This is a sample of the courses offered in 2009. Courses for the 2010 academy will be posted after January 2010. As you can see LSSA covers topics that range from the Fine Arts to the Lab Sciences, and all are college-level coursework for credit.
Living in Water
Prof. Ryan Richter BIO 119B
Come discover the vast array of organisms which occupy local aquatic ecosystems.Take a “hands-on” look at these ecosystems and determine how these organisms obtain energy and interact with one another.Learn how water supports their need for life.
Forensic Anthropology
Prof. Holly Heckmann BIO 119C
Do you watch CSI, Bones, Forensic Files, Skeleton Stories or other forensically based movies? Then come and satisfy your curiosity about the role of a forensic anthropologist in the criminal justice system. This course will educate you in the forensic field and teach you what a forensic scientist REALLY does. This course involves the use of skeletal material in a laboratory setting, guest lecturers, and an actual Search and Rescue K-9 Team Demonstration.
Speak to me only with your...HANDS!
Dr. Janellkay Brigham COM 119A
American Sign Language is one of fastest growing foreign languages across the nation.In this class, you not only will broaden your knowledge of Deaf culture but you will get a good jump at learning ASL to communicate.Use the language to sign with the deaf or apply the skills to theater or other creative interpretation courses. You will learn how to translate music into sign so bring your favorite tunes to the Academy.You will experience a whole new way to speak, hands down!
It’s Written All Over Your Face
Dr. Janellkay Brigham COM 119D
Learn to express yourself without saying a word. Learn to read others’ body language and develop your own. Enhance your communication skills using only your face and hands. Learn the art of polite gesturing. Show your emotion through facial expressions, and create pictures with body movement. This course will train students to think in pictures…not words. Excellent for theater, creative speaking, mime, sign language and more!
Comedy and the Art of Film
Dr. Steve Vrooman COM 119I
“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.” Aside from action, comedies have been the most popular box office genre for decades. In this course we’ll figure out why. This class will teach the basics of film studies, everything from establishing shots to match cuts, while at the same time exploring the history and theory of Hollywood comedy. We will watch and analyze films ranging from the Marx Brothers to Monty Python, Mel Brooks to Mean Girls.
From “Fight or Flight” to “Working it Out”: the Art of Negotiation
Dr. Chris Bollinger COM 119K
Have you ever had an argument that was going nowhere? Have you ever been in a competition where it seemed like you couldn’t gain any ground? Does it feel like there always has to be a winner and a loser? If you answered yes, you are in good company. These are the byproducts of living in a competitive world with others who may share different beliefs and values. No matter what jobs we work, what communities we inhabit, or what social activities we engage, we will interact with many different people who have different (yet valid) ways of understanding and thinking. So how do we find common ground and be successful in our world? We start by learning how to listen carefully, engage in dialogue, argue effectively, and negotiate for what we need. The skills learned in this class will not only help you to engage more effectively in community but also to produce better outcomes in your career.
Do the Write Thing: Introduction to College Composition
Prof. Beth Barry ENG 119F
Do the Write Thing will emphasize critical thinking and the development of reading and writing skills. The primary aim is to introduce students to the caliber of work in any college-level composition courses. Primary learning activities include reading, writing papers, and participating in group discussions. More specifically, Do the Write Thing serves as a crash course in preparation for TLU’s COMP 131/132 courses. COMP 131 is characterized by an emphasis on the fundamentals of argumentative discourse, while 132 focuses on the research process. These two courses are required of all first-year students who attend TLU.
Creative Writing, Creating Change:Write your story and change the world
Prof. Beth Barry ENG 119I
You have a voice – use it!America has a long tradition of storytellers who have made a difference.What can we learn from their stories?Improve your creative writing while inspiring yourself and others to get up, get out, and get involved.
Reach for the stars!
Dr. William Powell PHYS 119A
Have you ever wondered what astronomers really do?In this course you will explore what astronomers know about the stars and how they know it, working with a professional astronomer.You will work with data recently acquired at the McDonald Observatory to measure the distance to a star cluster.You will do lab activities, including at least one outdoor night session using a telescope, and learn how stars really work.Celebrate the International Year of Astronomy (2009) by experiencing first hand what astronomers really do!
Democracy and Identity
Dr. Scott Orr POLS 119B
What do we mean when we describe a group of people as a “nation”, a “race”, or an “ethnic group”?Is identity something people are born with in their genes, or is it a product of culture and psychology?How do ethnic and racial identities affect politics, both in the U.S. and around the world, and what does a democracy need to do to make sure that the members of different ethnic and racial groups are all treated equally?
