200

In this advanced communication course, a variety of speech communication topics are studied with an emphasis on intercultural communication, conflict management, and small group dynamics. A major component of the course is argumentation and debate. Students research and prepare several oral and multimedia presentations, engage in debates, and participate in group projects.

This course is designed to investigate contemporary social issues, policies and problems and their impact on American social structures. Society’s attempts to solve these social problems are also examined. Students are asked to assess issues in terms of their origins, extent, impact, implications, and various possible avenues of resolution.

This course is an introduction various types of drugs and their impact on behavior. Special attention is paid to the physiological, psychological, and societal effects of psychoactive drugs; patterns and causes of their use and abuse in individuals and societies; and methods of education, prevention and treatment.

This course examines the behavior of individuals at different ages, from the prenatal period through adolescence. Topics include: caretaker-child relationships, unusual parenting, maternal deprivation, and the effect of environment. Developmental, psychoanalytic, and cognitive theories are discussed.

This course covers all the aspects of the play production process (play writing, directing, acting, and designing); it provides foundation to analyze the structure and building blocks of dramatic plays (acts, scenes, beats, exposition, development, rising action, climax, and resolution) it analyzes the roles of all the collaborating artists involved (playwright, director, actors/actresses, and set, costume/make-up, lighting and sound designers.) This course actively demonstrates how team work lies at the core of the creation of theater as an artistic endeavor. Students read and analyze scripts during the play selection process; and prepare scenes and monologues as part of the audition process, and acquire basic acting technique to approach and develop characterization. This literature-based course includes the study of additional concepts which add depth to the creative process (germinal idea, production concept, play rhythm, scene tightening, tension release, audience-centered performance.) The course culminates with a public performance.

This course is an introduction and overview of crime as a social phenomenon from an interdisciplinary perspective. Classical concepts of criminal behavior are discussed followed by a more detailed exploration of the contemporary major biological, psychological, and sociological explanations of criminal behavior.

This course focuses on the nature of juvenile delinquency in society. It addresses the nature and extent of delinquency, its causes and correlations, and contemporary social, political, and legal techniques and strategies to reduce and eliminate the problem.

This course examines the nature of victimization, including the demographic and geographical patterns and trends associated with victimization, the nature of risk and the potential for victimization, the relationship between victims and offenders, and the interactions between crime victims and members of law enforcement. Research methodologies and victim support services are considered.

This course is an introduction to contemporary counseling theories and techniques, and their applications, including a review of major behavioral models from both traditional and non-traditional perspectives. Emphasis is placed on conditions for an effective helping relationship, attending and interviewing skills, basic theoretical assumptions, ethical principles, and professional orientation, including the attributes necessary for the practice of counseling.

This course explores the dynamics of child abuse, maltreatment, and neglect. The course provides a historical perspective of child abuse and society's response. The different types of abuse, as well as, the process of identifying and assessing child abuse are covered. This course provides students with the principles of the mandated reporting procedures for child abuse and neglect as it pertains to students seeking employment in the legal and social service professions.

This course examines the dynamics of persons in crisis and the various intervention modalities. Areas of focus include theoretical, historical, ethical, and cultural considerations. Students are provided with the knowledge, values and skills of working with people in crisis.

This course examines the nature and causes of HIV Disease and AIDS from a variety of perspectives. The course investigates the scientific and humanistic approaches to understanding the current epidemic. Emphasis is placed on the impact of community and worldwide response, civil rights, legal aspects, harassment, prevention measures, education, counseling, confidentiality, testing, and other vital issues as it relates to HIV/AIDS. Students are expected to communicate among themselves and the instructor in a manner that encourages open and respectful dialogue, appreciates diversity, and tolerates disagreement.

This course examines human lifespan development. It covers the psychological development of human life from conception to death.  Physical, cognitive, and social modes of development are explored in the stages of infancy, preschool, middle childhood, adolescence and adulthood, and old age. The course explores the psychological approaches to development by major theorists. Pertinent and contemporary topics such as autism, adolescent suicide, midlife crisis and Alzheimer’s disease are studied and classic psychological studies in this field are examined.