AA Curriculum
LDRS 1110 Strategies for Success (3 credits, 5 weeks) Equips students for the CWA experience by clarifying expectations regarding managing time, communicating with the instructor, developing strong study habits, ordering textbooks, and using EAGLE. CWA policies and procedures are covered with emphasis on attendance, plagiarism, grades, Leaves of Absence and other financial aid concerns. Students review team processes as a foundation for classroom learning. The goal is to empower students to succeed at William Penn University.
APCS 1101 Computer Applications (3 Credits, 5 Weeks) Provides students with fundamental computer concepts, terminology, and skills applicable in today’s workplace. Includes discussion of computer usage, ethical practices, and use of computer technology in various fields. Laboratory applications include Microsoft Office Suite, use of electronic e-mail, wireless Internet access, and Internet search tools. Students will complete a final team project integrating skills and concepts learned in the course.
ENGL 1010 Mastering College Writing I (3 credits, 5 weeks) A review and practice of fundamental composition skills to improve writing in the academic and workplace environment. Course includes skills in planning, drafting and revising, as well as a review of basic grammar and punctuation, and various patterns of expository writing.
ENGL 1020 Mastering College Writing II (4 credits, 6 weeks) Focuses on the process of planning, writing and revising to develop research writing skills. Emphasizes persuasive, argument and reasoning; structural and organizational strategies like content mapping and outlining; developing effective introductions; thesis statements that communicate specific audience, purpose and main points; conclusions that echo the introduction and repeat main points. Additional organizational techniques and extensive practice in Internet and scholarly research are provided, as well as strategies of avoiding plagiarism and building support for a position.
PHIL 1110 Critical Thinking and Problem Solving (3 credits, 5 weeks) Examines the three dimensions of critical thinking: analysis, evaluation and creativity. Teaches reasoning through raising vital questions and formulating problems clearly; gathering and assessing relevant information, and interpreting information using abstract ideas. Students explore the testing of well reasoned conclusions and solutions against standards, objections, consequences and effective communication to resolve complex problems.
LDRS 2010 Leaders in World Religion (3 credits, 5 weeks) Explores the beliefs, practices, paths to fulfillment and views of morality and reality for a number of the world's major religions and indigenous ways. Emphasis is on historical and contemporary leaders, the changing social and political nature of religion, spread of religious pluralism, violence in the name of religion, and movement toward interfaith dialogue.
MATH 1020 Business Math (3 credits, 5 weeks) Emphasizes basic math skills as they apply to business. Students will calculate percentages and ratios, as well as formulate and solve operational business problems using mathematical tools, methods and supporting technology.
MATH 1030 Business Algebra (3 credits, 5 weeks) Emphasizes algebraic operations and formulas as they apply to business. Students will work with variables and formulas, as well as formulate and solve linear and quadratic equations. Additionally, they will formulate, solve, and interpret word problems and construct tables, graphs and charts using algebraic equations and inequalities with calculators and Excel software.
COMM 2020 Speech (3 credits, 5 weeks) Focuses on analyzing speeches to identify characteristics of effective speeches, as well as planning, organizing and delivering self-introduction, ceremonial, descriptive, informative and persuasive speeches. Emphasis is on planning as well as developing organizational designs, supportive techniques, voice and language, and persuasive or argumentative reasoning and accompanying effective visuals.
LDRS 2300 Innovators in the Humanities (3 credits, 5 weeks) Focuses on the arts, the artists and the impact of their creative contributions on society. Emphasis is placed on artistic leaders and their achievements for major civilizations in the context of their history and culture. This course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and understanding to appreciate contributions of artists from a global perspective.
ENGL 2210 American Literature (3 credits, 5 weeks) Introduces students to the study of American literature as a framework of the cultural and social history of America. Emphasis is placed on contemporary American authors and their impact on society and culture.
EASC 2110 Environmental Science (3 credits, 5 weeks) Examines the interrelationships among the ecosystems, geological systems, and social systems. Emphasis will be placed on contemporary, accurate, and non-biased research of local and global environmental issues such as climate change and renewable energy.
SOCI 2210 Conflict Resolution in the Workplace (3 credits, 5 weeks) Focuses on the nature and channels of conflict as well as building the interpersonal skills and communication competencies to resolve conflict using collaboration, listening, supportive communication, problem analysis, integrative negotiation and mediating techniques. Emphasis is on applying conflict resolution to teams and using knowledge of differences as a reference point for problem analysis.
LDRS 2220 Leadership Perspectives in World History (3 credits, 5 weeks) This interdisciplinary course offers an examination of world history in terms of political, social, economic, and religious/philosophical developments from the beginning of stationary settlements to the present. Experiences and leaders from the past relate to current global problems that form the context for world leaders today.
LDRS 2400 Character-Based Moral Leadership (3 credits, 5 weeks) Examines the unique ethical challenges faced by leaders with an emphasis on building ethical competency, character and integrity through self-assessment, challenge, and feedback. Focuses on the inner dimension of leadership and describes ethical perspectives and problem solving strategies applied to making moral choices using case studies.
LDRS 2920 Quaker Philosophy and Capstone (3 credits, 5 weeks) Introduces the beliefs, heritage, and ethical values of the Society of Friends, which is the foundation of William Penn University. Students discover and integrate their own beliefs, heritage and values with leadership themes from the AA program in a creative portfolio project, drawing from readings, discussion and research assignments. The final project is a personal web site or multimedia presentation highlighting their accomplishments, values, team skills, leadership strengths, goals, and personal insights gained from the William Penn experience.
Electives
BUSI 2110 Business Fundamentals (3 credits, 5 weeks) Introduces business fundamentals, including ethics and social responsibility, the global market place, business systems and various business structures. It also covers customer service and management functions such as marketing, pricing, distribution, communication, and production.
PLSC 2510 Political Science (3 credits, 5 weeks) Emphasizes the basic principles of political science to understand government policymaking decisions that form parameters for our lives, and that vary from country to country. Political systems, economic systems, and socialized values, combined with perceptions of others and issues, form the basis of relationships in our globalized world. Students will learn different government policymaking structures around the world that can influence policy as well as leadership.
ECON 2510 Managing Personal Wealth (3 credits, 5 weeks) Provides foundations in financial planning to help students make informed choices regarding tax decisions, cash and credit management, major acquisitions, insurance, personal investments, and retirement.
BUSI 2540 Workplace Behavior (3 credits, 5 weeks) Emphasizes the complex relationships among individuals, groups, organizations and society in order to help people be more productive and satisfied in organizational settings. The primary values characterizing this field include (1) an emphasis on establishing cause-and-effect relationships, (2) a commitment to change, (3) a humanistic concern for people, (4) a concern for organizational effectiveness, and (5) a reliance on empirical research and the scientific method. Consideration is given to the interaction of individual values, attitudes, needs, abilities, traits, and motivation within teams and organizations.
SOCI 2510 Issues in Contemporary Society, (3 credits, 5 weeks) The course challenges students to think critically and analyze research related to such topics as national and global inequalities based on racial, ethnic, gender, age or sexual orientation; the changing family; problems in the media; the environmental crisis, and war and terrorism.
HIST 2530 Diplomacy in the Modern World, (3 credits, 5 weeks) Examines the diplomatic and military history of the United States since World War II with emphasis on contemporary social, economic, and political global influences. Leaders and their influences will also be addressed.