on providing an overview understanding of
distinctive and influential societies, political systems, social systems, religions and philosophies and
technological developments. Unifying themes are addressed by evaluating impact of forces such as trade,
empires and cross-cultural interactions over time.
What topics are covered?
*Knowledge of how to understand and interpret history is done through study of historical methods and
sources e.g.: primary and secondary sources, use of art and literary sources to understand the past.
*Knowledge of prominent influences in historical developments is addressed through study of signficant
cradles/centers of world civilizations e.g.: Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, pre-Columbian American
societies, other Near Eastern societies, Mediterranean/European societies, Oceania cultures
*Knowledge of major forces in history is addressed through study of the rise, fall and influence of major
empires: e.g. Assyrian, Persian, Hellenistic, Roman, Arabic, Ottoman, Chinese, Mongol
*Knowledge of the role individuals play in historical events and changes is addressed through study of
the impact of influential leaders and thinkers e.g.: Alexander, First Emperor of China, Confucius, Genghis
Khan, Socrates, Augustus
*Knowledge of significant influences impacting cultural, social and political developments is addressed
through study of political major religious traditions (beliefs and historical impact) and philosophies e.g.:
ancient polytheistic beliefs, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam,
Greek and Roman philosophers
*Knowledge of major forces in history is addressed through study of significant and shared influences
e.g.: trade, technological changes, diseases, artistic and literary expressions etc.
In what level of detail?
The course traces influential human societies and experiences over 5,000 years so coverage of each specific topic is
relatively brief; emphasis is on understanding major events, tenets and forces and helping students identify broader
patterns through cross-cultural comparisons and analysis of significant trends and influences.
What are students asked to do to demonstrate this knowledge?
 Quizzes and exams –identification of key terms and written explanations of cause and effect relations,
comparisons between cultures/ideas etc..
 Formal written essays
 Work with maps
 Work analyzing primary sources
 Project-based demonstration of knowledge
2. The course promotes an understanding of how the arts and humanities reinforce human values and constitute
significant human activity in the creation and expression of those values.
Does the course specifically address topics that develop student understanding of how art and other humanities
disciplines (e.g. philosophy, religion, history, political science, literature, interdisciplinary studies) are areas of thought and
expression that help societies define and explore human values? Yes
What topics are covered?
*Knowledge of significant influences impacting cultural, social and political developments is addressed
through study of major religious traditions (beliefs and historical impact) and philosophies e.g.: ancient
polytheistic beliefs, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Greek
and Roman philosophers
*Knowledge of the role of artistic expression and seminal artistic works as they influence and reflect
historical experiences is addressed through study of influential artistic traditions and achievements e.g.:
epic stories such as Epic of Gilgamesh, Ramayana, Iliad and Odyssey, Vedas, Dao De Jing, Classical Greek and
Roman creations, European Renaissance.
In what level of detail?
Analysis is brief given the coverage of a world civilizations class. Focus is on understanding defining ideas and/or
innovative aspects of cultural expression and investigative ideas, as well as emphasizing how these cultural products
enable better understanding of cultures and values across time and geography.
What are students asked to do to demonstrate this knowledge?
 Quizzes and exams –identification of key terms and written explanations of cause and effect relations,
comparisons between cultures/ideas.
 Formal written essays
 Work analyzing primary sources
 Project based demonstrations of knowledge.
3. The course promotes the critical evaluation of different points of view and helps students develop reasoned
and persuasive arguments in support of different historical, philosophical, religious, political, and ethical
concerns or issues.
Does the course cover areas where there are debates and differences related to understanding human society and
experiences (e.g. debates about causes and effects of historical events, or issues in philosophy, differences between
religions, or debates about political topics or ethical issues?) Yes
What topics are covered?
*Knowledge of significant influences impacting cultural, social and political developments is addressed
through study of political systems, social structures and/or political philosophies e.g.: theocracy,
monarchies, Legalism, caste system, Greek poleis, Roman Republic, models of empire, Confucianism, feudalism,
*Knowledge of significant influences impacting cultural, social and political developments is addressed
through study of major religious traditions (beliefs and historical impact) and philosophies e.g.:
polytheistic beliefs, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Greek
and Roman philosophers
*Knowledge of important questions and debates in historical interpretation is addressed through study of
on-going debates e.g.: role of the individual, detecting bias in history, revisionist challenges to traditional theories
In what level of detail?
These thematic topics are covered in significant detail since these are comparative themes are addressed as the course
coverage several different topics and cultures. Emphasis is on comparisons between societies throughout the semester
highlighting differences and commonalities in human experiences.
What are students asked to do to demonstrate this knowledge?
 Quizzes and exams –identification of key terms, and written explanations of cause and effect relations,
comparisons between cultures/ideas.
 Formal written essays
 Work analyzing primary sources
 Project based demonstrations of knowledge.
4. The course promotes an understanding and ability to interpret, through critical inquiry or direct experience,
one or more forms of artistic and humanistic expression (e.g., writing, visual or performing arts, historical
analysis, philosophical inquiry).
Does the course requires students to show – by analyzing and interpretation, or applying in practice – their awareness of
how ideas are expressed through creative mediums (art, writing, philosophical ideas, historical theories etc.) Yes
What topics are covered?
*Knowledge of the role of artistic expression and seminal artistic works as they influence and reflect
historical experiences is addressed through study of influential artistic traditions and achievements e.g.:
epic stories such as Epic of Gilgamesh, Ramayana, Iliad and Odyssey, Vedas, Dao De Jing, Classical Greek and
Roman works, European Renaissance, religious based art (e.g. Christianity, Buddhism, Islam).
*Knowledge of significant influences impacting cultural, social and political developments is addressed
through study of political systems, social structures and/or political philosophies e.g.: theocracy, Legalism,
Roman republic, models of empire, Greek philosophies, Confucianism, feudalism,
*Knowledge of significant influences impacting cultural, social and political developments is addressed
through study of major religious traditions (beliefs and historical impact) and philosophies e.g.:
polytheistic beliefs, Hinduism, Buddhism, Shintoism, Daoism, Confucianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Greek
and Roman philosophers
In what level of detail?
Discussion of artistic and literary sources as a reflection of cultures is an integral component in the discussion of every
civilization/ era covered
What are students asked to do to demonstrate this knowledge?
 Quizzes and exams – identification of key terms, and written explanations of cause and effect relations,
comparisons between cultures/ideas.
 Formal written essays
 Work with maps
 Work analyzing primary sources
 Project based demonstrations of knowledge.