2005-07 Catalog - Tacoma Community College

106 Credit Course DescriptionsTacoma Community CollegeEnglish as a Second LanguageESL 161Content Study Skills (2)A course designed for nonnative speakers ofEnglish to increase students' comprehensionand retention of material presented in acollege-level content class by providingpractice with vocabulary, listening andspeaking skills, study skills, and culturalinformation necessary for success in anAmerican college setting. May be taken threetimes for credit.Prerequisite: Placement into ESL 159 or higher.ESL 162Advanced Reading (5)An advanced course in reading for nonnativespeakers of English. The course focuses ondeveloping vocabulary and improvingreading skills through a variety of fiction andnonfiction readings. May be taken threetimes for credit.Prerequisite: ESL 159.ESL 190American Culture and Conversation (3)A course in conversational English focusingon contemporary American culture at thehigh-intermediate or advanced level. Theclass is also appropriate for native speakersof English. Students explore current issuesin American life through readings, videos,and conversation. May be taken twice forcredit.. (multicultural content)ESL 191Conversation and Pronunciation III (2)Instruction and practice in recognition andproduction of individual phonemes ofAmerican English and of word accent andintonation levels at the high intermediateadvancedlevel. Students participate in avariety of speech activities: speech giving,poetry reading, role playing, debate.Prerequisite: ESL 94 and ESL 90 or placementexam.ESL 199Individual Study (2)Project-oriented individual study or work.May be taken as pass/fail.Prerequisite: Instructor permission and the successfulcompletion of ESL 160 and 162.Environmental ScienceStudents seeking courses for generalinterest or degree distributionrequirements may consider anyenvironmental science courses. Studentsintending to major in EnvironmentalScience at a baccalaureate institutionshould work towards an Associate ofScience degree with an EnvironmentalScience Specialization and consult with anenvironmental science advisor in thebiology or earth science departments.ENVSC 106 (F, W, Sp)Environmental Science (5)An interdisciplinary science course for bothnon-science majors and beginning sciencestudents. Topics such as overpopulation,forest resources, energy, and pollution arecovered. Underlying scientific principles areidentified and related to relevant ethical,economic, and political issues from global,national and local perspectives. Laboratoriesand field trips included.Prerequisite: Completion of ENGL 91, READ 93and MATH 90 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher orassessment at college-level English, reading and math.ENVSC 145Introductory Ecology (5)Study of the factors affecting organisms andtheir environments (e.g. symbioses, nutrientcycles, population dynamics, habitatalterations). Strong emphasis on localecosystems, field work, and lab experiments.Will involve some computer analysis, libraryresearch, and writing. May involve weekendand possible overnight field-trip.Prerequisite: Completion of ENGL 91, READ 93and MATH 90 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher orassessment at college-level English, reading and math.ENVSC 179Special Topics in Environmental Science (2)Specific environmental topics will be exploredusing a variety of methods which may includeseminars, lectures, research projects,presentations, field work, and all-day orovernight field trips depending on the quarteroffered. Example topics for any one quartermay include biodiversity, toxins and humanhealth, nonnative invasives, wetlands, etc.ENVSC 210 (Sp)Maps, GIS and the Environment (5)Introduces students to the elements ofgeographic information systems (GIS)including cartography, data structure, mapoverlays, and spatial analysis. Applicationsof GIS to environmental issues relating tohydrology and watershed management, soilscience, land-use planning, andconservation are explored in a hands-onstyle, incorporating both field activities andGIS software. This course is the samecourse as GEOG 210. Students may receivecredit for either ENVSC 210 or GEOG210 but not both. Laboratories and fieldtrips included.Prerequisite: Completion of ENGL 91, READ 93and MATH 90 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher orassessment at college-level English, reading and math.Foreign LanguagesPlacement of students with previouslanguage training will be made by thecourse instructor. Language challengecredit will not be awarded for nativelanguages.Prerequisites: 101, 102 and 103 are sequentialcourses; 101 with a grade of ‘C’ or higher orinstructor permission required for 102; 102 with agrade of ‘C’ or higher or instructor permissionrequired for 103.ARAB 101, ARAB 102, ARAB 103Arabic I, II, III (5) (5) (5)Introduction to basic elements of themodern standard Arabic language andculture; emphasis placed on developingstudents’ listening, speaking, reading andwriting skills. Focus on mastery of Arabicwriting and sound systems. (ARAB 103multicultural content)CHIN 101, CHIN 102, CHIN 103Chinese I, II, III (5) (5) (5)Introduction to the fundamentals of Chinesein four basic skills: comprehension, speaking,reading and writing. Emphasis is on thedevelopment of communicative skills, in bothoral and written language. (CHIN 103multicultural content)FREN 101, FREN 102, FREN 103French I, II, III (5) (5) (5)Introduction to basic elements of thecontemporary French language and culture;emphasis placed on developing students'listening, speaking, reading and writing skills.(FREN 103 multicultural content)