Honors

The Honors - Only Class Course Descriptions

YOU WILL NEED A PERMISSION NUMBER IN ORDER TO REGISTER FOR THESE CLASSES. CONTACT THE HONORS OFFICE FOR THIS NUMBER. Contact us at (480) 461-7079 or lbjackson@mesacc.edu.

      Fall 2010 Honors Only Classes

                                                                                                                                             Last updated: 8/21/10

ACC 240 Uses Of Accounting Information II    This class has been CANCELLED       

Class number: 66075        Days: Mo We Fr    Time: 11:00AM – 11:50AM                  Location: BP 3
Prerequisites: Grade of "C" or better in ACC230

Introduction to the uses of accounting information for internal and external purposes with emphasis on analysis for use by management. The honors section of ACC240 requires students to read, discuss, and critique articles related to current accounting events. Students taking ACC240 as an honors class will also be expected to exhibit leadership skills while working on team projects, which include both oral and written assignments. A significant team project will be completed during the semester with the goal of determining if the managerial accounting techniques learned in the course are in fact used by a real company in the Phoenix area.

Instructor: Aileen Ormiston has taught accounting in the Business and Information Systems Department at Mesa Community College (MCC) since 1984. Prior to embarking on her teaching career she worked in cost accounting and also as an auditor for a public accounting firm. In the early 1990s Aileen was actively involved in developing new accounting curriculum for MCC in cooperation with Arizona State University. As a result of her pioneering work she was a recipient of the "Innovator of the Year" award from the League for Innovation in the Community College. Aileen's choice to be an accounting educator results from her desire to add value to students' education by helping them gain the skills needed to succeed as ethically responsible professionals in the business world. Teaching the honors section of ACC240 allows her to help students gain the necessary knowledge and skills needed to be successful upon transfer to a four-year degree program.

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ASB 222 Buried Cities and Lost Tribes: Old World   THIS CLASS IS FULL   3 credits

Class number: 42481                         Location: Internet Class
General Education Designation: Global Awareness [G], Historical Awareness [H], Humanities & Fine Arts [HU], Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Introduction to archaeology through discoveries and the researchers who made them. Emphasis on methods of archaeological fieldwork and what these discoveries reveal about humanity, including the nature of archaeological inquiry, the development of human social groups, the changing role of religion in evolving societies, the origins of agriculture, the origins of settled lifeways, the rise of cities and complex societies, political strife across different cultures and the forces which tend to fragment societies. Examples drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Pacific Islands, and Australia. Prerequisites: None.

Instructor: Shereen A Lerner

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ASM 104 Bones, Stones, and Human Evolution      THIS CLASS IS FULL    3 credits


Class number: 42369               Day: Mo We Fr       Time: 8:00AM to 8:50AM LEC    Location: SC 29                                                         Day: Mo We           Time: 9:00AM to 9:50AM LAB

General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB] and Natural Sciences General [SG]

Study of human evolution and variation; including fossil hominids and their tools, primate anatomy and behavior, human genetics, and the environment and human biology.

Instructor: Richard W. Effland has been teaching Anthropology at MCC for 22. I have my doctorate degree from ASU in Anthropology. I adopted technology into my teaching world because I felt it helped students learn and led to greater creativity in student projects and presentations. I have taught one semester as a visiting scholar in China and for three years taught advanced writing to students in China online.

If you have questions, email me - reffland@me.com or find me on facebook. I am always with my iPhone and never far from my laptops.

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BPC 110 Computer Usage and Applications   As of 8/18/10: 12 Open Sets      3 Credits


Class number: 41393
                                                                                                     Location: Internet Class General Education Designation: Computers/Statistics/Quantitative Apps [CS]

Introduction to business and personal computer operations and usage. Software applications for analyzing and solving business problems including word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation graphics.

This class provides in-depth coverage of the Microsoft Office 2007 suite including Word, Excel, Access and PowerPoint. Students will learn how to produce Office documents creatively and efficiently and how to integrate documents between programs. A special emphasis is solving real-world business problems with Excel spreadsheets and Access databases.

Instructor: David G Harris is in his 8th year teaching at MCC. He earned a BA in Liberal Arts from Ohio Wesleyan University and an MBA from Arizona State University. He has a 30+ year career in Management Information Systems and Information Technology and has also taught for the Business College at Arizona State University, Western International University, the University of Phoenix, and at MCCCD colleges GWCC and PVCC. Mr. Harris, currently serving as the BPC Occupational Program Director, is certified by Microsoft at the expert level in Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Outlook. If you have any questions about the course or required materials, contact him at dharris@mesacc.edu.

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CFS 176 Child Development           THIS CLASS IS FULL                  3 Credits


Class number: 42641               Days: MoWe              Time: 1:30PM to 2:45PM               Location: TC 404
General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Billboards and bumper stickers boldly announce, “The Children are our Future”. But, do we REALLY VALUE children in the United States? Are we applying our knowledge of child growth and development to best meet the needs of our children? What are the most important child-related issues to be addressed that will insure their future as productive citizens and successful adults? In this course we will study a child’s cognitive, physical and social-emotional development from conception through adolescence while focusing on the inter-relationships between individuals and environmental influences.

Instructor: Christine M Osgood has taught Child Development at MCC for 10 years. She is involved in numerous community and professional activities that support children and families. Since receiving her Ph.D. in Child Development from Iowa State University, Dr. Osgood has taught Child and Family Studies courses at community colleges and universities in Virginia, Iowa and Arizona.

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COM 100  Introduction to Human Communication  THIS CLASS IS FULL   3 Credits

Class number: 48309           Days: TuTh                 Time: 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM             Location: AC 2E
General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Theory and practice of communication skills in public, small group, and interpersonal settings. Includes study of the speech communication process

Instructor: Christine M Beckman

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ECN 211 Macroeconomic Principles (MCC Red Mountain Campus)               3 Credits

                                               As of 8/21/10: 8 Open Sets


Class number: 58678                  Days: TuTh            Time: 9:00AM - 10:15AM          Location: RDM V127

A descriptive analysis of the structure and functioning of the American economy. Emphasis on basic economic institutions and factors that determine national income and employment levels. Consideration given to the macroeconomic topics of national income, unemployment, inflation and monetary and fiscal policies.

Instructor: J Scott Gustafson

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ENG 101 First-Year Composition (MCC Red Mountain Campus)                    3 Credits  

                                                  THIS CLASS IS FULL

Class number: 43835             Days: MoWeFr               Time: 10:00AM to 10:50AM        Location: S280
Prerequisites: To be eligible for Honors English, you MUST test into Honors English.

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Instructor: Gwen Argersinger has worked with honors students for years at MCC and I have taught both AP English and AP American History for juniors and seniors in high school. I love learning through teaching and I especially enjoy the challenge and excitement of working with students who also love to learn and question ideas. I have also taught at the university level, helping undergrads find their way and grad students as they completed their work.

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ENG 101 First-Year Composition     THIS CLASS IS FULL                              3 Credits

Class number: 43103               Days: Mo We Fr        Time: 8:00 AM to 8:50 AM            Location: LA 4N
Prerequisites: To be eligible for Honors English, you MUST test into Honors English.

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Instructor: Mary E Aldridge

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ENG 101 First-Year Composition         THIS CLASS IS FULL                      3 Credits

Class number: 43115                   Days: MoWeFr    Time: 8:00AM to 8:50AM         Location: EF 4S
Prerequisites: To be eligible for Honors English, you MUST test into Honors English.

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Instructor: Amber Pfannenstiel

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ENG 101 First-Year Composition           As of 8/21/10: 1 Open Sets                         3 Credits

Class number: 43159               Days: MoWeFr        Time: 12:00 PM to 12:50PM            Location: LA 3N
Prerequisites: To be eligible for Honors English, you MUST test into Honors English.

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Instructor: Jason G Renzi

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ENG 101 First-Year Composition              THIS CLASS IS FULL              3 Credits

Class number: 43755               Days:TuTh        Time: 10:30AM to 11:45AM            Location: LA 6N
Prerequisites: To be eligible for Honors English, you MUST test into Honors English.

we will be touching on the basics of writing (planning, focused development, revision), but we will also be exploring larger cultural issues. We will be looking at how culture shapes the beliefs, assumptions, hopes and fears of a society and how those assumptions often seep into our individual belief systems without much conscious consideration.

Then we will examine what that means for writing. There will be a lot of reading, but the selections will be on a diverse set of topics. The class structure will be a little different than traditional classes. I believe that students should take responsibility for their education. Even though I could easily put together a semester full of lectures, tests and papers, the class wouldn?t be nearly as interesting. In an attempt to increase student contributions, students will be expected to play a large role in the class via small and large group discussion, leading group discussion and presentations.

Instructor: Micheal Callaway has been teaching writing classes for the past nine years. I have taught at ASU and many of the other community colleges in the Maricopa Community College District. I just recently completed a PhD in Rhetoric and Composition/Linguistics from ASU

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ENG 101 First-Year Composition             THIS CLASS IS FULL                    3 Credits

Class number: 43823                                                                                                             Location: Internet

Prerequisites: To be eligible for Honors English, you MUST test into Honors English.

Emphasis on rhetoric and composition with a focus on expository writing and understanding writing as a process. Establishing effective college-level writing strategies through four or more writing projects comprising at least 3,000 words in total.

Instructor: Linda Evans                                                   

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ENG 102 First-Year Composition    As of 8/21/10: 7 Open sets                   3 Credits

Class number: 43319                 Days: MoWeFr         Time: 10:00AM to 10:50AM           Location: LA 2N

Prerequisites: ENG101 with a grade of "C" or better.


Eng 102 is a research writing course. Students will be expected to identify a topic of interest to them, and conduct relevant scholarly and “popular” research. Students will work in collaborative groups throughout the semester, as well as intensive one-on-one meetings with the instructor. The course consists of a single term paper.

Instructor: Robert A. Soza has been teaching at the college level since 1997. I graduate from Arizona State University with Honors in 1997. I received my Masters Degree in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. I am in the final stages of completing my dissertation at the UC Berkeley. My area of specialization is Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Culture. My academic background is in Ethnic Studies, American Literature, and Interdisciplinary Humanities. So, I emphasize interdisciplinary research methods that illuminate the intersection of popular culture with its socio-political context.

I have taught Humanities/American Cultures at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, CA, various Ethnic Studies courses at UC Berkeley, upper-division literature courses at ASU, and multiple literature and composition courses at South Mountain Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and here at MCC. I have just completed my first full-time year at MCC.

I am interested in teaching an honors section for the simple fact that I started at a community college, and through my involvement with the Honor's Program at ASU I was able to attend graduate school at one of the most important universities in the world. It is my belief that the community college should be a springboard to not only universities in Arizona but also the best schools around the country, and my particular skill set is attuned to aiding students learn the necessary critical thinking and writing skills to be competitive at any school. Additionally, the smaller, more intensive setting of an honor's course allows for a more meaningful mentoring relationship.

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ENH 260 Literature of the Southwest    As of 8/21/10: 1 Open sets             3 Credits

Class number: 65599         Days: TuTh             Time: 9:00AM to 1:015AM        Location: LA 6S

What is the Southwest? This question will be the controlling issue that guides the course. In an effort to narrow the focus further, the class will focus on three distinct geographic and cultural regions in the Southwest. The class will “begin” in Los Angeles. Then will travel across Arizona/New Mexico and South Texas. At each stop, the class will also be asked to consider the various racial groups that populate the region, and their complex interactions. We will also consider how men and women have both shared and divergent experiences across this cultural terrain. We will use literature to better understand the socio-cultural terrain in which we live.

The class will read non-fiction, fiction, as well as film. Some of the selected texts are: the film Blade Runner, Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony, Mike Davis’ City of Quartz, Menace II Society (film), No Country for Old Men (film), El Norte (film) and others. There will be a single term paper for the course with an emphasis on in class discussion/presentations.

Instructor: Robert A. Soza has been teaching at the college level since 1997. I graduate from Arizona State University with Honors in 1997. I received my Masters Degree in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, Berkeley in 1999. I am in the final stages of completing my dissertation at the UC Berkeley. My area of specialization is Race and Ethnicity in U.S. Culture. My academic background is in Ethnic Studies, American Literature, and Interdisciplinary Humanities. So, I emphasize interdisciplinary research methods that illuminate the intersection of popular culture with its socio-political context.

I have taught Humanities/American Cultures at Santa Rosa Junior College in Santa Rosa, CA, various Ethnic Studies courses at UC Berkeley, upper-division literature courses at ASU, and multiple literature and composition courses at South Mountain Community College, Chandler-Gilbert Community College, and here at MCC. I have just completed my first full-time year at MCC.

I am interested in teaching an honors section for the simple fact that I started at a community college, and through my involvement with the Honor’s Program at ASU I was able to attend graduate school at one of the most important universities in the world. It is my belief that the community college should be a springboard to not only universities in Arizona but also the best schools around the country, and my particular skill set is attuned to aiding students learn the necessary critical thinking and writing skills to be competitive at any school. Additionally, the smaller, more intensive setting of an honor’s course allows for a more meaningful mentoring relationship.

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HES 100 Healthful Living                 THIS CLASS IS FULL                    3 Credits
    

Class number: 43937                   Days: MoWeFr      Time: 12:00PM – 12:50PM           Location: HW 851
General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Health and wellness and their application to an optimal life style. Explores current topics of interest such as stress management, nutrition, fitness, and environmental health. Evaluates common risk factors associated with modern lifestyles. Evaluates common risk factor associated with modern lifestyles and incorporates an extensive review of behavior modification strategies and applying these strategies to modifying one's own negative lifestyle behaviors.

Instructor: Laura L. Hogan-Kobar

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HIS 243 History of World Religions     THIS CLASS IS FULL               3 Credits               

Class number: 48249             Days: MoWeFr            Time: 10:00AM to 10:50PM           Location: SC 27
General Education Designation: Historical Awareness [H] and Humanities & Fine Arts [HU]

The class is an examination of the world's five major religions from a historical perspective. The religions are Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. The Honors only section will be conducted in a seminar format which means that students, either by themselves or in a group, will take turns leading the discussion on the topic for the day. The class will be highly interactive which means that everyone participates, and that we get to know each other on a more personal basis. Tracing the history of these religions helps explain much of the conflict in the world today and helps make us more informed citizens.

Instructor: Betsy Hertzler I have a lifelong interest in different religions as I traveled extensively as an Air Force "brat" and lived in Japan for 6 years. I still enjoy travel so that I can experience different cultures and religions firsthand. I thoroughly enjoy teaching and look forward to each semester. I have Master's degree in History and in Counseling as well as a doctorate in Educational Leadership. The work on my doctorate convinced me that I wanted to stay in the classroom!

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HUM 190 (AA, AB, and AC) HONORS FORUM              THIS CLASS IS FULL


Class numbers: 43659, 43661, & 43663        Days: TuTh          Time: 12:00PM to 1:15PM                        *you must register for all three class numbers                                                     Location: SC 12N
General Education Designation: Humanities & Fine Arts [HU]

This is a three-hour humanities discussion/seminar tied to the current Honors Study Topic. This year's topic is " The Democratization of Information: Power, Peril and Promise.” Because the Honors Study Topic (HST) changes every two years, there is no required textbook. We'll examine issues such as Facebook, media available 24/7, literacy rates around the world, etc. Class members will select the material used for discussion purposes in class, as each student will take at least one turn at being the discussion leader for that day. You will be provided with a Study Guide that discusses the HST in detail through a series of issues. The guide includes a bibliography and a website that has further information and a suggested film list. Students may also make their own selections of material to use for their presentation. The instructors are also a resource for possible discussion material. Each student is responsible for getting a copy of the material to be read to the instructors at least a week before their presentation date so that the class will have an opportunity to read the material and be prepared to participate in the class discussion. Another class requirement is attendance at the Honors Forum presentations. If you are unable to attend a presentation, a copy of the talk will be available on DVD, as you will be submitting a critique of the talk. The class is experiential since it is based on class discussion that is lively and engaging.

Instructor: Betsy Hertzler has been a faculty member at MCC since 1984 and has been an Honors coordinator for the past 15 years. I teach ancient and medieval western civilization as well as the history of world religions. History has been a life-long love because it explains so much of what is happening in the present. We will use history to discuss the paradox of affluence and what the past has to tell us about the present. I thoroughly enjoy teaching adults and find teaching an Honors class to be very stimulating as Honors students are motivated and actively participate in class.

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MHL 145 American Jazz & Popular Music    THIS CLASS IS FULL        3 Credit


Class number: 45865            Days
: MoWeFr              Time: 10:00AM to 10:50AM          Location: MU 13

General Education Designation: Cultural Diversity in the United States [C], Humanities & Fine Arts [HU]

 

The study of cultural and social contributions to the evolution of American jazz and popular music from the mid-1800's to present.


Instructor: Hugh H Lovelady

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PHI 101 Introduction to Philosophy        THIS CLASS IS FULL               3 Credits           


Class number: 46969             Days: MoWeFr              Time: 9:00AM to 9:50AM         Location: GC 303
General Education Designation: Humanities & Fine Arts [HU]

General consideration of human nature and the nature of the universe. Knowledge, perception, freedom and determinism, and the existence of God..

Instructor: Patrice D Nango

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POS 120 World Politics                     As of 8/21/10: 1 Open Sets            3 Credits                     

Class number: 48101            Days: TuTh                Time: 10:30AM to 11:45AM             Location: SC 11E

General Education Designation: Global Awareness [G] and Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Introduction to the principles and issues relating to the study of international relations. Evaluation of the political, economic, national, and transnational rationale for international interactions.

Instructor: Brian Dille has taught political science at MCC for 10 years. He directs the Model United Nations team and advises both the College Republican and College Democrat clubs. Dr. Dille earned his Ph.D. at ASU, and his B.A. at BYU. He enjoys looking at issues from both sides while searching for the reasonable middle. When not investigating foreign policy decision-making, Brian spends time with his family going hiking, camping, and shooting things with arrows.

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PSY 101 Introduction to Psychology      THIS CLASS IS FULL              3 Credits              

                                         You MUST register for PSY102 Class number 47529 .

Class number: 47459            Days: MoWeFr             Time: 11:00AM to 11:50AM              Location: BP 8

General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Honors Introduction to Psychology will examine the basic areas of Psychological Science such as how we learn, remember and forget, how we grow and develop emotionally as well as physically, how we form relationships and how we behave in the social world in which we live. We will also study and discuss personality development, psychopathological behavior and treatment, as well as the physiology of the brain and its relationship to behavior. The emphasis of this course will be on application of the concepts and theories to help us better understand and function effectively in the world in which we live. The course will include group projects and class discussion.

Instructor: Ann T. Ewing I have taught Honors classes at MCC for many years and I thoroughly enjoy the interaction with bright, highly motivated and engaged students. I earned my B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at Occidental College in California and my Ph.D. at Arizona State University. I have been the advisor of Psi Beta, the national honor society for students in Psychology, since its inception in 1991. It brings me great joy to share the field of Psychological Science with students.

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PSY 102 Introduction to Psychology Lab                                                          1 Credit

                        The lab ACCOMPANIES PSY101 ~ you can NOT take this class alone.

Application of psychological principles in areas such as learning, memory, emotion, motivation, cognition, language, development, personality, and intelligence.

Class number: 47529                    Days: TBA                             Location: PIRC Lab Administration Rm 2

Instructor: Dr. Ann T. Ewing I have taught Honors classes at MCC for many years and I thoroughly enjoy the interaction with bright, highly motivated and engaged students. I earned my B.A. and M.A. in Psychology at Occidental College in California and my Ph.D. at Arizona State University. I have been the advisor of Psi Beta, the national honor society for students in Psychology, since its inception in 1991. It brings me great joy to share the field of Psychological Science with students.

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PSY 266 Abnormal Psychology        THIS CLASS IS FULL                3 Credits

Class number: 58844            Days: Tu Th              Time: 12:00PM to 1:15PM                Location: BP 8

General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

This class will introduce you to a variety of the disorders that are seen in clinical practice. The class is designed to both inform you about these disorders AND to capture your passion! The goal is to study psychological disorders from the perspective of the profoundly human experiences they create. In other words, we will study abnormal psychology with both the “dispassionate eye of a scientist” and the “compassionate heart of a practitioner”.
The honors section for Abnormal Psychology will focus strongly on case studies - real people and movie characters. Many people get their psychological information from the popular media – and it’s too often wrong. So, we’ll explore how disorders are presented, understood, and misunderstood. There will be a lot of interesting discussion.

Instructor: Skip Pollock

Dr. Skip is a licensed clinical psychologist. She had a private clinical practice for over 25 years - in 3 different states. She’s originally from Miami, Florida and taught psychology at Miami-Dade College, Wright State University's School of Professional Psychology (Ohio), and here at MCC.

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REC 120 Leisure & the Quality of Life    THIS CLASS IS FULL             3 Credits

Class number: 44037                Days: TuTh              Time: 10:30AM to 11:45AM          Location: HW 850
General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB]

Overview of the historical, psychological, social, and cultural aspects of play, leisure, and recreation and their role in contemporary society. Nature of play and leisure behavior in human development within different cultures and the contribution play, recreation, and leisure make to the quality of life for individuals in today's society.

Instructor: Duane Oakes

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SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology              THIS CLASS IS FULL        3 Credits               

Class number: 42413        THIS IS A LATE START CLASS                                      Location: Internet
General Education Designation: Social & Behavioral Sciences [SB].

Fundamental concepts of social organization, culture, socialization, social institutions and social change.

Instructor: Victoria Stay

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