HUM400 - Humanities: The Development of Western Thought IV

Subject Title
Humanities: The Development of Western Thought IV

Subject Description

HUM400 extends the themes and chronology introduced in HUM100, HUM200, and HUM301 beginning with the French Revolution and extending to the contemporary world. The course focusses on the emergence of industrialism, nationalism, and modernity during the 19th Century and the influence of those broad historical currents on Western society, culture, politics, and economics. In its study of the 20th Century, the course places particular emphasis on the challenges raised by ideologies such as liberalism, socialism, totalitarianism and militarism. The multi-disciplinary approach, with its variety of lecturing faculty members, continues in HUM400. Upon completing HUM400, students will be familiar with the major historical currents of the modern world.

Credit Status
This course is required for all students in the Liberal Arts Program.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

1. Analyze major geopolitical events of the modern period in order to trace their causes and their roles in shaping the present.
2. Contextualize cultural and intellectual developments in modern western culture, considering their origins, their connections to contemporary political and economic realities, and/or their effects on our own world.
3. Assess the ways in which wealth, class, gender, religion, ethnicity, and other factors have been connected to social and political power and/or marginalization in the 19th and 20th centuries.
4. Critically analyze a variety of primary source documents to explain key ideas, perspectives, and customs in modern western society.
5. Compose a unified and well-developed essay, supported with relevant facts and ideas synthesized from multiple sources.

Essential Employability Skills

    •  Communicate clearly, concisely and correctly in the written, spoken and visual form that fulfils the purpose and meets the needs of the audience.

    •  Respond to written, spoken, or visual messages in a manner that ensures effective communication.

    •  Use a variety of thinking skills to anticipate and solve problems.

    •  Locate, select, organize, and document information using appropriate technology and information systems.

    •  Analyze, evaluate, and apply relevant information from a variety of sources.

    •  Show respect for diverse opinions, values, belief systems, and contributions of others.

    •  Interact with others in groups or teams in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and the achievement of goals.

    •  Manage the use of time and other resources to complete projects.

    •  Take responsibility for one's own actions, decisions, and consequences.

Academic Integrity
Seneca upholds a learning community that values academic integrity, honesty, fairness, trust, respect, responsibility and courage. These values enhance Seneca's commitment to deliver high-quality education and teaching excellence, while supporting a positive learning environment. Ensure that you are aware of Seneca's Academic Integrity Policy which can be found at: http://www.senecapolytechnic.ca/about/policies/academic-integrity-policy.html Review section 2 of the policy for details regarding approaches to supporting integrity. Section 2.3 and Appendix B of the policy describe various sanctions that can be applied, if there is suspected academic misconduct (e.g., contract cheating, cheating, falsification, impersonation or plagiarism).

Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
All students and employees have the right to study and work in an environment that is free from discrimination and/or harassment. Language or activities that defeat this objective violate the College Policy on Discrimination/Harassment and shall not be tolerated. Information and assistance are available from the Student Conduct Office at student.conduct@senecapolytechnic.ca.

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

By attending live classes, students are consenting to the collection and use of their personal information for the purposes of administering the class and associated coursework. To learn more about Seneca's privacy practices, visit Privacy Notice.