Course Finder

Please see “Independent Studies” section.

This course prepares students to successfully apply for and be granted US Citizenship by the Office of Homeland Security. Students will learn about US History and Civics to prepare for their final interview and how to correctly fill out and submit the N-400 Application for Citizenship. Students will also learn interviewing techniques that will help them prepare for the final interview with the US Government.

• Advisory: POL SC 31.

This course builds upon the content of Political Science 31, Introduction to Public Policy, to provide the student with field experience in the discipline. This course addresses the theoretical underpinnings of democratic civic engagement and is a practicum in public policy in a local setting. In this hands-on course, the student will engage in experiential learning through various governmental and nongovernmental agencies which have a role in developing and/or implementing public policy. The student will develop a reading list, customized to the focus of his/her particular agency, and complete a minimum of 30 hours of volunteer work with that agency. The course exposes the student to organized, meaningful public policy research and implementation in substantive policy arenas and will be supervised in his/her off-campus experiential learning project pertaining to the development of public policy.

This course is graded on a P/NP basis only.

• Corequisite: Any course in Political Science.

This course — taken in tandem with another course in the discipline — enables a student to apply course content in a meaningful and relevant way to a particular activity. In this hands-on course, students engage in applied learning through unpaid experiential activities organized by the student (in conjunction with SMC’s applied/service learning center) and approved by the instructor. Students will develop a customized reading list relevant to their particular activity, complete a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work with that activity, and submit academically-sound written reports regarding the activity. By applying course material to their experience, students develop a deeper understanding of the discipline.

This course increases older adults’ understanding of local, national, and international current affairs and how it affects their lives as well as the world around them. Older adults consider the political, economic, and social movements that determine domestic and foreign policies in the United States and around the world.

This course helps Emeritus students understand how music and culture influences and is influenced by political movements. Emphasis will be placed on listening to the music of various eras in American history and discussing how the music shaped and was shaped by those historical events, and what the impacts of those events are on current American life and politics.

This course helps Emeritus students understand how political movements influence and are influenced by popular culture (such as music, books, comics, fine arts, sports, theater, films and TV). Emphasis will be placed on reviewing different elements of popular culture of various eras in American history and discussing those influences and their impacts on American life and politics.

This course explores the intricate relationship between technology and politics, analyzing how technological advancements shape political systems, governance, policy-making, and public engagement. Students will examine the impact of technology on political campaigns, information dissemination, surveillance, cybersecurity, citizen participation, and the formulation of government policies. Through case studies, discussions, and critical analysis, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the complexities and implications of technology in the political landscape, including its influence on policy development, implementation, and the functioning of government institutions.

This course increases Emeritus students’ understanding of various subjects that vary from term to term. Students will consider the political, social and economic ramifications of special topics each term, both domestically and around the world. Topics may include such subjects as: America & the World; Health Care in the US; US Economy & Taxes; Global Climate Change; Poverty in America; Housing in California, etc. Check section note for course topic(s).

C-ID: POLS 110.

Formerly POL SC 1.

This course is an introduction to government and politics in the United States and California. Students examine the constitutions, structure, and operation of governing institutions, civil liberties and civil rights, political behaviors, political issues, and public policy using political science theory and methodology.

Satisfies Global Citizenship

This course introduces the students to basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence structure in the present, preterit and imperfect tenses, and a general introduction to fundamental cultural differences between the United States and Lusophone countries. Basic aural and reading comprehension is developed and students hold simple conversations and write short compositions about present and past actions. This course provides a thorough basic introduction to the diverse cultures, customs and traditions and to historical and current events of the Portuguese-speaking world. The course is taught in Portuguese except in cases of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.

Satisfies Global Citizenship

• Advisory: PORTGS 1*.

This course is a continuation of Portuguese 1. Using the communicative approach, this course stresses basic vocabulary and fundamental sentence structure in the past and future indicative tenses and the subjunctive mood. The course develops basic aural and reading comprehension. This course provides a thorough introduction to the diverse cultures, customs and traditions and to historical and current events of the Portuguese-speaking world. The course is taught in Portuguese except in cases of linguistic difficulty as determined by the professor.

*The advisory for this course is comparable to two years of high school Portuguese.

• Corequisite: Any course in Portuguese.

This course — taken in tandem with another course in the discipline — enables a student to apply course content in a meaningful and relevant way to a particular activity. In this hands-on course, students engage in applied learning through unpaid experiential activities organized by the student (in conjunction with SMC’s applied/service learning center) and approved by the instructor. Students will develop a customized reading list relevant to their particular activity, complete a minimum of 15 hours of volunteer work with that activity, and submit academically-sound written reports regarding the activity. By applying course material to their experience, students develop a deeper understanding of the discipline.

C-ID: KIN 100.

This course provides an overview of the scope, history, and philosophy of the profession of Kinesiology. Included is an in-depth look at requirements and preparation for employment opportunities.

This course introduces the student to the anatomy and physiology of sports injuries. The prevention and treatment of injuries as well as techniques of applying supportive materials are included.

• Advisory: KIN PE 48B.

Ability to swim 300 consecutive yards using various strokes required.

This course deals with preventing accidents, caring for common injuries, and emergency procedures at the scene of accidents or sudden illness and learning fundamental principles behind teaching water safety. The instruction will include the practice of American Red Cross senior life saving, water safety, lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR/AED for the professional rescuer. Successful completion of course requirements ‚Äãcan lead to ARC advanced first aid, blood borne pathogens, and CPR certificates. This class prepares students for the WSI and LG certificates but certification requires either testing in person or detailed filming in the water.

This introductory leadership course provides foundation for the preparation of future sport managers. The course addresses sport management, sport law, sport marketing, sport finance, sport ethics and sport history. This course also discusses the support systems necessary to sustain the sport industry such as broadcasting, media relations, and facility and event management. Guest lecturers may be arranged and field trips may be required.

This course offers the student an opportunity to plan, organize, and conduct a beginning level activity class of his or her choice as a teaching assistant with a member of the physical education department.

This course is designed to give students the knowledge and understanding necessary to prepare for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer Certification Exam and become effective personal trainers. This course presents the ACE Integrated Fitness Training (ACE IFT) Model as a comprehensive system for designing individualized programs based on each client’s unique health, fitness, and performance goals. The information covered by this course and the ACE IFT Model will help students learn how to facilitate rapport, adherence, self-efficacy, and behavior change in clients, as well as design programs that help clients to improve posture, movement, flexibility, balance, core function, cardiorespiratory fitness, and muscular endurance and strength.

• Advisory: KIN PE 3.

This course is designed to provide the student with the environment to explore and discuss various modalities by which fitness assessment and prescription may be adapted to accommodate individuals with specific needs. Topics that will be explored include but are not limited to: general principles of exercise testing and prescription, holistic approaches to assessment and prescription, variables of exercise testing and prescription, exercise adherence, neuromuscular and skeletal conditions, metabolic conditions, respiratory conditions, cardiovascular conditions, and behavioral & psychological conditions. Regarding each of these conditions, we will explore the condition itself, the role of exercise in the disease/condition process (prevention, treatment, management), challenges these cases might pose to exercise assessment and prescription, and potential adaptations.