Signature Course Descriptions

College life is full of opportunity and risk. Awareness and planning for the hazards associated with the college experience will help students make more informed decisions, know campus resources to help them during times of challenge, and ultimately stay safe. This course will explore campus safety and prevention strategies, including personal safety, digital safety, harm reduction strategies, and crime prevention. Students will create a personalized safety plan and practice skills in emergency preparedness and planning.

This course will introduce students to resources available at ASU to help them be successful in and out of the classroom. The course will cover a variety of “adulting” topics and includes reflection, self-evaluation, and discussion as the student transitions to the college learning environment.

Everyone Lies. Does everyone lie often? How do we know when we are being lied to? Unfortunately, people do not show signs of deception by their nose growing. In this course we will discuss and read material related to deception, its occurrence in various contexts, its effects, and abilities to detect deception. Students in this course will discuss deception and pathological lying, read selected literature, write about deception, and watch video segments that will enhance understanding of deception and promote successful academic skills.

The purpose of this course is to increase skills and knowledge of American culture among international students and domestic students and enhance their integration into the university community. Throughout the course, students will examine several different aspects of American culture. In addition, students will be introduced to campus resources and strategies that will help them to be academically successful and to enhance their study abroad experience. The course will provide opportunities in and out of class for students to learn about American culture and values, apply critical reading skills, practice oral and written communication, and get involved in campus life.

As a GS 1181 course, American History in Film is designed to introduce incoming freshmen to the intellectual and cultural environment of the university and the effect it will have on their lives as students. The course will incorporate various integral elements in order to facilitate first-year students’ transition from high school to college-level learning. Emphasis will be on communication, critical thinking, and information literacy. More specifically, American History in Film will demonstrate that college courses are not meant to be an accumulation of facts and/or dates. Instead, students will learn that college courses - and History courses in particular - focus more on the “how”, “why, and “so what” of a given question or issue. Throughout this course, students will watch historical films that represent key moments in the American past as a means to better understand the intersection of entertainment, theatre, and U.S. history.

Why is this section of GS 1181 called “An Easy A”? This section is called “An Easy A” because it will focus on words that begin with the letter A. This collection of words is selected to provide you with a simple, memorable, and effective vocabulary you can use to achieve success in your college career and attain the freedom you desire and deserve in your life. The goal of your education, your relationships, your career and, ultimately, your entire life is freedom: The freedom from causes of oppression (externally-imposed and self-inflicted fear, ignorance, and selfishness) and the freedom to use what you’ve learned and achieved to understand and manage fear, ignorance, and selfishness for the benefit your friends, family, colleagues, and community.

Normally attributed to Enrico Fermi, the question of ‘where is everyone?’ is more relevant today than when it was first asked about 70 years ago. In this course, we will learn about Fermi’s Paradox and then explore some of its potential solutions. A connection between these and campus life at ASU will be made with an emphasis on how students can solve their own Fermi Paradox.

In this course, you will learn information about how to vote, strategies for becoming a well-informed citizen, and more. This course will help you participate in our democracy as a citizen while also learning about what Angelo State has to offer you as a student.

This course introduces the principles of digital literacy and ethical considerations in the age of AI. It aims to equip students with the skills to critically assess and responsibly use AI tools like ChatGPT. The course will not only cover how these technologies work but also their limitations, potential biases, and ethical implications.

Learning Outcomes:

• Ethical and Responsible Use of AI: Learn about the ethical dilemmas posed by AI, focusing on responsible use, potential biases, and the importance of human input and decision-making.
• Critical Thinking and AI: Develop critical thinking skills to analyze the outputs of AI tools and discern their accuracy and appropriateness.
• AI’s Limitations and Human Oversight: Explore the limitations of AI and the crucial role of human oversight in using such technologies.
• Practical Skills for Academic Integrity: Understand how to use AI tools like ChatGPT to support learning without compromising academic integrity.

The purpose of this course is to provide an overview of the genetics and production purposes of various breeds of many livestock species, which are among the greatest in importance within U.S. livestock breeding and production.

This course will use an online assessment (YouScience) to help the student determine personal interests and aptitudes. In addition, strategies for academic success will be developed.

This course is designed to assist students in obtaining practical knowledge of proper ways to address people, emails, letters, etc. In addition to learning these techniques, students will also be challenged to improve in skills such as multitasking, decision making and critical thinking.

This course is designed to help you succeed as a college student. We will address issues related to the successful transition from high school to the university, campus resources, college-level study skills, time management, interdependence, goal-setting, multiple intelligences, and other issues relevant to your journey as a college student. We will engage in collaborative learning activities, reading and class discussion, field investigations, writing, reflection, and presentation. Our objective is to use this class to stay on track and directed on a path toward graduation and self-worth.

This course will survey the evolution, diversification, and extinction of major lineages of dinosaurs throughout Earth’s history. Additionally, the course will focus on the role that dinosaurs have played in entertainment and pop culture.

“Smart money” is a technical name for hedge funds with million dollar research budgets. “Dumb money” regularly wins against Smart money and we’ll discuss why. I’ll also make you a millionaire by the age of 40.

Researchers disagree on the relationship between emotion and cognition, some claiming that thinking merely serves affective and survival processes, while others suggest that cognition serves as a guide for affective and value-based behaviors. This course introduces students to psychological research and philosophy related to cognition and helps students think clearly about thinking, emotions, and human values.

This particular 1181 course will use the concept of fantasy football and illustrate how it applies in an educational setting. As surprising as it may seem, fantasy football is a huge phenomenon. It seems counterintuitive due to the fact that in order to be a good player (and give yourself the best chance of winning), it requires thorough planning, organization, coordination, and research. Although it takes copious amounts of work and effort to be successful, it is a very fun game. When fantasy football is examined through an educational lens, there are many overlapping themes. In order to be successful in either endeavor, the four previously mentioned characteristics are essential. Along with those four, some others are important including, but not limited to, time management, study skills, following established rules, working with others, mapping out a road to success (graduation), and good, old-fashioned work ethic (follow through).

We will dive into the ins and outs of what it takes to be both a high school and NCAA football official including the rules of the game.

Do you love the great outdoors? Do you love the oceans, forests, deserts and mountains? Are you interested to know more about how to protect nature and reduce your environmental footprint? Whether you have a green thumb or could kill a cactus, this class will cover all kinds of “green” topics while also growing your skills and knowledge to boost your success as a new student at Angelo State University. The goal of this course will be to develop basic skills you will need to be successful in all college courses, through activities and discussions that focus on topics such as sustainability, community gardening, going green, and environmental stewardship.

Using physical fitness, athletics, and the fitness industry will help students learn valuable skills while transitioning into college.

This course will engage students in a variety of strategies to maneuver through the college experience. Adequate understanding of self in terms of personal learning styles, social adjustment skills, and how you interact with others, play an important role in the university setting along with your chosen career path.

Students will pick from a collection of books or select books on their own. We will study the genre of YA Fantasy, read and discuss the books, and respond in a variety of multimodal and digital ways.

This 8-week course will utilize the concepts from Stephen Covey’s The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People to teach new college students core habits that will make them successful, not only in college but in life after college.

The course will focus on developing leadership skills in today’s college students.

Want to have less stress and more success in college? There’s no secret formula, but there ARE many habits, strategies, and skills you can learn to make your semesters at college easier to manage. Here are some of the questions we’ll look at in this course.

• How can I keep organized the hundreds of online files I’ll create over the next four years?
• How can I save money each week?
• When should I email my professor, and when I should not?
• How do I write college-level papers?
• Which citation generators are more accurate?
• What is the difference between MLA and APA?
• What can I do to reduce my testing anxiety?
• What do I do if I have roommate issues?
• What daily habits can I adopt to strengthen my physical and mental health?
• How can I find time to enjoy my hobbies when my weekly schedule is so packed?

This course will encourage you to improve your organizational and life habits; develop your reading, writing, and thinking skills; and adopt methods of learning that will serve you well beyond your first semester of college. 

This course emphasizes the use of information literacy, oral communication, and writing skills for examining macabre medical procedures and health care ethics, and for preparing students to enter health profession fields. This course will also explore the somewhat bizarre history of modern Western medicine, including a detailed investigation of some of its more macabre and gruesome practices and procedures. We will integrate these practices into a discussion of healthcare ethics and evidence-based practices to examine the consequences of such actions on patients. We will also discover what it takes to become a competitive applicant for entry into various post-baccalaureate, health professions programs including medical, dental, optometry, podiatry, physical & occupational therapy, chiropractic, and physician assistant schools.

I will use the concept of using informed decision making about our lives and especially about what we eat as a way to teach the expected SLO’s. How do we wade through all of the information to get the real answers?

This course will provide an overview of the resources and opportunities available for students with disabilities at ASU, as well as discuss the culture of disability, disability and the civil rights movement, the ADA, and career opportunities for those interested in helping the disabled population.

This course is designed to guide students through their transition into college life using the lens of social sciences for decision-making and the principles of stoicism. By integrating economic theories with stoic philosophy, students will learn to navigate academic challenges, personal growth, and the complexities of campus life with resilience and strategic thinking. The course will equip freshmen with the tools to make informed decisions, understand the world, foster adaptability, and embrace the college experience with a balanced and pragmatic approach, preparing them for success both in and out of the classroom.

This course has two components:

1. Learning about Angelo State University, resources available to students, and how to be a successful student
2. Creating personal and family histories

An introduction to the idea of how to “Get Rich Slowly.” A guide to investing and personal finance, risk assessment, loans, and avoiding scams.

In this course, students will learn the important role nutrition plays in their lives. The course will examine evidence-based research and principles that emphasize a whole foods plant-based diet for optimal health. Students will explore perspectives that suggest by adopting a whole foods plant-based diet, chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer can be prevented, managed, and in some cases reversed. Additionally, students will hone their critical thinking skills and apply them to evaluate the state of health in their community and to navigate messages about health and nutrition.

The nursing profession is one of the most in-demand fields among aspiring professionals. This course is designed to introduce students to the nursing field through hands-on learning, guest speakers from various specialties in nursing, and career immersion. Students will develop essential academic, communication, and self-care skills required for success in the nursing profession.

This course will cover how to help keep students motivated and mindful during college life. The transition to part-time or full-time college can be stressful. Whether students are new young adults living on their own or looking for new career opportunities, many stresses come from balancing life, work, and school, and many individuals can become overwhelmed and burned out from their stress. This course will cover how to be mindful of deadlines for assignments/exams, mental health, and social relationships to ensure that students succeed during their college experience.

This course emphasizes the use of information literacy, oral communication, and writing skills for distinguishing science from pseudoscience. Contemporary topics taken from mass media and social media are investigated and discussed to develop an understanding of scientific inquiry.

Coming to college brings a whole suite of challenges to freshmen, especially those who have never lived away from home before. To help ease student’s transition to campus living, this course will use a problem solving format often employed in MMORPG’s to help students learn how to think through common problems, learn how to do everyday skills that they may not have before leaving home, and teach skills necessary for navigating their new environment at Angelo State University. Included will be practical information on a variety of topics including dorm living, time management, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, study skills, and using the resources of the university. Real time problems of the students in the course will drive some of the content of the course. Emphasis will be on using critical thinking skills to reason out problems.

The Ram Band is one of the largest and most visible student organizations on the ASU campus. The Ram Band Family is a large and connected group of people from all walks of life who have contributed to the great history and tradition of this organization. Being a part of an organization like this can be and often is very time consuming. We will discuss and learn multiple ways to maximize your time, utilize university resources, achieve at the highest level, and graduate on time while staying involved during the year.

This course is designed to assist first-year student-athletes or those interested in athletics post-grad with a successful transition to Angelo State University, both academically and athletically. Students will be challenged to examine their experiences while promoting self-awareness to take notes, and develop and submit assignments. The information presented in this course will help provide a foundation for the student to become an active, successful, member of their given team, the Angelo State academics and athletics community.

Students will learn how to tap into their natural talents to develop their strengths and personality and make the most out of life.

Who really wrote the collected works of William Shakespeare? Was it the mysterious son of a glove maker? Or, an aristocrat forbidden from participating on the stage? In this course, students will use research, analysis, and investigative skills in an attempt to unravel one of history’s greatest mysteries.

A study of film history and methods as an exercise in critical thinking.

The purpose of this course is to provide strategies and tools for freshmen to utilize to reach their goals through meaningful experiences and purposeful steps during their time at Angelo State University. In addition to life skills, such as cooking, organizing, problem-solving, and navigating challenges, a focus of the course will be to empower students to gain self-efficacy and a growth mindset to help them achieve academically and overcome setbacks.

Students will develop critical thinking, communication, personal & social responsibility, and study skills through activities centered around popular reality television competitions. Students will learn about the resources and requirements of Angelo State University while having fun competing in teams to outwit, outlast, and outplay one another.

An introduction to the scientific and artistic aspects leading to the development of the beer styles of the world. This course will focus on the ingredients, processes, and methods used in the brewing world to develop the complex flavors and aromas of different beer styles. Emphasis in describing the styles will focus on avoiding ambiguous adjectives so that descriptions are accurate and precise.

Making A Difference (MAD): to cause change; to be important in some way. MAD Rams explores how students can engage in leadership for social change. If you want to make a difference, aspire to develop leadership competencies as vehicles for social change, or just want to be part of a group seeking a focus on kindness and humanity, this course is for you.

Through the examination and application of the social change model of leadership this course will dig into critical issues such as basic needs insecurity including food and housing insecurity, inter-social treatment, and other critical issues facing social justice. As a class, we will research and identify critical issues of interest, collaborate on strategies for change, and participate in activities that help our friends and communities.

This course uses Western films to discuss cultural changes in the United States.

This course helps students recognize and understand the resources available to them on the ASU campus, and it focuses on helping them learn more about teaching as a profession in Texas.

Are you a true crime junkie? Do you like to follow true crime podcasts, television shows, books, and anything you can get your hands on? This is the course for you!

This course will utilize true crime podcasts to dive into the world of crime. We will examine 7 true crimes. Some of the cases are still unsolved to this day. You will need to put your detective skills to work and figure out who you think committed the crime. Who knows? Perhaps we will find a clue that can help solve a cold case!

Create your successful pathway to academic achievement. Uncover the secrets to academic success at ASU while immersing yourself in the vibrant spirit of the RamFam. This course is your personalized guide to conquering the academic landscape at ASU. Explore effective study habits, harness campus resources, and gain insider tips to excel in your academic journey.