Course Syllabus

Spring 2024 | INT-1050-VU05 - Dimensions of Self & Society

In Person Class

Standard courses meet in person at CCV centers, typically once each week for the duration of the semester.

Faculty

Vincent Pizzigno
View Faculty Credentials

Hiring Coordinator for this course: Ashraf Alamatouri

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 IT Support page. https://support.ccv.edu/general/computer-recommendations/

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. ***

This course only uses free Open Educational Resources (OER) and/or library materials. For details, see the Canvas Site for this class.

Methods

Roundtable discussion

Selected readings

Short essays and discussion posts

Issue analysis and development

Short presentations

Evaluation Criteria

The following outlines student activity meriting a grade and its percentage of the final grade.

• Class participation - 20% of final grade: All students are expected to come to class prepared and to engage meaningfully and respectfully.
• Short essays - 25% of final grade: These are short compositions that are submitted on time, well conceived, substantive, and grammatically correct.
• Discussion Posts - 10% of the final grade: This is a forum to share ideas or provide advice in response to questions or situations that are submitted on time, well conceived, substantive, and grammatically correct.
• Presentations - 15% of final grade: These are oral presentations concerning a variety of related topics following the guidance outlined in CCV’s Oral Communication Rubric.
• The Dimensions Project - 30% of the final grade: This project synthesizes all student thinking and learning into a document that intelligently addresses a community-related issue from historical and current perspectives that includes a suggested solution(s).

The following provides a narrative to grades.

A Assessment at this range is extraordinary performance, indicated by an unusually high level of original, insightful, and critical thinking, expanded understanding of issues, and pristinely clear and succinct oral and written expression.

B Assessment at this range is better than average performance, indicated by originality, sound comprehension and expression of the issues, and attention to detail.

C Assessment at this range is satisfactory, indicated by average thinking and understanding of issues and adequate expression.

D Assessment at this range indicates marginal performance demonstrated by lack of preparation, understanding, commitment, and output.

F This assessment is failure to meet course objectives and/or grading criteria for successful completion, indicated by major difficulty understanding course material and/or not fulfilling assignments as prescribed.

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.

Participation Expectations

Come prepared.

Be self-aware.

Listen.

Think creatively and critically.

Challenge the discussion.

Be positive, sincere, and respectful.

Act with integrity and good intent.

Make a commitment to succeed.

Accept responsibility.

Seek feedback.

Missing & Late Work Policy

A late homework submission may be accepted within two days of its initial due date, however, its grade will not exceed a “B”. Conversely, speeches or presentations must be fulfilled on their respective due dates.

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