Arc de Triomphe History 102
001L
Western Civilizations After 1600
Northern Virginia
Community College

Mondays and Wednesdays,
9:35-10:55 am
LC-0313

Fall 2026		 Vienna Secession
Dr. Doug Campbell, docampbell@nvcc.edu,Office: LC- 320
 Office Hours in LC-320: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9-9:30 am, 12:30-1:30 pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays 3-4 pm
Office Hours via Zoom Appointment: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1pm-3pm, Thursday, 6-7pm
Please email me at least 24 hours in advance to schedule an appointment if you need to consult during office hours.
Welcome
Readings
Grading and Due Dates
Expectations
Description of Course Elements
Course Schedule
NOVA Policies & Resources

Welcome to History 102

This is class about the past 400 years of the West's existence, and how we as a species have ended up in the situation in which we find ourselves in the 21st century. It's about the choices we have collectively made about how to live with one another, and the consequences that those choices have had, whether good or bad. One of things I find endlessly fascinating about studying human beings in the past is just how contingent and arbitrary so much of our lives have been. To put it simply, so much of what we assume is "natural," "essential," or "the way it's always been" shows itself to have simply been made up on the fly by people just as flawed and limited as we are in the present. Things that we assume to be enduring and unchanging in our society have in fact changed repeatedly over time. I find that super interesting, and more than that, hopeful. Since things have changed before, the good news is that if we don't like the way things are now, we can change them again. The study of history reveals that there is no one single way to be human. Our society is our creation and our responsibility to improve.

To that end, one of the aims of this class is to provide you witPh some alternative views of who we are by looking at who we have been in the past. It will hopefully provide you with a sense of how recent an invention the way we live in the present is by showing you how we used to live. To get the most out of this experience, however, you will need to keep in mind that learning is not a spectator sport. You can't just sit back passively and expect to get anything near the full benefit of this class. You need to be actively engaged in your own education. I certainly have to play my part, and I promise to do my best to present an interesting and dynamic class which offers you all sorts of opportunities to learn cool stuff. The actual learning is your job, though. To put it another way, I can cook the most delicious banquet imaginable, and set the table in the most attractive way possible, piling it high with all sorts of fabulous delicacies. But in the end, you're the one who actually has to eat the meal. So if you're going to take this class, I'll ask you to make a conscious decision to engage in all of the opportunities available to you, and to commit to coming to all of the class sessions, to participating in an active and thoughtful manner in all of our class discussions, to completing all of the assigned readings, and to submitting all of the required assignments. If you do, I promise it will be worth your while. Your place at the table is set, and you are invited....

Stuff the College makes me include:
Course Description: Examines the development of western civilization from ancient times to the present. Part II of II.  Lecture 3 hours per week.
General Course Purpose: Surveys the general history of the Western world from about 1600 CE to the present and allows students to reach a basic understanding of the characteristic features of the Western world's historical development in that span of time. Students will learn about some of the important political, economic, social, intellectual, cultural and religious changes that shaped the development of West in this period of time.
Course Prerequisite/Corequisite: None
Course Objectives: Upon completion the course, the student will be able to:
Communication

            • Explain using written and oral communication the changing structures and development of Western civilization after 1600 CE.
            • Describe key people, periods, and events of Western civilization after 1600 CE using written and oral communication.          

Critical Thinking

            • Identify and evaluate the social, economic and political forces at work in the evolution of Western civilization from approximately 1600 CE to the present
            • Analyze how the people, events, and periods of history have determined present practices, policies, and beliefs.
            • Understand the general chronology and geography of Western history. • Evaluate the main forces or factors at work in the historical development of the West.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

The Age of Absolutism: Suggested Context Absolute Monarchy, Constitutional Monarchy, Hapsburg Dynasty, Philip II of Spain, Bourbon Dynasty of France, Catherine the Great of Russia,

            • Identify and/or explain the origins of Absolutism and Constitutionalism.
            • Compare and contrast the Absolute monarchy and Constitutional monarchy.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment: Suggested Context Kepler, Copernicus, Newton, Empiricism, Enlightenment Philosophy (Hume, Locke, Smith, Rousseau, etc.), Social Contract

            • Describe how the Scientific Revolution impacted religious, political, and cultural institutions by challenging how people viewed the world.
            • Explain the Enlightenment thinkers applied reason to discover natural laws.
            • Analyze how Enlightenment ideas challenged practices related to traditional authority.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Age of Revolution: Suggested Context Nationalism, American Revolution, French Revolution, Latin American Independence Movements, Napoleon, Metternich, Unification of Italy, Unification of Germany

            • Identify how Enlightenment philosophy inspired the Age of Revolution.
            • Explain how the revolutionary leaders of this time embodied or complicated the philosophies of the Enlightenment.
            • Describe the historical origins of the nation or nation-state, and the emergence of nationalism in the world.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Industrial Revolution: Suggested Context Child Labor, Industrial Technology, Monopoly, Strikes and Unions, Factory System, Urbanization, Marxism and Communism, The ‘Working Class’

            • Identify the origins of the Industrial Revolution.
            • Describe how the Industrial Revolution changed society.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Imperialism: Suggested Context Debate over White Man’s Burden, Anti-Colonial Thought, European Colonies (i.e, the Congo, India, Vietnam, etc.), Race and Culture, Rebellions and Uprisings

            • Analyze and explain the political, economic and social roots of imperialism.
            • Evaluate the stated purposes/intended impacts of imperialism and how the colonized resisted them.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
            • Analyze the importance of racial hierarchies to European imperialism.

World War I: Suggested Context Schlieffen Plan, Trench Warfare, Russian Revolution, Treaty of Versailles, Propaganda, Home Front, Military technology (i.e, planes, tanks, automatic weaponry, chemical warfare, etc.)

            • Identify the causes of World War I.
            • Analyze the progression of the war and its ultimate outcomes.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Era Between Wars: Suggested Context Great Depression, Russian Revolution, Lost Generation, Totalitarian Regimes, Weimar Republic, Popular Nationalisms

            • Analyze the rise and impact of totalitarianism in Europe and/or the rest of the world.
            • Compare the economic and military power shifts caused by World War I and/or the Great Depression.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.
            • Explain societal transformations in the aftermath of the First World War and their impact on interwar social and political movements.

World War II: Suggested Context Appeasement, Holocaust, Blitzkrieg, D-Day, Internment Camps, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Hitler, Churchill, Home Front, Propaganda

            • Explain the key causes of World War II  • Analyze the progression of the war and its ultimate outcomes.
            • Evaluate the impact of genocide and the Holocaust within the context of the war.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Decolonization: Suggested Context Indigenous People, Self-Determination, Multinational States, Globalization, Algerian War, Partition of India

            • Analyze the reasons for decolonization and how nationalism and nationalistic leaders led the demand for colonial independence.
            • Evaluate the impact of independence for former colonies.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.


Cold War: Suggested Context Truman Doctrine, Marshall Plan, NATO and the Warsaw Pact, Cuban Missile Crisis, Korean War, Vietnam War, Brinksmanship vs. Détente, Civil Rights Movement, Iron Curtain and the Berlin Wall

            • Explain the ideological, economic, and military origins of the Cold War.
            • Analyze the impacts of the Cold War on world politics, society, and/or the economy.
            • Analyze and evaluate complex historical sources and materials and reach conclusions based on interpretations of primary and secondary resources.

Major Topics to be Included

            • The Age of Absolutism
            • Scientific Revolution and Enlightenment
            • Age of Revolution
            • Industrial Revolution
            • Imperialism
            • World War I
            • World War II
            • Decolonization
            • Cold War  

 
Readings


There are no books you need to purchase for this class. We will be making use, as much as possible, of Open Educational Resources (OER) which are available online for free.

Even though we have left the more traditional paper textbook-oriented model of a history class behind, however, this course still requires you to do a great deal of reading, writing, and, above all, thinking.  You should take the course readings seriously, and make sure to keep up with the reading assignments described below in the Class Schedule.

Course readings should be completed BEFORE you log into the class for which they are assigned. It is especially important to read the primary sources assigned each week. Taking notes on them, marking the most important passages, and jotting down any questions you might have is highly encouraged.

NOVA ALL ACCESS TEXTBOOK PROGRAM:  When you register for classes each semester, you’re automatically enrolled in NOVA All Access and charged a fee of $22.50 per credit hour. The fee will appear on your student account, along with your tuition and other fees.  YOU need to decide if the fee benefits you.  And YOU need to opt out if it does not save you money.  Complete details about the NOVA All Access program are available here.

How do you determine if the program saves you money?  Use this Google Sheets calculator tool to decide whether the All Access cost is higher than your materials would cost to get on your own.  Here is a video tutorial about how to use the Google Sheets calculator tool.
How do you opt out if it does not save you money?  If the program does not save you money, YOU CAN OPT OUT and get your money back to buy your textbooks independently.  For most students, the opt out deadline will be February 6.  Click here and click a SMALL link just above FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS that says “Opt Out of NOVA All-Access.” 
Grading and Due Dates

Your overall grade for the class will consist of the following elements. Assignments which are not turned in will not receive any points. No work for the course will be accepted after May 12-- no exceptions!

See the NOVA Academic Calendar for a list of important dates and deadlines this semester.
Scores will be posted on Canvas, and will be accompanied by general comments about the strengths and weaknesses of your work.  If you would like a more detailed description of aspects of the assignment which could be improved, just ask me and I will be happy to provide one.
Course Element Points Due Date
Attendance and Participation 15% Every Class
Book Review  10% October 18
Annotated Bibliography, Part 1
 10% November 1
Annotated Bibliography, Part 2
 		10% November 8
Research Project
25% Project due November 22
Reflections due November 29
Exams 30% Midterm, October 14
Final, December 9


Grading Scale

Your final grade for the course will be calculated according to the scale below. 

Points
 		Final Course Grade
Above 90% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
59% and Below F

Expectations

You will need access to the internet and to word processing software for this class.  You should be familiar with using Canvas (the College's learning management system) in order to submit assignments and view your grades, and you should regularly check your NOVA email account, which is the only way I have of getting in touch with you outside of class.
Guidelines for Conduct During Class Meetings


Our in person class sessions are a very important part of your learning process, and represent an opportunity for you to interact with both me and your classmates. To get the most out of our class meetings, I'm asking you to adhere to the following guidelines.

Attendance: First and foremost, you actually need to be in class to benefit from our activities. You will need to attend every class session and be actively engaged in everything going on. Moreover, attending means being on time and not leaving early, which can be disruptive to your classmates' learning process. Certainly, isolated exceptions can be made for unusual occurences such as illnesses, accidents, or family emergencies, but these should be rare. Repeated absences or late arrivals will negatively impact your grade. You are also responsible for knowing about all information discussed and all announcements made in class. Being absent is not an excuse for being unfamiliar with something discussed in a given class session. 

Electronic Devices: Few things are more persistently harmful to the learning environment than the distraction provided by internet-enabled devices such as smart phones and laptops. Nothing is more precious than being in control of your own thoughts, and you should guard against people who make vast profits by capturing your attention and keeping you from concentrating on anything else. Let's be clear: multitasking is a myth. You may think that you can learn in class while also being involved in other online activities, but you're wrong about that. To that end, I am going to insist on no screens in class other than the relatively rare instances which I will specify. Unless you hear me explicitly say otherwise during a class session, you should not have your phone or laptop out at all. They should be silenced and stowed out of sight until the end of class.

Preparing for Class: You should make sure that you have completed the assigned readings and any required assignments specified on the Course Schedule below before you walk into that class meeting. You may be asked to discuss both readings and assignments, so you should have access to them during class either by bringing hard copies or taking notes in advance to which you can refer. You should especially make sure you are ready to talk about the readings labeled as "Discussion Sources."

Note Taking: In order to help you focus on what is going on in class and to remember it later, I strongly recommend that you take notes. While you certainly do not need to transcribe every last word which is said, writing down the main ideas and most important details is indispensable for your success as a student. I will sometimes use slides and other visual aids, but you should not feel like you need to copy the material found there verbatim; instead, focus on absorbing the gist of what is being said in class and translating it into your own words. Since I've already asked you not to use laptops, paper and a pen or pencil is the way to go when it comes to note taking. If for some reason this request poses a special difficulty for you, feel free to get in touch with me and we can talk about your situation.

Disruptive Behavior: Please be considerate of the other people involved in this class. Private conversations during lecture or class discussions all can distract and disturb the rest of us. If you have a question or a comment on the course material, please raise your hand and wait to be called on. Please do also keep in mind that there are other students in class who will also want to ask questions and make comments. Allow them the opportunity to do so and do not dominate the entire conversation.

Abuse: Any student who seems to be under the influence of alcohol or intoxicating drugs, or who is abusive or violent will be referred to the appropriate College authorities.

Don't Be Mean: You are expected to treat your fellow students with respect and a spirit of generosity and good-will. If you have a problem with one of the other students that you are unable to resolve on your own, please contact the professor for guidance and assistance.
 
Announcements: If there is something I need to communicate to the class, I will post an announcement to the course Canvas page. It is the your responsibility to check the course's Canvas page and your College email account in a timely manner in order to receive information on the substitute assignment and when it is due. You should adjust the settings of your Canvas account to make sure that you are promptly notified.

Course Content Warning: Lectures and course materials may contain disturbing content, including, but not limited to: violence, sexual assault, war crimes, genocide, mental or physical illnesses or disabilities, discrimination or persecution on the basis of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, and/or sexual orientation, etc. If you have been personally impacted by one or more of these topics and suffer from PTSD, please email me if you would like prior notification of lectures containing discussions of the effecting topics. In general, however, you should assume that this is class for adults which encompasses uncomfortable topics that you are expected to handle in a mature manner.

Accommodations: Students requiring special accommodations for assignments or exams should have the appropriate forms from the Disability Support Service (DSS).  Forms should be given to me no fewer than 7 days before the date the assignment or exam requiring the accommodation is due, and preferably at the very beginning of the semester. Please also feel free to discuss any special needs you have with me.
Guidelines for Written Work

Formatting for Papers: All written work should be double spaced, using 12 point Times New Roman font and one inch margins.  All papers must be word processed and submitted through Canvas as files in .doc, .docx, .pdf, or .rtf format (no .pages format files, please).  E-mail submissions will not be accepted.  See this rubric for a more detailed description of how you will be graded.

Style and Grammar: All of your work for this class must present a main argument or thesis which addresses the question(s) posed by the assignment, should support that argument with evidence, and should be written in grammatical and stylistically correct English.  Make sure to proofread and use spell-check. For information on writing papers for this class, make sure to read my Tips for History Papers page.  You also might want to consult the following handy websites:
     
        Patrick Rael, "Avoid Common Mistakes In Your History Paper"
        Steven Kreis, "Writing the Short Essay"


Citations:  In written work for this class, you MUST include a formal citation any time you refer to a specific passage in a text, even if you do not quote the text directly.  The required method for citing sources in this class is the Chigago Manual of Style's format, which is the standard for the discipline of history.  According to this format, at the end of any sentence or paragraph drawn from a specific part of a source, you insert superscript number which corresponds to a footnote at the bottom of the page with the appropriate bibliographic information.  Number your footnotes consecutively. Consult the previous web link for more detailed information on citations in this format.  You also might find these websites (https://libguides.nvcc.edu/ChicagoTurabian & https://www.plagiarism.org/article/what-are-footnotes) and this video on "How To Use Chicago-Style Footnotes In A History Paper"  helpful. EVERY PAPER you complete for this class should include a bibliography at the end listing all of the sources you consulted (even if the list includes only one source).  Your bibliography page does not count toward the page length of your assignment. Papers without appropriate Chicago-format footnotes will receive a 20% penalty.

Plagiarism: Plagiarized work will not be accepted for this class. Any student caught plagiarizing or cheating in this course will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including at a minimum no credit whatsoever for the assignment or exam in question.  Procedures for disciplinary measures and appeals are outlined in the NOVA Student Handbook. Particularly flagrant instances of cheating or multiple instances of plagiarism may result in a grade of "F" for the course.

Please note that even copying a sentence or two from another source without citing it is enough to trigger a plagiarism penalty.  Likewise, changing a word here or there from content which you copy is still plagiarism.  Your work should be entirely in your own words except for the passages which you quote and appropriately cite.

For a bit more discussion on why you will probably get caught if you try to use the web to plagiarize, see "How Dumb Do They Think We Are?" by Jonathan Malesic.  All of your papers for the class will be checked for plagiarism by Turnitin software.

A.I. Writing Tools: Various tools which use artificial intelligence to generate text suggest intriguing possibilities for the future of writing. Right now, however, they are fairly crude, and do not do a good job of producing well-written papers which fulfill the specifications of course assignments. Moreover, part of what you are here to do is to get some practice in how to write and think for yourself. Therefore, assignments which make use of A.I. generated content will not be accepted, and trying to use A.I. writing tools to substitute for your own writing will likely be a waste of your time. This policy includes writing assistance tools such as Grammarly-- please don't use them. If I suspect you have used substantial A.I. assistance on an assignment, I reserve the right to insist that you schedule a meeting with me to discuss the work in question to make sure that you personally crafted it before you can receive a grade. Please see the following video for a more detailed discussion of why using A.I. on your assignments is a really bad idea: Is Using A.I. On A College Paper B.S.?
Late Work:  Class assignments may be submitted for up to one week after the specified due date with a 10% late penalty. After one week, they will no longer be accepted (The only exceptions to this policy of the proposals for the Research Project and Book Review). The in class exams may not be completed late. Make-up exams will only given in cases of documented emergencies.

You cannot resubmit revised work for a higher score once it has been graded.
Guidelines for E-Mail Communication

The easiest way to contact me outside of class is through e-mail.  In order to receive a response to your message, however, your e-mail must contain the following elements:
Messages sent using "text-ese" or rude or abusive language will be ignored (b/c it makes u look ignorant d00d)!

I have on average between 150-200 students a semester, so you need to provide me with as much information as possible if you want a timely answer to your message.  Please allow at least 48 hours before following up.  If you haven't received a response within a couple of days, however, feel free to nag me.
Description of Course Elements

Research Project


Introducing the Research Project:

The most important part of your work for this semester will ask you to define topic or question relevant to some aspect of modern world history to research, to find high quality primary and scholarly secondary sources on that topic, and to produce a finished Research Project which makes a clear, specific argument about life in that particular time and place.

It’s always easiest to research something that you’re actively interested in, so you should try to find some sort of subject that connects with something you are passionate about in your own life. No matter what sorts of things you’re into, there’s almost always a way to devise a history research topic that links to your interests.

Please don’t assume that just because you’re taking a history class that you are restricted to so-called “traditional” history topics like politics, war, revolutions, etc. All aspects of human life are fair game for historical research, so you’re also welcome to investigate topics involving sex and gender, family life, science and technology, crime and punishment, arts and entertainment, or whatever other thing human beings do which interests you. I’ve had students, for example, complete very interesting projects on the history of political movements for trans rights, combat sports, fashion, and serial killers. The important thing is to find something that are interested enough in to really do a deep dive into.

That said, there are a few boundaries:
1) Since this is a Western history class, I would like your focus to extend beyond the history of the United States. This means no topic which solely deal with US history. You can, however, have a topic which ends up comparing US history with the history of some part of Europe-- for example you could work on a topic which discusses the Cold War in the USA and USSR

2) You should investigate a topic which largely falls sometime between the years 1600 and 2000. The period before 1600 is beyond the scope of the class, and the period after 2000 is too modern for us to have an appropriately historical perspective on. There’s perhaps a bit of wiggle room with these dates, but the bulk of your focus should be somewhere within this span of time.

3) There needs to be a sufficient body of written primary source documents in a language which you are able to read. Documents written by people who lived during the period you are researching and who personally experienced the events which you are investigating are indispensable to any work of historical scholarship. Unfortunately sometimes there are very interesting topic ideas for which the sources simply aren’t available. It is up to you to make sure early on in your research process that you will be able to find the minimum of 5 written primary source documents necessary for this project. Please see below for a list online primary source collections which can be a convenient starting point for your preliminary investigations.

Formats: Your finished project should be in one of the following formats.
Step 1: Topic Proposal (Due September 13)

This is the beginning of your research process. After carefully considering what you’re interested in and what sort of project you would like to do, you should upload a brief video clip in which you answer the following questions:
1) What sort of topic do you want to research this semester? You should be as specific as possible about the particular time frame and/or geographic region. (Sometimes it can be helpful to phrase your topic in terms of a particular research question. For example “What were the causes of the French Revolution?” “How did Nazi anti-semitism change Jewish life in Germany during the 1930s?” or “How successful was the gay liberation movement of the 1960s in securing rights for the LGBTQ community in Britain, Germany, and the USA?”)

2) Why do you find this topic interesting? In what ways do you anticipate that your research will be relevant to things that you care about in your own life?

3) Which of the project formats have you chosen?

4) What sorts of primary sources do you expect to use? Have done any preliminary checking to see what sorts of sources are available? If so, where? (Remember, primary sources are documents written by people who lived during the period you are researching and who personally experienced the events which you are investigating. So for example, are there letters or memoirs written by people who were involved in the events? Relevant laws from the time period in question? Interviews of people who lived through the events?)

After submitting your proposal, make sure to check my feedback. It’s possible that I may have some questions or requests for your to address before your idea is approved, and you can’t move any further with your project until it’s actually approved.
Step 2: Find a good book related to your topic and read it.

Now that you have a well-defined research topic, it’s time to begin to learn more about it. To that end, you should find a scholarly monograph (a book written by a modern historian, usually published by an academic press), written some time within the past 50 years, at least 100 pages longs, and related in some way to the topic which you are investigating.

Please note that the book which you find cannot be a primary source document, an encyclopedia or dictionary, a collection of essays, or a children’s book. Also, I recommend finding an actual printed copy of the book, since several studies suggest that it is easier to process and retain information from print than from a screen. That said, if the only convenient way to acquire the book in question is electronically, that’s also acceptable.

Promising places to search for books:
NOVA Library: You can search for books at the NOVA library, which has an adequate collection of print and e-books. You can request that physical books from any of the various campus’ libraries be sent sent your home campus within a matter of days.

GMU Library: As a NOVA student, you can also check out books from the George Mason University library, which has substantially larger collection. To check items out you must have a valid NOVACard and proof of enrollment.

Interlibrary Loan (ILL): You can also request books from libraries and collections all over the country through ILL by filling out a brief form.

Wikipedia “Further Reading:” While Wikipedia has some limitations as a resource, it can be a useful starting point. In particular, many Wikipedia articles feature a section toward the end of the page entitled “Further Reading,” which lists well-known relevant books on the topic of the article. It’s not a bad strategy to look at this list of books and see if any of them sound promising or are available to you in one of the above collections.

Obviously, if you find it convenient to buy your book, either new or used, that’s fine, but by no means is it required for this course.

Things to submit through Canvas:
You should submit the full bibliographic citation for the book which you have chosen, including the author’s name, the title, the publisher, the year of publication, and the total number of pages, in order to get it approved. Make sure to check my feedback in order to make sure the book you have picked will work before moving on to any of the other steps. (Due September 20)

You should upload a picture of you with the book. If you’re reading an e-book version, your photo should be of you with your ebook reader or laptop with the text of the book clearly visible on the screen. (Due October 4)

You should upload a picture of a page of the book with the author’s main argument highlighted or circled (Obviously you shouldn't physically mark a library book-- simply take a picture and use Paint or some other similar program to indicate the argument in the photo). (Due October 11)

Finally, you should write a 1-2 page double-spaced review of the book in which you briefly discuss the scholarly credentials and background of the book’s author, the author’s main argument (note that this is not simply what the book is about; rather, what is the author trying to say about the subject?), the specific sources of evidence used by the author to support that main argument (Are they secondary sources? Primary sources? If so, what sorts of documents are they? Personal correspondence? Memoirs? Court documents? Laws?), and your overall assessment of how useful the book is to someone interested in its subject matter. Your title should just be the complete bibliographic citation for the book. in Chicago format. Any citations for quotations or specific information from the book or other sources on the author's background should be in the form of correctly formatted Chicago-style footnotes. You cannot turn in a book review unless you have had the book approved by me in advance. (Due October 18)

While you’re at it, you should also be looking closely at the book’s notes and bibliography. Since the book is at least partially about what it is you’re researching this semester, that means that both the primary source evidence and the scholarly secondary sources which the author consulted may also be useful to you. Make a list of those sources, and see if you can track any of them down.
Step 3: Find a scholarly journal article related to your topic and read it. (Due October 25)

You should also find a scholarly article published in a peer-reviewed scholarly journal, written some time within the past 50 years, at least 10 pages in length, and related in some way to the topic which you are investigating.

There are a number of easy ways to find and access scholarly journal articles through the NOVA library website. One of the most useful is through, JSTOR, an online database of journal articles. Please check out this video for detailed instructions on how to find journal article on JSTOR.

You should submit the full bibliographic citation for the journal article which you have chosen, including the author’s name, the title of the article, the name of the journal, the volume and/or issue number, the year of publication, and the range of pages in the journal in order to get approved.

While you’re at it, you should also be looking closely at the article’s notes and bibliography. Since the book is at least partially about what it is you’re researching this semester, that means that both the primary source evidence and the scholarly secondary sources which the author consulted may also be useful to you. Make a list of those sources, and see if you can track any of them down.

How To Find A Scholarly Journal Article: This video walks you through the process of finding a scholarly journal article using the NOVA Library and JSTOR: How to Find a Scholarly Journal Article
A scholarly journal is a periodical which contains research-based articles and reviews by established scholars in a given field.  These sorts of journals are geared towards a professional or academic audience, and are intended to serve as an intellectual resource rather than to earn a profit for the publisher.  In order to have an article published in a scholarly journal, an author must submit it to the editorial board of the journal first.  The editors then will have the prospective article reviewed by other scholars in the field.  Only an article which passes through this process of evaluation by recognized experts ("peer review") can be published in a scholarly journal.  All scholarly journal articles meticulously document their sources of information and contain ample foot or endnotes.  While some scholarly journals make some or all of their content available on the web, a genuine scholarly journal is also always published in paper form so it can become part of the collections of research-oriented libraries.  Consult the NOVA Library's page on scholarly journal articles for more information on what distinguishes a scholarly journal from other sorts of periodicals.

Just a few examples of some of the most prominent scholarly journals dealing with modern world history include The American Historical Review, The Journal of World History,The Journal of African History, Modern Asian Studies, The Journal of Near Eastern Studies, The Journal of Latin American Studies, The Journal of Modern History, Central European History, The Russian Review, French Historical Studies, Historische Zeitschrift, Journal of British Studies, and Victorian Studies (This is not a complete list-- there are many, many more!).  Please note that magazines like History Today, National Geographic Magazine, and American History certainly contain interesting material, they are intended for a popular audience rather than a professional academic one, and hence do not qualify as scholarly journals.

Not too terribly long ago, the only place one could go to access a scholarly journal was an academic library.  These days, however, many journals allow readers to access their contents online. The best place to start is JSTOR, a service which provides the full text of articles from several hundred different scholarly journals.  You can use JSTOR for free by accessing it through the NVCC Library's site.  

You can access JSTOR from the NOVA library's homepage.  Log into My NOVA and then go to http://www.nvcc.edu/library/

Click on "Research Databases by Subject";
the click "History (HIS)";
then click "JSTOR"

Once in JSTOR, you should select the "advanced search" option, scroll down to "Narrow by Item Type" and click the "Articles" box, and then scroll down again to "Narrow by discipline and/or publication title:" and click the "History" box.

Then plug in your search topic and see what comes up.
Step 4: Write Part 1 of your Annotated Bibliography. (Due November 1)
An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources. It differs from a straightforward bibliography in that each reference is followed by a paragraph describing the source. Part 1 of your Annotated Bibliography should include at least 5 Primary Sources (either online or in print) related to your Research Project topic.  For primary sources, you should be looking for documents which were originally written during the time period you are trying to study by people who directly experienced the events in question. While architectural or archaeological remains certainly do qualify as primary sources which can be used by scholars to reconstruct the past, they are problematic for an assignment like this. Written documents from the past should be your focus!

Annotations should include a complete, Chicago-style bibliographic citation for the source, followed by a brief paragraph (about 100 words) long discussing the following information:


Make sure to take a look at the feedback which I leave you to see if you need to resubmit this assignment, or if there are any improvements which you need to make for your finished Research Project.
For primary sources, you might consult the following resources (some of these sites also contain secondary sources as well):


Step 5: Write Part 2 of your Annotated Bibliography. (Due November 8)

An annotated bibliography is an organized list of sources. It differs from a straightforward bibliography in that each reference is followed by a paragraph describing the source. Part 2 of your Annotated Bibliography should include at least 5 scholarly secondary sources related to your Research Project topic written some time during the past 50 years by a historian or other scholar. These 5 sources will include the scholarly monograph which you found for Step 2 and the scholarly journal article you found for Step 3. The other sources can be books, journal articles, essays, or websites, but they should be high quality scholarly material.

Annotations should include a complete, Chicago-style bibliographic citation for the source, followed by a brief paragraph (about 100 words) long discussing the following information:
  • The name and scholarly background of the author (education, publications, university appointments, etc.)
  • The author’s main argument (note, this is not the same thing as a simple description of the subject matter-- what is the author trying to say about this subject?).
  • The specific types of evidence used to support the author’s main argument (are they primary sources? Scholarly secondary works?)
  • How successful/convincing is the author’s argument?
Make sure to take a look at the feedback which I leave you to see if you need to resubmit this assignment, or if there are any improvements which you need to make for your finished Research Project.
Step 6: Come up with a main argument for your Research Project. (Due November 15)

You should should submit a single sentence which sets our the main argument for your project.

While what you’re turning in here is comparatively brief, your main argument essentially synthesizes all of the reading and analysis which you have been working on for the past several months in order to make some sort of meaningful statement about a particular time and place in the past. This means you should put a lot of careful thought into your main argument.

Please note that your main argument needs to be as clear and specific as possible. For example, rather than a vague statement such as “My project will discuss what life was like for workers in England during the Industrial Revolution,” a much stronger main argument would be “The competitive pressures placed on factory owners by early capitalism in 19th century England to maximize profits meant that most industrial workers experienced long hours, dangerous working conditions, inadequate wages and low job security.” Likewise, instead of asserting that “The French Revolution occurred because or variety social, economic, and cultural factors,” it would be better to argue ‘The French Revolution occurred because of a combination of the influence of Enlightenment ideas, the aspirations of the rising French bourgeoisie, and the government's debt crisis.”

Make sure to take a look at the feedback which I leave you on your main argument to see if you need to resubmit this assignment, or if there are any improvements which you need to make for your finished Research Project.
Step 7: Craft and submit your finished Research Project. (Due November 22)
 
Finally it's time to actually produce your actual project in the format which you defined in Step 1. When turning in your Research Project through Canvas you will need to submit two elements in order to receive credit for having completed the assignment:

    1) A link to where your project video or website is publicly viewable.

    2) The script or text for your project so it can be checked for plagiarism and A.I. use.


Please see the brief descriptions above of the various available Research Project Formats. Whatever format you use, your project must include the main argument you came up with in Step 6, and must list somewhere all of the sources from Parts 1 and 2 of the Annotated Bibliography from Steps 4 and 5. You can not turn in a Research Project without having an approved Topic Proposal.
Step 8: Project Reflections (To be submitted or scheduled no later than November 29).

The last element which will determine your actual grade for the Research Project will be your reflections on your research and the project itself. These reflections can in the form of 1) a prerecorded video which you upload through Canvas; or 2) an interview with me, which can be conducted either online through Zoom, or in person in my office no later than November 29 (Although the interview itself will probably be some time during the week of November 30- December 4).

If you choose the video option, the video should be between 5-10 minutes long, and should answer the the following questions:
While you can use notes for your video, you should not simply read off of a prepared script-- just talk to me about your project.

If you choose the interview option, I will ask you some questions about your project, which will be broadly similar to the questions listed for the video option. This interview will be relatively informal, but it will give us the opportunity to discuss your research process, sources, main argument, and the content of your project. The interview should not last longer than about 10 minutes. I'll provide information on how to make an appointment for the interview later in the semester. Please note that if I suspect you plagiarized material for your project or used A.I. assistance, I reserve the right to require you to complete the interview option.

The video option is due on May 11. The interview option must be completed no later than May 12. You cannot complete this assignment unless you have turned in a completed Research Project.
Exams
There are two exams for this course which will be completed in class.
Midterm Exam.

Part 1) Time Line (5 Paragraphs): Provide a Time Line which lists in chronological order what you think are the five most important events in the history of the West from 1600-1900. ALL OF YOUR EXAMPLES MUST BE EVENTS OR DEVELOPMENTS WE DISCUSSED IN CLASS!  No more than two of your examples should be drawn from United States history. Each item on your Time Line should be a paragraph long and should contain the following information:

Part 2) Primary Source Analyses: You will be given the titles of two primary sources which you have read during the first half of the semester, and asked to briefly discuss the following elements:
Final Exam.

Part 1) Time Line: Provide a Time Line which lists in chronological order what you think are the five most important events in the history of the West after 1900. ALL OF YOUR EXAMPLES MUST BE EVENTS OR DEVELOPMENTS WE DISCUSSED IN CLASS! No more than two of your examples should be drawn from United States history. Each item on your Time Line should be a paragraph long and should contain the following information:
  • What happened.
  • When it happened (approximate dates are okay).
  • Why it happened. 
  • The major Consequences of the event.
  • How is this event significant or important?

Part 2) Primary Source Analyses: You will be given the titles of two primary sources which you have read during the second half of the semester, and asked to briefly discuss the following elements:
  • The identity and point of view of the author.
  • The historical context of the document (what circumstances influenced the author?).
  • The basic contents of the document.
  • What does the document tell us about the specific time and place it was written?

Course Schedule

Week 1.


Monday, August 24: Introduction 		Read the syllabus.

Watch "Is History B.S.?"

Brooks, "Introduction"
Wednesday, August 28: Research and the Digital Age
 Discussion Sources: Alan Turing, “Computing Machinery and Intelligence” 

Watch What's The Difference Between Primary & Secondary Sources?

Brooks, Chapter 8: Absolutism
Assignments to Complete: Read through the entire syllabus, and submit the Introduction Assignment and the Syllabus Quiz by the end of the day on Sunday using the appropriate link under "Assignments" in the class Canvas page.

Week 2. 

Monday, August 31:

Whose History?- The West and the Rest of the World

Discussion Source: Lahontan, Excerpts from Dialogues with Kondiaronk (1703)

Watch Is Western Civilization B.S.?

Watch Was The Atlantic Slave Trade B.S.?
Brooks, Chapter 9: Trade Empires
Wednesday, September 2:

The "History of Great Men" or "History from Below?"
Discussion Sources: Gerrard Winstanley, Excerpts from "The True Levellers Standard Advanced (1649)" ;

Brooks, Chapter 12: The Society of Orders

Week 3.

Monday,  September 7: No Class-- Labor Day

 



Wednesday, September 9:
Discussion Sources: Mary Wollstonecraft, excerpts from "A Vindication of the Rights of Women" (1792)

Watch Was The Enlightenment B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 11: The Enlightenment
Assignments to Complete: Research Project Proposal Due September 13
 
Week 4.

Monday, September 14:

An Age of Revolutions
Discussion Readings: French Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen (1789)

Was The French Revolution B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 13: The French Revolution
Wednesday, September 16:

Terror and Reaction   		Discussion Source: Edmund Burke, Excerpts from Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790).

Watch Was The Haitian Revolution B.S.?

Brooks, Volume 3, Chapter 1: Napoleon
Assignments to Complete: Book Proposal for Book Review  due September 20

Week 5.

Monday, September 21:

  The Napoleonic Era


Wednesday, September 23:

Industrial Life		 Discussion Sources: "The Life of the Industrial Worker in Nineteenth-Century England" (1832); Women Miners in the English Coal Pits (1842); Documents on the Luddites
Watch Was The Industrial Revolution B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 2: The Industrial Revolution
  
Week 6.

Monday, September 28:
Liberalism

 Discussion Source: J.S. Mill, excerpts from On Liberty (1859); 
Brooks, Chapter 3: Political Ideologies and Movements
Wednesday, September 30:

Socialism 		Discussion Source: Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, excerpts from The Communist Manifesto  (1848); 

Assignments to Complete: Make sure you have the book for your Book Review Paper by October 4. Upload a picture of you with the book using the appropriate link in the course Canvas page.

Week 7.
Monday, October 5:

Imperialism and Nationalism
 		Discussion Sources: Ruyard Kipling, "The White Man's Burden" (1899); James Mahoney on the Irish Famine, (1847);

Watch Was The English East India Co. B.S.?

Watch  Was Imperialism In Congo B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 4: The Politics of the Nineteenth Century; Chapter 6: Imperialism
Wednesday, October 7:

Cultural Modernism
Discussion Sources: Selection of Love Letters from Oscar Wilde to Alfred "Bosie" Douglas (1892-1897); Oscar Wilde, Selected Prison Writings (1897); Douglas O. Linder, "The Trials of Oscar Wilde: An Account (secondary source)"
Brooks, Chapter 5: Culture, Science, and Pseudo-Science
Assignments to Complete: Upload a picture of a page of the book for your Book Review Paper with the author’s main argument highlighted or circled by October 11.

Week 8.
Monday, October 12: Fall Break


 No Class
Wednesday, October 14:


Midterm in Class

 
Assignments to Complete: Book Review Due October 18
Week 9.
Monday, October 19:

The Great War 		Discussion Source: Ernst Jünger, Excerpts from Storm of Steel (1920)

Watch Were The Causes of World War I B.S.?
Brooks, Chapter 7: World War 1
Wednesday, October 21:

A Flawed Peace
Discussion Source: Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points (1918)
 
Brooks, Chapter 8: Early Twentieth-Century Culture

Watch Was the 1918 Influenza B.S.?
Assignments to Complete:
 Find a scholarly journal article related to the topic of your Research Project and upload the full bibliographic citation of the article using the appropriate link in Canvas by October 25

Week 10.


Monday, October 26:

Early 20th c. Revolutions
  
Discussion Source: V. I. Lenin, "The April Theses (1917)"
 
Watch Was The Russian Revolution B.S.?



Wednesday, October 28:
 
The Soviet System		 Discussion Readings: Josef Stalin on the Liquidation of the Kulaks, (1929)
Assignments to Complete: Annotated Bibliography, Part 1 due November 1

Week 11.
Monday, November 2:

Interwar Culture

Discussion Source: Gabriele Tergit, "Paragraph 218: A Modern Gretchen Tragedy"
Wednesday, November 4:

Fascism
 Discussion Sources: (1926); Adolf Hitler, Excerpts from Several Speeches.

Brooks, Chapter 9: Fascism

Watch Is Fascism B.S.? 

Watch Is Modern Anti-Semitism B.S.?
Assignments to Complete:
 Annotated Bibliography, Part 2 Due November 8

Week 12.
Monday, November 9:

The Third Reich

Discussion Sources:  The Nuremberg Laws on Citizenship and Race, September 15, 1935; Nazi Germany: Paragraph 175
Wednesday, November 11:
Total War 
Discussion Sources: Elina I. Kochina, "Blockade Diary" (1941) 

Brooks, Chapter 10: World War 2 
Assignments to Complete:
 Research Project Main Argument Draft  due November 15

Week 13.


Monday, November 16:

Holocaust
Discussion Reading: Elie Wiesel, Excerpts from Night (1960)

Watch Is Violence B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 11: The Holocaust
Wednesday, November 18:

The Cold War World

Discussion Reading: Winston Churchill, "Iron Curtain" Speech (1946); Josef Stalin's Response to Churchill (1946)

Watch Was The Cold War B.S.?

Brooks,  Chapter 12: The Soviet Union
Assignments to Complete:
 Research Project due November 22



Monday, November 23:

Decolonization
 Discussion Reading: Patrice Lumumba, "Speech at Accra" (1958)

Watch Was The CIA Coup In Guatemala B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 13: Postwar Conflict
Wednesday, November 25:

Thanksgiving

No Class
Assignments to Complete:
 Research Project Reflection must be completed (or scheduled, if in person) no later than November 29.


Monday, November 30:

Decolonization
 Discussion Reading: Patrice Lumumba, "Speech at Accra" (1958)

Watch Was The CIA Coup In Guatemala B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 13: Postwar Conflict
Wednesday, December 2:

 

Assignments to Complete:
 Research Project due May 4




Monday, December 7:

Post-War Life and the Neo-Liberal Order
 Discussion Reading: Simone de Beauvoir, excerpts from The Second Sex (1949)

Watch Was The End of the Cold War B.S.?and Is Globalization B.S.?

Brooks, Chapter 14: Postwar Societyand Chapter 15: Towards the Present
Wednesday, December 9:

Final Exam, 8-10 am
Assignments to Complete:
 Research Project due May 4
Various NOVA Policies and Resources:

Students are responsible for knowing and following College policies, and they should be aware of the Student Resources available to them. The following are highlights of information that students should be aware of as they begin a course.

Academic Integrity Policy

Accommodations and Accessibility Services

Career Services

Closing Information

Communication

Course Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Enrollment Cancellation

Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers

Forms to Request Services and Assistance
• Accommodations and Accessibility Services: Request for Alternate Format

• Course grade appeal

• Enrollment Services: Course Repeat Request

• Enrollment Services: Enrollment with Permission

• Financial Aid: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Form

• Parking Services: Vehicle Registration Form

• Student Grievance Forms • Veteran Enrollment Request Form (VERF)

Important Dates

Winter Session and Spring 2026 Important Dates

Winter Session and Spring 2026 Breaks & Holidays

Libraries

NOVA All Access

Office of Wellness and Mental Health

Prerequisite Verification Statement

Remote Student Support Services

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Integrity and Conduct

Student Ombuds Services (SOS)

TITLE IX

Tutoring

Academic Integrity Policy

NOVA promotes and emphasizes the importance of honesty in academic work. It is therefore imperative for students to maintain the highest standard of honor in their scholastic work.

Academic dishonesty, as outlined in more detail in the Academic Integrity Policy (Policy Number: 224), can include, but is not limited to cheating on an exam or quiz, submitting work that is not your own (plagiarism), or sharing assessments online. Consequences of academic dishonesty can include a failing grade on an assignment, a failing grade in the course, and may include additional administrative sanctions such as suspension or expulsion from the college. Procedures for disciplinary measures and appeals are outlined in the Academic Integrity Procedures. It is a student’s responsibility to become familiar with the student code of conduct. Lack of awareness is no excuse for noncompliance with NOVA’s policies and procedures.

NOVA Faculty may choose to use tools such as Turnitin to detect and flag instances of plagiarism in academic writing.

The use of AI to complete assigned work may be considered a violation of the academic integrity policy. Students are urged to be cautious when using any web tools designed to assist with assignments without their instructors’ explicit permission to do so and to cite their sources in all their work.

Accommodations and Accessibility Services

NOVA is committed to ensuring all students have an opportunity to pursue a college education regardless of the presence or absence of a disability. No academically qualified student with a disability will be denied access to or participation in the services, programs, and activities of the College. Your access to and inclusion in this course is important to NOVA and your professors. Please request your accommodation letter (Memorandum of Accommodations) early in the semester or as soon as you become registered so that you have adequate time to arrange your approved academic accommodations with your professors. Returning students must renew their Memorandum of Accommodations (MOA) every semester; these students should submit the request 24 hours or later after enrolling in at least one class. Allow up to 7 business days for the request to be approved.

Accommodations are provided for in-person, online, and remote/synchronous (Zoom) learning. To get started, review NOVA’s Accommodation and Accessibility Services website. Following a meeting with a counselor, you will be issued a Memorandum of Accommodation (MOA). You must provide your MOA to your professors, testing proctor, and/or tutoring center to receive your accommodation. You may provide your MOA any time during the semester; however, accommodations are not retroactive. You may email your MOA to your professors or provide them with a printed copy. They will send you an email to acknowledge receipt. You and your professors should schedule a meeting outside of class to discuss questions regarding your MOA. Please remind your professors of any special arrangements that must be made in advance of tests and assessments.

If you need a sign language interpreter, or if you need live captions for your Zoom class, send an email to interpreters@nvcc.edu.

Your ability to fully participate in this course matters. If you experience any difficulty accessing course content, activities, or technology, please contact me as soon as possible so that we can address the issue together. Accessibility is a shared responsibility, and your feedback helps ensure that all students have access to learning.

Career Services

The NOVA Career Services Office helps students explore career paths, build professional skills, and connect with employers. Whether you’re choosing a major, preparing your resume or cover letter, searching for internships, or getting ready for your first job after graduation, our career counselors and coaches provide guidance and resources to help you succeed. Join Handshake to discover and apply for jobs and internships; connect with employers; access professional development resources; and request career counseling services.

Closing Information

NOVA announces campus and college closings on the NOVA homepage. You can also receive notification by cell phone or email if you register for NOVA Alert. Also review NOVA’s guidance on emergency closings, delayed openings, and continuation of instruction.


If a course is canceled due to a weather event or other unforeseen situation, check the course Canvas site or NOVA email as soon as possible for instructions and assignments to avoid falling behind in coursework. You are expected to be up to date with all assignments the next time the class meets.

Communication

Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC) faculty, staff, and administrators communicate with students through their official NVCC email accounts ( ______@nvcc.edu). Students are likewise required to use their VCCS email accounts (__________@email.vccs.edu) to communicate with instructors and other college personnel. Students should check their email accounts regularly.

Course Drop/Withdrawal Policy

Please note these important deadlines related to your enrollment in a course:

To identify these important dates for your courses, please visit the College Academic Calendar and scroll down to the specific session for your course. Please note that any drops or withdrawals from a course may impact financial aid, International Student status, or military benefits. Students with questions should check with the appropriate offices.

Enrollment Cancellation

Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers

The Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers provide assistance to students who are experiencing financial hardships that might prevent the students’ academic success. The personnel at the Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers work with students to identify college or community services available. For more information, please visit the Financial Stability and Advocacy Centers webpage, or contact the office by calling 703.323.3450 or emailing financialstability@nvcc.edu.


Forms to Request Services and Assistance

NOVA's Forms Library is where you can access forms frequently used by the College. The forms are available in Portable Document Format (.pdf), Online or Excel. Some of the forms you will find online include:

You also have the option to Make a Report to the college. Here is the list of reports you can submit:

Important Dates
The academic calendar provides information about important dates and deadlines each semester. Visit this calendar to learn about

Libraries

NOVA Libraries support the mission of the College to deliver in-person and online postsecondary teaching, learning, and workforce development to students, faculty, staff and community members. The libraries promote equity and inclusion by addressing systemic barriers to student success and fostering intellectual curiosity, creativity and critical thinking. At our libraries, you may borrow books/printed material, access article databases, access videos, connect to Wi-Fi, use the printers, and reserve a study room.

NOVA All Access
Compare the cost of All Access with buying materials on your own. If All Access costs more than other options, then opt out of the program. All Access is optional, but remember:

If your course uses OER materials (for “open educational resources”) or is “no materials required,” your instructor will let you know the best way to obtain your course materials. You may not be required to purchase textbooks and other materials for this course. We are making this information available so you can make an informed choice about participating in NOVA’s new course materials program, NOVA All Access.

The opt-out windows for All Access are…

To find the specific dates for your session:

Through the All-Access program, most physical books are rentals. Plan to return your rental books to the campus bookstore at the end of each semester. If you have rental books that you have not returned from a previous semester, please return those as well.

Office of Wellness and Mental Health

During your time at NOVA, you may experience challenges including struggles with academics, finances, or your personal well-being. NOVA has support resources available. Please contact the Office of Wellness and Mental Health if you are seeking resources and support, or if you are worried about a friend or classmate.


Prerequisite Verification Statement

As noted in the Course Prerequisites Policy, some courses have prerequisite or corequisite requirements that are established to foster a student’s success in the course. Students may not enroll in a course for which they do not meet the prerequisites by the time the course begins or for which they do not simultaneously enroll in any corequisite. Students may be administratively dropped from any course for which they have not met the prerequisite. If a course has a prerequisite, it is the responsibility of the student to ensure completion of this pre-requisite course first. Any student needing assistance in determining prerequisite or corequisite requirements can reach out to their faculty member or Campus Academic Division office for support.

Remote Student Support Services

If you need academic assistance or need college services but cannot make it to campus, many of our services can be accessed remotely. We can provide assistance from several departments, including the following:

Student Rights and Responsibilities
The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) promotes and encourages honesty, integrity, and respect among NOVA students and staff. We accomplish our mission through education, compliance through behavioral standards, and support of individual rights. Our work helps enhance the quality of the NOVA community and equips students with the knowledge, skills, and resources to be successful inside and outside of the classroom.

The Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities (OSRR) comprise the following areas:

Student Integrity and Conduct
Investigate alleged violations of the Student Code of Conduct.

Student Ombuds Services (SOS)
For students who believe an unfair resolution was made for a formal complaint made to NVCC (i.e., academic concerns, ethical behavior, violation of College policies and/or procedures, business services, financial aid, etc.), SOS will investigate the student’s concern.

Contact: Dr. Tanneh Kamara Coordinator, Student Ombuds Services (SOS), Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities Phone: 703-530-2834 Email: ombuds@nvcc.edu

TITLE IX

Title IX is a civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs, activities, admission, and employment. Complaints of sex-based discrimination, sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual or gender-based harassment are governed by the Title IX Policy. For more information or to make a report, visit the Office of Title IX.

Tutoring

NOVA’s Tutoring Centers offer free in-person and virtual tutoring to all NOVA Nighthawks. Students can drop by any one of campus Tutoring Centers for walk-in services or set up an appointment for tutoring. To request an appointment for one-on-one tutoring, either in-person or via Zoom, log in to myNOVA to select EAB Navigate. For more information and for Tutoring Center locations, visit Tutoring & Academic Support. In addition, 24/7 online tutoring (via Brainfuse) is free to all students. To access online tutoring, click on the 24/7 Tutoring link located in your Canvas course in the course navigation menu.