COURSE INDEX - LaGuardia Community College

Social Science Department
SSN190 Leadership
3 credits; 3 hours
This course explores alternative leadership theories and styles. It
focuses on leadership within the urban context and on the importance
of New York City figures such as Boss Tweed, Fiorello H.
LaGuardia and Shirley Chisholm. Special reference will be made
to the particular leadership problems presented by cities. The
course will include speakers and field trips to centers of leadership
in New York City, either on the citywide or community level, in
the public or private sector.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, and one
Social Science elective from the list on page 174
This is a Writing Intensive course.
SSN192 Practical Politics in New York City
3 credits; 3 hours
This course examines New York City as a unique political entity
within the context of urban politics in America. It explores the
roles of elected officials, community boards, unions, minority
groups and business interests in political decision making. The
course includes guest speakers and field trips.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, and one
Social Science elective from the list on page 174
This is a Writing Intensive course.
SSN210 The Politics of Sexuality
3 credits; 3 hours
This course explores how urbanization and socio-economic development
have made sexuality a political issue. Topics are discussed
from a cross-cultural perspective and include separation of sexuality
from reproduction, AIDS, alternative definitions of family,
the extent of personal freedom as compared with social control of
sexual expression and others. Special attention is given to how
these topics are addressed through feminist, religious, gay/lesbian
and other movements. At least two field trips are required.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, MAT095,
and one Social Science elective from the list on page 174
This is a Writing Intensive course.
Psychology
SSY101 General Psychology
3 credits; 3 hours
This course is an introduction to some of the major fields and theories
in the science of psychology, covering a range of topics such
as biological foundations, learning, cognition, emotion, perception,
theories of personality, psychological disorders and their
treatment and the research methods of psychology.
Prerequisite: CSE099, ENA/ENG/ESA099/ENC101, MAT095
SSY105 Learning and Education: Childhood to Adolescence
3 credits; 3 hours
This course examines the principles of child development from
birth through adolescence, and explores how cognitive, emotional,
physiological and social changes impact learning. The role of culture,
family, race, class and environment will serve as the framework
for understanding development and the nature of
intelligence and its implications for how children learn in school.
Students will be taught research and child observation methods
and how to apply these tools in diverse educational and
community settings.
Prerequisite: ENC/ENG101
This is a Writing Intensive course.
SSY200 Personality
3 credits; 3 hours
Theories, methods, and selected issues in the field of personality
will be discussed in the context of achieving greater self-awareness
and insight into the behavior of others. Among the topics discussed
are: psychoanalytic, behavioristic and phenomenological
theories of personality types and traits, the achievement of selfknowledge,
psychological testing, and personality research methods.
Prerequisite: SSY101
SSY205 Psychology of Women
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will critically examine gender bias and gender exclusion
in research and theory in psychology. The topics will include
interconnections between biology and gender, focusing on the
psychological factors of menstruation, sexuality, pregnancy, childbirth,
motherhood, abortion and menopause. The course will
focus on the experiences of women of different racial and ethnic
backgrounds and examine how these biological functions shape
their identity. Throughout the course, students will critically
examine the social and political contexts that define women’s
bodies and familiarize themselves with critical feminist consciousness.
Prerequisite: SSY101
SSY210 Principles of Behavior Management
3 credits; 3 hours
This course will provide students with an overview of behavior
modification principles which are based on theories of learning in
relation to the acquisition, maintenance and modification of
human behavior. The course focuses on the specific application of
these principles to special needs populations. Topics will include
assessment and data collection techniques, design of effective multicultural
behavioral programs, and ethical issues in behavior
treatment.
Prerequisite: ENC/ENG101, SSY101
SSY230 Abnormal Psychology
3 credits; 3 hours
This course introduces the major categories of psychological
disorders and their symptoms, including diagnostic procedures,
causal factors and treatment. Among the disorders covered are
psychotic disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, disorders
of childhood and adolescence and personality disorders. Theoretical
perspectives for understanding psychological disorders will
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