HIST-212: Pirates and the Sea

Course Information

Course, prefix, number, & title: HIST-212 Pirates and the Sea

Hours (Class, recitation, Laboratory, studio): 3

Credits: 3

Pre-requisites (if any): ENGL-101

Co-requisites (if any): ENGL-101

Course Description in college catalog:

This course surveys the maritime history of the world by focusing on the history of maritime theft, or piracy, as a means to investigate the history of sea-borne trade; maritime aggression; littoral communities; and international law. Course readings will draw from a range of primary sources, including narrative histories; legal texts; and works of fiction, as well as selected readings from scholarly writing on the history of overseas trade, exploration, piracy, maritime warfare; and maritime law.

Academic programs for which this course serves as a requirement or an elective:

A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences

A.S. Liberal Arts and Sciences (Mathematics and Science)

General Education Outcomes: Below is a listing of General Education Outcome(s) that this course supports.

  1. Communicate effectively in various forms

  2. Use analytical reasoning to identify issues or problems and evaluate evidence in order to make informed decisions

Course-specific student learning outcomes:

1. Students will critically evaluate historical evidence related to maritime history and the history of maritime predation (piracy).

a. Differentiate between primary and secondary historical source material.

b. Identify how historical moments shape perspectives.

2. Students will identify and explain the cause and effect relationships in the expansion of maritime trade and the practice of maritime predation (piracy).  

a. Define difference between cause and effect.

b. Identify relationships between specific historical causes and effects.

3. Students will identify and evaluate the major social, cultural, political, and economic trends in the history of world piracy.

a. Define difference between different kinds of change in society.

b. Provide examples of both change and continuity over time in social, political, economic, and cultural history of the sea and its relationship to piracy.

c. Evaluate different significance of different types of change.

4. Students will situate themselves as historical actors and participants in historical change.

a. Differentiate between primary and secondary historical source material.

b. Identify how historical moments shape perspectives.

c. Study primary source documents to locate bias, perspective, and awareness of audience.

Program-specific outcomes

In any history course, students will learn to critically evaluate historical information (distinguish between primary and secondary sources; cause and effect; identify biases in historical sources); and demonstrate an understanding of the methodology in retrieving historical information.

Other program outcomes (if applicable).

  1. Integrate knowledge and skills in the program of study

Methods by which student learning will be assessed and evaluated; describe the types of methods to be employed; note whether certain methods are required for all sections:

Exams, Research paper(s) and Quizzes

Academic Integrity policy (department or College):
Academic honesty is expected of all students. Any violation of academic integrity is taken extremely seriously. All assignments and projects must be the original work of the student or teammates. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any questions regarding academic integrity should be brought to the attention of the instructor. The following is the Queensborough Community College Policy on Academic Integrity: "It is the official policy of the College that all acts or attempted acts that are violations of Academic Integrity be reported to the Office of Student Affairs. At the faculty member's discretion and with the concurrence of the student or students involved, some cases though reported to the Office of Student Affairs may be resolved within the confines of the course and department. The instructor has the authority to adjust the offender's grade as deemed appropriate, including assigning an F to the assignment or exercise or, in more serious cases, an F to the student for the entire course." Read the University's policy on Academic Integrity opens in a new window(PDF).

Disabilities
Any student who feels that he or she may need an accommodation based upon the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Accessibility Services in Science Building, Room S-132, 718-631-6257, to coordinate reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities. You can visit the Office of Accessibility Services website.

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