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Course Descriptions

The following brief course descriptions will provide students with an idea of what they will be studying in Boise State's Concurrent Enrollment courses. Credit information is also provided. This list of courses changes every school year. Contact the Concurrent Enrollment Coordinator at Extended Studies Division for the most current list.

Scroll down or click on the course subject below and it will take you to the description.

 


Art

Course Description
ART 109
Foundation Drawing
(3 credits) Introduction to drawing as a system of visual communication. Development and study of perception, form, and content. Introduction to critique.
ART 212
Drawing I
(3 credits) Drawing from observation and imagination. Exploration of form and content. PREREQ: ART 109.

Biology

Course Description
BIOL 100
Concepts of Biology
(4 credits) An introduction to fundamental biological principles of cell and molecular biology, genetics, ecology, and evolution. Introduction to organismal diversity, physiology, and morphology.
BIOL 107
Introduction to
Human Biology
(4 credits) An introduction to human structure and function and the interrelationships of various human systems. Homeostasis, disease, health and their relationships to human anatomy and physiology. This is a nonmajor course that does not satisfy biology or allied health program requirements.
BIOL 191
General Biology I
(4 credits) Designed for biology and health science majors. The basic characteristics of living systems including the chemical and physical structure of cells, genetics, development, evolution, and ecology. Recommended: Solid preparation in high school biology and chemistry.
BIOL 227
Anatomy & Physiology
(4 credits) This class is the first part of a two-part sequence for students who’s career objectives require a thorough study of human anatomy and physiology. It is recommended that students complete Chemistry 101 before enrolling in this class.

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Chemistry

Course Description
CHEM 101
Essentials of Chemistry
(4 credits) The first semester of a sequence course for nonscience majors who require only one year of chemistry. Basic concepts of inorganic and organic chemistry.

Computer Science

Course Description
COMPSCI 119
Introduction to JAVA
(2 credits) Syntactic and Execution characteristics of Java. Translating simple algorithms into Java programs: coding, compiling, finding, and correcting errors, and executing the programs.
COMPSCI 125
Introduction to
Computer Science I
(4 credits) Data and procedure abstraction. Problem solving techniques, recursive algorithms, basic searching and sorting techniques. Introduction to object-based programming. Software development process (specification, design, stepwise refinement). Note: Students with no prior programming experience should consider taking a language course prior to taking this course. PREREQ: MATH 143 or MATH 147 or satisfactory math placement score.
COMPSCI 225
Introduction to
Computer Science II
(4 credits) Introduction to notions of program correctness and to analysis of time and space requirements. Object-oriented programming, including hierarchies and inheritance. Abstract data types both basic (list, tree, set, and relation) and derived (queues, stacks, priority, queues, and dictionaries) and their implementation and applications. Concrete data structures (linked lists, binary search trees, hash tables, etc.) PREREQ: COMPSCI 125

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Database Systems

Course Description
ITM 104
Operating Systems
& Word Processing Topics
(1 credit) Introduces computer and technology concepts and develops skills using current home/office and Internet productivity software. Basic functions of the operating system, basic to intermediate word-processing skills, introduction to hardware, software, Internet and networking concepts for use in the workplace, educational settings, and the home.
ITM 105
Spreadsheet Topics
(1 credit) Basic to intermediate spreadsheet skills development, hardware, software, Internet, and networking concept materials for use in the workplace, educational settings, and the home. PREREQ: ITM 104 or successful completion of a placement exam for ITM 104.
ITM 106
Database Topics
(1 credit) Basic to intermediate database skills development, hardware, software, Internet, and networking concept materials for use in the workplace, educational settings, and the home. PREREQ: ITM 104 and ITM 105 or successful completion of a placement exam for ITM 104 and ITM 105.
ITM 225
Introduction to
Programming
(3 credits) Introduction to object-oriented programming, rapid development tools, and object oriented design principles. Includes essential programming concepts of sequence, selection, iteration, arrays and string manipulation, testing and program documentation.
ITM 315
Database Systems
(3 credits) Introduction to design, development and administration issues of relational databases and DBMS, and their applications to real-business problems. Special emphasis on SQL, logical data design techniques, and rapid prototyping of end user business applications.

Early Childhood Education

Course Description
ED-ECS 221
Foundations of
Professional
Practices
ECE/ECSE (3 credits) Principles and practices of early childhood education/early childhood special education. Developmentally appropriate practices in the teaching/learning process of young children with and without special needs, in natural learning environments. Weekly classroom field work required.
ED-ECS 222
Family and
Community Relation
ECE/ECSE (2 credits) Partnering with families of young children, both typically and atypically developing. Family systems theory, roles and functions of special service colleagues and community resources.

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Economics

Course Description
ECON 201
Principles of
Macroeconomics
(3 credits) Economic principles are used to analyze the aggregate performance of developed economies. Analysis is applied to domestic and international macroeconomics issues. The goals and problems of high employment, price stability, growth, and the balance of payments are analyzed. Monetary, fiscal and other national policies are discussed.
ECON 202 -
Principles of
Microeconomics
(3 credits) An introduction to microeconomic analysis covering supply and demand, basic market structures, the operation of price systems, and the distribution of income. Provides an introduction to some applied areas of economics such as international, regional, the public sector, and economic development.

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English

Course Description
ENGL 101
English Composition
(3 credits) Introduction to critical reading and to writing processes, including invention, revision, and editing. Emphasis on writing thoughtful explorations of readings, observations, ideas, and experiences; developing the author's voice and inventiveness; editing for style and conventions of standard usage.
ENGL 102
English Composition
(3 credits) An inquiry-based course that continues work with critical reading and writing processes and provides experiences with methods and genres of researched writing. Students will initiate research projects, gather information from a range or sources, and demonstrate they can write about the information purposefully using appropriate documentation.

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Foundations of Education

Course Description
ED-CIFS 201
Foundations of Education
(3 credits) Social, multicultural, philosophical, and historical perspectives in education; current educational issues; and problems of education. It provides a conceptual framework from which students will learn to reflect upon and question ways of knowing, both individually and as members of a larger community.
ED-CIFS 293
Foundations of
Education Internship
(3 credits) This is a hands-on internship that involves interaction with students in a special education/resource room setting. Students provide support to the supervising teacher by assisting in lesson planning, grading, and administering informal assessment. Students enrolled in the internship are responsible for small groups of students in which they plan and implement daily lessons. The internship is set by the high school teacher and students need instructor’s permission to enroll.

French

Course Description
FRENCH 101
Elementary French 1
(4 credits) Develops beginning abilities in all four languages skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers basic study of grammatical structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. Introduces students to Francophone cultures. Students who have had more than one year of high school French may not enroll in FRENCH 101 for credit except by PERM/INST.
FRENCH 102
Elementary French II
(4 credits) Continues to develop beginning abilities in all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers basic study of grammatical structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. Introduces students to Francophone cultures. PREREQ: FRENCH 101 or equivalent as determined by placement exam.

Geology

Course Description
GEOS 100
Fundamentals of Geology
(4 credits) An introduction to the principles of physical and historical geology. Topics include weathering, erosion, glaciation, volcanism, earthquakes, rocks, minerals, maps, and the origin of the earth and its physical and biological development. Open to all students except those with previous credit in geology, or earth science majors and those nonscience majors who plan an eight-hour sequence in geology. Field trips required.

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German

Course Description
GERMAN 101
Elementary German I
(4 credits) Develops beginning abilities in all four language skills; speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers basic study of grammatical structures and vocabulary in communicative context. Introduces students to Germanic cultures.
GERMAN 102
Elementary German II
(4 credits) Continues to develop beginning abilities in all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers basic study of grammatical structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. Introduces students to Germanic cultures. Prerequisite for this class is successful completion of German 101.

Japanese

Course Description
JAPANESE 101
Elementary Japanese I
(4 credits) Develops beginning abilities in all four language skills: speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Offers basic study of grammatical structures and vocabulary in a communicative context. The course also introduces Katakana, Hiragana, and a limited number of Chinese characters. Course conducted in Japanese.

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Kinesiology

Course Description
KINES 140
Personal Health
(3 credits) Covers nutrition, diseases, health needs, services, drugs, family living, and personality structure and development. Enhances student adjustment toward effective functioning in a changing environment.
KINES 220
Introduction to Athletic Injuries
(Sports Medicine)
(3 credits) A survey course introducing the principles of care and prevention of sport induced injury. Emphasis will be on identification and differentiation of minor and major trauma related to sports participation. A prerequisite for admission to the Athletic Training Education Program.

Latin

Course Description
LATIN 211
Elementary Classical
Latin Language & Literature
(4 credits) An intensive introduction to the basic vocabulary, grammar, and syntax of classical Latin with emphasis on comprehension of the nominal declension and verbal conjugation forms of the language; and a survey of Roman republican literature with illustrative reading passages excerpted from the ancient authors. Recommended: HIST 302 Ancient Rome
LATIN 212
Advanced Classical
Latin Language & Literature
(4 credits) Second semester of the intensive introduction to the study of classical Latin with emphasis on comprehension of the advanced grammatical forms and syntactical patterns of the language; and a survey of Roman imperial literature with translations and analysis of extended historical and literary texts from the ancient authors. PREREQ: LATIN 211, or a year of high school Latin.

Leadership

Course Description
LEAD 101
Foundations in Leadership
(3 credits) Basic leadership theory, historical paradigms, and concepts. Personal leadership development through the exploration of leadership identity, values, and ethics; understanding of others through multicultural appreciation; and fostering active citizenship through community-based projects.

Math

Course Description
MATH 160
Survey of Calculus
(4 credits) A survey of the essentials of calculus, intended mainly for students in business and social sciences, emphasis on application of such areas. Basic concepts and computational techniques for functions derivatives and integrals, with emphasis on polynomial, rational, and exponential and logarithmic functions. Very brief introduction to calculus of functions of several variables. MATH 160 cannot be taken for credit after MATH 170. PREREQ 143 or satisfactory placement score.
MATH 170
Calculus I
(4 credits) Definitions of limit, derivative and integral. Computation of the derivative, including logarithmic, exponential and trigonometric functions. Applications of the derivative, approximations, optimization, mean value theorem. Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, brief introduction to applications of the integral and to computations of antiderivatives. Intended for students in engineering, mathematics and sciences.
MATH 175
Calculus II
(4 credits) A continuation of MATH 170. Applications of the integral, symbolic and numerical techniques of integration. Sequences and series, with an emphasis on power series and approximations, convergence and error bounds. Separable differential equations. Parametric curves in the plane and polar coordinates. Includes use of mathematical software such as Maple or Mathematica. Prerequisite for this class is successful completion of Math 170.
MATH 254
Applied Statistics
with Computers
4 credits) Pre-calculus treatment of descriptive statistics, confidence intervals, hypothesis testing, regression, and correlation. Selected topics from probability theory. Emphasis on concepts and applications to a wide variety of disciplines. Use of computer statistics packages to handle computations. Carries no credit after MATH 360 or MATH 361.

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Physics

Course Description
PHYS 101
Introduction to Physics
(4 credits) A broad survey of basic physics concepts and principles including motion, energy, electricity, magnetism, light, relativity, atoms, fission, and fusion. Some examples will be related to social applications. A one semester core course that uses some basic algebra.

Political Science

Course Description
POLS 101
American National Government
(3 credits) Institutions and processes of the American political system, emphasizing social, ideological, and constitutional background.

Psychology

Course Description
PSYC 101
General Psychology
(3 credits) Provides the basis for understanding psychological science. Topics considered may include: scientific method, biopsychology, consciousness, sensation, perception, development, learning, cognitive processes, motivation, emotion, health psychology, personality, individual differences, social psychology, psychopathology, and psychotherapy.

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Sociology

Course Description
SOC 101
Introduction to Sociology
(3 credits) An introduction to groups, organizations, and societies, and their impact on human behavior. Emphasis is on sociological perspectives, concepts, methods, and applications in areas such as organization, socialization, inequality, institutions, intergroup relations, change, etc.

Student Success

Course Description
UNIVERSITY 197
College Prep Seminar
Students will develop life skills and attitudes needed to achieve educational and personal goals. Exploration of university resources, services, and policies.

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U.S. History

Course Description
HIST 111
United States History:
First semester
(3 credits): History of American civilization from Pre-Columbian days to 1877 with emphasis given to the development of the Union and expansion.
HIST 112
United States History:
Second semester
(3 credits): A survey of the significant factors influencing American development from the Civil War to the present, including the growth of American business and the emergence of the nation to a world power.

Contact Us!

For additional information about Concurrent Enrollment on the high school campuses, contact:
Fabiola Juarez-Coca, Concurrent Enrollment Director
Extended Studies Division, Boise State University
Phone: (208) 426-2281
E-mail: fjuarez@boisestate.edu

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Reviewed: August 25, 2009