Course Syllabus

Fall 2025 | INT-1050-VO22 - Dimensions of Self & Society

Online Class

Online courses take place 100% online via Canvas, without required in-person or Zoom meetings.

Faculty

Dave Amsden
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Jennifer Gundy

General Education Requirements

CCV 1st Semester Seminar

Note

Many degree programs have specific general education recommendations. In order to avoid taking unnecessary classes, please consult with additional resources like your program evaluation, your academic program catalog year page, and your academic advisor.

Courses may only be used to meet one General Education Requirement.

Course Description

In this interdisciplinary first-semester seminar, students make the transition to college-level academic culture. This seminar is designed to help students develop the learning skills and habits of success that will support them throughout their college experience and as they consider career pathways. Reading, writing, and discussion are central to developing an understanding of academic and societal responsibility. Students critically examine the relationship between societal values, individual beliefs, ways of knowing, and cultural worldviews.

Essential Objectives

1. Interpret, analyze, and evaluate a text and its sources.
2. Demonstrate foundational information literacy, research skills, and academic honesty necessary for academic writing.
3. Demonstrate effective written communication skills, including active engagement in asynchronous online discussion.
4. Apply effective strategies for building new knowledge and skills through reflection on learning preferences, challenges, and goals.
5. Identify possible career goals and educational pathways.
6. Examine social issues through the lens of the individual and society.
7. Examine personal assumptions and biases, and ethical impacts of decision making and participation in society.
8. Consider issues from multiple perspectives and discuss, debate, and defend ideas with clarity and reason as part of a respectful learning community.

Required Technology

More information on general computer and internet recommendations is available on the CCV computer recommendations Support page.

Please see CCV's Digital Equity Statement (pg. 45) to learn more about CCV's commitment to supporting all students access the technology they need to successfully finish their courses.

Required Textbooks and Resources

*** This is a no cost textbook or resource class. ***

INT-1050-VO22 Link to Textbooks/Resources Information for this course in eCampus.

The last day to use a Financial Aid Advance to purchase textbooks/books is the 3rd Tuesday of the semester. See your financial aid counselor at your academic center if you have any questions.

Artificial Intelligence(AI) Policy Statement

CCV recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI tools are widely available and becoming embedded in many online writing and creative applications.

Prohibited: The use of generative AI is not allowed in this course, with the exception of spellcheck, grammar check and similar tools. This course rests in the value of students engaging in the learning process without relying on AI-generated content. Students will develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills independently, owning their learning journey from start to finish. If you use these tools, your actions would be considered academically dishonest and a violation of CCV's Academic Integrity Policy.

Methods

Teaching & Learning

-Reading, viewing and listening to a variety of texts and materials

-Weekly online discussion forums

-Facilitated interactions with librarians and library materials

Student Assignments

-2 short written reflections

-2 online quizzes

-Multiple research and writing assignments, culminating in a 3-5 page research project

-Participation in weekly discussion forums

-Readings, viewings, and online tutorials

Evaluation Criteria

Your grade for this class is based on the following assignments and expectations:

-Attendance, 30 points

-Respectful Participation, 20 points

-2 Narrative Reflections, 5 points each

-2 Quizzes, 5 points each

-Research Project, 15 points

-Final Paper, 15 points

Attendance

Attendance is determined through participation in the weekly discussion forums. Students must post and reply to classmates and meet weekly expectations on the discussion forum to be marked present for class. Weekly discussion forums have specific guidelines. Students need to follow those guidelines to be marked present.

Respectful Participation

-support classmates' growth rather than "winning" the discussion

-demonstrate respect for all classmates and all perspectives

-actively and intentionally read classmates' work

-be curious about your classmates and avoid judgement

-discussion forums are for learning, not argument or debate

Narrative Reflections

On two occasions, you will be asked to write a 300-400 word narrative reflection on the assigned course materials. Your narrative reflections should demonstrate a mix of text analysis, critical inquiry, and personal reflection. I will provide a “writing prompt” meant to guide that week’s narrative reflection. Please discuss your own personal experiences as they relate to the readings and course content. At the same time, your reflections need to demonstrate your completion of the weekly readings and activities.

Quizzes

I will give two take home/open book quizzes during the first 5 weeks of class. These quizzes can be resubmitted up to three times. Highest grade counts for each quiz.

Research Project

This project is an introduction to college-level academic research. There are three phases. It takes all students two weeks to complete, but the start times are staggered over six weeks. More detailed information will be provided at the start of class.

Final Paper

Your final paper will be an introductory level college research paper. You are expected to research a contemporary question facing US society and present your findings in a 3-4 page paper. Individual assignment modules will be posted for each stage of the assignment, which include submitting a research question, thesis statement, and multiple drafts.

Late Work

Everything submitted late will lose points. Students cannot receive any credit if assignments are submitted more than three days late. Exceptions may be made at my discretion due to illness or emergency.

Grading Criteria

CCV Letter Grades as outlined in the Evaluation System Policy are assigned according to the following chart:

	High	Low
A+	100	98
A	Less than 98	93
A-	Less than 93	90
B+	Less than 90	88
B	Less than 88	83
B-	Less than 83	80
C+	Less than 80	78
C	Less than 78	73
C-	Less than 73	70
D+	Less than 70	68
D	Less than 68	63
D-	Less than 63	60
F	Less than 60
P	100	60
NP	Less than 60	0

Weekly Schedule

Attendance Policy

Regular attendance and participation in classes are essential for success in and are completion requirements for courses at CCV. A student's failure to meet attendance requirements as specified in course descriptions will normally result in a non-satisfactory grade.

• In general, missing more than 20% of a course due to absences, lateness or early departures may jeopardize a student's ability to earn a satisfactory final grade.
• Attending an on-ground or synchronous course means a student appeared in the live classroom for at least a meaningful portion of a given class meeting. Attending an online course means a student posted a discussion forum response, completed a quiz or attempted some other academically required activity. Simply viewing a course item or module does not count as attendance.
• Meeting the minimum attendance requirement for a course does not mean a student has satisfied the academic requirements for participation, which require students to go above and beyond simply attending a portion of the class. Faculty members will individually determine what constitutes participation in each course they teach and explain in their course descriptions how participation factors into a student's final grade.

Accessibility Services for Students with Disabilities:

1. Provide disability documentation to the Accessibility Coordinator at your academic center. https://ccv.edu/discover-resources/students-with-disabilities/
2. Request an appointment to meet with accessibility coordinator to discuss your request and create an accommodation plan.
3. Once created, students will share the accommodation plan with faculty. Please note, faculty cannot make disability accommodations outside of this process.

Academic Integrity

Apply Now for this semester.