Bachelor of Arts in Instructional Design

In this foundational course, students explore the principles necessary for achieving personal and career success. GEN 101 serves as a road map, guiding students as they begin their academic journey. Through self-discovery, surveying available resources, connecting with UAGC groups, and engaging with Career Services, students learn the essential skills of planning and goal setting. Students apply their personal strengths, skills, and lifelong learning strategies to develop essential career competencies. By making these meaningful connections students gain a deeper understanding of how their education relates to their desired career path.  Congratulations on embarking on this college journey filled with growth, exploration, and endless possibilities! This course is not available for non-degree seeking students and is not available as an elective.

This course offers an overview of digital fluency as it applies to personal, academic, financial, and professional success. Students will analyze the impact of digital technology on personal, social, and diversity issues and will develop digital skills that will assist in achieving academic, personal, and career goals. An overview of digital media is introduced with practical strategies for application in personal and professional life.

Learn and use key, practical skills that are applicable at home, at work, and in all UAGC courses! As UAGC students progress in their academic journey, strategies for personal, professional, and academic success continue to develop. This introductory course takes a two-pronged approach to setting students on a path to success. It merges fundamental informational literacy concepts with essential resources and skills that prepare students for college and career. Students learn how to identify, locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information obtained through UAGC Library databases and internet search engines. By applying the research process, students sharpen critical thinking skills and learn to use information ethically. The final project is a practical and relevant opportunity for students to apply their learning in personally, professionally, and academically meaningful ways.

ENG 121 is designed to introduce students to the standards of writing in both academic and professional settings. The class will operate by first introducing, and then allowing students to practice, several written communication skills. Throughout, we will work to understand writing as a process, one that is strengthened through critical thinking, deepened by research, and built on a foundation of professional standards. Students will articulate a sense of their own skills and goals, and engage in collaborative conversations with peers and their instructor so as to be able to express their ideas more effectively. During the course, students will use the writing process to scrutinize their own perspectives while challenging them to embrace a wider conversation.

This course is designed to expand students’ appreciation of film and knowledge of how films are made. Through analysis of storytelling in a visual medium, students will examine the ways in which movies are shot, develop characters, evoke emotion, depict physical reality, reflect society, and have the power to influence it. Though the focus of the course is film itself, students will gain deeper intercultural fluency while growing their skills in critical thinking, written communication, and visual analysis.

This course is a study of correct and incorrect reasoning involved in everyday activities. The fundamentals of language and argument, deductive and inductive reasoning and other aspects of practical reasoning are examined. 

This course examines and evaluates theories and arguments concerning ethics and moral reasoning from a philosophical perspective. By engaging with historical and contemporary sources, students will analyze theories about the meaning, nature, and justification of ethical concepts; determine and assess how different forms of moral reasoning apply to contemporary moral issues; become more reflective and informed about their own moral beliefs; and develop their capacity for critical practical reasoning.

In this course, students will develop and expand their research and writing skills to communicate ideas in informed, ethical, and persuasive written documents intended for a range of audiences across a range of situations and contexts. Students will receive instruction and practice in synthesis and analysis, bolstering their written communication skills with a thorough understanding of academic research while honing critical thinking skills and effective work habits. Through writing well-structured, logical, and effective academic essays, students will explore tools and develop topics in a way that is meaningful to academic and professional lives. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 121 or equivalent with a grade of “C-” or better.

This course is designed to aid students in understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns among people in personal, social, academic, and professional settings will be examined, within and between cultures, including both face-to-face and technologically mediated channels.  The nature of these interactions will be evaluated using contemporary communication theory. The course will enable students to identify their interpersonal communication skills and behaviors and to more critically evaluate their own oral communication and that of others. The primary goals of the course are to improve the quality of students’ communication in their personal and professional relationships, to enhance students’ experience and. confidence with oral communication, and increase awareness of the importance of interpersonal communication that is inclusive and equitable.

A survey of government at the national level. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional basis of American government, federalism, the sources and forms of political behavior, the operation of the three branches of government, and the making of national policy.

Students explore culture in its role of guiding human behavior and providing social order, structure, and stability for individuals and groups of people. Culture is presented as a system of adaptation involving beliefs, behavior, language, customs, socio/political strategies, traditions, and technology that evolve over time. Recommended prerequisite: ENG 122.

This course focuses on sustainable development from a cross-disciplinary approach, including, economics, management, education, policy, and science. Students discuss sustainability conflicts at the national and international levels, and use online simulations to understand and evaluate sustainability practices.   Topics include zero waste, water management, smart growth, green technology, global change, renewable energy, agriculture, and land management.  

In this course, students will explore a wide range of Algebra topics. Topics will include study of linear equations, linear relationships, slope, polynomials, and functions, including graphing relations and solving systems of equations. Emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of historical and current uses of algebra in real life settings, in various careers, and in solving important societal problems.

The capstone serves as an opportunity to reflect upon, integrate, and showcase learning achievement. Through discussions and course-embedded assessments, students will demonstrate a mastery of essential general education competencies as they relate to their personal and professional lives and provide evidence of growth through application of competency related skills to real-world situations. A minimum grade of “C-“ is required to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: 75 completed credits or permission of the student’s college or dean.

This is an introductory course for students considering teaching as a career path or individuals seeking an increased understanding of the complexity and importance of education. The first focus is on topics in education that include, but are not limited to, teaching as a profession, diversity in the classroom, facilitation of student achievement and accountability, classroom management, and requirements for continuing professionalism in the field. The second focus of this course is on academic writing as a necessary component in the field of education. 

This course explores the principles of the science of learning, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of how people learn based on current research in cognitive science, neuroscience, and educational psychology. Through the study of memory, motivation, emotion, and neurodiversity, students will learn how to design and implement evidence-based teaching strategies that enhance learning outcomes across diverse educational settings. Key topics include major learning theories, the role of memory in learning, the impact of motivation and emotion, the neuroscience of learning differences, and practical applications of learning science in instructional design. By the end of the course, students will be equipped with tools to create more effective, inclusive, and motivating learning environments that support all learners.

This introductory course will cover learning theories including behaviorist, cognitive, constructivist and social learning as well as examine their relationship to instructional practices and course design. Basic principles and vocabulary for instructional design will be introduced. Additional topics covered will include factors that influence learning including motivation, learner engagement and learning styles. Students will begin to identify learning outcomes that can be addressed in an instructional design setting.

This course will introduce students to a variety of e-Learning strategies preparing them to select and evaluate e-Learning for a variety of learners and organizational contexts. Throughout this course, students will explore e-Learning theory and practice while having an opportunity to design and develop effective eLearning activities. Additionally, students build on prior learning about needs assessment in instructional design contexts. Prerequisite: EDU 120.

The application of instructional design for online learning will be emphasized as students apply their knowledge to analyze, select and design instructional strategies that are most effective for engaging and teaching online learners. Students will learn methods for managing and delivering online instruction utilizing course management tools and multimedia technologies in both synchronous and asynchronous environments. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

In this course, students will discuss issues related to collaboration in the online environment and explore the use of technology to promote virtual collaboration, teamwork, and interaction. In addition, students will examine strategies for managing virtual teams and will utilize a variety of tools to design activities that leverage technology to support online collaboration and interaction. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

Strategies and ideas of including the latest in technology advancements to promote student engagement and learner success will be examined in this course. Students will also gain hands on experience using a variety of technology to create instructional materials. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

Students will learn to identify the differences in formative and summative evaluation data and design online learning scenarios to address both of these. The effectiveness of e-learning will be explored through research. The philosophy, use and development of grading rubrics for assignments will be explored. Issues of plagiarism and cheating in e-learning will also be examined. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

In this course, students will examine eLearning in a variety of forms. Students will explore various instructional design eLearning principles, their application to eLearning materials, and will develop the skills necessary to evaluate eLearning products. Through the study of eLearning, students will also learn to identify evaluation methods that are appropriate to both context and audience. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

Students will learn about the various theories and practices associated with adult learning, how learning may be designed and implemented for adult learners, as well as how learning as an adult differs from younger learners. Various modalities for instruction will be examined including e-learning, accelerated courses, and training sessions.

In this course, students will apply the systematic approach of instructional design to design and develop instruction that addresses a performance problem. Throughout this course, students will evaluate trends and issues in the field of instructional design. In addition, students will apply knowledge and skills acquired throughout the Bachelor of Arts in Instructional Design program to assess the quality of instructional design projects. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

Instructional design requires careful and thoughtful collaboration among a variety of design team members. In this course various project management tools, procedures, and methodologies will be introduced as they are applied to projects in education or training. Students will explore the relationship of time constraints, cost, scope and the nature of the project being designed. Prerequisites: EDU 120 and EDU 232.

College of Education Capstone is designed to equip students at the end of their academic journey with the tools and strategies necessary for a successful transition into the 21st-century workforce. This course provides essential guidance and support, empowering recent graduates to create a compelling message that showcases their skills and abilities, positioning them as valuable assets to potential employers. The curriculum addresses five key areas vital for students entering the job market: sharing one’s story, resume creation, interview skills, portfolio development, and embedding an elevator pitch and personal brand statement into an easily shared and accessed ePortfolio. By mastering these areas, students will be able to market themselves competitively and effectively navigate their career paths. Prerequisite: GEN 499 & majority of major coursework.