DEVELOPMENTAL STUDIES COURSES (GST)
- All GST courses can be used to satisfy graduation requirements as general elective credit.
- GST courses can be required or recommended. See information regarding Skills Assessment.
- It is important that all advisors review students’ previous academic records and strongly recommend academic support either through courses or the Academic Support Centers.
- GST prefix means General Studies courses and are courses that are offered through the Developmental Studies Department.
- Advisors should check Student Advisement sheet for “Academic Support Center” and “Introduction to College Studies.” These notations appear if a student has indicated a need for academic support in Reading, Writing, or Study Skills. Please discuss these options with the student.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
First Year Seminar (GST 101) - 2 credit hours/letter grade
- Offered for the first ten weeks of the semester. Content centers around college survival skills. Recommend that students also enroll in OFT 100 (Computer Keyboarding) for the last 5 weeks of the semester.
College Composition (GST 102) - 3 credit hours/letter grade
- Basic writing course. Deals with mastering grammar topics, paragraph and essay writing. Students are required to take College Composition or English 101 based on skills assessment. Students must receive a "C" or better to move into English 101.
College Composition (GST 106) - 1 credit hour/graded S/U
- Focuses on grammar and basic sentence writing. Five week course (often offered "off cycle") recommended for those who want to "brush up" on the basics or are having problems with grammar in English 101 or College Composition (GST 102).
Introduction to College Studies (GST 116) - 3 credit hours/letter grade
- Offers academic survival strategies such as time management, notetaking, reading college textbooks, memory, test taking strategies, library skills, research skills, and the research paper.
College Study Skills: The Research Paper (GST 118) - 1 credit hour/letter grade
- Focuses on writing the research paper from developing topic , library research and final product. Course is offered "off cycle".
Effective Reading I (GST 121) - 3 credit hours/letter grade
- Focus is on increasing reading comprehension and developing strategies for reading college textbooks. Can be repeated for credit with permission of Department Chair.
Effective Reading II (GST 122) – 3 credit hours/letter grade
- Focus is on reading comprehension and critical and analytical reading.
ADDITIONAL COURSES WITH GST PREFIX:
Personal Growth & Development (GST 192) - 3 credit hours/letter grade
- Course with experiential exercises to help students develop and/or enhance self-awareness.
Career Explorations (GST 196) - 3 credit hours/letter grade
- Course is designed to assist the student in all phases of career planning and placement, including but not limited to, the following: career development, values clarification, resume writing, interviewing, job search skills, letter writing, and communication skills.
Service Learning: Peer Tutoring (SS 205) - 3 credit hours/letter grade
- This course is designed for students interested in working as a peer tutor and/or pursuing a career in education. Course work includes classroom instruction and forty hours of supervised peer tutoring.