College START Course Descriptions

Students with learning differences (LD), including ADHD, autism, executive function challenges, or a learning disability such as dyslexia, often struggle with traditional online learning. LC Online is different. Students with LD succeed. Why? Our online courses are based on approaches we have used for many years on campus and in our unique online offerings. College START is for students who need key resources and support with academics and social skills, but in an online setting, as they transition to, or even return to, college.

Suggested Semester One

Perspectives in Learning is designed to foster student’s self- awareness, critical thinking, strategic learning, and self- advocacy. The course introduces theories, and their practical implications, related to the cognitive, social, emotional, and cultural dimensions of learning. Throughout the 14-week course are opportunities for students to practice study skills, including active reading, note-taking, test-taking, self- management, and technology competencies. Students will explore laws that protect individuals with diagnosed learning differences, as well as the resources and accommodations that provide academic, social, and emotional support. Credits: 3

This course emphasizes the interconnected nature of reading and writing at the college level. Students are asked to develop and refine individualized reading and writing processes, while working with a variety of rhetorical strategies and structures. Through reading and writing assignments and class discussion and activities, students learn to read deeply, integrate material from texts, and express ideas both informally, and through writing academic papers of increasing length and complexity. Credits: 3

Technology for Living and Learning will focus on a blend of technologies that are aimed at making everyday life easier such as setting up schedules on your phone and using voice apps on your devices to record or note important information. You will explore free and easily accessible wellness, productivity, text-to-speech, speech to text, concept mapping and note-taking tools that will serve you as a student and in the working world. Credits: 2

See course choices below.

Suggested Semester Two

This second-semester composition course builds on the critical reading, writing, and thinking skills introduced in WRT1011 and EDU1011. Students will write papers that require paraphrasing, quoting, summarizing, critical analysis, and synthesis of multiple sources. Through a variety of active learning techniques, class discussions, instructional library sessions, and research writing projects, students will learn the skills and strategies required for meeting the volume reading and text-based writing demands of the college curriculum. Credits: 3

See course choices below.

*Course choices

Note: this is a sample of courses available to online students. Actual courses taught each semester may include some or all of these courses as well as other courses not listed. Depending on the student’s major and degree plan, these courses may fulfill general education requirements, major requirements, or electives.

This course provides students with a foundation upon which to develop life- long personal financial management skills. Topics include: The importance of personal finance; financial planning and the time-value of money; money management skills such as budgeting, balancing a checkbook, taxes, cash management, credit/debit cards, and major purchases (auto, home, education); insurance (property/ liability, health, life); and investments (stocks, bonds, mutual funds, portfolio management, real estate, retirement planning). Credits: 3

This survey course introduces students to the field of communication and enables them to increase their effectiveness and precision as public speakers and members of seminars and groups. Students explore how their perceptions influence the manner in which they communicate and how to use a wide variety of listening skills. They become aware of how verbal and nonverbal language can alter, detract from or enhance messages. Students also employ a variety of language strategies that promote inclusion, honesty, conflict resolution and support from within a group. Credits: 3

Students today live in a digitally connected world. This course is designed to teach students the digital tools, behaviors, and ethics necessary to thrive in this ever-evolving technological landscape. Instruction is designed so that students interact with a variety of topics, including accessing and assessing information, understanding their digital footprint, using technology purposefully and ethically, managing digital communications, and protecting themselves online. Students will use digital tools to construct knowledge, produce artifacts, and refine their approach to living in a digital world. Credits: 3

This course invites you on a journey of discovering how we, as humans, communicate. By learning the practical and theoretical aspects of interpersonal communication in one-on-one and group settings, you will learn how to manage family, social, and workplace relationships better. Major topics include self-concept, being other-oriented, mindfulness, conflict resolution, communication styles and strategies, non-verbal communication skills, and relationship management skills. Weekly discussions with peers, short reading or writing assignments, quizzes, and one-on-one conferences with the instructor ensure mutual understanding of these key concepts.  Credits: 3

This course introduces students to the fields of study in modern psychology. At the conclusion of the course students will be able to answer the following questions: What is psychology? What are the methods of investigation in psychology? How is the science of psychology applied to individuals and groups? This course covers topics such as learning, cognition, memory, emotion, perception, personality, developmental psychology, stress & health, psychological disorders, and the biological underpinnings of behavior. Credits: 3

This course introduces students to the scientific study of human social life, groups, and societies. Students learn and apply concepts commonly used by sociologists in framing their understanding of institutions, cultures, networks, organizations, and social relations.Students acquire the conceptual tools that enable them to give social context to individual human behavior. Major topics include sociological theory and methods; culture and society; stratification, class and inequality; gender inequality; ethnicity and race; families; education; religion; and political and economic life. In addition, these topics are presented within the broader context of globalization. Class activities and discussions will regularly be supplemented with short film clips selected from award-winning documentaries. Credits: 3

Overview/About the Course

  • How do you experience art?
  • What does it mean to society and culture?
  • How is art influenced by society?

This course will focus on visual art and architecture as it reflects the development of World civilizations and cultures from the Renaissance period to the present. Students will learn visual vocabulary and explore ways in which cultural perspectives are reflected in art forms. Social, political, economic, and philosophical structures will be studied, as they provide the context for all art, as well as the phenomenon of stylistic change over time. Students will have the opportunity to examine their own cultural identities as well as those of others, develop both their visual perception and vocabulary, and gain an appreciation of visual art forms. In addition, specific critical thinking skills particularly relevant to the study of art and history will be emphasized. These will support learning skills taught in other classes at Landmark.

By the end of the semester, you will walk away from this course with a better understanding of yourself as a learner and the skills needed to succeed in understanding art. Credits: 3

This course provides an overview of basic programming and information principles to design and create web-based user-centered experiences. Students will be exposed to the logical elements of programming languages (e.g., HTML, Java Script, jQuery) as well as how to use web and graphics software editors. In addition to developing functional user- centered web sites, students will gain an understanding of the capabilities of accessible and interactive design by examining the history, infrastructure, and future of the Internet. Credits: 3

Introduction to the Fundamentals of Sport and Exercise (IFSE) will familiarize students with the basic rules, movement skills, and social skills for popular sports and exercise. Designed for students who have limited sport or exercise experience, IFSE will present an overview of individual and team sports, and lifetime fitness activities. Credits: 1

This course will focus on expressive writing in many different forms. Students will have the opportunity to explore several different types of poetry and prose styles, as well as responding to fiction, drama, creative nonfiction, and children’s literature. Originality and writing that shows thought will be emphasized. Strategies to avoid writer’s block and new ways to uncover ideas for writing will be studied. Peer reviews and sharing ideas are essential elements to this course. Credits: 3

This course introduces public speaking through applying communication theory and techniques to a variety of different presentation contexts, Students will learn how to select and organize ideas; adapt a message to an audience with confidence and enthusiasm. Students will be required to research and present at least 3 prepared in-class speeches. Public speaking is a skill that can be mastered by anyone with motivation and determination. Credits: 3