Western Civilization & Culture

Master Teacher: Annie Nardone
Duration: Yearlong course offered in fall/spring (32 weeks).
Suggested High School Credit Value: 1 credit.
Suggested Grade Level: 10th grade level and up.
Tuition: $629 for HSLDA Members / $699 for non-members

Description: Western Civilization and Culture places pivotal writings, authors, artists, and composers in a historical context, providing foundational knowledge of the great minds who still influence western culture today. Students study western culture from its roots in ancient history to modernity by analyzing important primary sources, which illuminate the milieu and impact of each era. This approach helps students gain an appreciation for the significant cultural contributions of western civilization. Students read a variety of texts, study visual arts, and listen to the music of each era to understand the progression of the humanities and their connection to historical events. Creative projects and imaginative writing round out this immersive study of western history.

Watch a sample clip of an Academy live class session. 

Sign up for Western Civilization & Culture and other courses

Live Online Class Session Schedule

Dates:  August 19, 2024 - May 2, 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

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• Students Will Learn

  • How to discuss the rising importance of visual art and music during the growth of Christian culture and western civilization
  • How to identify connections between ancient and biblical history
  • How to understand poetry techniques in rhyme, meter, and verse, and their application to western history
  • How an understanding of literary devices (myth, metaphor, satire, etc.) illuminate literature and the historical period in which the literature is written
  • How to connect the Logos to mathematics and reason with art and imagination, especially during the Renaissance period
  • How to identify and describe symbolism to analyze paintings and illustrations in a historical and cultural context
  • How to write and properly cite short essays and creative writing pieces

• How much homework is in Western Civilization and Culture?

  We estimate the coursework will take 5-7 hours per week. During a typical week, students complete the following:

  • 60–90 minutes of live class instruction
  • A brief, pre-recorded lecture
  • 10 – 50 pages of reading
  • A reading comprehension quiz (5 questions)
  • Depending on the topic, there will be links to music pieces and art to analyze and discuss in class.
  • Weekly discussion forum with fellow students
  • Creative or analysis-type writing assignment

  Larger assignments and instructions will be included in the class syllabus.

• What books will I use in Western Civilization and Culture?

  The official booklist for Western Civilization and Culture is now available. In the official booklist, you will find information about the editions, book descriptions, and ISBN numbers.

  You can order course materials for competitive prices through the Christianbook.com bookstore. Use the Textbook Finder to locate the required resources for your courses. Please note that while most books are available through Christianbook.com, some titles are not carried and will need to be purchased elsewhere.

• Prerequisites

  Students should be able to read and write at the 10th grade level.

• What is a Live Online Class Session in Western Civilization and Culture?

  In every HSLDA Academy course, students meet weekly with their instructor and classmates in an online classroom for additional teaching, discussion, Q&A, or group activities. The class sessions are interactive and are conducted using a web meeting software with video, audio, chat, and application sharing capabilities.

  Scheduled, real-time sessions in the online classroom are not the only form of instruction available in a HSLDA Online Academy course, but are offered in addition to lectures or other instructional materials that students are able to access online at their convenience.

  When they register, students will need to select a particular class section and live class meeting time. Additional class sections may be added to the schedule at a later point in the course registration period. Registered students will be notified of any changes to the live session schedule.

• What if I have a schedule conflict with listed Western Civilization and Culture class times?

  All live class sessions are recorded for later viewing. While it is recommended that students attend each live class session, students can make arrangements to watch the recordings and receive full participation credit.

  Students should contact their instructor at the start of their course to inform the instructor of any foreseen schedule conflicts.