Online Course Descriptions

The General Studies online degree program offers you the flexibility to choose courses that meet your interests and professional goals. To complete this program, you will choose courses in three of the following core areas: Behavioral Studies, Business Studies, Education Studies, English, Humanities, and Social Sciences. As an online student in the General Studies program, you will work with your online advisor to create a degree plan and course of study.

Below you will find suggested courses for each core area. Please refer to the Academic Bulletin for specific course descriptions

 

 

Behavioral Studies

ED 308: Educational Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

Psychological theory and research related to the learning process – with consideration of their application to school situations and problems. Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education Program. Offered every Fall.

IDS 202: Statistics in Behavioral Sciences
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A course to familiarize students in the behavioral sciences with descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistics will be studied within the context of research in criminal justice, psychology, political science and related disciplines. Offered every semester.

PSY 101: Introduction to Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course is an introduction to the scientific discipline of psychology. Several areas of the field will be covered, including physiological psychology, cognition, development, social psychology, abnormal psychology, and therapy. Offered every semester.

PSY 201: Human Development
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the physical, cognitive, and psychological changes that take place throughout the life cycle – from conception to death. Developmental theory will be applied to parenting, education, marriage, career planning, and other practical matters. Offered every semester.

PSY 301: Personality Theories
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course examines several major personality theories as well as how certain theories have led to the development of specific personality assessments. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 201. Offered every Fall.

PSY 306: Abnormal Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

An analysis of the causes, symptoms and treatment of psychopathology-including schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and personality disorders. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 301. Offered every Spring.

PSY 307: Learning Theories
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course investigates the mechanisms of major types of learning: classical conditioning, operant conditioning and social learning theory. Material will emphasize the role of animal research in this area and include applications to human learning and problems. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 201. Offered every Spring.

PSY 313: Cognitive Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

Cognitive psychology is the study of mental processes. Specific topics that are included in this course are memory, attention processes, problem-solving, language, and creativity. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 201. Offered every Fall.

PSY 325: Adolescent Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of the biological, cognitive, social, emotional and psychological changes that accompany development during the adolescent period. Adolescence will be viewed in the contexts of families, schools, peers and culture. There will also be a focus on contemporary adolescent issues, including health and psychopathology. Prerequisite: PSY 101 or PSY 201. Offered every Spring.

PSY 403: Senior Seminar (Capstone)
3 Semester Credit Hours

A capstone course that incorporates in-depth analyses of selected topics and current issues in psychology and encourages students to synthesize information learned in previous psychology courses. Students will prepare and present a report as a requirement for this course. Prerequisite: Senior psychology majors or consent of the instructor. Offered every Fall.

 

 

Business Studies

ACCT 211: Principles of Accounting I
3 Semester Credit Hours

Introduction to financial accounting for business. Identifies and uses the terms in the accounting equation to analyze transactions and events. Examines assets, liabilities, owner’s equity, revenue and expense accounts included in the balance sheet and income statement of uncomplicated business. Prerequisite: None. Offered every Fall.

ACCT 212: Principles of Accounting II
3 Semester Credit Hours

Introduction to the accounting information used by managements of organizations for decision-making purposes. Topics covered include: cost-volume-profit (CVP) analysis, decision-making, responsibility accounting and financial statement analysis. Prerequisite: ACCT 211. Offered every Spring.

BA 101: Introduction to Business
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introduction to business and management concepts. The course will cover different types of legal business entities; how to plan and organize a business; how to manage and operate a business; basic revenue models; and other basic concepts related to successful business administration such as financial, operational, and human resource functions. Offered ever Fall and Spring.

BA 261: Principles of Marketing
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A study of the fundamentals of marketing which includes identification of the market, design of the product or service, communication and promotion, pricing and distribution. The relationship of marketing and society will be examined. Offered every Spring.

BA 325: Business Law
3 Semester Credit Hours

The principles and rules of law which comprise the legal framework of business: contracts, agency, commercial paper, personal property and sale of goods. Prerequisites: BA 101. Offered every Fall.

BA 341: Principles of Financial Management
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introductory course in the acquisition and use of fund. Topics include the time value of money, risk, financial analysis, capital investment decision making, the sources of financing and the management of current assets. Prerequisites: ACCT 212. Offered every Fall.

BA 345: Business and Professional Writing
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course introduces students to the art of writing business documents, from emails to memoranda to reports to letters. In addition, students will learn the best ways to present data to enhance decision making, and have the experience of making meeting agenda and facilitating a meeting. Offered every Spring.

BA 357: Management Information Systems
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course covers the information system development life cycle. Use of data flow diagrams and structure charts, database, design, and program development. Prerequisite: BA 101. Offered Fall or Spring semester.

BA/ECON 359: Managerial Statistics
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Presentation of the role of sampling and statistical control procedures in managerial decision making under conditions of risk and uncertainty. Fundamental probability distributions and their use in classical and Bayesian inference. Prerequisites: MATH 101 or MATH 103 or MATH 121. Offered every semester. Cross-listed with ECON 359

BA 406: Business Strategy and Value Creation
3 Semester Credit Hour 

Using texts and simulation, students will be introduced to the process of Business Strategy and how this process can add value to a corporation/business. Students will study how various organizations plan for the intended and the unintended future. Case studies may also be used to facilitate learning. Prerequisites: BA 101, BA 341, BA 261, ACCT 211/212 and ECON 231/232. BA 357 may be taken concurrently. Offered every Fall and Spring

ECON 231: Principles of Microeconomics
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introductory course in the theory of value and distribution. Topics include the rational behavior of consumers, resource owners, and business firms; the pricing of output and resources under various market conditions; and the interrelationship of economic units in a system of price-making markets. Prerequisite: MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105 or MATH 121. Offered every Fall semester.

ECON 232: Principles of Macroeconomics
3 Semester Credit Hours 

An introductory course in the determination of the overall level of employment, income, output and prices. Topics include unemployment, inflation, monetary and fiscal policies, international trade and economic growth. Prerequisite: ECON 231. Offered every Spring semester.

 

 

Education Studies

ED 200: Foundations of Education
3 Semester Credit Hours

Focus on the history and philosophy of education, societal influences on education and legislative/legal mandates that affect education. This course is a requirement for admission to the Teacher Education program, to requirements for PRAXIS series tests, to clinical experiences and observations. Clinical and field experiences in local schools required. Offered every semester.

ED 202: Educational Technology
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Focus on computers, computer software and other technology explicitly designed for educational use. Collaboration with public school personnel and use of state-of-the-art materials and equipment implemented in this course. Clinical and field experience required. Offered Spring and Summer.

ED 203: Exceptional Children
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Survey course with emphasis on identifying, understanding and working with special needs children. Clinical and field experience required. Offered Fall, Spring and Summer.

ED 308: Educational Psychology
3 Semester Credit Hours

Psychological theory and research related to the learning process – with consideration of their application to school situations and problems. Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education Program. Offered every Fall.

ED 400: Classroom Discipline and Management
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A study of research and theories that have led to appropriate current practices of discipline in schools. Provides experiences in classroom management processes necessary to establish and maintain an environment in which learning and instruction can occur. Prerequisite: Admission to Teacher Education Program; Clinical and field experience required. Offered every Fall.

EDEL 201: Classroom Management in Elementary
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course will present students with the best current practices and principles of assessment across the curriculum for P-12. In-depth learning of specific ways to diagnose and prescribe for student learning through assessment will be discussed in this course. Principles and procedures in assessing and evaluating student growth, disaggregation of data, aggregate data collection, assessment design, construction of both formal and informal assessment across the curriculum for P-12, and application to instructional standards-based practices will be discussed in this course.

EDEX 201: Introduction to Mild Disabilities
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course will examine the ways in which individuals interact with educational systems, communities at large and each other to bring about appropriate educational services for students with special education needs. Included are fundamentals of group processes, human behavior and interaction and motivation, as well as skills and knowledge necessary for successful collaboration with others concerned with education of students. Clinical and field experience required. Offered as needed.

EDEX 304: Transition Issues in Special Education
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course is designed to provide students with knowledge and skills to address the issues and needs of students with special needs and their families in the transitions throughout school and those leading to adult life issues and experiences. Clinical and field experience required. Prerequisite: ED 203 and admission to Teacher Education Program. Offered Summer only.

 

 

English

ENGL 200: Approaching Literature
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Introduction to reading good literature intelligently, and appreciatively. Emphasis on basic critical principles applied to outstanding works of literature. *LIT Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and ENGL 102. Offered online on an irregular basis.

ENGL 204: Creative Writing Survey
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A critical study of prominent writers accompanied by a survey of the creative writing workshop. Emphasis on several genres and writing within those genre conventions. *CRW. Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and ENGL 102. Offered Spring of Odd years.

ENGL 206: American Literature Survey
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of significant American writers and survey of American literary traditions from pre-colonial settlement to the present time. *LIT Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and ENGL 102. Offered every semester.

ENGL 230: Readings in World Literature
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Concentration on some aspect of world literature from ancient times to the present. The schedule of course offerings will specify the geographical origin, period and genre of literature a given section will treat. * LIT Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and ENGL 102. Offered every semester.

ENGL 303: Topics Literature
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Topics in Literature will focus on a range of literature. Subject matter in the course varies depending on instructor and student interests. The schedule of course offerings will specify the subject of the course. *LIT Prerequisites: ENGL100 and 102. May be repeated up to 6 credit hours. Offered in the Fall most years.

ENGL 416: Modern and Postmodern Literature
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course will focus on writing in the literary movements of modernism and postmodernism in the twentieth century. Students will examine the ways that World Wars I and II, worldwide depression, and the growth of colonialism influenced the development of aesthetic values of modernism and postmodernism. * LIT. Prerequisite: ENGL 102. Offered Online. (Starting spring 2022 will be offered on campus every other Spring of Even years.)

ENGL 440: Senior Seminar in English Literature (Capstone)
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A capstone course for seniors, depending upon the emphasis, the student will engage in multiple draft revisions and complete either a research paper or substantial creative piece that demonstrates potential for publication or provides a writing sample for graduate school. Prerequisites: ENGL 100, ENGL 102. (note, also the Capstone for English core in the General Studies degree.) Offered every Spring.

 

 

Humanities

ART 100: Art Survey
3 Semester Credit Hours 

An introduction to the visual arts through a broad historical approach. The course includes lecture, discussion, activities and research. No previous art experience necessary. *Meets General Education aesthetic requirement. No prerequisite. Offered every semester and online in Summer and Fall.

ART 384*: Art History: Modern Art
3 Semester Credit Hours 

An in-depth study of the history of modern art beginning with the Impressionists through Contemporary art. *Multicultural influences, a variety of art movements and individual artists will be thoroughly examined. *Meets General Education multicultural requirement. No prerequisite. Offered every Fall and online in the Summer.

BA 360*: International Business
3 Semester Credit Hours

A study of international trade. The course will cover the topics of the history of the international business, policies of free and controlled trade, foreign exchange and current issues. Offered every Fall.

ENGL 230*: Readings in World Literature
3 Semester Credit Hours

Concentration on some aspect of world literature from ancient times to the present. The schedule of course offerings will specify the geographical origin, period and genre of literature a given section will treat. * LIT Prerequisites: ENGL 100 and ENGL 102. Offered every semester.

IDS 305*: Interdisciplinary Study of the Alaskan Eskimo
3 Semester Credit Hours 

The study and contrast of the Alaskan and Native Alaskan/ Yup’ik Alaskan history as compared to the western culture, including topics such as Alaskan history, Native Alaskan/ Yup’ik history, Native Alaskan/Yup’ik worldview, their ideological culture, socio-economic traditions, plus Alaskan and Native Alaskan/Yup’ik contemporary ecology and land use issues. Must be a junior or senior in good academic standing.

IDS 402: Senior Paper in Interdisciplinary Studies (Capstone)
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Research and preparation of a comprehensive paper integrating the disciplines represented in the student‘s area of concentration. The student and his or her advisory committee will define the paper‘s subject. A copy of the final paper must remain on permanent file in the College. (Capstone for Humanities and Social Sciences cores in the General Studies degree.)

PHIL 100: Introduction to Philosophy
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course explores the relevance of philosophy in our lives. It examines questions regarding knowledge, understanding, ethics, etc. with the goal of learning to think philosophically. This course is discussion and critical thinking oriented. Offered every fall.

PHIL 301: Introduction to Ethics
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course attempts to discover right and wrong from a moral perspective. It is a critical examination of current ethical dilemmas with a focus on ethical reasoning, fair-mindedness, and discovering common ground. This course is discussion and critical thinking oriented. Offered every Spring.

REL 100: Introduction to Religion
3 Semester Credit Hours

This course explores the variety of “living” world religions, offering comparisons and contrasts in religious themes and practices. Offered every semester.

REL 102: Survey of Christian Traditions
3 Semester Credit Hours

This is a survey of doctrines and concepts in the Christian religion. Students will examine and critically evaluate the variety of Christian viewpoints about topics such as God, Jesus the Christ, salvation and eschatology. Offered every semester.

REL 343*: Abrahamic Faiths
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course is a study of the three great religious traditions that call Abraham their father—Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This course is designed to highlight the comparisons and contrasts between these closely-related religious traditions. Prerequisite: REL 100 or 102. Offered every Spring.

REL 344*: Eastern Religious Traditions
3 Semester Credit Hours

The course provides an overview of Eastern religious traditions such as Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism, Chinese Religion, etc. Differences and commonalities between these religious traditions will be explored through a critical examination of their ethical concepts and value systems, beliefs, and rituals. Offered every Fall . Pre-requisite REL100 or REL 102.

 

 

Social Sciences

CJC 100: Introduction to Criminal Justice
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A survey course designed to introduce the student to the criminal justice system. This course includes an introduction to law and law enforcement activities, the jurisdiction of local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel and adult correctional facilities. Offered every semester.

CJC 210: Criminal Investigation
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course is to make the student familiar with criminal investigation techniques and the investigation principles and procedures in the identification and apprehension of criminals. Offered every other year.

CJC 310: Critical Issues in Policing
3 Semester Credit Hours 

An overview of policing which focuses on critical issues, which have historically affected police departments and the delivery of police services in the United States. Prerequisite: CJC 100. Offered every year.

CJC 344: Minority Relations (cross listed as SOC 308)
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This course focuses on minority-dominant group relations with emphasis upon race, ethnicity, gender, class, sexual orientation, and disabilities. Issues include prejudice, discrimination, conflict, and social justice. Students will be challenged to discuss, debate, and explore complex and potentially controversial ideas in a communal context. This course is cross-listed with SOC 308. Offered every year.

ECON 231: Principles of Microeconomics
3 Semester Credit Hours

An introductory course in the theory of value and distribution. Topics include the rational behavior of consumers, resource owners, and business firms; the pricing of output and resources under various market conditions; and the interrelationship of economic units in a system of price-making markets. Prerequisite: MATH 101, MATH 103, MATH 105 or MATH 121. Offered every Fall semester.

ECON 232: Principles of Macroeconomics
3 Semester Credit Hours 

An introductory course in the determination of the overall level of employment, income, output and prices. Topics include unemployment, inflation, monetary and fiscal policies, international trade and economic growth. Prerequisite: ECON 231. Offered every Spring semester.

GEOG 101*: Introduction to Human Geography
3 Semester Credit Hours 

This is an introductory course that gives students a background in the relationship of people to place. There are three main objectives: 1. Students will learn the basic concepts of human geography with its emphasis on how place shapes humanity and humanity shapes place. 2. Students will learn all the nation states, their capitals, and the most important topographical features of the earth. 3. Students will incrementally improve their writing skills through a human geography related essay. Offered every Fall.

HIST 111: Survey of American History I
3 Semester Credit Hours 

The political, institutional, social and cultural development of the American nation from the Colonial Period through Reconstruction (1877). Offered every Fall. NOTE: Incoming freshman with an ACT Reading of 20 or below or SAT critical reading of 500 or below must also take HIST 114 concurrently with HIST 111.

HIST 112: Survey of American History II
3 Semester Credit Hours 

The political, institutional, social and cultural development of the American nation from 1877 to the present. Offered every Spring.

HIST 334: History of Europe: 1900-1945
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A study of the political, economic, social, diplomatic and artistic changes, which occurred from 1900 – 1945. Emphasis on Western Europe. Offered on an irregular basis

HIST 335: History of Europe: 1945-present
3 Semester Credit Hours 

A study of the political, economic, social, diplomatic and artistic changes, which have occurred from 1945 to present with an emphasis on decolonization and European unification. Offered on an irregular basis

IDS 402: Senior Paper in Interdisciplinary Studies (Capstone)
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Research and preparation of a comprehensive paper integrating the disciplines represented in the student‘s area of concentration. The student and his or her advisory committee will define the paper‘s subject. A copy of the final paper must remain on permanent file in the College. (Capstone for Humanities and Social Sciences cores in the General Studies degree.)

POLS 101: American National Government
3 Semester Credit Hours 

Introductory course in American National Government which emphasizes the study of political institutions (Presidency, Congress, Courts, Bureaucracy, etc.) and American political development. Students will learn how to engage in civic discourse on divisive issues and broadly analyze the nature of the American regime. Students will incrementally improve their writing with for/against, five paragraph position papers. Offered every Fall.

SOC 100: Principles of Sociology
3 Semester Credit Hours 

An overview of the major concepts, theories and research findings of the discipline of sociology. Develops the student’s ability to use the sociological perspective to understand everyday social reality.