Summer Session for Visiting College Students
Course Descriptions
Required Course: SVSRS 0111 Narrowing the Gap: Becoming a Strategic College Student
Credits: 0
Landmark College understands how bright students struggle or fail at college because of executive function difficulties or learning disabilities. This required, non-credit course is key to Landmark's summer program – teaching visiting college students how to function better in school and improve everyday self-management. Through this structured, stimulating and supportive course, students learn strategies and resources for improving executive function, working memory, study skills and ability to meet commitments. Students become self-advocates in identifying and experimenting with the kinds of support needed for success. Students will:
- Narrow the gap between their academic potential and their ability to realize that potential
- Improve executive function: planning, setting priorities, organizing, and following through on commitments
- Develop insight into the ways in which they learn and function best
- Manage writing and homework assignments
- Engage in effective approaches to research
- Develop a mindset toward college work that is confident and realistic
- Sample, experiment with, and adopt specific strategies for becoming a more strategic college student
- Produce a final project synthesizing the knowledge and skills gained
Track A Non-Credit Courses
SVSEN0111 Structure, Style, and Strategies: Demystifying Academic Writing
Credits: 0
Do you want to return to college this fall with a renewed passion for and confidence in writing? Do you sometimes have difficulty understanding how to organize your thoughts for writing or how to find support for your ideas from course readings? Does the idea of doing a research paper seem daunting? Students in this non-credit course will learn individualized strategies that will improve their college-level writing. Seminar discussions and individual conferencing will help students understand their own gifts and challenges as learners. Students gain confidence by applying newly learned strategies through reading, writing, interaction with peers and hands-on activities.
Students will:
- Identify individual writing process steps that work, with a particular emphasis on those steps that have proven to be difficult in the past
- Develop a better understanding of the demands of academic writing and the strategies that can make writing more efficient
- Distinguish between types of secondary sources and practice effectively integrating source material into drafts
- Set goals for an individual plan for success for future writing challenges, particularly during the next semester
SVSEN0112 Establishing an Effective Writing Process: Improving Your Executive Function
Credits: 0
Do you have strong expressive and written language skills, but when it come to writing academic papers, do you sometimes struggle with writer's block, perfectionism and meeting deadlines? Does this result in a very inconsistent record in terms of producing the kind of writing you know you're capable of? This course educates students in understanding how to use executive function skills to overcome obstacles in writing.
Students will:
- Generate daily writing
- Learn how to improve their executive function: planning, setting priorities, organizing, and following through on process steps for writing
- Explore impediments to improving efficiency in the writing process
- Manage larger writing assignments
- Set goals for an individual plan for success for future writing challenges, particularly during the next semester
Identify individual writing process steps that work, with a particular emphasis on those steps that have proven to be difficult in the past.
Track B Credit Courses
AT 1321 Digital Photography I
Credits: 3
As digital cameras and printing techniques have become more sophisticated and more common, digital photography has become a recognized medium for artistic expression. In this course, students with basic black-and-white photography skills, will study the use of digital cameras and computer software to create effective, artistic digital images. Students will explore digital imaging technology (use of cameras, scanners, and Adobe PhotoShop editing software), digital printing and electronic distribution of images, and the artistic and conceptual aspects of photo/image making. Students will create both black-and-white and color images. Students must have a 3-megapixel (or larger) digital camera with manual controls and program modes, a zoom lens, and high-resolution image capabilities.
Prerequisite: None
CO2051 Intercultural Communication
Credits: 3
This course focuses on the relationship between communication and culture. Students explore the ways in which cultural values, attitudes and assumptions are reflected in the communication process. The semester begins with a self-analysis of the students' own cultural identities and communication styles. Students then examine verbal and nonverbal communication patterns from a cross-cultural perspective. The students work toward refining their oral communication skills by preparing oral presentations and leading group discussions.
Prerequisite: An introductory-level English or Communications class
EN1061 Creative Writing
Credits: 3
Students in Creative Writing begin to develop their skills in writing creative fiction and poetry. Emphasis in the class is placed on genre experimentation, generating strategies, revision strategies, and readings in all genres which could include fiction, poetry, drama, lyrics, and children's literature.
Prerequisites: None
HU1011 Humanities I: Ancient and Medieval Western Cultures
Credits: 3
This course examines the evolution of seminal ideas of enduring significance for Western civilization. Students trace ideas about religion, philosophy, politics, economics, technology and aesthetics from classical Greece through Roman civilization to the Christian and Muslim cultures of the Middle Ages. Students are encouraged to draw parallels between the early forms of these ideas and their expression in current society.
Prerequisites: None
HU2371 The 1960s (Course is full)
Credits: 3
This course investigates the many significant political, social, and cultural changes in the United States in the 1960s — one of the most turbulent times in our history. Students begin with a look at the Cold War era of the 1950s followed by an exploration of the civil rights movement, the New Left, the expansion of the welfare state and the national culture, the Vietnam War, the birth of modern conservatism (the New Right), the role of religion and spiritual quests, and the making of youth culture.
Prerequisite: Any introductory-level humanities course.
MA1601 College Algebra
Credits: 3
This course concentrates on the study of expressions, functions and equations. Students are also exposed to analytic geometry, conic sections and logarithmic and exponential functions. Topics in this course provide the necessary foundation for entry into Calculus I. Graphic calculator required.
Prerequisites: Math subject SAT score of 540 or higher or Math ACT of 24 or higher and at least two years of high school math, including algebra and geometry.
SL1011 Elementary American Sign Language I
Credits: 3
This introductory course is for those with little or no previous instruction in American Sign Language (ASL). Through interactive and multi-sensory teaching, this course introduces students to the structural principles governing ASL. The course focuses on mastery of receptive and expressive skills. Students apply linguistic features learned through in-class discussions and self-study. Students move at a deliberate pace over most of the features of the language: cherology (phonology), morphology, syntax, semantics and sign usage. As one of the course projects, students research Deaf culture and make a class presentation.
Prerequisite: None
NS1021 Introduction to Biology: Organisms and Environment (Course is full)
Credits: 4
This course examines the key concepts of modern biology with an emphasis on the relationships between organisms and their environment. Studies of evolution and genetics are woven in to this theme and provide students with additional perspectives on the biological world. Lab included.
SS1011 Introduction to Psychology
Credits: 3
This course introduces students to the fields of study in modern psychology. After this course, students will be able to answer the following questions: What is psychology? What are the methods of investigation in psychology? How is the science of psychology applied to individuals and groups? The course includes theories of learning, thinking, memory, perception, personality, human development, stress, psychological disorders and the biological roots of behavior.
Prerequisite: None
SS2031 Adolescent and Adult Development (Course is full)
Credits: 3
How do adolescents' thought, behavior and emotion patterns change as they age into adulthood? How do individuals construct identities and morality as they enter and proceed through adulthood? These are some of the questions that this course entertains as it gives an overview of major theoretical perspectives and favored research methods in the field of human development. As well as presenting course content, this course will provide opportunities for students to conduct interviews, observations and other experiential projects.
Prerequisite: An introductory college-level social science course
MA1421 Statistics
Credits: 3
This course examines frequency distributions, measures of central tendency and dispersion, and the normal distribution curve. Students explore confidence intervals and sample size. The structure of hypothesis testing is introduced and applied to a variety of situations. Studies in correlation of data and sampling techniques are introduced. This class involves 6.25 hours per week, including classroom instruction and individual instruction.
Prerequisite: Proof of passing grade in advanced high school algebra.
Physical Education (PE) Courses
PE1090 Basketball Skills
Credits: 1
Dribbling, passing, shooting, rebounding, endurance, strategy and the rules of the game are areas that will be covered during the course. Outing to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.
PE1180 Fencing
Credits: 1
Students learn the basic theory and techniques of 17th century Italian fencing using a sword called a Rapier. Includes some history to provide context, but the majority of the class focuses on physical, hands-on work. Roughly divided between drill/lesson and sparring, the class is presented from a martial arts and educational perspective rather than as a competitive sport. Ideal for students seeking physical activity outside team sports. All equipment provided.
PE1190 Fly Fishing
Credits: 1
Students begin class with safety instruction, stream entomology, reading water and fly selection, moving on to casting technique in the gymnasium and outside when weather permits. Includes class outings to nearby sites to try out techniques that have been taught. Students must be able to wield a fly rod, wade in knee-deep running water and come prepared to buy a Vermont non-resident fishing license (cost: $41). All rods, reels, leaders and flies will be supplied.
PE1110 Golf Skills
Credits: 1
This one-credit class teaches students the fundamentals of the "natural golf" method. Students must bring their own clubs.
PE1040 Karate/Self Defense
Credits: 1
Students learn basic self-defense skills while developing their strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance through karate conditioning. Students also develop their self-confidence and coordination while learning the moral principles of training in the martial arts.
PE1100 Tennis Skills
Credits: 1
Serving, volleying, position, balance, racquet preparation, foot work, variation of shots (overhead, lob, dink, etc.), scoring, doubles play, etiquette and rules are areas that may be covered, depending on the expertise of the students.
PE1010 Yoga
Credits: 1
This course supports students interested in exploring mind/body integration and offers an appealing option for balancing academic work with a healthy lifestyle. Conditioning, breathing techniques and self-awareness are covered. Assessment based on a willingness to explore yoga practice through regular attendance and participation.
PE1410 Walking for Health
Credits: 1
This course is designed for students who are interested in beginning a low-impact exercise regimen of walking on varied terrain using optimal striding and breathing techniques.
For More Information
For questions or assistance, contact Landmark College's Office of Enrollment Services.
802-387-6718
admissions@landmark.edu