General Studies
Associate of Science (AS)
Online Degree Program

Introduction to Accounting reviews the basic approach to accounting with an emphasis on recording, measuring and communicating the accounting data of business. Basic accounting concepts will be explored, including the effects of transactions on financial statements, payroll accounting, accounting for professional and merchandising operations and state and federal income tax deductions.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define commonly used accounting terms and key principles, and examine the role of accounting in business.
• Demonstrate an understanding of accounting practices, systems, and processes in a variety of organizational settings.
• Demonstrate an understanding of best practices in cost analysis, pricing, and financial statements.
• Examine accounting processes including budgeting, establishing standard costs, and accounting for fixed assets.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to accounting.

Principles of Economics demonstrates the relevance of economics through real-world business examples. The first part of the course presents microeconomic analysis such as consumer behavior, market structure, firm strategy, and corporate governance. The latter part of the course provides a comprehensive coverage of macroeconomic models, theory and policy issues including GDP, payroll employment, long-run growth, and business cycles.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define the study of economics including commonly used terms and key principles.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the basics of economics including microeconomic and macroeconomic foundations.
• Discuss the economic analysis, the function of the stock market, measuring GDP, market structure, and firm strategy.
• Analyze long-run economic growth, short-run economic fluctuations, and the importance of economic trends on the local, national, and global levels.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to economics.

Introduction to Financial Management introduces students to the elementary principles and motives of financial management and covers basic fundamental principles of short-term financing, time value of money, risk, value, and cost. Students will be able to understand the interrelationships underlying the various data and techniques in which financial decisions are based, analyze financial data, and apply basic concepts to make confident financial decisions in their respective business futures.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define financial management, key terms, theories, and its importance to business.
• Demonstrate an understanding of financial management processes including valuation of financial assets and capital budgeting.
• Analyze capital structure and dividend policy related to the field of financial management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of financial management policies related to liquidity management and international business.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to financial management.

Principles of Management serves as an introduction to the discipline of management. It is designed to integrate the accepted theories in the area with real world applications to provide students with the basic knowledge and skills needed for managing others. This course begins with a discussion of the current issues in management and then proceeds to cover the traditional functions of management: planning, organizing, leading, and controlling. By the end of this course, students should have an understanding of the needs of modern public and private organizations, including emerging national and international trends.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Examine the role of managers in organizations, and identify the value of studying management.
• Describe managerial challenges and issues relating to ethics, diversity, and social responsibility.
• Demonstrate an understanding of management functions including planning and managing strategy.
• Examine organizational structure and human resources in relation to managing, organizing, and leading individuals and teams within the organization.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to management.

International Business reviews the key concepts of international trade and the way it affects the nature of global economic activity. Concepts such as globalization, cultural and political environments, world financial environments, and global strategies are all explored to help students gain a global perspective and to be confident and familiar with international business operations.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Explain the value of international business and assess why it is important.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the world financial environment, and identify the major forces driving globalization.
• Understand the role of comparative environmental frameworks in international business.
• Illustrate the major theories and institutions relating to international business.
• Analyze the management of international operations including marketing and human resource management.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to international business.

Human Resource Management explores the fundamentals of human resource management and its significance to a company’s success. Examined, in detail, are HR functions such as recruitment, retention, appraisal, compensation, labor relations, development, and current trends in the field. Practical skills-oriented concepts and techniques are highlighted throughout the course, as is the emphasis on building and maintaining an engaged and productive workforce.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define human resource management, and describe major trends and best practices related to the field.
• Demonstrate an understanding of staffing and training issues related to human resource management.
• Develop an understanding of compensation plans and total rewards.
• Recognize the importance of employee and labor relations, social responsibility, ethics, and risk management as they relate to the field.
• Identify the issues of managing human resources on a global scale.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to human resource management.

Small Business Management presents an overview of entrepreneurship, including launching a new venture, managing an ongoing venture, financial planning, taxation, and other topics specific to entrepreneurs. Students will learn the necessary elements to successfully start, run, and manage a small business and be able to apply those concepts and ideas within their business careers, even if they do not choose the entrepreneurial route.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the basics and challenges of small business management including its role in the U.S. economy.
• Recognize the importance of strategic planning and early decisions in small business management.
• Describe key principles of financial and legal management.
• Explain aspects of marketing in small business in relation to products and services.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to small business management.

Operations Management introduces the theory and practice of operations management and explores the systems approach to tie information together. The course explores issues in operations strategy, development, and implementation. Students will be able to apply various management tools, such as inventory management and supply-chain management, to effectively contribute to managing business operations.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define operations management and assess why it is important to businesses.
• Develop an understanding of product design and process management.
• Demonstrate an understanding of best practices related to process performance improvement, utilizing business forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management, and supply chain design.
• Analyze important issues relating to operations management including location, project management and trends influencing the field.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to operations management.

Introduction to Criminal Justice aims to provide students with a general understanding of the criminal justice system’s response to crime in society. It is important to note that the general theme of this course involves the delicate balance between community interests and individual rights that criminal justice decision-making requires. This theme will be explored by examining the criminal justice process, focusing on how the system is structured to respond to crime.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the nature and extent of crime and discuss the foundations of law and the criminal justice system.
• Examine law enforcement from the history of policing through to contemporary issues and challenges confronting the profession.
• Describe the role of the courts in the criminal justice system and the process of prosecution, criminal trial, and sentencing.
• Discuss the key aspects of corrections including its history, community and institutional corrections, prison life, and parole.
• Examine special issues in criminal justice related to juvenile justice, terrorism, human trafficking, hate crimes, and the #MeToo Movement.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to criminal justice.

Criminal Investigation aims to provide students with an overview of the criminal investigation field. Course topics include the fundamentals of criminal investigation, follow-up investigative processes, methods for obtaining information, and how to approach the investigation of different types of crimes.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and define the study of criminal investigation and discuss the foundations of criminal investigation.
• Demonstrate an understanding of follow-up investigative processes and analyze the legal issues involved.
• Discuss best practices for obtaining information through interviews, interrogations, criminal intelligence and surveillance operations.
• Examine the various types of crimes related to people, property and national security.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to criminal investigation.

Procedures in the Justice System is organized around the theme of balancing the need to detect, investigate, prosecute, and punish crime against the constitutional commitment protecting the rights and liberties of individuals. This course is designed to help students develop a working knowledge of the procedures involved in the justice system and covers the fundamental principles and procedures employed throughout the legal process. Topics include factors related to investigating crimes, considerations and practices related to the procedural and prosecutorial processes, and the trial, sentencing, and appellate processes.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the criminal justice process and the sources of criminal procedure.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the factors and requirements related to searches and seizures.
• Examine practices related to interrogations, lineups, and identifications.
• Evaluate the different remedies for constitutional violations.
• Examine the pretrial and trial process, sentencing, and appeals.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to procedures in the justice system.

Forensic Science provides an introduction to the field of forensic science as it relates to crime and terrorism. Students will examine best practices within the field including evidence collection, preservation, and analysis. The methods and science used to analyze physical evidence is presented. This course will also introduce students to the role of forensic science related to terrorism and homeland security.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define forensic science and criminalistics including commonly used terms and key concepts.
• Examine the concept of trace evidence and pattern evidence related to fingerprints, shoeprints, document analysis, and firearms.
• Explore the concept of chemical evidence related to metals, gunshot residue, arson, and drugs of abuse.
• Explore the concept of biological evidence related to toxicology, biological fluids, and DNA typing.
• Assess the role of forensic science as it relates to terrorism investigation.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to forensic science.

The United States Health Care System course is designed to introduce students to the organization, structure, and operation of the nation’s health care system. This course aims to help students effectively identify their present and future roles as consumer, provider, manager, decision-maker, and analyst. The course examines an overview of the health care system, causes and characteristics of health service utilization, the nature of wellness and disease, individual provider settings, financial and nonfinancial resources used and needed, and the measurement of quality of care.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define health and healthcare key terminology, and analyze the role and process of healthcare in America.
• Describe aspects of employment in healthcare delivery including key personnel and the required education and training.
• Examine the various delivery systems in healthcare and discuss related legal, ethical, and political issues.
• Analyze issues in the healthcare industry regarding research, cultural competency, and international applications.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the United States healthcare system.

Essentials of Managed Health Care focuses on health insurance as it impacts the management of healthcare organizations. This course provides a systematic overview of the history of managed healthcare and health insurance in the United States, types of health plans and available payers, the provider network, utilization management, quality management, accreditation, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and laws and regulations in health insurance and managed care.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Discuss the major forces shaping health insurance and managed care today.
• Examine the basic elements of health benefits coverage and provider payment options.
• Describe the basic components of utilization management for medical services.
• Explain the Medicare and Medicaid benefit structures.
• Identify key state and federal laws and regulations governing managed care.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the essentials of managed care.

Cultural Diversity in Health and Illness promotes an awareness of the dimensions and complexities involved in interactions between health professionals and patients from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. It examines different cultural perspectives regarding health, illness and health care that exists within American society by demonstrating traditional health beliefs and practices among selected populations. Emphasis is placed on the importance of having culturally competent health care professionals to better serve an increasingly diverse population.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define and describe the importance of cultural and linguistic competence in healthcare.
• Examine the various health domains including health, healing, and familial traditions.
• Analyze trends in healthcare and describe current issues and barriers to healthcare.
• Discuss health care problems in various demographic groups.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to cultural diversity in health and illness.

Medical Law and Ethics explores the study of medical ethics, or applied ethics, for healthcare professionals who often face dilemmas that are not experienced by the general population. The fast-paced growth of medical technology has made the study of ethics even more relevant. The study of bioethics, or biomedical ethics, refers to moral dilemmas due to advances in medicine and medical research. Since medical law and ethics are often interrelated, students need to have a clear understanding of both in order to protect themselves, their employer, and the patient. The study of ethics includes many questions for which there is no one answer.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define medical law, ethics, and bioethics and examine why it is important to study them.
• Examine the legal environment of healthcare including the legal and court systems and essential laws for healthcare professionals.
• Describe issues related to the healthcare environment regarding liability, confidentiality, and the physician-patient relationship.
• Demonstrate an understanding of medical ethics and describe future trends in healthcare.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to medical law and ethics.

Introduction to Psychology introduces the methods and findings of contemporary psychology and investigates how psychological science can be applied to the world around us. Emphasizing the need for scientific and critical thinking, topics include a survey of biology and behavior, sensory processes, human development, learning and motivation. Emotion, personality, psychological disorders, therapy, and social interaction are also examined to provide students with a solid understanding of the facts, principles, and theories which make up the field of psychology.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Discuss the historical foundations of the field of psychology, the function of the brain on behavior, stages of human development, and psychology as a scientific field of study.
• Demonstrate an understanding of processes related sensation and perception, states of consciousness, conditioning and learning, memory, cognition, language, and intelligence.
• Examine motivation and emotion, sexuality and gender development, and personality development.
• Evaluate psychological disorders and psychotherapies.
• Examine key concepts related to the fields of health psychology and applied psychology.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to the field of psychology.

Developmental Psychology introduces students to the scientific study of patterns of change and stability that occur as we move through the process of human development from conception to death. Various theories of development will be presented and an emphasis on physical, emotional, cognitive, and psychosocial changes throughout the lifespan will be discussed.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define human development, discuss how it is studied, and examine the major theories and stages of development from infancy to late adulthood.
• Examine the genetic, environmental, and physical factors related to the varying developmental stages.
• Evaluate the factors of sensation, perception, cognition, memory, learning, intelligence, creativity, and language related to the varying developmental stages.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the self, personality, social and moral development, gender roles, sexuality, emotions, attachment, and relationships related to the varying developmental stages.
• Demonstrate an understanding of unique factors related to developmental psychology, psychopathology, death, and bereavement.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to developmental psychology.

Personality Theories presents an in-depth look at a number of classical and current personality theories, providing an explanation and interpretation of personality development from several different theoretical approaches. Classic theory is integrated with the latest research and current topics, preparing students to apply theoretical approaches to better understand the particular individuals and personalities they may encounter in their professional and personal lives.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define personality and examine perspectives in theories of personality.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major psychodynamic personality theories.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major humanistic/existential personality theories.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the major biological/evolutionary, and learning-cognitive personality theories.
• Describe and examine the research methods used in personality research.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to theories of personality.

Abnormal Psychology offers students an integrative approach to the study of psychopathology, drawing on contributions from various disciplines and theoretical stances. Through clinical case studies, the psychosocial and psychophysiological factors of abnormal behavior are examined, along with the exploration of prevention efforts and research-based advancements in the field.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Define abnormal behavior and describe the historical conceptions of abnormal behavior.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the various types of psychological disorders, their causes, and types of treatment.
• Examine the processes of clinical assessment, diagnosis, and research in psychopathology.
• Evaluate the legal and ethical issues that pertain to mental health services.
• Demonstrate proficiency with academic writing related to abnormal psychology.