RDG090 READING AND WRITING READINESS 3 credits This course helps students to build basic reading and writing skills in preparation for success in the workplace and to continue their progress in Mount Wachusett Community College Developmental reading and writing courses. Students will work on basic decoding and sentence structure skills as well as vocabulary enhancement in a highly structured individualized class setting. Students will improve punctuation and word choice skills and develop a basic comprehensive essay. Using a computer based lab component for both reading and writing and regular diagnostic testing students will move their literacy skills to the next level. Prerequisite: None. Institutional credit only. Courses that earn institutional credit do not apply toward graduation. Three credit hours plus one lab hour required. Fall and spring. RDG099 FUNDAMENTALS OF READING I 3 credits This course is designed to develop the basic reading skills required for success in RDG100 Fundamentals of Reading II. Students will be assessed regularly, and coursework is structured to meet individual needs. Emphasis is on vocabulary enrichment, use of context and review of basic grammatical features. Using methods, materials, and software appropriate for college students, this course builds a solid foundation of reading comprehension. Prerequisite: RDG 090 or placement. Institutional credit only. Courses that earn institutional credit do not apply toward graduation. RDG100 FUNDAMENTALS OF READING II 3 credits This course is designed to help students develop reading skills necessary to successfully complete college reading assignments. Stress is placed on increasing comprehension through further vocabulary enhancement and critical thinking skills. Reading materials include college text excerpts, essays, newspaper articles, short stories, and a novel. Students will also make use of reading software. Prerequisite: RDG099 or placement; Co-requisite: FYE101. Institutional credit only. Courses that earn institutional credit do not apply toward graduation.
SOC103 INTRODUCTION TO SOCIOLOGY 3 credits Students are introduced to the scientific study of society through the consideration of basic sociological concepts and theories. Some of the concepts covered will include culture, gender, class, race, politics, deviance, crime, education, family, and mass media. Students will gain an understanding of the sociological perspective and gain the tools to comprehend the connection between their own lives and the broader social world around them. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, FYE101, or placement. SOC125 GENDER ISSUES 3 credits This course examines the social forces that influence the lives of men and women. One theme is that gender is a social formation. A second theme is that race and class relations intersect with gender relations to produce difference and inequality. Issues covered in this class will include gender identity, sexuality, body image, work, and intimate relationships. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, FYE101, or placement. Fall. SOC129 DRUG USE AND ABUSE IN AMERICAN SOCIETY 3 credits This course offers a sociological analysis of the drug problem in the United States and the consequences of drug addiction to individuals and society. It includes a factual exploration of selected drug types, reasons for use, drug laws, and drug treatment programs. Prerequisite: SOC103. SOC205 SOCIAL PROBLEMS 3 credits Students are exposed to major problem areas such as crime and delinquency, poverty, racial bias, family, and education issues by evaluating their magnitude, their development, and society's attempts to alleviate the problems. Prerequisite: SOC103. Spring. SOC206 MARRIAGE AND THE FAMILY 3 credits This course examines how families are constructed and the relationship between families and larger social forces. Students will explore the range of forms families take, ideologies surrounding the family, violence within families, and the ways that paid work, unpaid work, and government policies shape families. Prerequisites: ENG100, RDG100, FYE101, or placement. Fall and spring.
236 MWCC 2011-2012 College Catalog & Student Handbook