The complete summer 2006 syllabus is available as a PDF attachment; for the regular semester version it is spread out in time but otherwise very similar. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat you can download it for free by clicking here. Once you enroll in the course, you can visit the course website thru http://my.usf.edu

Below is the main text of the syllabus,  providing overall  information on the course objectives, readings, and assignments. 

SYLLABUS

COURSE OBJECTIVES AND EMPHASES
Mysteries of the human past, including the Lost Continent of Atlantis, Ancient Astronauts, Piltdown Man, Psychic Archaeology, Noah’s Ark, the ‘Myth’ of the Moundbuilders, and the Shroud of Turin will be discussed in detail in this course. Fantastic Archaeology is also about how archaeologists know things, and how to properly evaluate archaeological and scientific evidence before drawing conclusions. The skills in critical thinking that will be emphasized in this course have many practical applications beyond archaeology, both in the business world and in every-day life. This course fulfills the Major Works & Major Issues Exit Requirement, and can be taken S/U. This course is also specifically designed for non-anthropology majors (there are no prerequisites).

REQUIRED READINGS
Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries. Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology, by Kenneth L. Feder. 5th edition, 2006. McGraw Hill (Mayfield). [available in Tampa campus bookstore]

Additional weekly scholarly articles, available on-line, which expand on topics presented in the course.

A note about readings: The complete bibliographic reference for all assigned readings is included in the syllabus so that you may easily locate the original if you wish to see the color illustrations. This may be especially worthwhile for the articles from National Geographic and other popular magazines.

FILMS
A number of films have been placed on reserve for viewing at the USF library (duplicate copies at Tampa campus, 6th floor; Lakeland; St. Petersburg) during the appropriate week of the course. The films are a visual supplement to the assigned readings. Quiz questions, however, will not be drawn directly from the films. Other relevant films often are shown on cable TV channels including A&E, Discovery and History Channels,  etc.

GRADES
This is a senior-level exit course which requires a substantial amount of reading and time spent on assignments in addition to interactive discussion, quizzes, and viewing films. Furthermore, this is a full-semester course often compressed into a six-week summer session. Students who do not keep up with the readings and assignments have not done well in the past.

Course grades will be based on the posting of responses to study questions and participation in weekly discussions, 6 quizzes, a web-based research project, and constructive commentary on other students’ web projects. An A will be based on a curved standardized score between 93.4-100; A- for 89.5-93.3; B+ for 86.7-89.4; B for 83.4-86.6; B- for 79.5-83.3; C+ for 76.7-79.4; C for 73.4-76.6; C- for 69.5-73.3; D+ for 66.7-69.4; D for 63.4-66.6; and D- for 60-63.3. There will be NO make-up quizzes or excuses for late assignments except in fully documented serious circumstances. There will be on-line discussion and critical assessment of all assigned readings, and your participation will be graded.

Quizzes will be available on-line within a restricted time frame. There will be NO make-up quizzes except in fully documented serious circumstances.

Each student will also be responsible for creating a website on an archaeological topic (to be approved by the instructor) and hosting a chatroom discussion based on that topic. The website should at least be functional - and the chat session scheduled - the same week the topic is listed in the course syllabus. You may then use feedback from other students to revise your site before it is evaluated by the instructor.

OTHER POLICIES
Computer use and Internet access to the course website are required. While high-speed connections (using Roadrunner, DSL, etc.) are helpful, modem connections are sufficient. All assignments may be completed using your own personal computer if equipped with a web browser (Netscape 7 or Internet Explorer recommended), a word processor (Wordperfect and Word recommended), and Adobe Acrobat Reader (available free from the Adobe website). The course instructor cannot be responsible for helping you deal with hardware or software problems on your home computer; the University has a number of open-use labs supplied with the necessary software, along with user assistants to help you. I have provided instructions or links to sites with them, for Blackboard, website creation, and other computer subjects.

Students who anticipate being unable to complete assignments on time due to observation of a major religious observance must provide advance written notice of the date(s) to the instructor. Academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, will be punished according to University Guidelines, and may result in the receipt of an “F” on an assignment (for plagiarism), an “F” in the course, suspension or expulsion from the University. Notes or other documentation of course content are permitted for purposes of sale only with the express written consent of the instructor.