Gen Ed and Elective Course Clusters

This course addresses the physiological, psychological, and sociological impact of alcohol/drug use, abuse, and dependence, including signs, symptoms, and behavior patterns. The basic classification and pharmacological action of drugs on human body systems is covered, as well as the etiological, behavioral, cultural, and demographic aspects and belief systems associated with alcohol and drug use. Special attention is focused on opioid use and abuse.

This course introduces students to the process addiction, also known as behavioral addictions. The process addictions covered include the signs, symptoms, and assessment of the following: gambling, food, work, sex, exercise, shopping, and Internet use.

This course focuses on evidence-based best practices in the treatment of addictions. Valid diagnostic criteria is discussed in conjunction with a person being placed in the appropriate level of treatment intervention, including the American Society of Addiction Medicine Patient Placement Criteria (ASAMPPC). Accurate diagnosis, in conjunction with treatment options, is explained. The special challenges of detoxification of certain psychoactive drugs are explored.

This course will provide an overview of Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) law and related concepts. Employment laws that will be addressed include: Civil Rights Acts, Age Discrimination and Employment Act (ADEA), Americans with Disability Act (ADA), Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Topics addressed in this course will include: how to determine what constitutes harassment/hostile work environment, LGBTQ rights (and how employment law applies), current court cases and managerial responsibilities for EEO related laws. No Prerequisites

This course will provide an overview of various employment laws and related concepts. Employment law will include: Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Occupational Health and Safety Act (OSHA)/Workers Compensation (WC), Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and National Labor Relations Act (NLA). Topics addressed in this course will include: current court cases and managerial responsibilities for these laws. No Prerequisites

Various current topics and trends will be addressed in this course, including: Diversity and Inclusion, Workforce Generations, Employee Relations trends and Ethics. No Prerequisites

This course is designed to provide a foundation for understanding professional communication and for developing basic corporate communication skills. This course orients the student to essential features of communication and develops competencies in conceptualizing oral and written communication and problem solving.

This course introduces the practices and principles of communicating with internal stakeholders—specifically employees. The course emphasizes interactive employee communication programs, strategies and the manager’s role in establishing an environment that encourages dialogue and the flow of information.

This course focuses on training the competent communicator to train others in the organization. The course also emphasizes developing the skills necessary to design and develop interventions. Competencies include problem solving, coordinating and visioning.

This course focuses on the possible biological risk factors and their connection to violent behavior. Influences, including behavioral disorders during youth, lead poisoning, and neurological abnormalities are addressed. The nature vs. nurture debate is explored in detail.

This course examines a wide variety of serial killers and mass murderers, including sexual predators, psychotic killers, and eccentric killers. It also examines their motives including thrill, rage, glory, control and other motives.

This course examines the following questions: What causes criminal behavior? Why would anyone kill for the thrill? Why would someone who appears so normal do such an evil act? In addition to the psychology of the criminal mind, the study of profiling and predicting criminal behavior is explored.

This course addresses the application of nonverbal communication theories directed toward improved understanding of self and others in a variety of communication contexts. The course presents terminology, concepts, and models of nonverbal communication. Competencies in the areas of effective social interaction, intercultural awareness, conversational adaptability, self-awareness, and relational communication are addressed.

This course provides instruction on strategies, techniques and models of professional communication. Students will develop and apply skills at various communication levels and in a variety of contexts. Additionally, the course addresses competencies in the areas of persuasive speaking, organization of thought, planning and organizing, and ability to conceptualize.

This course provides instruction in effective interviewing techniques and strategies while addressing models and concepts relevant to interviewing. Students will review interviewing competencies in the areas of managing conflict, decision-making, ethics, listening, interpersonal communication, and problem solving.

This course focuses on the political and philosophical traditions of the American republic, especially as embedded in the ideals, values, traditions, founding documents, and institutions of the United States , and considers how these traditions relate to individual citizenship and global society. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours

This course focuses on the creative tensions that exist between the forces of tradition and change as the country undergoes social, cultural, and political change. It considers the manner in which change can renew the vitality of a republic. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours

This course examines civic engagement in relation to individual freedoms and responsibilities. It fosters engaged citizens, empowered to effect positive change. Prerequisite: 60 Credit Hours

As organizations move toward inclusion as a means of leveraging diversity, it is imperative that employees understand the importance of inclusion, as well as the ways in which culture and identity influence our perceptions and behaviors in the workplace. Important skills include self- and cultural awareness, viewing issues from multiple perspectives, and managing bias.

An effective organization must create a culture which embraces diversity. Business leaders need to promote and communicate inclusive attitudes and policies in order to capitalize on a diverse labor force. Important skills include welcoming a pluralistic workforce, mentoring potential talents, evaluating performance objectively, and resolving cultural conflicts in the workplace.

Globalization has increased competitive pressures and opened up new opportunities. Organizations must monitor political, legal, economic, and demographic trends which can alter the workplace environment for entire industries. At the organizational level, leaders need to gauge the impact of diversity initiatives and adjust strategies appropriately based on evidence from established metrics.

A project based course which focuses on the use of Microsoft Word tools to communicate in a professional setting. This course offers an in-depth presentation of Word to expose students to practical examples of the computer as a useful tool to create word processing documents suitable for coursework, professional purposes, and personal use. Emphasis is placed on helping students discover the underlying functionality of Microsoft Word so they can become more productive. This is a course that uses an exercise-oriented approach that allows learning by doing.

A project based course which focuses on the use of Microsoft Excel to communicate in a professional setting. This course offers an in-depth study of Excel software to expose students to practical examples of the computer as a useful tool to create spreadsheets suitable for coursework, professional purposes, and personal use. Emphasis is placed on helping students discover the underlying functionality of Excel so they can become more productive. This course offers labs using Power Pivot, an Excel add-in to perform a powerful data analysis and create sophisticated data models. This is a course that uses an exercise-oriented approach that allows learning by doing.

A project based course which focuses on the use of Microsoft PowerPoint to communicate in a professional setting. This course offers an in-depth study of PowerPoint to expose students to practical examples of the computer as a useful tool to create presentations suitable for coursework, professional purposes, and personal use. Emphasis is placed on helping students discover the underlying functionality of PowerPoint software so they can become more productive. This is a course that uses an exercise-oriented approach that allows learning by doing.

Students in this course practice using the various techniques of creative non-fiction as they craft their own works in the genre.

This course is an examination of those works in which the authors write about either their own lives or the lives of others. The method and content of classical works of autobiography are compared with more contemporary examples of autobiographical writing.

In this course, students explore the available tools for researching their own family history and create their own autobiographies using the techniques commonly employed in autobiographical writing.

Some people have a long-lasting reaction to traumatic events that move to enduring mental health issues and prolonged consequences. This course will identify the symptoms, causes and treatments for people who experience severe prolonged reactions to traumatic events.

This course will focus on how trauma can affect people of every race, age, ethnicity, gender, psychosocial background, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and region. Trauma can overwhelm a community’s resources to cope. A discussion of community resources is included.

This course will focus on natural and human-caused traumas. Natural disasters may affect only one or a small number of people or an entire region. These are sometimes referred to as “acts of God.” Human-caused disasters are those traumas that are caused by human failure. An example would be accidents or war.