NYCCT Catalog Description

A survey of fashion history, from the end of the 19th century to the present. It offers an overview of the many influences that have affected the development of clothing. Studies the effect of an historical period on the clothing of the time through analysis of its economics, politics, religion, and culture. Issues affecting the industry are explored through readings, videos, discussions, and links to local industry are made through field trips and guest speakers.

The minimum technological requirements for fully online sections of this course are a working camera and microphone. Students are expected to turn on cameras and microphones at their instructor’s request.

Detailed Course Description

It is essential to understand the interrelationship of fashion and culture, and its development over time. This course examines how historical periods influence the style and construction of clothing from the end of the 19th century to the present. Students are introduced to analytic techniques that evaluate how culture, economics, politics, and religion influence and shape the style of the time. Each student is assigned or selects specific items of clothing to trace the development of style, trends, and fashion. This course also introduces important terminology integral to the fashion industry and crucial to discuss all facets of its history. Issues affecting the fashion industry are explored through readings, videos, discussions, and links to local industry are made through field trips and guest speakers.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

OUTCOME

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Identify and describe apparel of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries using appropriate terminology

Class discussion, tets, examination, and presentation

Recognize and discuss key fashion leaders and/or designers and their contributions

Class discussion, tests, examinations, and presentation

Distinguish among the social, political, and economic cultural influences on fashion for each of the various periods

Class discussion, tests, and examinations

Identify and explain direct and indirect technological influences on dress

Class discussion, presentation, and examinations

Assess the multiple explanations for the impact of dress and body image on human behavior

Class discussion, presentation, and examinations

Analyze concepts and theories of and research in human behavior to market place interaction related to textile and apparel products of everyday life

Class discussion and presentation

Recognize and describe the diversity of culture in space and time and how it impacts and influences fashion styles and trends

Class discussion, examinations, and presentation

Write two short, scaffolded research papers

Course assignments/homework that comprise the two papers

GENERAL EDUCATION INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES/ASSESSMENT METHODS

LEARNING OUTCOME:

Creative Expression

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Demonstrate expanded cultural global awareness and sensitivity

Class discussion, papers, presentation, tests, critical reflections, and final examination

Identify issues and problems, ask relevant questions, and link them with appropriate methods of inquiry

Class discussion, papers, and presentation

Discern multiple perspectives of how the process of change (including fashion change) affects and is affected by dress across time and cultures.

Class discussions, critical reflections, papers, and presentation

Learning and Teaching Method

This course is taught entirely online via Zoom, Blackboard, and OpenLab. We will meet each class session synchronously via Zoom for 90 minutes. You are required to turn your camera and microphone on during our synchronous online meetings at the instructor’s request. You will devote the rest of the class session to work asynchronously on the assignments indicated on Blackboard, either individually, in pairs, or small groups. In-class time is reserved for group presentations, class discussion, answering students’ questions, clarifying concepts, and above all for applying what you have learned at home asynchronously. Following this blended method ensures that students take responsibility for their own learning process and knowledge acquisition.

Zoom is an easy-to-use web conferencing platform – to join the class session, simply click on the link provided, enter the passcode, and you will be directed to the meeting. Weekly office hours will also be conducted via Zoom using a different link. Detailed information on how to effectively use Blackboard and Zoom can be found on Blackboard. Links to directly connect to the Zoom classroom and virtual office hours are also available on Blackboard.

Zoom Information:

Use of Technology and Communication

The minimum technological requirements for fully online sections of this course are access to the internet, a camera, and a microphone. Students will be expected to turn on cameras and microphones at their instructor’s request. All students need to have the appropriate technological materials listed from the first day of class. Not having the appropriate technological equipment will prevent you from successfully meeting the course objectives. If you need technical assistance, please contact the Information & Technology team at City Tech – Call: 718-260-4900; or email: itec@citytech.cuny.edu.

Please check your college email and Blackboard on a daily basis since you will receive essential information on the course, as well as updates, changes, and corrections. Failure to do so is every student’s responsibility and the consequences may impact final grades. CUNY guidelines state that all communication between students and the instructor must be through your City Tech email address. The professor will only use City Tech email addresses as the primary means of communication and will make every effort to answer email messages promptly, usually within a 12-hour window during the week (expect a delayed reply on weekends).

Any other electronic devices, like cellphones, must be turned off when the virtual class begins and remain off when the class is in session, unless otherwise indicated by your instructor. Any evidence of cell phone use (ringing, buzzing, etc.) and similar equipment use will result in an automatic zero in participation for the day’s session.

Zoom Classroom Etiquette

  • Connect a few minutes before the class session starts. Communicate with your instructor via email if you will be late or if you lose your connection during class
  • Leave your camera on during the entire class meeting. You can always change your background picture, by selecting the Zoom Virtual Background option. Update your preferred name and add your gender pronouns on your Zoom profile if you wish!
  • Mute your microphone when you are not contributing to avoid background noise
  • Use the Chat field for constructive comments only related to the course content
  • Try to sit in good lighting
  • Arrange yourself and the camera so you are fully visible
  • Limit any side conversations
  • Pay attention! Maintain eye contact with the speaker on the screen
  • Be prepared to take notes (on your computer or in a designated notebook) or to access course material (have textbook, Blackboard course page, or readings available)

Avoiding Academic Dishonesty. Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.

The following are some examples of plagiarism:

  • Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.
  • Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
  • Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
  • Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
  • Internet Plagiarism includes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, and “cutting and pasting” from various sources without proper attribution.

Attendance will be taken every class session. An absence is failure to attend any part of the online session, from roll call to dismissal. Please note that sleeping, not showing up, or not turning on your camera when indicated by the instructor means that you are not present in the class; the same is applied if you leave class early without prior notice.

Course materials

This is a designated zero-cost Open Educational Resources (O.E.R) course. All readings, films/documentaries, and additional course materials are available on this site and Blackboard at no cost for students. Please check Blackboard on a weekly basis to know what topics will be covered and what materials you need to prepare beforehand.

Recommended textbooks:

  • The History of Modern Fashion: From 1850. Authors: Daniel James Cole and Nancy Deihl. Publisher: Laurence King Publishing. Year: 2015. ISBN: 9781780676036.
  • A Cultural History of Fashion in the 20th and 21st Century. Author: Bonnie English. Bloomsbury Academic, Year: 2013. NY. ISBN: 0857851357.

Assessment Overview and Grading

NOTE: You will find more detailed information on each course component on Blackboard as well as evaluation rubrics. Please carefully read each evaluation rubric before submitting any assignment. You can check your overall course grade throughout the semester on Blackboard’s Grade Center.

1. Tests (10%): You will take two (2) tests throughout the semester. Each test will be available on Blackboard, and you will have 90 minutes to complete it in one sitting. Each test will be accessible on Blackboard for three full days. Please make sure you select a time in which you are completely available with no distractions. The due dates for each test are indicated in the syllabus and on Blackboard. These assessments are used to evaluate acquisition of content and develop a vocabulary of specific fashion styles, designers, historical periods, and movements. There are no make-up tests for any reason.

2. Discussion board (10%): Five times during the semester, students will participate in an online discussion board on Blackboard, responding to questions posted by the instructor on class content. For each entry, students should write a paragraph (300-350 words), critically reflecting on the material. Each entry must be submitted via Blackboard on the due date indicated on the syllabus.

3. Oral presentation (10%): Once during the semester, students will present on a fashion designer in small groups during class. Students will prepare and share a handout (1-2 pages) summarizing information from the designer, his/her major creations, and worldwide influence. They should create a PowerPoint Presentation/Google Slide Share to share with the class and be prepared to answer peers’ questions at the end of the presentation. The presentation should last 8- 10 minutes, and it will be followed by a 5-minute discussion with the whole group. The presenters are allowed to have notes (bullet points) as a reminder during the presentation, but they are not allowed to simply read the text in front of the class. Groups will be made during the first day of class. Each group is required to email the handout and the PowerPoint presentation to the instructor at least 24 hours before the presentation.

4. Essays (20%): There are two (2) short writing assignments to be submitted on the dates indicated on the course schedule. Both essays need to be 2-2.5 pages long, and must be typed and double-spaced, in 12-point font with 1-inch margins. Both essays will be evaluated based on the analysis of the topic, quality and development of ideas, organization, and stylistic expression. On the submission date noted in the syllabus, you will briefly and informally present the content of the paper to your classmates (2-3 minutes) during class. More information on the guidelines for both essays can be found on Blackboard.

5. Midterm (10%) and Final exam (15%): These exams cover all content covered throughout the semester, and serve to evaluate students’ understanding of readings, concepts, and cultural topics. This exam will be administered via Blackboard on the date indicated on the syllabus during our regular class time, and you will need to connect to our Zoom virtual classroom with your camera on during the entire time. Failing to do so, will result in receiving 0 points.

Make-up policy: When absent on the day of the examination, a student is allowed to take the examination before or during the instructor’s office hours only in case of documented medical emergencies (Please see below the Accessibility Statement). Students who contact the instructor after they have missed the class will not be allowed to make-up the exam. If the exam is not taken before or during the instructor’s office hours, the student will receive 0 points for the exam.

6. Participation, classwork, and homework (25%): Participation is an essential part of the learning process and is required of all enrolled students. Participation means maintaining an active presence in the class by answering questions from the instructor, volunteering for and participating in class discussions, and keeping cameras and microphones on as required by the instructor. Students are expected to actively participate in class discussion and complete the homework/asynchronous work specified in the syllabus before connecting to class, whether it is completing a reading, watching a movie/documentary, preparing a short presentation, or conducting research on a cultural topic. The appropriate texts and film guides should be brought to each online meeting with questions, reflections, and critical comments. All asynchronous homework must be submitted on time unless you have gotten permission from your professor before the due date to hand in an assignment late due to illness or extreme circumstances. There will be several class projects that you will need to complete in groups during the designated class time; you are expected to participate and contribute actively.

This grade will be impacted negatively if students fail to answer the instructor’s questions, participate in class discussion, or complete the specified homework and classwork. Simply attending (or logging into) class does not constitute participation. It is highly recommended that students attend instructor’s office hours to ask about the course development, discuss specific assignments or check in if they need to.

*Extra Credit Opportunity: Over the course of the semester, you will receive information about different fashion and costume events in the New York City area (both in person and virtually). To receive extra credit, you must attend at least two events of your choice and write a 2-page, double-spaced paper (1-inch margins; Times New Roman 12), in which you critically reflect on the event, explaining what it has contributed to you. In your comments, you should include critical references to the materials covered in class. You will also need to prepare a short presentation (3-4 minutes) to deliver in class describing what you learned during the cultural event. The final day to email this optional assignment to the instructor is the last day of class by the end of the day.

Grading Distribution                                              

Quizzes                                      10%

Discussion board                 10%

Oral presentation               10%

Midterm                                    10%

Final exam                                15%

2 Essays                                     20%                           

Participation, CW, HW     25%     

*Extra credit                           1-5%

Grading Scale

A 93-100

B-   90-92.9

B+ 87-89.9

B 83-86.9

B- 80-82.9

C+ 77-79.9

C 70-76.9

D 60-69.9

F 59.9 and below

WU Unofficial Withdrawal

WF Withdrew Failing

College and Department Policies 

NYCCT Academic Integrity Policy 

“Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in The City University of New York and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.” (See pp. 73-76 in the Student Handbook.).

Accessibility Statement 

City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies, and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek accommodation services or academic adjustments, you can leave a voicemail at 718 260 5143, send an email to Accessibility@citytech.cuny.edu or visit the Center’s website http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/ for more information.

N.B., Students who miss a scheduled presentation or exam due to illness or medicallyrelated emergencies will be referred to the Center for Student Accessibility. The CSA will review any documentation requested and give the student a letter to share with the relevant instructor if accommodations need to be made.

Humanities Department Attendance Policy 

It is the conviction of the Humanities department that a student who is not in a class for any reason is not receiving the benefit of the education being provided. Missed class time includes not just absences but also latenesses, early departures, and time outside the classroom taken by students during class meeting periods. Missed time impacts any portion of the final grade overtly allocated to participation and/or any grades awarded for activities that relate to presence in class.

Humanities Department Commitment to Student Diversity

The Humanities Department complies with the college wide nondiscrimination policy and seeks to foster a safe and inclusive learning environment that celebrates diversity in its many forms and enhances our students’ ability to be informed, global citizens. Through our example, we demonstrate an appreciation of the rich diversity of world cultures and the unique forms of expression that make us human.

 

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