Course Instructor:
Office Hours: MWF 10:00am-noon or by appt.
Office Location: Tomas Rivera Center for Student Success M.S. 1.02.02
Phone: 210-458-4694
E-mail Address:
COR 1203 Freshman Seminar is a 3 hour college credit course that will satisfy UTSA’s Core Curriculum requirement for the social and behavioral domain. This class will count toward your degree at UTSA and will also count toward your grade point average (GPA). This class is affiliated with the Personal, Academic, and Career Exploration Program (PACE). The focus of this class is on society and self. This class is designed to help you develop a strong sense of community here at UTSA, assist you in becoming a more active learner, and help you define your own educational goals and objectives through self-assessment, reflection, and discussion. A UTSA Career Counselor will be available throughout the semester for in-class and out-of-class career assessments and evaluation.
1. Develop your study skills in reading, note taking, and test preparation in order to handle college work more effectively.
2. Increase your skill in critical thinking, reading, speaking, and writing and demonstrate it in your class preparation, written work, class discussion, and formal presentations.
3. Develop college-level skills in time management and goal setting and demonstrate it with a planner or other tools that help you meet your academic obligations.
4. Increase your involvement in all facets of University life through participation in University events this semester.
5. Learn about resources and opportunities that are available to all UTSA students and be familiar enough with them that you use them to benefit your academic, professional, and social experience at UTSA.
6. Participate in research or service in order to learn more about your chosen field and the need in the wider community so that you articulate your personal and professional goals and the paths you will take to reach them.
Course Goals and Objectives: The goal of this course is to provide training for students in the application of the knowledge critical to success in college and life beyond college.
Cuseo, Joseph B., et al., "Thriving in College and Beyond." Dubuque: Kendall/Hunt, 2007.
Saskind, R., "A Hope in the Unseen: An American Odyssey from the Inner City to the Ivy League." New York: Broadway Books, 2005.
Clifton, Donald O., et al., "StrengthsQuest Discover and Develop Your Strengths in Academics, Career and Beyond", 2nd Ed. New York: Gallup Press, 2006.
Part I, Chapter VI, section 3.22 of the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Regents of The University of Texas System states the following: “Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts.” Students who violate University rules on scholastic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary penalties, including possibility of failure in the course and dismissal from the University.
As per Section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, if accommodation is needed contact Disability Services, MS 2.03.08, phone: (210) 458-4157. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate contact with this office and make arrangements for accommodations. As an instructor, I encourage any student who has questions or concerns about classroom accommodations to schedule an appointment or come by to see me during regular office hours.
For security reasons, it is mandatory to use your university account. If you have any question regarding accessing your account, please review any information that may be available to you on ASAP.
Attendance: Because learning takes place as a result of active participation in learning activities and discussion, attendance in this course is required and will be factored in as part of your grade. Be certain that your name appears on the daily sign-in sheet. Absences and tardiness are not acceptable unless there are extenuating circumstances that are previously discussed and approved by the instructor. Being late to class is disruptive to both the instructor and your classmates and will not be tolerated. To earn complete attendance points, class participation is required.
Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. To assure all students have the opportunity to gain from time spent in class, students are prohibited from engaging in any form of distraction. Inappropriate behavior in the classroom shall result, minimally, in a request to leave the class. In appropriate behavior can result in a referral to the Office of Student Judicial Affairs for disciplinary action.
In order for new skills to be learned, they must be applied. Assignments will involve the application and practice of skills you are learning in class, and must be completed in a timely manner to be useful.
| Grading | |
|---|---|
| Exam I | 100 points |
| Exam II | 100 points |
| Attendance and Participation | 80 points (2 points per day) |
| Group Project/Presentation | 70 points |
| Assignments/Quizzes | 50 points |
| Assessments/Out of Class Activities | 50 points |
| Career Portfolio | 50 points |
| Essay | 100 points |
| Total Possible | 600 |
| Your grade will be calculated on point total:(To figure you grade, divide your total points by 600) | |
|---|---|
| 537 - 600 | A |
| 477 – 536 | B |
| 417 – 476 | C |
| 357 – 416 | D |
| 0 – 356 | F |
**** THIS IS SYLLABUS IS TENTATIVE AND WILL LIKELY CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER. PLEASE BE SURE TO LISTEN TO CLASS ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR ANY CHANGES IN THE SYLLABUS.
| DATE | TOPIC | HANDOUTS/DISCUSSIONS | ASSIGNMENTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed. Aug. 26 | Introduction, Review Syllabus | Syllabus and General Questions Linked Courses Group Activity |
Cuseo Chapter 1 WEB CT/Blackboard email short response – Why am I in college and why UTSA? DUE 8/31 – worth 5 points |
| Fri. Aug. 28 | Cuseo – Chapter 1 StrengthsQuest Introduction |
College Success StrengthsQuest (SQ) Assessment |
-Hope Chapters 1-2 -Take SQ Assessment - DUE 9/4 worth 10 points |
| Mon. Aug. 31 | Hope Chapters 1-2 | Complete Hope summer project DUE 9/9 – worth 10 pts Cuseo Chapter 4, pgs. 115-140 |
|
| Wed. Sept. 2 | Cuseo – Chapter 4, pgs.115-140 | Strategic Learning | Hope Chapters 3-4 |
| Fri. Sept. 4 | Hope Chapters 3-4 | Turn in SQ results | |
| Mon. Sept. 7 | Labor Day – No Class!!! | Cuseo Chapter 4, pgs. 105-114 | |
| Wed. Sept. 9 | Cuseo – Cont. Chapter 4 pgs 105-114 Cuseo – Chapter 5 pgs |
Learning Principles & Memory Process | Turn in Hope summer project |
| Fri. Sept. 11 | Claudia Giliberti from Career Services to speak | Introduction to Career Services Office and Career Exploration | Read Hope Chapters 5-6 |
| Mon.Sept. 14 | Hope Chapters 5-6 | Read Hope Chapter 7-8 | |
| Wed.Sept. 16 | Hope Chapters 7-8 | Cuseo Chapter 5 | |
| Fri. Sept. 18 | Cuseo – Chapter 5 | Improving Memory and Test Performance | Read Hope Chapters 9-10 |
| Mon. Sept. 21 | Hope Chapters 9-10 | Read Hope Chapters 11-12 | |
| Wed. Sept. 23 | Hope Chapters 11-12 | Read Hope Chapter 13-14 | |
| Fri.Sept. 25 | TBA | ||
| Mon. Sept. 28 | Hope Chapters 13-14 | ||
| Wed. Sept. 30 | Review for Test 1 | Read Cuseo Chapter 3 (half chapter) | |
| Fri.Oct. 2 | Cuseo - Chapter 3 (half Chapter) Claudia Giliberti from Career Services to speak |
-Introduction to Personality Types. -Personality Types and Job “Fit”. -Values and Jobs |
Study for Test 1 |
| Mon. Oct. 5 | TEST 1 | Read Hope Epilogue and Author’s Note |
|
| Wed. Oct. 7 | Hope Epilogue and Author’s Note |
Hand out Hope essay prompts and assignment | |
| Fri. Oct. 9 | Academic Coaching Presentation by Kathy Wilkins and Stella Abuabara | Academic Coaching and learning assistance programs | Professor Interview Assignment DUE 11/30 – worth 25 points |
| Mon.Oct. 12 | Writing Skills and Outline discussion | Work on Outline for Hope essay DUE – 10/14 – worth 10 points | |
| Wed.Oct. 14 | Essay discussion | Read Cuseo Chapter 3 (half chapter) | |
| Fri. Oct. 16 | Cuseo - Chapter 3 (half Chapter) Claudia Giliberti from Career Services to speak |
Strong Interest Inventory Introduction | Read Hope Afterword, pgs. 374-end |
| Mon. Oct. 19 | Hope Afterword | ||
| Wed. Oct. 21 | SQ discussion | Turn in HARD COPIES of Hope essays at beginning of class. | |
| Fri.Oct. 23 | SQ discussion Career Portfolio Assignment |
Career Portfolio Assignment DUE 11/30 | |
| Mon. Oct. 26 | SQ discussion | Return Hope essays | |
| Wed. Oct. 28 | Officer Merritt Interactive alcohol presentation | College drinking issues | Turn in revised copies of Hope essays |
| Fri. Oct. 30 | Group Project Assignment Discussion (Cuseo Chapters 9-13) |
Group Project Expectations and Assignment – Each group will present on one of the Cuseo Chapters 9-13 | Take Strong Interest Inventory Assessment - DUE 11/9 (worth 10 points) – This will also be used in your Career Portfolio which is worth 50 points. |
| Mon. Nov. 2 | Group Project work | ||
| Wed. Nov. 4 | TBA | ||
| Fri. Nov. 6 | TBA | ||
| Mon. Nov. 9 | Kelsey Bratcher from Office of Student Activities to speak | “Your Space or Mine” – internet safety issues | |
| Wed. Nov. 11 | Group Project Presentation | Read Cuseo, Chapter 9 | |
| Fri. Nov. 13 | Cuseo - Chapter 9 (half Chapter) Claudia Giliberti from Career Services to speak |
Strong Interest Inventory Interpretation | |
| Mon. Nov. 16 | Group Project Presentation | ||
| Wed. Nov. 18 | Cuseo - Chapter 9 (half Chapter) | Tour of Career Services Center Meet at Career Services! |
Ron Suskind visits UTSA 11/19/09 |
| Fri.Nov. 20 | Group Project Presentation | ||
| Mon. Nov. 23 | Group Project Presentation | ||
| Wed. Nov. 25 | TBA | ||
| Fri. Nov. 27 | No Class!!! | ||
| Mon. Nov. 30 | Final exam preparation discussion for linked course | Turn in Professor Interview Assignment and Career Portfolio | |
| Wed. Dec. 2 | Review for Final Exam | ||
| Fri. Dec. 4 | Interviewing skills Claudia Giliberti from Career Services to speak |
Professional Interviewing 101 | |
| Wed. Dec. 9 | FINAL EXAM AT 1:30pm |
