Course Description and Objectives

This section of GEP 397 ("A Tale of Three Superpowers") compares the three greatest superpowers of all time: the Roman Empire, the Russian Empire/Soviet Union, and the United States. The course is designed to provide insight into the rise and decline of superpowers and to help the student comprehend America's historic role in foreign affairs. On completing the course, the student will have developed the following abilities:

• To better appreciate the United States's roles and responsibilities as a superpower by examining the experiences of  two other historical superpowers: the Roman Empire and the Russian Empire/Soviet Union.
• To better appreciate one's individual rights, roles and responsibilities as an American citizen by examining the individual rights, roles and responsibilities existing in the Roman Empire and the Russian Empire/Soviet Union.
• To better appreciate the balance between civilian authority and military power in the United States by examining how this balance was maintained (or not maintained) in the Roman Empire and the Russian Empire/Soviet Union.
• To develop further the ability to assess information sources critically, to formulate one's own opinions clearly, and to express these opinions in public strongly but politely.

Course Policy

You will receive the CD-ROMs at the orientation session..You may also read the lectures at the class Wiki (http://eefy.editme.com). The class Wiki also contains review materials which you should find very helpful. Since this is a distance-learning course, there is no formal attendance policy. Alternative exams will be allowed only in case of documented emergency (or through the Learning Diagnostic Center; see below).

Letter grades will be assigned on the standard Missouri State University curve: 90-100%= A; 80-89%= B; 70-79%= C; 60-69%= D; 59%-below= F.

Course Grading

There will be three Hour Examinations over the course of the semester, each worth 30% of your final grade. Each of the three Hour Examinations will be worth 100 points. 70% of the score will be based on objective questions (identification, short-answer, matching), and 30% will be based on the essay question. Each examination will focus primarily on the two units indicated, but you can expect material from previous units to reappear. For example, the term imperium is introduced in Unit 1 and fully discussed in Unit 2, but will be used constantly for the remainder of the course.

• Hour Exam 1: Unit 1 (America 1500-1865),  Unit 2 (The Roman Republic)
• Hour Exam 2: Unit 3 (The Roman Empire), Unit 4 (The Russian Empire)
• Hour Exam 3: Unit 5 (The Soviet Union), Unit 6 (America 1865-Present)

The last 10% of  your final grade will come from your Written Project, a "position piece" in which you express your view of the United States's future based on what you have learned in the course. Information on the Written Project can be found at the class Wiki (http://eefy.editme.com).Your grades on the examinations and the written project will be posted on Blackboard, so it is essential that you register. If you have any questions about a grade you received or about the grading of your work in general, please bring it to the instructor's attention as soon as possible.

Nondiscrimination Policy:

Missouri State University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution, and maintains a grievance procedure available to any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against. At all times, it is your right to address inquiries or concerns about possible discrimination to the Office for Equity and Diversity, Siceluff Hall 296, (417) 836-4252. Other types of concerns (i.e., concerns of an academic nature) should be discussed directly with your instructor and can also be brought to the attention of the Modern and Classical Languages Department Head. 

Disability Accommodation Policy:

To request academic accommodations for a disability, contact the Director of Disability Services, Plaster Student Union, Suite 405, (417) 836-4192 or (417) 836-6792 (TTY), http://www.missouristate.edu/disability.  Students are required to provide documentation of disability to Disability Services prior to receiving accommodations. Disability Services refers some types of accommodation requests to the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, which also provides diagnostic testing for learning and psychological disabilities. For information about testing, contact the Director of the Learning Diagnostic Clinic, (417) 836-4787, http://psychology.missouristate.edu/ldc.

Academic Dishonesty Policy:

Missouri State University is a community of scholars committed to developing educated persons who accept the responsibility to practice personal and academic integrity.  You are responsible for knowing and following the university’s student honor code, Student Academic Integrity Policies and Procedures, available at http://www.missouristate.edu/provost/3935.htm and also available at the Reserves Desk in Meyer Library.  Any student participating in any form of academic dishonesty will be subject to sanctions as described in this policy.

Exam Dates:

• Hour Exam 1: Monday, 25 February 2008, at 5:30 pm
• Hour Exam 2: Monday, 07 April 2008, at 5:30 pm
• Hour Exam 3: Monday, 12 December 2008, at 5:45 pm