Pre-Social Work Transfer Pathway - A.S.

This course provides students with an introduction to the skills of counseling. Students will learn how to identify and explore feelings, set up a positive environment, learn effective helping skills, and explore treatment issues. Emphasis will be placed on understanding the principles of interviewing and on the demonstrated application of these skills by the student. Students examine how these skills affect relationship building and therapeutic interventions. Guided encounters, discussions, presentations, and assigned projects will be utilized. (Prerequisites: None)

Course Outline

This course gives an overview of how service providers work with one another in order to assure the delivery of optimal supports. It will introduce you to a variety of strategies and techniques used to facilitate person centered planning for individualized and real life goals. Topics covered in the course include: the use of support teams (effective team work, team dynamics, communication skills and problem solving skills); working with families; direct service provider roles and responsibilities; diversity, confidentiality, and advocacy issues; the civil and disability rights movement; interdisciplinary team planning processes; and use of the Planning Alternate Tomorrows with Hope (PATH) planning system to promote minimally invasive care and support strategies. (Prerequisites: None)

Course Outline

This course provides an in-depth look at positive supports and interventions for those with challenging behaviors, and reviews human development, learning styles, and teaching techniques. Additionally, analysis of a wide variety of multiple positive behavior strategies will be conducted. This course reviews the philosophy of behavior modification and theory, incident and accident reports, and documentation requirements. Emphasis is placed on understanding and supporting an individual's learning barriers by using positive approaches, as well as understanding and responding to behaviors with positive supports. Students will explore how their individual values and personal experiences influence the ways in which they respond to and assess individual's abilities. Students will also acquire knowledge and skills relating to functional and specialized assessments, the importance of using non-aversive interventions and the selection and use of appropriate non-aversive behavioral supports. Methods for designing, planning, developing, and implementing skill orientated support plans are taught in this course. (Prerequisites: None)

Course Outline

This course examines the causes and consequences of poverty. Students will learn the terminology and analyze the philosophical, conceptual, and theoretical frameworks utilized by diverse agents to understand and address poverty. Specific interventions are explored and analyzed. The goal of this course is to develop social work professionals who understand the problem of poverty from a variety of disciplines, understand key concepts, and will be prepared and willing to intervene regardless of area of practice. (Prerequisite: None)

Course Outline

This course is designed to provide the student with a practical experience within the social services field. Each field experience is individualized and students will be placed within a social service agency by the instructor based on the student's interest, skill set, and agency availability. The focus of field experience is to give the students experience with a client population and practice modeling social work values and ethics. Students will complete field experience their last semester. (Prerequisites: Instructor approval required)

Course Outline

This course provides students with an introduction to the profession of social work using a generalist model to practice in a diverse society. Students will learn about the history of the profession, values and ethics, roles and tasks, and theories required for social work practice along with various fields of practice. Students will experience group work learning to develop critical thinking skills and professional communication. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher, or READ 0095 or ENGL 100 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher OR completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher AND completion of either ENGL 0090 or EAP 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher.) (MnTC Goal Areas: None)

Course Outline

This one-semester course is an introduction to the biology of the human body. Basic form and function of the body systems and their interactions will be emphasized. Other topics include: terminology, basic chemistry, cell biology genetics, molecular biology and nutrition as it relates to the human body. This course contains a laboratory portion. (Minnesota Transfer Curriculum goal area 3) (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 3: Natural Sciences)

Course Outline

In this class, participants will examine key components of interpersonal communication theory, identify the interpersonal communication skills necessary for healthy relationships, assess their own interpersonal communication effectiveness, and practice and hone interpersonal communication skills necessary for healthy home and work relationships. This course will also address relevant issues of social interaction, including how human diversity/culture (age, race, gender, etc.) affects our interpersonal communication. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 1: Communication)

Course Outline

Composition is concerned with developing, through theory and practice, the ability to communicate in written form for personal and professional reasons. Students will develop writing skills, analytic skills, and critical thinking skills. Students will complete readings, papers, grammar exercises, and in-class activities. Students will complete research and write a research paper. Students will learn methods of writing informatively and persuasively. (Prerequisites: Must have one of the following: (MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher) OR (READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher) OR (completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher) AND (completion of either ENGL 0090 or EAP 0095 with a grade of C [2.0] or higher) (MNTC 1: Communication)

Course Outline

This course will introduce students to the importance and the understanding of the nature of race relations in the United States of America. Students will use the various sociological perspectives as a lens to examine the social construction of race, ethnicity and the evolving nature of race and ethnic relations in the U.S. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 5 - History/Social, MNTC 7a - Human Diversity, MNTC 7b - Race/Power/Justice)

Course Outline

This course is an introduction to physical geography that systematically examines the spatial patterns and interrelationships among physical elements at the earth's surface. Students will study the earth's physical environment, its systems, and the physical processes that drive them through study of weather, climate, natural vegetation, soil, and landforms. However, these topics are not just discussed independently since the course concentrates on understanding the integration of these areas of the natural world. Geography focuses on human activities, and so the course will highlight some of the basic interactions between human activity and the natural environment. Current issues will be discussed and a scientific foundation provided for understanding global warming and other critical environmental issues. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 3, 10: Natural Sciences, People & the Environment)

Course Outline

This course will serve as an introduction to the basic atmospheric processes described as weather. Topics including atmospheric pressure, winds, temperature patterns, humidity and precipitation, and severe weather phenomena will be examined. The spatial distribution of global climates and climate change will also be explored. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 3, 10: Natural Sciences, People & The Environment)

Course Outline

This course introduces the essential mathematical elements of statistics, applying them to a broad range of areas, including business, economics, and the physical, biological and social sciences. Topics include measures of central tendency and dispersion, variability, graphical displays, normal and t-distributions, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, estimation, linear regression, correlation, and other selected statistical topics. Math 154 satisfies the MNTC Category 4 Mathematical/Logical Reasoning requirement. (Prerequisite: Corequisite enrollment in MATH 0099, OR Completion of MATH 0099 OR MATH 0085 OR MATH 0095 with a grade of C or higher, OR NextGen score of 250-300 QAS, OR ACT score of 19+, OR MCA score of 1148+, OR an Accuplacer test score of 56 or above in Arithmetic AND a score of 76 or above in Elementary Algebra)

Course Outline

American Government introduces students to the fundamentals of American National Government. The course includes an examination of basic American political principles and practices, the Constitution, major institutions, and civil liberties. The objective of this course is to acquaint students with the complexities of the American political system. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 5, 9: History/Social & Behavioral Science, Ethical and Civic Responsibility)

Course Outline

This course will introduce the broad spectrum of theories and applications that make up the field of psychology. Psychology is the scientific study of behavior and mental processes, and how they are affected by physical and mental states, and external environments and social forces. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 5: History/Social & Behavioral Sciences)

Course Outline

This is an introductory course examining human development across the lifespan, with emphasis on normal physical, cognitive, and social development. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC 5 - History/Social & Behavioral Sciences, MNTC 7a - Human Diversity, MNTC 7b - Race/Power/Justice)

Course Outline

The world is a far more diverse place than you might think! This course is a broad survey of sociology and its practical uses for all of us. In this course, students are introduced to a variety of topics, emphasizing breadth rather than depth. After learning about the basic theories and methods of sociology, students will cover topics such as race, gender, education, religion, social class, work, family, the environment, government and politics, organizations and bureaucracy, and other topics. Students will learn about the nature of all of these areas and their effects on individuals and their broader implications for society. In the end, students will leave with a far greater understanding of how society is organized and what that means for where we have been, where we are, and where we are going as a people. (Prerequisites: Must have a Next-Generation Accuplacer Reading score of 250 or higher, or Classic Accuplacer Reading score of 78 or higher, or completion of either READ 0090 or EAP 0090 or READ 0095 with a grade of C (2.0) or higher, or ACT Reading score of 21 or higher or MCA Reading score of 1047 or higher.) (MNTC Goal Areas 5 & 8: History and Social Sciences, Global Perspective)

Course Outline