B's Gifts

Last night B was at the dining room table. Not unusual. Most nights she is there with paper, crayons, scissors & TAPE! She is always creating something or other & I usually pay no attention until she is finished & then I'm amazed at a fully functional, 3 dimensional pop-out something. I noticed her big jewelry box on the table & asked what she was up too.  She had decided that she NEEDED to give something "special-er" to her BFF's for Christmas so she was finding a "perfect" bracelet for each one.

She was wrapping them by the time I noticed and really, how could I intervene. They were put in her backpack in a special compartment & went to school with her today.

Important Things

Spending a few hours with 30 of my favorite second graders today. Milk & cookies with Santa & my time couldn't have been better spent.  I feel lucky to get time with these kids. It doesn't take much to break up the monotony & make them happy.

And A Showgirl She Was!

B is in the first row with the black dress with the red bow & puffy skirt.  Right in front of the microphone & she sang & dance like a {Christmas} Rockstar.

These are the only pics I have mainly because I took video. I have only video & Maya cause they were not right in the front so it was harder to get them.

Pilgrims, Indians & Piglets!

I think I still smell like turkey & if I don't then cooking another one will ensure that I do. Yesterday second grade had their Thanksgiving Feast. Who made turkey for 28 kids??? Your looking at her! (Kinda) I was sort of glad to do a pre-Thanksgiving run thru though. The kids put on a play. Pilgrims, Indians, etc.

So cute.

How much did they eat? Holy hell! An 18 pound turkey, 10 pounds of mashed potatoes, 5 containers of stuffing, 4 pounds of corn, 34 pies...a gazillion juice boxes & milks- THEN they went to LUNCH!  Seriously amazing amount of food was gone in under an hour. I KNOW that when I help in the class I'm exhausted when done but yesterday was WORK. Constantly a kid at my arm, one in front of me talking & two more arguing and asking me to settle the spat. There were 3 of us on duty and all three of us were in THAT EXACT BOAT the whole time. I finally turned to my friend Jen and said, "OMG this is harder than a marathon today!" and she totally agreed.

So worth it though. So of my best days (still, cuz I've been saying this exact thing for years) are spent with these kids.

Just not feelin it

This morning was the school Halloween Parade. Let me restate, it was the school's last EVER Halloween Parade as our school will close its doors in June. Of course it was raining & of course that did not matter. We walked the 8 blocks anyway, police escort & all. I walked with B's class. That was interesting. Her teacher was out sick. The teachers aide was out sick. One of the other moms that was supposed to be there was out sick. None of us knew each other & in the end I was the only one that knew the kids! And the days planned agenda. And how the teacher normally does thinks. Totally not feeling it & I was the go to person for lots. I didn't forget my camera. I just was too busy to take pics. I got a few on my cell because I thought fast but other than that...zilcho.

Why am I not feeling it? No clue. I just know I went to bed last night with a feeling of dread & the running thought was that I just need to make it til noon today. Why noon? Don't know. I came home to eat, kids are at lunch & then dismissed at 1. I think I'm anxious to not have to be anywhere for a few days which is kind of a joke since there is Halloween stuff all weekend!

Don't know. Just not feelin it. I'll leave you with old Halloween Pics:

(Or maybe I won't. Blogger won't let me add pics right now...I'll do it later)

Does That Make Me Crazy? Probably.

Psst! 

I'm still here.

Seriously, I am.

Life has just gotten really crazy.  My work hours changed & gulp...gulp... I now work graveyard fulltime. What? You say government offices aren't open overnite?  Yeah. That's what I thought too.  I thought wrong. Prepartation for day to day operations happen betyween midnite & 8am. So does payroll so if you are in this state & work for the Department of Commerce I'm likely the one processing your time sheets & getting you paid.

Your welcome.

Ironically, I love the skeleton crew that works. I love having my lunch at 4am & listening to my ipod in an empty lobby of a historic building that is usually jam packed. I love going across the street to the coffeehouse when it opens at 6am & seeing people just starting their day while knowing my work is almost done. I'm a vampire by nature. I love late nights & early mornings so this caters to my internal clock. It's all those nasty afternoon hours that I struggle with. Did I mention graveyard pays time & a half & eliminates my need for daycare once school gets out in 2 weeks? Didja know 8 hours a day daycare for 3 kids is $246 bucks a week?  Yeah, you'd stay awake all night too now wouldn't you??

I'm seriously loving it but I have to say the not sleeping enough is really, truly hard. Typical day, run home get kids up & out to school. Clean up, throw dinner in the crockpot, run errands then sleep from 11-1:30. Get kids, homework, dinner, someone usually has a softball game, slushies, showers bed for kids. I get out the stuff to get them ready for the next day & sleep for another hour or two if lucky, jump in the shower and go to work. There are days that this hasn't happened. I got up at 7am on Weds. and was up until 9:30pm FRIDAY night.  That is just bad. So bad. Non functional bad. Friday morning the world was spinning but my mind was running. By afternoon I was flipping my phone to check email & dozing off while the page loaded.  Not pretty. Sleep is vital. I slept 11 hours last night & fully intend to repeat that tonite before going back to my 5 day insanity this week.

Kids are great. Wrapping up the school year. Fun day (DJ, bounce equipment, relay race etc.) at school is on B's birthday, B & Emmy's double birthday bash is just days away, there's a field trip this week but before that I get to help her class tye dye shirts to wear on the trip... I could go on forever.

Extremely important is a planned trip to NYC. It has been B's big wish since Xmas. To go to NYC to go to The American Girl Doll Store. That (& the overpriced doll) is her birthday gift from me. I just can't wait, so much good stuff is coming I just need to figure out how to stay awake!

The Great Cupcake Massacre

Yesterday we made 5 dozen cupcakes. 5 dozen. Valentine's Day Funfetti with white or pink frosting, heart candies, pink, red & purple sprinkles, matching M&M's, Hershey's Kisses. Each one was a wee little masterpiece. Em frosted & decorated each & every one for her class, herself. I helped B do hers & they were PERFECT. We also did 3 trays of chocolate covered pretzels. After everything was done I figured school would be cancelled. We got a call last night revising the entire schedule. They were supposed to be off at 11am today, now they went to school at 10 & are there all day. Two 11am dismissals will happen next week to make up for parent confrences that were cancelled in the snow. GREAT! No school tomorrow, none Monday & they are now out at 11 on Thursday & Friday. This makes the third consecutive week of pretend school.



Anyway, so the kids slept late this morning & we left early. We walk the two blocks because I'd end up needing to park at my house anyway with the morning drop off rush. So out we go. Emmy has two trays of cupcakes in a big bag with a nice handle. Perfect fit & I have her school bag over my shoulder. Em's mission, carry your cupcakes & stay upright. I have Br's cupcakes in one hand, am holding her hand in my other & off we go. One block down...two blocks...we got about 8 inches of snow but its all snow except for slushy intersections. No ice which is good. We get to the school yard & it's a slushy mess everywhere. I don't know what the deal is because last year it used to be much cleaner, plowed & salted. This year its always an early morning mess. I see 3 moms wipe out as we are heading for the gate.

"Don't fall Em, just don't fall!" She keeps saying she won't & I figure she's going down. I have a hold on everything but her.

As we're walking into the playground again (as I see someone else go) "Don't fall Emmy be careful."

Then I felt it- you know that slomo feeling you get as you know you are falling & nothing can save you?

Yeah, redhead down. Cupcakes fly out of my arms & go bouncing. Thank god I taped the containers shut.

B screams, "MOM! MY CUPCAKES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Me? I'm flipping over containers while laughing my head off. The cupcakes are all conjoined. Sprinkles, M&M's, kisses everywhere. Stuck to the wrappers. Stuck to the lid. Everywhere. I walk into the school to bring them to Tracey's room still laughing. Actually laughing & crying simultaneously. I show her them & she looks and goes, "OHMYGOD! Look at how much work went into them?!" I tried to reposition them. Pointless attempt if you ask me.



I came home, made more pretzels & returned with them before 11. I tell the office chick what happened & she says, "You fell?? I missed it???" Yes, she is a total bust ass. She carried the pretzels across the hall to Tracey's room, opens the door & says (no lie), "BRI! Look what mommy didn't drop!!" Loves the staff.

I leave the school still laughing, hit the corner & who is heading for me? That's right.

Crushdriver

I'll fill you in on that later on!

Jammie Day

Ok, maybe for once they aren't lying & this storm is NOT going to miss us or magically shift direction. I say that & feel it's safe to say it now that the snow has been falling for hours. Yes, I believe it now that I see it. They predict 25 hours of straight snow and from what I'm seeing, I think it could happen. School was canceled last night & I wonder if we'll have any tomorrow. We only have school til 11am & I'm supposed to be there as homeroom mom at 10 for the Valentine's Day party. So THAT is my biggest dilemma of today: Do I need to bake 50 cupcakes or not in time for tomorrow?! I'm armed with my Valentine's Day Funfetti cake, heart sprinkles & Valentine's Day M&M's to decorate- but do I NEED to??

I had two teacher confrences yesterday & they went wonderfully. First up was Em. I've mentioned her tough, drill sargeant teacher. Mrs. C is older & piles on the homework. I have talked to her at the door on various occassions & have come to really like her. I get it, she yells to get control of her class. She pushes them because they really do their best then. She loves the kids & Emmy has thrived with her. Emmy was ready to be pushed this year. She wanted it & in return she gets great marks. Straight B+'s because as her teacher claims, in the 2nd quarter, they don't deserve A's yet. They haven't mastered 2nd grade. So she gets mostly 100's & is reading at just under a 4th grade level. I asked what area to help her in & Mrs. C said, "Honestly, she works hard & she needs help with nothing. Just do whatever you are doing because she is amazing & a joy to have.".( We also discussed next year & how I'd like her to have Bri. B is a fab student now, much better than Em was last year so I think B would do great with her as well. She told me she'll check the school's policy about requesting & put a request in for B next year.) Music to my ears.

Then I went on to see Tracey, Bri's teacher. You know, the one whose class I constantly visit?? I love Tracey to pieces. She's a year younger than me & has 4 kids of her own, the oldest being 8. She is in the trenches with me & gets it. And she loves her class. OMG you walk in & just feel it. The kids loves her just as much. So I walk in & up on the projector/smartboard is a huge pic of B from the Pumpkin Patch. She had just slide down one of the slides built into the mountain, popped out the opening & Tracey got the absolute joy on her face. I looked at it & my heart melted. She told me she had to show it to me & will FB it over to me as well. We commiserated on how B is the sweetest thing ever. The first thing she said is, "She is always happy, like, EVERYDAY happy. I love her so much & I'm so glad I have time with her." I'm so glad that people see her as I do because I always say, B is a rainbow. I'm glad she is like that with everyone. Her confrence was a breeze. A string of tests, reviews, Vocab assessments, etc. that were 100's or 95's. No more than one wrong on anything. Her report card is a string of A's. We wrapped up with me coming in next week to do a solar system project. I get to introduce it to them because then it's their next science chapter. Have NO idea what I'll do but I get to spend time with them :)

It's 10am and I think Valentine pancakes are calling.

Red.

Quizzes Girls Games

Already knew this.

Real post later (As in AFTER teacher confrences but BEFORE our incoming "Snowblizzrd" as B is calling it.).

Rollin' Rollin' Rollin- Yeah, Not So Much

I woke BEFORE the alarm this morning. Hopped into the shower, made the lunches that I SHOULD have done last night. Woke the kids, fed them, hair is brushed & done. Rollin' right along. Easy morning smooth as can be. We finished B's 100 Days project last night. A big posterboard with 100 glittler hearts glued to it. (On the 100 day of school which is Friday they have a celebration. First grade does 100 of something & its displayed.) 8:10 rolls around and we walk out the door. I'm 3 houses away from another elementary school that my kids do not attend (ours is 2 blocks away). I go to cross the street & see....NOTHING. By this time the early morning school pileup is always on but I see nothing. There were tubleweeds blowing across the slushy street that's how much activity was happening. I realize that I never watched the morning news & if the school would call with a delay thru the global connect system its between 5:30 & 6:30am. The last end of that time was spent in the shower. I shuffle them into the house & look at the caller id. Sure enough I see 6:27am TEAM CARE (code for our school districts autimated dialer system). We have a 90 minute delay.

They are all cozy on the sectional. I'm here with my coffee & a cinnamon muffin wishing every morning went so smoothly, just not for nothing! SO glad I came back inside & checked!!

Song of the Day: K$sia's Blah Blah Blah

And So It's Done

My day was in large amounts devoted to school choices. It looks like I'll be starting in APRIL :) My FAFSA should actually pay most of it. I *should* be able to successfully test out of several courses & if I do that then I can have my BS in Criminal Justice in under THREE years. I don't know exactly how I'm going to pull it off but I will. The curriculum, half of it is stuff that I'd read out of pure interest so I can not wait to get started. Here's a glimpse.

BUS1010 Business Law
This course combines the understanding of legal theory with an acquaintance of the various forms of contracts. Students are taught the essentials of the legal environment of business, tort law, contracts, commercial transactions, government regulations, and property.
4
BUS1050 Business Math
This course provides students with a basic understanding of mathematics concepts and methods applied to business situations. Topics covered include banking, markups and markdowns, trade and cash discounts, payroll, simple and compound interest, and promissory notes, and the discount process. The course also covers annuities, installment buying and charge credit cards, home ownership expenses, interpreting financial reports, and depreciation.
Prerequisite: Passing score on entrance assessment or MAT0950.
4
CJ1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice
The goal of this introductory course is to explore the past, present and future operations of the criminal justice system. This course will examine the myths as well as current information about the criminal justice system. The course is designed to assist students in determining whether to pursue a career within the field of criminal justice.
4
CJ1100 Introduction to Corrections
This course focuses on historical and contemporary views of offender management and treatment, and includes a comprehensive examination of the U.S. correctional system. Special focus is placed on theories of punishment and rehabilitation, and community-based corrections. The course examines the operation and administration of correctional facilities, prison life, and contemporary debates concerning the role of corrections in society.
4
CJ1210 Juvenile Justice
This course provides an introduction to juvenile justice theory and practice. This includes an examination of programs and institutions including the juvenile court process, intake services, rehabilitation and preventative programs.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ1300 Criminology
The course provides an overview of the nature, cause, extent and theories of crime. This course will review and describe the various theories and implications of criminal acts in relation to behavior discipline, causative and scientific aspects.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ1500 Introduction to Law Enforcement
This course provides an overview of policing and its evolution throughout modern history. Students will explore organizational and managerial concepts used to organize and operate police departments as well as the latest techniques being used by police departments to combat crime.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ2050 Legal Research and Writing
This course is designed to present the components of legal research and writing techniques covering case citations, use of indices, case law, interpretation of statutes, and the various forms of legal composition.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300, BUS1010.
4
CJ2220 Criminal Investigations
This course covers basic investigative techniques, the taking of witness statements and interviews, and report writing. The role of advancing technologies used for investigation is explored, with emphasis on the use of forensic science in reconstructing an event. A review of police procedure is also covered.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ2250 Criminal Justice Ethics
This course introduces students to ethical decision making in the criminal justice system. Students will apply philosophical principles and theories to various segments of the criminal justice system including police, courts and corrections.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ2350 Introduction to Criminal Courts
This course examines the development, functions and controversies in the American court system. Students will gain perspectives on various aspects of the judicial process including bail, plea bargaining, punishment and the appeals process.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ2400 Criminal Law and Procedure
This course explores substantive criminal law, including crime and its elements, developments, and trends in this area. Procedural aspects of criminal law, including court jurisdiction, tactics, and methods used in investigation and pertinent ethical considerations are discussed. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional aspects of criminal law.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ2450 Cybercrime
This course introduces students to computer crime and the techniques used to investigate and prevent computer crimes. Students will learn the extent of computer crimes and study the problems, trends and future issues facing those who investigate cybercrimes.
Prerequisite: CJ1000.
4
CJ2500 Criminal Justice Forensics
This course addresses procedures, techniques and applications of forensics that are being used by criminal investigators. Students will learn how to identify, collect, preserve and analyze evidence through the use of forensic techniques.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ2220, BUS1050.
4
CJ3000 Criminal Justice Policy Research Methods
This course is designed to introduce the student to the methods of criminal justice research. Topics include research designs, issues of survey and interview research, validity and reliability, and the use of secondary data.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300, MAT3010.
4
CJ3100 History of Criminal Justice
This course is designed to present the major social, economic, legal and political events which have created the American criminal justice system with emphasis on the development of policing, courts, and corrections.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300.
4
CJ3300 Interview and Interrogation Techniques
This course is designed to familiarize the student with the kinesics technique of obtaining verbal statements and reducing those verbal statements to the proper style to be submitted as evidence in a court of law. The course focuses on the interaction involved in the face to face interview, knowledge of behavior reactions; development of an awareness of likely responses to the behavior of the interviewer.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300.
4
CJ3400 Criminal Justice Applied Statistics
This course is designed to present criminal justice statistics, hypotheses and theories, research and related problems, and ways and means of evaluating the effectiveness of criminal justice activities.
Prerequisite: MAT3010.
4
CJ3500 Drugs, Alcohol and Crime
This course is designed to present the history, pharmacology, health consequences, and crime-related aspects of mind-affecting drugs and alcohol with emphasis on the effects on criminal behavior, the legal response to the problem, and on treatment and prevention of abuse.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300.
4
CJ4010 Homeland Security and Terrorism
This course is designed to present the causes and controversy of terrorism, including definitions and terms, the evolution of terrorism, and the types of terrorism from domestic to international. The course also presents issues in Homeland Security, focusing on the development of the concept, the protection of civil liberties, the bureaucracy of managing Homeland Security, and the role of the media.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300.
4
CJ4100 Community Policing
This course focuses on community policing in regard to police responsibility and working relationships with the community, churches, schools, civic organizations, youth and juvenile population, and community minority groups.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300.
4
CJ4200 Probation and Parole
This course is designed to present the history and purposes of probation and parole. The impact of probation and parole on crime and crime control are discussed. The various forms and mechanisms of probation and parole are presented.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1100, CJ1300.
4
CJ4300 Courts and Social Policy
This course is designed to present the role the courts pursue in determining social policy as it relates to criminology. Emphasis is directed toward the political and social inputs that influence judicial decision making and the role of democracy and punishment in the courts.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300, CJ2350.
4
CJ4500 Advanced Criminal Justice Forensics
This course presents the process of analysis of forensic evidence and developments in crime scene techniques. This course is designed to train and prepare participants to become skilled in the recognition, discovery, processing, preservation, collection, and transmission of physical evidence found at the scene of the crime. Course includes photography, sketching, fingerprinting, marking, chain of custody, collection methods, sources of physical evidence, transmission to the laboratory, and testifying in court.
Prerequisites: CHM3050, CJ1000, CJ1300, MAT3010.
4
INT4100 Criminal Justice Internship
This course is designed to give students nearing graduation actual criminal justice experience. The student will be placed with an agency for a quarter, working a minimum of 160 hours. The experience can be used for job experience in the hiring process and there is a strong chance that the internship can lead to employment with the placement agency.
Prerequisite: To be taken during the final quarter of instruction.
4
or
CJ4900 Comparative Criminal Justice Systems
This course is designed to present an overview of selected world criminal justice systems including police, courts, and corrections. Cross-national and cross-cultural criminality from several perspectives will be examined.
Prerequisites: CJ1000, CJ1300.
4
MGT2000 Management
This course provides valuable information for students who will be entering business as employees and who eventually may have the opportunity to manage a business for others. Also, students who may eventually own and operate their own business will benefit greatly from this course. The material is presented to aid students in learning the appropriate terminology used in business and the many activities involved in the successful operation of a business.
4
MGT2150 Group Dynamics
This course introduces students to the psychology of groups, normal and developmental growth, development of leadership styles, and assessment of group change. Preparing for group meetings is essential in all organizations today, while participating in group meetings establishes employees as team players.
4
General Education Courses
What are general education courses? Gen Ed courses fall outside the program's core curriculum but provide valuable, applicable skills and knowledge.
CHM1150 Chemistry
This course presents the basic concepts of general chemistry including atomic and molecular structure, chemical reactions, and stoichiometry. Students will learn from lectures and laboratory experiences.
4
COM1050 Composition I
This course focuses on helping students develop writing, researching, and critical thinking skills through writing paragraphs and essays using different rhetorical styles. Students also gain experience with peer reviewing. Students are required to earn a grade of C or higher to satisfy the requirements of this course.
Prerequisite: Passing score on entrance assessment or COM0900.
4
COM2060 Composition II
This course builds on skills learned in Composition I and further develops writing, researching, and critical thinking skills with a focus on writing and reading academic essays. The course culminates in a well-reasoned research paper.
Prerequisites: COM1050 and KEY1010 or passing score of TEAS and acceptance into the Associate Degree in Nursing program.
4
COM3150 Advanced Composition
This is a writing course designed to engage the student in a more advanced exploration of the writing process. Students will continue to develop their writing skills through the reading of a variety of rhetoric selections and the writing of more complex essays. Emphasis is placed on expanding the knowledge of the research process and improving the ability to evaluate and integrate various kinds of research in the writing of an APA Style research paper.
Prerequisite: COM1050.
4
HUM3050 Introduction to Humanities
This interdisciplinary course examines the many ways that human creativity manifests itself in the areas of the visual arts, literature, philosophy, history, music, architecture and technology. In this course, students will gain a broad understanding of Western cultural history.
Prerequisite: COM1050.
4
MAT2950 Introductory Algebra
This course is the study of real numbers and variables. Topics studied include operations involving real numbers and algebraic expressions, solving linear equations and inequalities, the Cartesian coordinate system, graphs of linear equations and inequalities, simplifying rational expressions and exponents, factoring and radicals.
Prerequisite: BUS1050 or PHM1100.
4
MAT3010 College Algebra
This course is an in-depth study of the traditional topics of college algebra. These topics include solving linear and quadratic equations and inequalities, graphs of equations and inequalities, operations involving polynomials and rational expressions, exponents, radicals, and an introduction to exponential and logarithmic functions.
Prerequisite: Passing score on placement assessment or MAT2950.
4
POL3100 American Government
This course is an introduction to the structure of the American government at the national level. It emphasizes the institutions of American government and the actions of politicians as they try to control public policies that affect our lives.
4
PSY1060 Psychology
This course provides students with a basic understanding of what psychology is, its relationship to the life sciences, and how behaviors affect our everyday lives. Emphasis is placed on developmental psychology and the problems that face us in regard to the relationships and mental and physical dilemmas they may pose. Topics such as stress, altered states of consciousness, aging, conflict, and types of therapies will be presented.
4
PSY3000 Critical Thinking & Problem Solving
This course is designed to develop students’ basic skills of logical reasoning relative to problem solving and related argument analysis. Learning to provide evidence and well-reasoned support for asserted solutions and/or positions within frameworks of clarity, depth, precision, relevance, and fairness are central to the course.
Prerequisites: COM1000, COM1050 or COM1040.
4
SCI3050 Environmental Science
This course is an introduction to environmental science that includes energy principles, relationships of organisms in ecosystems, and human impacts.
4
SOC1010 Introduction to Sociology
This course examines the basic concepts and terminology, research, theories, and facts associated with the understanding of human interrelations within various cultures, individual organizations, and distinct social groups. Through the scientific study of human behavior focused around the major sociological paradigms, human interactions within social institutions will be explored, including family, religion, economics, politics, government, medicine, as well as additional social groupings. Utilizing the sociological perspective, analysis will include stratification and institutional inequality, deviance, and other environmental dynamics. Numerous contemporary social issues will be discussed such as sexism, racism, class bias, and general inequality.
4
SOC3250 Introduction to Ethnic Studies
This course is designed to survey the field and problems of Ethnic Studies as an area of knowledge and investigation. The instruction is to be interdisciplinary in nature and focus on the communications aspect of ethnic relations. Major considerations of the entire Ethnic Studies field will be defined and analyzed.
4
SPC1010 Presentation Skills
This course provides students with the basic skills necessary to organize their thoughts and communicate effectively through public speaking. Students learn to research, organize, and properly convey oral messages. Through practical classroom application, students gain sound experience in the art of oral presentation. Students are required to earn a grade of C or higher to satisfy the requirements of this course. Students earning a grade of C- or below will be required to repeat the course.
4
Foundation Courses
What are foundation courses? These courses provide a foundation to your program and are often required by the field in which you’ll work.
CD2600 Career Development
This course provides information and resources important for anyone’s career development. It uses guest presenters and mock interviews, in addition to individual consultations, to provide career guidance. The class starts by having the students perform a self-assessment of their interests and values while at the same time, focusing on their professional goals. It emphasizes the importance of understanding how to create a successful resume no matter where a person is in their career path. In addition, it highlights how to apply a variety of other job search documents and execute follow-up. Instructors illustrate traditional and nontraditional methods of job searching to include some of the latest online resources. A significant element of this course is training students to have great interviewing skills. Additional time is spent researching employers, exploring employment opportunities available in the area, and setting up interviews with prospective employers. Toward the end of this course, students also learn value of teamwork and being successful in their career. By applying these techniques and suggestions in this course, students are able to approach their career exploration and job search with a more confident and winning attitude. This course is scheduled during the final or next to last quarter of the program.
2
CPU1000 Computers and Office Automation
This course provides students with a basic understanding of computing fundamentals including hardware, software, Internet concepts, and file management. This course also provides hands-on experience with basic word processing, spreadsheet and presentation applications. This course provides students with the necessary foundation for further study in desktop applications, and to apply these skills in advanced courses requiring electronic processing.
Prerequisite/Co-Requisite: KEY1010.
4
CPU2120 Word Processing
This course prepares students for an in-depth study of word processing techniques. Students completing this course are able to perform word processing functions ranging from document editing and formatting to graphics and web design. The class is structured to provide students with hands-on opportunities to practice and apply their skills.
Prerequisite: CPU1000 or ITS1000.
4
KEY1010 Keyboarding I
This course teaches students the fundamentals of keyboarding, including correct finger positions, machine operation, and correct posture. An introduction is made to the word processing program.
2
PSY1050 Strategies for Success
This course is designed to enhance the college learning experience and prepare students for personal and professional success. Concepts presented include managing change, setting and achieving goals, and thinking in ways to create success. This course also incorporates assessments that will increase one’s self-awareness, and improve the student’s interpersonal and intrapersonal skills.
4
Total Credit Hours 180