Course Descriptions

The General Education requirements make the Academic Skills Program courses essential for many students. ACSK 010, 015, 083, 085 and/or 090 may represent the most appropriate beginning level courses in English and mathematics. These courses are part of a sequence designed to help students satisfy the university's reading, writing, and mathematics competence requirements. A grade of C or better is required to advance to the next level.

Courses in Academic Skills (ACSK)

Academic Skills courses are not available for audit. Credit earned in Academic Skills courses (except ACSK100 and ACSK105) does not count toward the 120 credits required for graduation but the grade earned does affect the GPA.

010 Essential Math Skills (3 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
Review of arithmetic from whole numbers, fractions, decimals to percent. Introduction to elementary algebra including the arithmetic of integers, simple algebraic expressions and equations, and geometric formulas. This course should be followed by ACSK 015.

015 Elementary Algebra (4 cr)
Prereq: C or better in ACSK 010 or appropriate placement score. Freq: Fall, Spring, Summer.
Review of basic algebra including integers, algebraic expressions, equations and inequalities, integral exponents, radicals, graphing, and systems of equations.

070 Learning Strategies (1 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
Essential academic survival skills including academic responsibility, time management, effective listening, note-taking, textbook reading, and test taking.

083 College Reading and Learning Strategies (3 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
Builds a foundation for efficient college reading. Develops reading strategies that generalize to other university classes. Enhances students' concentration, comprehension and retention through discussion and practice. Includes essential academic learning and study skills such as time management, enhancing memory, effective listening, note taking, test taking, and academic responsibility.

085 Academic Reading (1 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
Similar in content and focus to ACSK 083, but coursework is completed at a faster pace. Students are expected to be more independent in their mastery of the readings. Provides extended practice in increasing reading rate while maintaining adequate comprehension.

090 Composition Preparation (3 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
Writing workshop, including peer review and teacher feedback on essay assignments. Process of writing approach: brainstorming, free writing, rough draft, revision, and editing. Grammar review in context.

091 Special Topics in Academic Skills (1-4 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
Selected topics in academic skills will be examined. Instructor approval required.

092 Career Exploration and Planning (2 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring.
For students who need assistance with the process of choosing careers and academic majors, this course is designed to help develop abilities in self-assessment of interests, skills, values and goals, career exploration, and preparing for employment in the 21st century.

095 Basic Computer Skills for College (1 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall.
For students with little or no computer experience. Includes basics of hardware management, word processing, use of the Internet for research, and an introduction to email.

0100 English as a Second Language Seminar (3 cr)
Not currently available
Designed for English as a Second Language students pursuing college level course work. Language instruction through topics addressing cultural adjustment, public speaking, discussions, vocabulary concepts for college thinking, and cultural adjustment. Course may be repeated; maximum of three credits apply toward graduation.

0105 Library Skills for Research (1 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring
An introduction to the organization, retrieval, and evaluation of both print and electronic information resources. Students will navigate and use the resources from different areas of the library's homepages to access items linked from, but not found within, the library's specific domain. Topics include formulating search strategies and the critical evaluation of information, whether in print or online.

0120 Introduction to Critical Thinking (1 cr)
Prereq: None. Freq: Fall, Spring, Summer
Designed to develop students' critical thinking in combination with extended orientation and skill building to increase student success in college.  Structured around a text, the course will develop critical thinking through discussions and assignments as well as improve oral presentation, project management and teamwork.