Course Descriptions

Corrections is one of the three branches of the Criminal Justice System in the United States. All three branches employ personnel who are authorized to uphold and enforce the law and are required to operate under the rule of law. Each branch works as part of the entire system to maintain public safety and well-being and bring criminals to justice. Corrections facilities and programs are run by a complex system of policies and procedures which uphold local, state and federal laws. Corrections: Policies and Procedures gives students an introductory, yet thorough view of many aspects of corrections operations. Students receive historical and legal background information as they study how prisons and prisoners have evolved into correctional facilities and programs for offenders. In this semester-long course duties, responsibilities, conduct, training and special certification possibilities for corrections staff are explored. Many aspects of procedures in corrections are reviewed, giving students an in-depth look at what a variety of careers in this growing field encompass and require.

Family and Community Services is a course that introduces applications within professions related to family and community services. Students identify degree and credential requirements for occupations in this pathway and identify individual, social, historical, economic, and cultural context to increase awareness of family and community services. Students develop the abilities necessary to evaluate and identify a range of effective communication strategies and skills for establishing a collaborative relationship with others. Students also complete a variety of projects to apply their skills and knowledge. Units are divided among career fields: Social Workers, Emergency Management and Planners, Therapists and Treatment Specialists, Education and Childcare.

Emergency and fire-management services are essential infrastructure components of a community. Fire and Emergency Services provides students with the basic structure of these organizations as well as the rules and guidelines that govern pre-employment education requirements. The vehicles, equipment, and emergency-mitigations strategies that are commonly used in the emergency- and fire-management field are also explored. Students gain an understanding of the goals of an emergency-management service and how they are implemented and managed, including personnel, budget and labor-management challenges in the organization. Various preparedness plans are discussed as students explore typical characteristics and frameworks of modern emergency and fire-management organizations.

This course focuses on human growth and development over the lifespan as well as careers that help people deal with various physical, intellectual and socioemotional issues, such as physicians, nurses, nutritionists, substance abuse counselors, clergy, teachers, career counselors, psychologists and psychiatrists. The course provides a background in human growth and development from before birth, through childhood, into adulthood and through death and grief. It gives the student perspective and highlights where people in the caring professions are most needed. Students who take this course will come away with a broad understanding of all the careers that help people during their lifespan.

Students will learn the principles of business using real‐world examples by learning what it takes to plan and launch a product or service in today’s fast‐paced business environment. This course covers an introduction to economic basics, costs and profit, and different business types; techniques for managing money, personally and as a business, and taxes and credit; the basics of financing a business; how a business relates to society, locally and globally; how to identify a business opportunity; and techniques for planning, executing, and marketing a business to respond to that opportunity.

Students are introduced to the field of education and training and the opportunities available for early-childhood through adult and continuing education. Students gain an understanding of the career options available in teaching, administrative work and support services. They also explore the education and background experience needed to succeed in these careers. Students learn about the evolution of the modern educational system in the United States and the policies and laws that govern educational institutions. They also discover the similarities and differences between the ethical and legal obligations of working with adults versus working with children.

This course provides students with an overview of American politics and public administration, including how political institutions and public management systems at the local, state and federal levels exercise supervisory authority and maintain accountability. Students explore the foundations of the U.S. government, the separation of powers, the federal civil service system and the relationship between the government and state and local officials. Students learn about politics in the United States and the electoral process, political attitudes and opinions and American political parties. Students explore the structure of U.S. federal governmental institutions, the nature of bureaucracy and the functions of the three branches of government. Students also learn about policy making in American government, including discussions of foreign and defense policies.

This course introduces students to a variety of healthcare careers as they develop the basic skills required in all health and medical sciences. In addition to learning the key elements of the U.S. healthcare system, students learn terminology, anatomy and physiology, pathologies, diagnostic and clinical procedures, therapeutic interventions, and the fundamentals of medical emergency care. Throughout the course, instructional activities emphasize safety, professionalism, accountability, and efficiency for workers within the healthcare field.

Students learn about the many careers that exist within the fields of law, law enforcement, public safety, corrections and security. In addition to learning about the training and educational requirements for these careers, students explore the history of these fields and how they developed to their current state. Students also learn how these careers are affected by and affect local, state and federal laws. Finally, students examine the relationships between professionals in these fields and how collaborations between these professionals help to create a safer, more stable society.

This course introduces students to the field of law enforcement and the local, county, state and federal laws that law enforcement personnel are sworn to uphold. The students also gain an understanding of the career options available in this field and the skills, education and background experience needed to succeed. Students learn about the evolution of the role of law enforcement in the United States including key changes affecting law enforcement. Students learn about the interaction between local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies. Finally, students learn about the types of crime that are commonly committed and the procedures, evidence collection techniques and technological advances that law enforcement personnel use to investigate crimes.

This full-year course introduces students to the structure of medical terms, plus medical abbreviations and acronyms. The course allows students to achieve comprehension of medical vocabulary appropriate to health care settings, medical procedures, pharmacology, human anatomy and physiology, and pathology. The knowledge and skills gained in this course provide students entering the health care field with a deeper understanding of the application of the language of health and medicine. Students are introduced to these skills through direct instruction, interactive tasks, practice assignments, and unit-level assessments.

This introductory finance course teaches what it takes to understand the world of finance and make informed decisions about managing finances. Students learn more about economics and become more confident in setting and researching financial goals as they develop the core skills needed to be successful. In this one-semester course, students learn how to open bank accounts, invest money, apply for loans, apply for insurance, explore careers, manage business finances, make decisions about major purchases and more.

This course offers an overview of the security and protective services industry. Students will understand different types of security services and how they relate to one another. The distinction between the criminal justice system within the public sector and private security is addressed. The course begins with an introduction to the history of private security with subsequent units focusing on a specific sector. The concluding unit focuses on the emerging challenges facing security services in the twenty-first century, including international terrorism. In addition, the course provides information about many different careers that are available to students who are interested in security and protective services.

This course is designed to provide the skills needed to effectively organize, develop, create, manage and own a business, while exposing students to the challenges, problems, and issues faced by entrepreneurs. Throughout this course, students explore what kinds of opportunities exist for small business entrepreneurs and become aware of the necessary skills for running a business. Students become familiar with the traits and characteristics that are found in successful entrepreneurs, and see how research, planning, operations, and regulations can affect small businesses. Students also learn how to develop plans for having effective business financing and management as well as marketing and economic strategies.

A course that introduces students to the art and science of teaching. It provides a thorough exploration of pedagogy, curriculum, standards and practices and the psychological factors shown by research to affect learners. In five units of study, lessons and projects, students engage with the material through in-depth exploration and hands-on learning to prepare them for teaching and training careers. Students are given many opportunities to be the teacher or trainer and to explore the tasks, requirements, teaching strategies and research based methods that are effective and high-quality.