Society · Culture · Education

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the foundational theories, principles, and concepts governing human communicative behavior and interaction. Students will explore the dynamic nature of communication across various contexts, from interpersonal relationships to broader social and cultural settings.

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 offers a comprehensive study of the concepts and practical applications of effective interviewing from both the perspective of the interviewer and the interviewee. Students will master a range of communication principles and methodologies critical for success in diverse interview settings.

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 is designed to guide students in introspective evaluation, theoretical understanding, and practical application of personal leadership skills. By focusing on self-awareness, students will identify their unique leadership strengths and areas for growth, which serves as the foundation for developing an effective and authentic leadership style. The course is based on the book 7 Habits of Highly Effective College Students by Sean Covey.

This course is designed to cultivate the essential professional qualities critical for success in both academic and professional environments. Students will engage in an in-depth exploration of key behaviors and skills that contribute to a strong professional identity and foster effective workplace interactions.

This course is designed to equip students with the essential academic skills and strategic planning abilities needed to navigate their college career and successfully transition into a profession. Through a combination of practical exercises, guided self-assessments, and resource exploration, students will develop a comprehensive toolkit for academic excellence and long-term career fulfillment.

This introductory course provides students with a fundamental understanding of theories, principles, and practices of leadership within an organizational context. Through an examination of effective communication, organizational management, and essential leadership skills, students will develop the competencies required to become influential and ethical leaders.

This intermediate course builds upon foundational leadership concepts by providing students with the opportunity to conduct in-depth research and analysis of personal leadership characteristics. Students will move beyond self-assessment to critically evaluate various leadership theories and apply these models to their own professional development. 

This course provides an introduction to Early Childhood Education, covering its history, philosophical foundations, and the application of child development principles. Topics include assessment methods for observing and recording behavior, communication strategies, guidance approaches, developmentally appropriate practices, and the teacher’s role in early childhood environments. Students must complete practicum hours in a licensed childcare facility or public-school serving children from birth to age eight.

This course introduces students to essential methods and materials designed to facilitate the learning process for young children aged three to five years old. Primary emphasis is placed on child learning assessment, the strategic arrangement of indoor and outdoor learning spaces, and the effective integration of specific curriculum areas including music and movement, dramatic play, and creative media. Students will actively practice the ECE planning cycle by learning to locate, plan, implement, and evaluate creative, developmentally appropriate activities utilizing a wide variety of methods and materials.

This course introduces the essential components necessary for protecting the health and safety of young children (birth through age eight) and promoting the development of lifelong health habits within group care settings. Key topics covered include foundational nutrition education, practical menu planning, recognizing and managing common childhood diseases and illness, and implementing strict sanitation and safety protocols. A vital focus of the curriculum is effective communication and collaboration with both health professionals and parents regarding critical health, safety, and nutrition issues.

This course offers a concise introduction to the fundamental principles of child development spanning the critical period from birth through 36 months. The curriculum emphasizes acknowledging the unique individuality of every infant and toddler while focusing heavily on the adult's pivotal role in consciously establishing and maintaining a safe, responsive, and highly stimulating environment to optimize the very young child's holistic growth and developmental trajectory.

This course provides students with comprehensive knowledge of positive guidance and discipline techniques designed to encourage children to develop self-discipline and responsibility for their own actions. Students will learn the critical importance of assessing, understanding, and enhancing the communication skills of young children, recognizing how these skills are foundational to both effective guidance and the healthy development of a child's self-image. Furthermore, students will gain practical skills in translating theoretical information into effective procedures and strategies that actively support and foster young children’s overall social development in various settings.

This course provides supervised field experience in the education, guidance, and care of young children (birth through Third Grade). Practical application in a childcare center comprises the lab portion of the course. The class will meet monthly to discuss developmentally appropriate curriculum, guidance techniques, and age-appropriate activities that can be used during their practicum placement. Prerequisites: Students must complete a first aid certification and provide documented proof of fingerprint clearance prior to center placement.

This course places paramount importance on the family unit as a child's first and most influential educator. Students will acquire specialized attitudes, core philosophies, and practical, actionable techniques essential for all educators, regardless of setting, to successfully build and sustain effective, collaborative, and reciprocal partnerships with families. The curriculum will empower future teachers to transition from simple communication to genuine engagement, ensuring that family insights are valued and integrated into the child's learning process.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Early Childhood Special Education, introducing the history, assessment methodologies, intervention strategies, and curriculum adaptation relevant to young children. Emphasis is placed on current educational practices and related theories concerning the identification, causes, and defining characteristics of students with exceptionalities from birth through age eight. A mandatory component of the course is the completion of required observation and participation hours within an approved special education setting.

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.

This course examines the historical context of special education in the United States, the legal frameworks shaping services for students with disabilities, and the characteristics and instructional strategies relevant to exceptional learners. The course equips students to address the diverse needs of exceptional learners and implement evidence-based teaching strategies in educational settings.

This course explores the impact of cultural values on a child's self-concept and learning styles. It examines the role of prejudice, stereotyping, and cultural incompatibilities within the educational system. The primary goal is to prepare future educators to create an equitable and inclusive learning environment for children from all cultural backgrounds.

This course examines the historical, demographic, legal, societal, and psychological foundations influencing English Language Learner (ELL) instruction. It provides elementary educators with foundational knowledge and evidence-based strategies to support the language learning process and fulfills the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) Structured English Immersion (SEI) Endorsement requirement.

This course provides an introduction to children's literature, focusing on the principles of effective book selection, evaluation, and application in educational and other contexts. Students will explore selection guidelines, develop effective storytelling techniques, and practice critical interpretation to choose developmentally appropriate books and stories for children.

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.

This course provides an overview of fundamental concepts in psychology, encompassing both traditional theories and recent advancements. Covered topics include the history of psychology, the scientific method, major subfields, heredity and environment, intelligence, learning, memory, problem-solving, sensation and perception, states of consciousness, motivation, emotion, personality, gender and sexuality, abnormal behavior, the nervous system, and learning processes.

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.