Communications and Media - Freshmen

Course # HUSS 1034

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

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.

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 1002

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites:  Precalculus, minimum grade of “C”

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 this 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 1018

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None                                    

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.
• recognise 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 assessment and Grading

Course # HUSS 1019

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None                                    

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 1020

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None 

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 1032

Credits 6

Course Description

This course offers students a comprehensive introduction to Kyrgyzstan's geography. By examining the country's physical and human geography, students will gain insights into the unique features of country’s landscape, climate, biodiversity, and sociocultural uniqueness.

Utilizing primary sources, maps, and visual materials, students will learn basic geographic concepts and theories that have significantly shaped and still influence the geography of Kyrgyzstan discipline and its subdisciplines and branches.

Course Learning Outcomes 

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

• Develop a thorough understanding of Kyrgyzstan's geography, including its notable landmarks, climatic patterns, and natural characteristics.
• Critically analyze various forms of information presented in lectures and seminars, enhancing students’ understanding of geographical processes and socio-economic dynamics in the country.
• Interpret and evaluate various geographical sources, including historical and contemporary maps, photographs, and other visual materials. 

Course assessment and Grading

Course # HUSS 1003

Credits 4

Course Description

This course explores the history and creation of states and societies in Central Asia with the focus on the history of Kyrgyzstan. It investigates the influence of geography on history, including the interplay between oasis trading corridors and steppe pastoralist mode of life, as well as the role of forests and mountains as redoubts for groups that lost political battles in the central steppe. The course aims to develop competencies and skills which enable students to use critical thinking while analyzing sources of historical events including a comparative study of Kyrgyzstan and Central Asia. Students learn how to critically examine historical sources, engage in discussions, exchange ideas and presents their topics by reading primary historical texts and secondary papers. Through the examination of the history of Kyrgyzstan, the course also considers the issue of interplay between oasis and steppes, between settled and nomadic way of life addressing how belief, religion, social practices and customary way of life are changed and accommodated to the needs of social and political context. In the course, students learn to explore ideas, generate knowledge, provide alternate responses and exclude opting for one immediate and absolute response.   

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• Discuss the key features, facts and frameworks that make up the history of Central Asia in general and Kyrgyzstan in particular;
• Provide broad historical narratives related to development and formation of Kyrgyz nation and society;
• Interpret and analyse history of Kyrgyzstan as part of the broader social and political process of Central Asia;
• Analyse primary and secondary sources to assess received narratives about the past.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1004

Credits 2

TBA

Physical training

Course # HUSS 1080

Credits 0

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

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

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• perform a range of physical activities
• understand 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

* The course will be graded with PASS/FAIL.