Dr. Steven Mark Sachs     Los Angeles Valley College   Fall, 2011

Section 1510, 12:40 – 3:30 W  FL113  Class meets from 8/31 - 10/5/2011

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT 1 :  Introduction to College :  Syllabus

NOTE:  A copy of this Syllabus is available here:  http://www.SachsAcademics.com/PD1SyllabusFA11.pdf.

Required Texts are:  Lowndes, Leil:  How to Talk to Anyone.  ISBN:  007141858X.
Also required:  The Los Angeles Valley College Catalog  and Schedule of Classes.

CONTACT:   My phone is (818) 947-2627.  To e-mail me, use:  FromYourStudent@SachsAcademics.com.

Learning Objectives for our course are:

1. Discuss importance of taking personal responsibility for academic success in college and the components of the course that will facilitate that success.
2. Define key college terms related to educational planning, such as major, general education, prerequisite, co-requisite, advisory, unit, elective, and transfer major preparation and general education.
3. Describe key campus student resource offices and their functions, such as the Library, Admissions & Records, Financial Aid, and the Career/Transfer Center.
4. Identify the three academic programs available at Los Angeles Valley College (Associate Degree, Certificate of Achievement, and Transfer) and describe their distinguishing characteristics as well as their requirements.
5. Identify the two public university systems in California (UC and CSU) and describe their characteristics as well as requirements to enter each system as a transfer student from Los Angeles Valley College. Contrast the programs and requirements of the public university systems with those of private/independent institutions.
6. Identify careers consistent with interests, values, and/or skills and utilize basic career research tools available at the campus Center and at the Library.
7. Describe LAVC's basic academic policies, including those related to grading, withdrawal, course repetition and probation.
 

WEB SITE:  The class web site (and my teaching schedule) can be reached at http://www.SachsAcademics.com.  We may also use http://my.lavc.edu.

 The course requirements are:

  Class attendance at every meeting 

      A report on How to Talk to Anyone (see below for details)

   Class participation

      A Career Center simple assignment (see below for details)

   Producing a Student Educational Plan (with my help)

   Taking the Final Exam.

The How to Talk to Anyone Assignment:  An outstanding human communication book has techniques to help you be more effective in virtually all of your interpersonal communications.  Your assignment is to read this book and create a NUMBERED LIST of each technique Ms. Lowndes provides in the book.  For each number, give Ms. Lowndes' TECHNIQUE NAME and ONE SENTENCE in your own words describing why and/or how the technique works.  Note that the assignment is NOT to state what the technique is.  FORMAT:  Your name and the class must appear at the top of the page.  Type or word-process.  See the Schedule for the DUE DATE.

Grading:  To get CREDIT for the class, the assignment must be completed properly.  If it is not completed properly, you will simply need to re-do it. 

The Career Center Assignment:  You must visit the LAVC Career Center to learn about lots of great career and occupation resources.  You are to choose one OCCUPATION for the assignment.  Sure, it would be optimal if you chose one that is your currently-intended career, but maybe you haven't decided yet.  Just choose one that's at least interesting to you.  Your assignment is to create an OCCUPATION FOLDER (with your NAME, last name first, on the tab).  You will submit this folder with the following things, IN ORDER, inside of it:

    1.  A detailed EUREKA printout of the occupation.

    2.  A list of AT LEAST TWO other (non-Eureka) references that you have consulted about the occupation.

    3.  A typed or word-processed, one-page paper that states the following (in addition to your name, of course):

        A.  The NAME of the occupation.

        B.  The approximate AMOUNT OF EDUCATION it will take to prepare for the occupation.

        C.  The approximate STARTING SALARY for someone in the occupation.

        D.  TWO THINGS that SURPRISED you as you consulted EUREKA and the two additional sources you consulted about the occupation.

Your OCCUPATION FOLDER is due on the date in the Schedule below.  You MUST submit a complete, correct folder to get credit for this class.

Special note:  If you decide to drop this (or any other) class, you must initiate the drop yourself online or at the
admissions office.  If you do not drop the class and you stop coming, you can expect to receive
a grade of No Credit rather than "W."

Our Anticipated Schedule:

REV 08292011/1211

Syllabus subject to change.