Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

World History to 1500 C.E. (Online)

HIST 1500-30I

Course: HIST 1500-30I
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: HSOC
CRN: 11086

Course Description

This survey examines the political, social, cultural, economic, religious, scientific, and intellectual influences on the development of world civilizations to 1500 C.E. The emphasis is global, comparative, and multicultural. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Required Texts

Required e-textbook:  Robert W. Strayer and Eric W. Nelson, Ways of the World with Sources (1-Term Access), 5th ed. (Boston and New York, 2022), ISBN: 9781319381691.  This ISBN edition provides an access code to Achieve, which houses the LearningCurve quizzes and the e-textbook (or e-book).  There is no hardcopy textbook for this course.

Learning Outcomes

Students will be able to:

    Demonstrate understanding of relevant social and behavioral science methodologies and how they are used to understand or explain human relations or interactions
    Identify general principles of behavioral and social functioning
    Connect those questions and issues to the students’ own experiences
    Demonstrate a critically reasoned understanding of social patterns and individual variation congruent with and divergent from those patterns.

Copied from General Education, GE Requirements, Breadth Area Requirements & Learning Outcomes (www.suu.edu/academics/ge/)

Course Requirements

In this course, students are required to complete 10 of 12 LearningCurve quizzes, eleven of twelve chapter quizzes (chapters in the required e-textbook), a Components of a College essay research project and a final exam composed of term identifications (define 26 from a list of 28).

Course Outline

Firstly, a chapter from the course e-textbook is assigned for reading, and next, the student will answer a LearningCurve (LC) quiz in Achieve on that information.  The code you purchase allows you to access Achieve with the chapters to be read in the e-book and the LC quizzes for each chapter.  The LC quizzes do not have time limits.  LC quizzes are intuitive; when a student answers a question correctly, the following statements are incrementally more detailed or analytical.  If a wrong answer is chosen, the student is given directions with options on how to determine the right answer.  Each LC quiz has a 'content' target score to be achieved, which is recorded as a quiz score of 10 points.  Twelve LC quizzes are offered; however, only the highest ten LC quiz scores are used to calculate a student's grade score.  Due dates are indicated in Modules.

Secondly, you will take the assigned chapter quiz in Canvas after answering the connected LC quiz.  Most statements in chapter quizzes have been drawn from the authors' test bank; they can be very specific.  You may find the statements on chapter quizzes inordinately specific and difficult to recall such precise information.  I have no simple or easy solution to remedy this matter.  The statements on Praxis exams are also specific and precise; for that reason, I have revised some statements but left many statements 'unrevised.'  The chapter quizzes comprise 25 multiple-choice statements, each worth one point.  For evaluation and scoring purposes, a grade of 23 on a chapter quiz is weighted at 100%; thus, two points extra credit is possible on each quiz.   You may take all 12 chapter quizzes to see if you score better on another chapter quiz, but only 11 scores are kept for grading (no bonus points for taking all 12 quizzes).  While taking the chapter quizzes, students must answer the statements from memory and not look up answers.  The chapter quizzes are 'closed' web-page exams; once you have opened a quiz, you are not to leave that web screen.

Thirdly, complete the "Components of a College Essay" assignment.  This project does not require writing an essay, but you will do the preparatory work to write an essay with peer-reviewed sources.  Set aside plenty of time to conduct research and precise writing/typing.  After completing this assignment and the last chapter quiz, review the "Final Exam Study Guide" (in Modules), and, fourthly, you are ready for the final exam.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

It is of prime importance that you read carefully the syllabus, all instructions and give attention to deadlines.  This is a self-paced course.  You may begin completing assignments as soon as you wish; any assignment, including the final exam, may be completed before its due date.  Extensions on assignments after their due dates will not be granted except in extraordinary circumstances.  "Extraordinary" is defined as an unexpected illness, an accident (I hope not), a family emergency, or some other incident or situation that I reckon 'extraordinary.'  Overlooking a due date or an unexpected change in a schedule are not "extraordinary circumstances."  Plan ahead.  If you inform me before a deadline that you will not be able to meet said deadline, I will, in all likelihood, allow an extension.  Requesting an extension after a deadline has passed will not succeed unless your reason for missing a deadline meets the "extraordinary" criteria, and yes, it does 'hurt to ask,' for unless one's reason is truly exceptional, asking would be a waste of your time and mine.  Extra credit work is not offered. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance is not evaluated for this online course.

Course Fees

SUU charges a $15 fee on all online courses.

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.