I. History 4A-Online is a college-level transfer course that broadly surveys the history of the world’s major civilizations from pre-history to the 17^th century. History 4A-Online’s course content and expected student outcomes are the same as those of traditional History 4A on-campus courses; however, instead of classroom experiences, in this course everything is presented and mastered online. There are no on-campus classes or meetings. While there are due dates for assignments, students work independently and schedule their own online hours. Student-student contact is limited, therefore, to online chat rooms and discussion sites. Instructor-student contact is by e-mail, telephone, regular mail, and/or individual student-instructor on-campus conferences.

Please be aware that online courses are not for everyone. An online course may have long reading assignments and be much harder than expected. Moreover, both the companionship and anonymity of the classroom do not exist. Online, it’s difficult to socialize with classmates or hide from the instructor. With no mandatory classes, it’s also easy to let course work slide. Online success, then, requires more student dedication and self-discipline than on-campus courses.

II. There is a required text available at the Merced College Bookstore:

McKay, John P. et. al. A History of World Societies Vol I, to 1715; 7th^th edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, 2007.

III. Student evaluation is determined by an accumulated point system based on

A. Unit Tests that cover the assigned material

B. Essay questions that challenge critical thinking skills

C. Class discussions that demonstrate course understanding

The grade scale (based on earned points) is as follows:

"A" = 90% or more

"B" = 80-89%

"C" = 70-79%

"D" = 60-69%

"F" = 59% or below

IV. In this course, a "civilization" is defined as a culture sufficiently complex to have cities and, in most cases, a system of writing. In addition to studying the "what" of each civilization’s political, economic, social, and intellectual experiences, this course explores the "why." Why did this happen? Why is it historically significant? Why does it make a difference to us today?

The basic course outline of History 4A-Online is as follows:

A. Unit I covers the background and development of the world’s oldest known civilizations, the roots of western civilization in the Near East; and eastern civilization in India, and China.

B. Unit II surveys the development of western civilization’s Mediterranean civilizations, Hindu India, Confucian China, and regional/global cultural interactions and impacts.

C. Unit III explores the history, culture, and regional/global interactions and impacts of the Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire, Classical India, and traditional China.

D. Unit IV focuses on the rise of European civilization from its origin to its height during the Middle Ages. The unit also covers the significance of non-European Mongol and Islamic global expansion.

E. Unit V surveys the background and development of maturing civilizations in Western and Eastern Europe, the Near East, India, and the Americas.

F. Unit VI again focuses on Europe and covers Europe’s religious/secular wars, rise of nation states, and age of discovery and exploration to 1650ce.

V. Registration is the same for both online and on-campus courses. If you have any further questions, please contact me by e-mail or telephone. I shall do my best to answer to your satisfaction.

(E-mail) Jones.m@mccd.edu

(Telephone) (209) 384-6073