Society · Culture · Education

This course will enhance students' understanding of interpersonal communication and help improve their ability to communicate effectively in diverse situations. Topics will include foundational elements of communication, perceptions, self-concepts, verbal and nonverbal behaviors, active listening, conflict resolution, feedback, and developing and maintaining personal and professional relationships. 

This course presents the fundamental components of oral communication with a focus on public speaking. Students gain experience using multimedia technologies to enhance presentations. The curriculum fosters adaptable communication skills applicable to intercultural, public, workplace, and small group settings through experiential learning. Learning outcomes include proficiency in speech organization, effective delivery methods, and strategies for audience adaptation.

This course provides students with the foundational knowledge and skills to prepare them for academic success in higher education. The course introduces students to learning strategies that help them prepare for college, including time management, study skills, self-care, professional communication, and problem solving. This course guides a student's journey from understanding program expectations to planning for their future.

This course explores the educational system in the United States, covering its historical foundations and current trends. Students will learn about teaching theories, the role of learners, and the connection between schools and communities, along with the responsibilities of educators. This course requires in-person observation in an elementary or high school setting which helps students assess their interest in teaching.

Course Description
This course provides an introduction to the study of children's literature, with an emphasis on the effective selection and application of literary works in educational and related settings. Topics include criteria for evaluating and selecting age-appropriate texts, techniques for storytelling and literary interpretation, and methods for critically assessing children's books. Students will engage in discussions on developmentally appropriate practices in choosing literature that supports the cognitive, emotional, and social growth of children. 
 

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to building a family tree and exploring family history. Participants will learn key techniques for tracing genealogical information, such as researching records, organizing data, conducting interviews, analyzing documents, and presenting findings clearly. The course also covers the use of online databases and genealogical tools, and provides guidance on locating historical details including dates, locations, and significant ancestral events.

This course provides foundational skills for family history research, enabling students to expand their family trees. Participants may concentrate on a single ancestor or a specific group. During the course, students will be able to search billions of ancestor profiles, photographs, and historical documents to find information about their ancestors. Students will learn to identify and document key dates and to interpret census data, while building their family tree.

Exploration of major developments in world history to the eighteenth century, considering the social, intellectual, political, economic, religious, environmental, and cultural components that have made the modern world.

History of world trade, world empires, and transcontinental migrations from the eighteenth through the twentieth centuries. Examination of the forces of change including industrial, communication, and transportation revolutions. Analysis of the rise of nationalism, militarism, the age of world wars, and economic globalization.

This course provides a survey of the development of Chinese culture and society from early human history to the Ming Dynasty. It examines the continuity and transformation within Chinese history. Key topics include the region's physical, climatological, and demographic characteristics, interactions with neighboring cultures, major cultural, philosophical, and religious traditions, and the processes of dynastic emergence, decline, and succession. Developments in writing, literature, art, science, and technology will be analyzed across each historical period.

This course surveys the development of Chinese culture and society from early European contact to contemporary political and economic developments. It examines traditional Chinese culture, the impact of European contact and technological change, and internal and external conflicts, institutional transformations, and policy shifts through the post-Mao era.

Survey of the major developments in American history from Pre-Columbian times to the Era of Reconstruction. Includes Pre- and Colonial America, the Formative Years 1776-1815, the Early National Period 1815-1850, and the coming of the Civil War and its aftermath. Also integrates the social, intellectual, and political aspects of early American life.

Survey of the major developments in American history from the era of Reconstruction to the present. Includes the era of Reconstruction, the emergence of modern America, the Early 20th Century, and America as a world power. Also includes the social, intellectual, and political aspects of contemporary American life.

Students survey contemporary ideas about abnormal psychology. Topics cover the classification, assessment, and treatment of mental health conditions such as anxiety, mood, dissociative, stress-related, personality, somatic, and psychotic disorders. Legal and ethical issues will be examined.