PSY6720 FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE
1 Credit Hour
Student Level:
This course is open to any student, but it is required that students take it their first semester if they are a new,degree-seeking student, post high school, with fewer than 12 transferable college-level credits.
Catalog Description:
PSY6720 - First Year Experience (1 hr.)
An introduction to the community college experience at Cowley College. The course includes resources (i.e., financial aid), academic requirements, study skills, time and money management, career/life planning, assessment and advising, health issue, and job search strategies.
KRSN: None
Course Classification:
Lecture
Prerequisites:
None
Controlling Purpose:
The purpose of this course is designed to help the student increase their knowledge of Cowley College and its resources. It is also designed to prepare students to be successful in college and to make connections with faculty, staff, and other students.
Learner Outcomes:
Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:
- Identify the key characteristics of a successful college student
- Exhibit productive study habits of a responsible college student including skills in reading, test-taking, note-taking, memory and study skills
- Produce a detailed plan for completion of degree and exploration of career opportunities
- Demonstrate the ability to take responsibility for own personal well-being and development
Unit Outcomes for Criterion Based Evaluation:
The following outline defines the minimum core content, not including the final examination period. Instructors may add other material as time allows.
UNIT 1: College Student Success
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the value of a college education.
- List and describe the major motivating force in own life
- Explain how critical thinking skills can help student success
- Describe two college transition issues that have been experienced
- Identify a motivational barrier and create a strategy to overcome it
- Create a goal statement that clearly identifies own pathway forward
- Practice responsible behavior for the following: emailing an instructor, receiving and sending text messages, and participating on a social networking site
- Define and give the characteristics of a successful student learning community
UNIT 2: Successful Study Habits
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the value of a college education
- Describe two organizational strategies to help achieve academic success and help balance life demands
- Develop a written schedule that reflects a responsible college schedule
- Demonstrate at least two strategies to avoid plagiarism
- Use and evaluate at least one note-taking strategy
- Identify and develop at least two strategies to retain information
- Demonstrate strategies to identify key information and improve understanding of material read
- Identify successful test preparation strategies and be able to apply these strategies
- Identify at least one strategy to combat test anxiety
UNIT 3: Exploration of Careers and Majors
Outcome: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to identify their own major and degree plan and begin strategies for a future career
- Identify personal interests and how they relate to major and coursework
- Explain two positive and two negative consequences of changing a college major
- Develop a two-year plan for completion of degree/program of study
- Conduct research to determine skills, experience, and education needed for a career
- Describe the workplace etiquette related to a career choice or profession
- Identify the key elements of creating a profile for professional networking and career development
UNIT 4: Personal Health and Well-being
Outcomes: Upon completion of this unit, the students will be able to take responsibility for own personal health, growth and development
- Describe the types of funding available for higher education
- Recommend strategies for using credit and explain awareness of spending, borrowing, earning, and saving patterns.
- Explain active listening techniques to improve communication skills
- Demonstrate at least one conflict management strategy
- Identify at least one healthy way to minimize the effect of negative people
- Identify and explain at least two healthy lifestyle changes*
- Know when and how to safely intervene when faced with challenging situations*
- Understand how personal biases influence relationships with others*
- Recognize red flags of mental health and how to offer help to self and others*
- Identify signs of inappropriate sexual behaviors harassment/assault and know when and how to report abuse concerns*
*represents outcome that is achieved by completing the required GetInclusive training modules
Projects Required:
Varies, refer to syllabus
Textbook:
Contact Bookstore for current textbook.
Materials/Equipment Required:
None
Attendance Policy:
Students should adhere to the attendance policy outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Grading Policy:
The grading policy will be outlined by the instructor in the course syllabus.
Maximum class size:
Based on classroom occupancy
Course Time Frame:
The U.S. Department of Education, Higher Learning Commission and the Kansas Board of Regents, define credit hour and have specific regulations that the college must follow when developing, teaching and assessing the educational aspects of the college. A credit hour is an amount of work represented in intended learning outcomes and verified by evidence of student achievement that is an institutionally-established equivalency that reasonably approximates not less than one hour of classroom or direct faculty instruction and a minimum of two hours of out-of-class student work for approximately fifteen weeks for one semester hour of credit or an equivalent amount of work over a different amount of time. The number of semester hours of credit allowed for each distance education or blended hybrid courses shall be assigned by the college based on the amount of time needed to achieve the same course outcomes in a purely face-to-face format.
Refer to the following policies:
402.00 Academic Code of Conduct
263.00 Student Appeal of Course Grades
403.00 Student Code of Conduct
Disability Services Program:
Cowley College, in recognition of state and federal laws, will accommodate a student with a documented disability. If a student has a disability which may impact work in this class and which requires accommodations, contact the Disability Services Coordinator.
DISCLAIMER: THIS INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. FOR THE OFFICIAL COURSE PROCEDURE CONTACT ACADEMIC AFFAIRS.
Rev. 05/2022
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