Course & Seminar Offerings

Courses:

CM 120 Communication Seminar I (4)

Communication Seminar I focuses on the separate communication modes of reading, writing, speaking, listening, and information technological literacy as methods of making meaning.  As the student explores ideas from print and online resources, personal experience, and active learning situations, she recognizes the impact on meaning of language elements such as audience, context, focus, purpose, and structure.  Individually and in small and large group activities, she expands her understanding of complex topics and her critical thinking skills.  She develops awareness of self-management strategies such as time management, study skills, vocabulary acquisition, and independent research, and learns to employ self assessment and feedback to evaluate her progress in this course and across the curriculum

ENG 055 Integrating English Usage (0)

The second language/dialect student has an opportunity to develop her English writing, listening and speaking skills.  She focuses on strategies that will help her understand her peers and instructors and to be understood by them as well.  She engages in various oral and written activities which include participating in conversations, writing short papers, and listening to and comprehending of lectures, student discussions, and audio-visual materials.

ENG 056 Advanced English Usage (0)

The advanced second language/dialect student has multiple opportunities to further develop her English reading and writing abilities.  Reading and video selections provide background information and enhance her knowledge of cultural concepts.  Through discussion and small group work, she develops her ability to summarize ideas in both oral and written formats.  By analyzing the grammatical and structural aspects of professionally and student written texts, she becomes proficient with editing strategies.

ENG 057 Advanced English Pronunciation (0)

This course focuses on refining the English speaking skills of the advanced second language student.  Instruction enhances the student’s previous understanding of the physical and affective factors of pronunciation.  Audio-visual materials and oral exercises develop her ability to discriminate between and produce American English sounds, words, and discourse.  The student also develops a method for assessing her needs and planning appropriate learning strategies.

QL 022/122 Quantitative Literacy in the Modern World (4)

Quantitative Literacy in the Modern World focuses on the mathematical and algebraic methods needed to describe, analyze, and then respond to our world. Students will work with concept models including percents, ratios, formulas, variables, linear equations, and graphs set within the context of contemporary issues.  The course will strengthen students’ ability to read about, write about, and question health, societal, and economic issues.  They will do this through solving application based problems, understanding the use of symbols, and applying various mathematical techniques needed to effectively use and manipulate quantitative information.

QL 110 Applying Mathematical Thinking (3)

Applying Mathematical Thinking focuses on strengthening students’ ability to use mathematics as a communication tool while exploring applications based on contemporary issues involving numerical information. These applications, which use rational numbers, percents, and proportions, enable the student to better understand, describe, and analyze the world.

QL 120 Applying Algebraic Thinking (3) Prereq. QL 110

Applying Algebraic Thinking focuses on strengthening students’ ability to integrate problem solving strategies with the development of techniques for solving linear equations, inequalities and systems of equations. Students do this through exploration of applications based on current data to highlight the power of algebra as a tool to compare and analyze meaningful information.

QL 156 Mathematical Connections (3) Prereq. QL 122

Mathematical Connections focuses on strengthening the quantitative skills that the student needs to be an effective receiver and producer of information. She explores current issues in society, financial topics including managing debt, establishing credit and budgeting, and concerns from specific disciplines such as business and nursing. The course includes three major content areas: (1) representing data, which engages topics from graphing and statistics to describe data; (2) predicting data, which uses models from probability and statistics to make predictions about the likelihood of events; and (3) measurement, which combines topics from geometry and measurement systems to understand two- and three-dimensional space. Through exploration of these concepts, the student increases her understanding of the power of mathematics as a communication tool. 

QL 301 Applying Quantitative Strategies (0)

Applying Quantitative Strategies, a quantitative literacy course for students enrolled in the Alverno Degree Completion Program, focuses on the mathematical and algebraic methods necessary for Probability & Statistics and other upper division coursework.  The student works with concept models including percents, ratios, formulas, descriptive statistics, linear equations, and graphs set within the context of contemporary issues.    The curriculum aims to strengthen a student’s ability to solve application based problems, understand the use of symbols, and apply various mathematical techniques needed to effectively use and manipulate quantitative information. 

WE 131 Learning and Study Strategies for Successful Students (1)

This course teaches strategies and processes that can be employed to be successful in courses, including time management, learning and study strategies, concentration and listening strategies, and preparing for and taking assessments.  In addition, students explore how motivation, attitude, interpersonal skills, and anxiety can help or hinder successful learning.

WE 137 Test Taking Strategies for Nursing Students (1)
Prereq. N 250

The student learns and practices test taking and anxiety reduction strategies, including reading analysis, vocabulary review, error analysis, and research based study strategies.  Emphasis is placed on extensive practice with test questions, analyzing test questions and responses, identifying key words, and using anxiety reducing practices.

WE 143 Medication Dosing: Must Know Math for Nurses (1)

In this course, the student learns the mathematics required to accurately dispense medications.  This includes exposure to physical representations of various measurement units that nurses commonly encounter.  The student learns frequently used abbreviations, conversions, approximations, calculations, and rounding in dosing, with an emphasis on accuracy and attention to detail. 

Seminars:

N 050/150/151/152 Understanding Medication Calculations (0)

This course is designed to help the Nursing student understand the mathematical relationships involved in calculating the dosages of oral, intramuscular, IV, and weight based medications.  She will work on conceptual understanding and precise execution of all computations.  The student is referred for the course by Nursing faculty.

N 260S Health Assessment Seminar (in conjunction with N 260) (0)

The course, conducted in a seminar format under the team leadership of Nursing faculty and Instructional Services instructors, focuses on preparing the student for the types of assessments required in the nursing curriculum.  Through discussion and practice, the student will gain proficiency with different test-taking strategies and develops her abilities to read and process information from a variety of texts.  By reviewing study strategies and concept mapping, the course facilitates the student’s movement towards becoming an independent learner.

PST 329 PRAXIS II Preparation Seminar (0)

The student learns strategies and reviews content relevant to the abilities required on the PRAXIS II Subject Assessments, a state requirement for teacher certification.  Through discussion, practice, and content review, she is introduced to the multiple choice test format and appropriate strategies for addressing content specific questions.  The student will complete practice tests, analyze her errors, and develop a plan for further preparation.