Communications and Media - Fall 2023 Freshmen

COURSE #: HUSS 1034

6 Credits

Course Description

The course explores the concepts of culture, tradition, and change in Central Asia. The focus is on factors that have produced the cultural complexities of contemporary Central Asia and how key life-cycle events and celebrations (marriage and death), the verbal arts, music, films, and dance embody and transmit the cultural memory and values of the region’s diverse peoples. The course helps students to explain how Central Asia’s cultures and cultural expressions present a diverse set of influences and values. The students delve into customs and practices that are subject to change and innovation. Cultural expressions are the heritage of a complicated past, as well as valuable resources for nurturing innovation, understanding, and cooperation within contemporary societies. The students discuss the role of state and non-state cultural and art institutions and global organizations in safeguarding and revitalizing the cultural heritage of Central Asia.he cultural heritage of Central Asia.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to:

• Explore values, customs, and social systems and practices of various cultures to interpret the diversity of Central Asian cultures.
• Explain how cultural practices reflect the complex relationships between various aspects of life and identities in Central Asia.
• Analyze issues of identity and value of contemporary Central Asian culture to cultivate a critical approach to the study of cultural practices.
• Explore one’s own cultural identity and values to embrace the co-existence of identities and cultures throughout Central Asia and the world.
• Produce proposals for cultural heritage projects. 

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # DMNS 1162

6 Credits

Course Description

This course is designed to teach students the principles of mathematics and how to apply those principles and concepts to solve complex problems. This course covers the computation of limits (graphically and algebraically), one-sided limits and continuity, fundamental theorem of calculus, techniques of integration, differential equations, especially first and second order differential equations, applications in marginal analysis and approximation using increments, and elasticity of demand.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students should be able to:

• Interpret a function from an algebraic, numerical, graphical, and verbal perspective and extract information relevant to the phenomenon modeled by the function.
• Calculate the limit of a function at a point numerically and algebraically using appropriate techniques.
• Define the basic concepts and principles of differential and integral calculus of real functions.
• Interpret the geometric meaning of differential and integral calculus.
• Apply the concept and principles of differential and integral calculus to solve geometric and physical problems.
• Identify the extrema of a function on an interval and classify them as minima, maxima or saddles using the first derivative test.
• Apply basic optimization techniques to selected problems arising in various fields such as physical modeling, economics, and population dynamics.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1181

8 Credits

Course description

The course aims to provide students with the ability to communicate in Kyrgyz language on the Beginner level and to develop students’ sociocultural competence through studies of Kyrgyz culture. Students learn to conduct conversations in the Kyrgyz community. Students practice and apply language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of tasks and activities appropriate for the Beginner level.

Course learning outcomes

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to:

• Understand short, simple questions and statements, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly and accompanied by visuals or manual gestures to support understanding and repeated if necessary.
• Recognize every day, familiar words/signs, provided they are delivered clearly and slowly in a clearly defined, familiar everyday context.
• Recognize numbers, prices, dates, and days of the week, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly in a defined, familiar everyday context.
• Understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
• Produce simple, mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
• Give information about matters of personal relevance (e.g. Likes and dislikes, family, pets) using simple words/signs and basic expressions.
• Produce simple isolated phrases and sentences.
• Interact in a simple way but communication is totally dependent on repetition at a slower rate, rephrasing and repair.
• Ask and answer simple questions, initiate, and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
• Ask for or pass on personal details.
• Use basic information about Kyrgyz culture, nation, and speech etiquette to achieve mutual understanding with representatives of Kyrgyz culture.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1182

8 Credits

Course Description

In this course students will acquire Kyrgyz language on elementary level and familiarize themselves with an overview over Kyrgyz culture. Upon this course students will be able to conduct basic conversations in the Kyrgyz community. Students practice and apply language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of tasks and activities appropriate for the Elementary level. Relevant information about Kyrgyz culture will be shared.

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to: 

• Understand enough to be able to meet needs of a concrete type, provided people articulate clearly and slowly.
• Understand phrases and expressions related to areas of most immediate priority (e.g. Very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment), provided people articulate clearly and slowly
• Understand short, simple texts on familiar matters of a concrete type which consist of high frequency every day or job-related language.
• Understand short, simple texts containing the highest frequency vocabulary, including a proportion of shared international vocabulary items.
• Give a simple description or presentation of people, living or working conditions, daily routines. Likes/ dislikes, etc. As a short series of simple phrases and sentences linked into a list.
• Can produce a series of simple phrases and sentences linked with simple connectors like “and”, “but” and “because”.
• Interact with reasonable ease in structured situations and short conversations, provided the other person helps if necessary.
• Manage simple, routine exchanges without undue effort; can ask and answer questions and exchange ideas and information on familiar topics in predictable everyday situations.
• Communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters to do with work and free time.
• Handle very short social exchanges but is rarely able to understand enough to keep conversation going of their own accord.
• Compose short, simple formulaic notes relating to matters in areas of immediate need.
• Use information about Kyrgyz culture, nation, speech etiquette to achieve mutual understanding with Kyrgyz culture bearers.

Course Assessment and Grading

Course # HUSS 1183

8 Credits

Course Description

The course aims at developing and refining students’ language skills to take part in relatively complex conversations and exchanges that evidence their expanded and refined listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students practice and apply language skills in a variety of tasks and activities appropriate for the Upper Intermediate Level. The course offers relevant information about making business in Kyrgyzstan; Kyrgyz values, culture and traditions; Kyrgyz literature and proverbs and famous sayings of Kyrgyz thinkers, writers and poets.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to:

• Understand straightforward factual information about common every day or job-related topics, identifying both general messages and specific details, provided people articulate clearly in a generally familiar variety.
• Understand the main points made in clear standard language or a familiar variety on familiar matters regularly encountered at work, school, leisure, etc., including short narratives.
• Read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. Has a broad active reading vocabulary but may experience some difficulty with low-frequency idioms.
• Give clear, systematically developed descriptions and presentations, with appropriate highlighting of significant points, and relevant supporting detail.
• Give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of subjects related to their field of interest, expanding and supporting ideas with subsidiary points and relevant examples.
• Produce clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to their field of interest, synthesizing and evaluating information and arguments from a number of sources.
• Use the language fluently, accurately and effectively on a wide range of general, academic, vocational or leisure topics, marking clearly the relationships between ideas.
• Communicate spontaneously with good grammatical control without much sign of having to restrict what they want to say, adopting a level of formality appropriate to the circumstances.
• Interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction, and sustained relationships with users of the target language, quite possible without imposing strain on either party.
• Highlight the personal significance of events and experiences, and account for and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments.
• Express news and views effectively in writing and relate to those of others.
• Use information about kyrgyz culture, nation, speech etiquette to achieve mutual understanding with representatives of kyrgyz culture.

Course Assessment and Grading

Course # HUSS 3072E

6 Credits

Course Description: 

The World Politics is in transition, and it is vividly observed that the modern state and the international system of modern states loom over all our lives. This is true in advanced industrial democracies, developing countries, and in the varied Central Asian context. But what is the state, and how is it organized? Students will learn what states do, and why they sometimes perform their functions effectively, while at other times they perform their functions less effectively. The course will focus on how some states successfully provide security, stability, infrastructure, education, and modernization, whereas others fail to do so. The course also explores the way in which the conditions of globalization, resulting into growing complex interdependence and transnational relations may be impacting states in new ways. This includes to address the daunting questions, like to what extent are states react to challenges and opportunities of global interdependence? What role states see, in response to rise of transnational actors that affect the behavior, autonomy and power of states?

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to: 

• Describe the form(s) and function(s) of the state that distinguish it from other entities
• Describe how states behave in the international system of states
• Explore the variety of states in relation to local context and diverse legacies in the context
• Explain the role legitimacy and norms play in statehood
• Explore the ways in which states interact with and impact societies
• Analyze the varied impact of globalization on states

Course assessment and Grading 

Course # MDIA 1070

6 Credits

Course Description 

The goal of this media foundation course is to develop the skills required to be informed consumers and producers of media and information and to use media as a tool for active citizenry. It examines ways to differentiate facts from opinion and to analyse and evaluate media texts. The different forms and functions of media in shaping and reflecting textual, visual, audio, and digital cultures are explored as well as the ways in which different forms of media can convey different messages to specific types of audiences. Through case studies, the importance of developing a critical and ethical approach to media production and dissemination of information is emphasized.  

Course Learning Outcomes 

At the end of this course, students will be able to: 

• Evaluate the credibility, accuracy, and reliability of information
• Engage critically with diverse media cultures and environments
• Examine the ways in which different forms of media impact content and audience
• Recognize viewpoints embedded in, or omitted from, media messages
• Analyze the interplay between media messages, individuals and communities
• Discern the ethical issues regarding the access and use of various forms of media as well as the proprietary content and software
• Convert their ideas into ethically considered content

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # HUSS 1080

0 Credits

Course Description

The purpose of physical education is to strengthen health, develop the physical and mental abilities of students. Physical exercises and sports games is the way to a powerful and functional body, clear mind and strong spirit. The course is both practical and theoretical, it covers basic concepts of anatomy and physiology as well as health and safety requirements.

Course Learning Outcomes

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

• perform a range of physical activities
• describe health and safety requirements for a range of physical activities
• describe the role and progress of sport in Central Asia
• chose an appropriate physical activities program for their age and gender
• identify tiredness and its symptoms to control the body during athletic exercises
• describe the technique of running for a long and a short distance and jumping
• accomplish running for a short and a long distance and jumping according to all necessary norms
• describe the rules of a range of sports games
• participate in a range of sports games according to their rules and techniques

Course Assessments and Grading

Course is graded with PASS/FAIL.