General Studies Course Descriptions

(2004 - 2006 catalog)

English

EN050 Grammar and Composition Fundamentals 3(3,0)
Extensive written work stressing spelling, accurate sentence structure, and logical paragraph development. Credit earned does not count toward a degree.
Prerequisite: None

EN100 Composition and Critical Thinking 3(3,0)
Develops written communication and critical thinking skills. Explores techniques and practices of expository and argumentative writing by analyzing and responding to essays written by others. Students learn to generate ideas for writing based on readings; organize and support their ideas; and apply techniques of revision to produce polished, professional work. Content, format, and correct grammatical structures are emphasized.
Prerequisite: English Placement Test (EPT)

EN210 Cultural Diversity in Literature 3(3,0)
Develops analytical and critical thinking skills through literature, which deals directly with issues of multiculturalism. Students apply the concepts learned in EN100. Students must take this course by the end of their sophomore year.
Prerequisite: EN 100

EN227 Scriptwriting 3(3,0)
Fundamentals of writing a script for animation, television, commercials, films, and digital games. Students work on character and story development.
Prerequisite: EN 100

EN250 Speech and Oral Communication 3(3,0)
Development and improvement of effective communication skills in formal and informal settings. Emphasis on preparation of topics to be presented orally, development of student as effective communicator, and clear presentation of research or other project before a variety of audiences.
Prerequisite: EN100

EN260 Literature 3(3,0)
Survey of selected literature as a reflection of human motivation and behavior. Examination of the significance of critical perception. Includes short stories, a novel, and a play.
Prerequisite: EN210

EN265 Storytelling 3(3,0)
Art of storytelling and improvisational acting. Students are involved in individual story development and re-enactment, as well as group participation in storytelling. Students also explore the concepts of spontaneity and original expression through improvisation and playacting.
Prerequisite: EN210

EN320 Technical Communication 3(3,0)
Develops business communication skills with particular emphasis on technology and science. In addition to the basic fundamentals for writing in the business environment, it also includes the expanded role of the technical writer, multinational/multicultural communications, ethical considerations, and collaborative writing in the workplace. Presentation techniques, both oral and graphic, relate oral presentations to written documents.
Prerequisite: EN210

EN498 Special Project 1-3 (arranged)
Individual or group investigation, research, and study of pre-selected topics.
Prerequisites: EN210, permission of instructor

EN499 Special Topic 1-3 (arranged)
Group study of topic selected by instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: EN210, permission of instructor

Humanities

HU120 The Nature and History of Western Art 3(3,0)
Broad introduction to the nature, vocabulary, media, and historical development of visual arts. Major categories are architecture, sculpture, painting, and printmaking. Exposure to major art works in Western tradition from Paleolithic times to present. Students develop criteria for answering the question: “What is art?”
Prerequisite: None

HU122 World Music 3(3,0)
Study of representative music and instruments from the world cultures, including Middle Eastern, Asian/Pacific, Indian, African, Latin American, North American and Western. Emphasis on impact and influence on contemporary American musical styles and performance.
Prerequisite: None

HU125 Music in Western Culture 3(3,0)
Study of musical examples and compositional techniques evolving from the Medieval period to the present. Characteristic forms and styles, analysis and listening examples of each era, and leading composers are explored. Study of the significance of music for people and social bases for the development of music.
Prerequisite: None

HU127 History of Music Technology 3(3,0)
Survey of innovative technical advances in music from Ancient China and Greece to present. Includes tuning and intonation, notational systems and printing, development of families of musical instruments, mechanical and electric music machines, analog and digital synthesis technology, and modern digital audio technology.
Prerequisite: EN100.

HU160 Philosophy: Issues and Options 3(3,0)
Survey of major topics in aesthetics, epistemology, ethics, logic, metaphysics, and philosophy of language.
Prerequisite: EN100

HU170 U.S. History 3(3,0)
Social, political, and intellectual history from the Age of Exploration to the present. Students focus on major trends and developments. Includes California history.
Prerequisite: EN100

HU220 Modern Art History 3(3,0)
Examines the history of Western art from the advent of the avant-garde to post-modernism. Emphasis is given to the social/political and theoretical developments coinciding with changes in culture.
Prerequisites: EN100, HU120

HU222 History of 20th Century Music 3(3,0)
Overview of trends in music composition, performance, technology, and criticism from 1900 to the present. Integrates consideration of popular and world musics as well as new trends derived from the European classical tradition.
Prerequisites: EN100, HU122 or HU125

HU227 Film History 3(3,0)
Surveys the history of film from the end of the 19th century up to the present. Students learn about the evolution of film technology as well as the social and cultural relevance of the various periods.
Prerequisite: EN100

HU229 Science Fiction Cinema 3(3,0)
Defines what constitutes classic science fiction cinema, identifies the key players in international sci-fi and shows how their films influenced the filmmakers who followed. Places seminal works in political and social contexts by exploring the military, scientific, and outer-universal symbolism.
Prerequisite: EN100

HU230 History of Animation 3(3,0)
Exposes students to the historical development of animation as an art form and the techniques, technologies, and personalities responsible for the creation of animated forms and characters. Includes the social and economic content behind the development and popularity of characters and approaches.
Prerequisite: EN100

HU262 The Nature of Art 3(3,0)
Examination of fundamental questions of aesthetics: “What is Art? Why Art? What is Beauty? How does Art function in a given community or culture?” Historical, religious, sociological, psychological, and biological indications of the human need to “make things special” will be investigated.
Prerequisites: EN100, HU120

HU275 Novel Into Film 3(3,0)
More than half of the films made in Hollywood have been adaptations from novels and short stories. Students explore the relationship between the two art forms as well as analyze the different techniques used in creating great literature and films.
Prerequisite: EN100

HU300 Humanities General Studies Project 3(3,0)
Students develop an in-depth knowledge in a particular topic. They apply their skills of topic development, critical reading, research techniques, use of sources in arguments, and advanced composition to write a comprehensive research paper. Prerequisites: EN210 and Junior Standing (recommended to have completed all HU/SS requirements minus two)

HU361 Contemporary Ethical Issues 3(3,0)
Examines philosophical foundations of ethical theory and applied ethics. Students discuss historical approaches and contemporary case studies in relation to ethical theory and personal values.
Prerequisite: HU160

HU498 Special Projects 1-3 (arranged)
Individual or group investigation, research, and study of preselected problems.
Prerequisites: EN210, Permission of the Dean

HU499 Special Topics 1-3 (arranged)
Group study of topic selected by instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: EN210, Permission of the Dean

Mathematics

MA003 Intermediate Algebra 3(3,0)
Intermediate algebra including exponents and polynomials, equations and systems of equations in one and two variables, functions and graphs, and exponential and logarithmic functions. Credit earned does not count toward a degree.
Prerequisite: One year of high school mathematics including elementary algebra

MA115 Math for Computer Graphics 3(3,0)
Principles and applications of inequalities, functions and graphs, polynomials and rational functions, systems of equations and inequalities, matrices and determinants. Analytic geometry including conic sections. Trigonometric functions, identities, equations, inverse functions, trigonometric applications including vector definition, operations, and dot product. Students are introduced to the basic concepts for computer graphics.
Prerequisite: MA003 or an appropriate score on the math placement test

MA116 Pre-Calculus 4(4,0)
Topics include principles and applications of factoring, rational expression, radicals, solutions and graphs of linear, quadratics equations and inequalities; polynomials, rational, exponential, trigonometric, and logarithmic functions; matrices, determinants, complex numbers.
Prerequisite: An appropriate score on the math placement test

MA118 Geometry For Computer Graphics 3(3,0)
An introduction to the algorithms of curve production and their transformations. Topics include plane geometry, trigonometry, matrices, parametric equations, vectors, transformations in a vector space, projective geometry and fractal geometry. Students are introduced to the basic geometry for computer graphics.
Prerequisite: MA115

MA133 Calculus I 4 (4,0)
Functions. Limits. Derivatives. Curve sketching. Mean Value Theorem. Trigonometric functions. Related rates. Maximum-minimum problems. Inverse functions. Definite and indefinite integrals. Logarithmic, exponential, and hyperbolic functions. Applications of integration. Integration by substitution and by parts. Simple differential equations. Students are introduced to calculus concepts for science and engineering.
Prerequisite: MA116

MA134 Calculus II 4 (4,0)
Integration by trigonometric substitution and partial fractions. Arc length. Indeterminate forms. Improper integrals. Simpson’s and Trapezoidal Rules for numerical integration. Newton’s method. Taylor’s Theorem including a discussion of the remainder. Sequences. Series. Power series. Separable differential equations. First order linear differential equations. Homogeneous second order linear differential equations with constant coefficients. Students are introduced to the calculus concepts for science and engineering.
Prerequisite: MA133

MA235 Calculus III 4(4,0)
Vectors. Lines. Planes. Quadratic surfaces. Polar. cylindrical and spherical coordinates. Partial derivatives. Directional derivatives. Gradient. Divergence. Curl. Chain rule. Maximum-minimum problems. Multiple integrals. Parametric surfaces and curves. Line integrals. Surface integrals. Green-Gauss theorems. Students are introduced to the calculus concepts for science and engineering.
Prerequisite: MA134

MA255 Statistics 3(3,0)
Topics in descriptive and inferential statistics. Data collection, condensations; permutations, combinations and probability theory; binomial and normal distributions; confidence limits; hypothesis testing, level of significance, errors; distribution tests; regression and correlation.
Prerequisite: MA116

MA375 Linear Algebra 3(3,0)
Set theory, systems of linear equations, vector spaces, linear transformations, matrix algebra, determinants, eigenvalues, eigenvectors, and applications.
Prerequisite: MA235

MA377 Software Engineering Mathematics 3(3,0)
Topics in mathematics necessary for software engineering applications. Introduction to set theory, functions and relations; introduction to logic; matrices and systems of equations; elementary combinatorics, probability and statistics; methods of proof; finite sums and products; complex numbers; recurrence relations. Introduction to Analysis of Algorithms. Students are introduced to the discrete mathematical concepts for software engineering.
Prerequisite: MA133

MA478 Advanced Software Engineering Mathematics 3(3,0)
Linear Programming: Simplex algorithm. Mathematical theory of duality in linear programming. Game theory: Zero-sum games. Prisoner’s dilemma. Evolutionarily stable strategy. Normal-form representation of games. Nash equilibrium. Mixed strategy equilibrium. Bayesian Nash equilibrium. Stackelberg Model. Two-Person bargaining problems and the Nash bargaining solution. Coalitions in cooperative games. Students apply discrete mathematical concepts to game theory.
Prerequisites: MA235, MA377

MA498 Special Project 1-3 (arranged)
Individual or group investigation, research, or study of preselected problems.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean

MA499 Special Topic 1-5 (arranged)
Group study of a preselected topic as specified by the instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean

Science

SC100 Basic Concepts of Physics/Laboratory 3(2,2)
Basic principles: motion, gravitation, electricity and magnetism, light, relativity and atomic physics. Students are exposed to the fundamentals of physics.
Prerequisite: MA115

SC120 Foundations of Musical Acoustics 3(2,2)
Simple vibrating systems, waves and wave propagation, complex vibrations and resonance, intensity and loudness, frequency and pitch, scales, tuning, temperament, acoustic features and characteristics of acoustic musical instruments by family, room acoustics. Anatomy and acoustics of human ear and voice. Students learn the science of tone production and delivery.
Prerequisites: MA115, SC100

SC145 College Physics I 4(3,2)
Fundamentals of mechanics, fluids, and heat, including vectors, translation and equilibrium, acceleration, projectile motion, Newton’s Laws, work, energy, power, impulse, momentum, uniform circular motion, rotation of rigid bodies, simple machines, elasticity, simple harmonic motion, fluid statics and dynamics, temperature, thermal expansion, heat units, heat transfer, thermal properties of matter, the thermodynamics, and wave motion. Illustrative laboratory work to complement theory. Students are introduced to the physics concepts for science and engineering.
Prerequisite: MA133

SC155 College Physics II 4(3,2)
Fundamentals of sound, light, electricity and magnetism, and modern physics, including illumination, reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, polarization, DC and AC circuits, magnetism, electrochemistry, thermochemistry, special theory of relativity, quantum theory, atomic physics, nuclear physics, and electronics. Illustrative work to complement theory. Students are introduced to physics concepts for science and engineering.
Prerequisite: SC145

SC300 Kinematics 3(3,0)
Kinematics in one and two dimensions. Description of uniform and accelerated motion, average and instantaneous velocity and acceleration; main equations of kinematics; free fall, graphic analysis of linear motion; vectors, scalars, and their operations; projective motion, relative motion, motion in space and time. Kinematics of uniform circular motion. Includes lectures, demonstrations, labs, and elementary problem solving.
Prerequisite: SC100

SC360 Modern Physics 3(3,0)
Introduction to the theory of relativity; quantum mechanics; solid state theory; subatomic particle physics.
Prerequisite: SC155

SC361 Semiconductor Physics 3(3,0)
Atomic structure and Quantum Physics, the Bohr atom, the Shrödinger equation, physical meaning of the state function, atoms in crystals, energy bands semiconductors, intrinsic and extrinsic semiconductors, Fermi-Dirac statistics, Fermi levels, N-type and P-type semiconductors, carrier concentration and mobility, drift and diffusion, generation and recombination, PN junction, quantitative analysis at equilibrium, reverse bias and forward bias, dynamic hetero junctions, meta-semiconductor junction, ohmic contact, Schottky diode, MOSFET structure, band diagrams, minority carrier concentrations, current components, Ebers-Moll model, high injection effects, heterojunction BJT.
Prerequisites: MA134, SC155

SC498 Special Project 1-3 (arrange)
Individual or group investigation, research, study, or surveys of preselected problems.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean

SC499 Special Topic 1-5 (arrange)
Group study of pre-selected topic, the title to be specified by the instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisite: Permission of the Dean

Social Sciences

SS100 U.S. Government 3(3,0)
Introduces students to the American constitutional system, parties, elections, media, interest groups, branches of government, and public policy issues. Comparison with California constitution and institutions.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS105 Political Theory 3(3,0)
History and evolution of political theory, including the works of major political theorists. Nature and methods of political action, diversity of problems, attempted solutions. Trends, approaches, and criticisms of modern political systems, including theories of legitimacy and justice.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS110 Psychology: Understanding Human Behavior 3(3,0)
Understanding human behavior as it is influenced by biological and neurological processes and structures, genetics, gender, sensation and perception, learning and memory, psychopathology, socialization, and enculturation.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS121 Environment and Culture 3(3,0)
Introduction to the study of human culture in time and space using the holistic (multifaceted) approach to relate cultural elements to their wider social and physical environment. Examines the diversity, originality, and universality of human cultural beliefs and practices.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS123 World Cultures 3(3,0)
Explores the multi-faced impact of globalization on the major cultural regions of the world. Students analyze this impact using anthropological principles, crucial historical data, and ecological influences.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS130 Introduction to Economics 3(3,0)
Survey of micro- and macroeconomics. Theory of competition and the firm; analysis of complexity of economic activity; relations among extractive, manufacturing, and service sectors; international trade and finance; relations between government and economic life.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS150 Mass Communications In Society 3 (3,0)
Students examine the sociological effects of mass communication from the telegraph to digital age. Readings and discussions help demonstrate how various world cultures get their information and how Western societies communicate in the personal and political environment.
Prerequisite: EN100

SS232 Global Political Economics 3(3,0)
Based on political, economic, and geopolitical study of contemporary processes of globalization. Comparative analysis of various economic and political systems. New realities of the transitional economic systems. Current economic and social development of West Europe, Russia and Eurasia, China, the Crescent world, Latin America, and Africa in context of global economic, cultural, military, and political relations with the United states.
Prerequisite: SS123

SS300 Social Sciences General Studies Project 3(3,0)
Students develop an in-depth knowledge in a particular topic. They apply their skills of topic development, critical reading, research techniques, use of sources in arguments, and advanced composition to write a comprehensive research paper. Prerequisites: EN210, Junior Standing (recommended that students have completed all HU/SS requirements minus two)

SS498 Special Project 1-3 (arranged)
Individual or group investigation, research, and study of preselected problems.
Prerequisites: EN210, Permission of the Dean

SS499 Special Topic 1-3 (arranged)
Group study of topic selected by instructor. May be repeated for credit.
Prerequisites: EN210, Permission of the Dean