Communications and Media - Freshmen

Course # HUSS 1034

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: 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 completion of this course, students should 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 # MDIA 2071

Credits 6

Course Description 

The course examines how communications and media shape, reflect, and transform contemporary Central Asian societies. Through workshops, reading, homework and discussions, students will be invited to design, produce and evaluate a real-time media and communication impact campaign addressing an existing problem in Naryn region. The course combines a grounding in communication-for-development and social-change theory with case studies from small mountainous regions of Central Asia and applies directly to a live local problem.

Course Learning Outcomes

On the completion of this course, students will be able to:

• demonstrate a knowledge of communication-for-social-change models underlying an impact campaign; 
• analyse development through critical theories.
• conduct field-based problem identification and stakeholder research in a mountainous, resource-constrained regional context.
• design a campaign strategy (objectives, audiences, messages, channels, budget, timeline) responding to a genuine local problem
• manage a modest production team under defined roles and a fixed timeline participate in discourses about global and regional art and media practices in Central Asia.
• produce professional media outputs (press release, social media content, visual/audio materials as relevant)
• evaluate campaign results against stated objectives and indicators.
• Course Assessment and Grading

Course # MDIA 1070

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

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.

Throughout the course, students will ask: Who made this? Who is it for? What is it asking me to believe or feel? What evidence does it provide? Whose voice is present or absent? How does language or format change the message? Can I trust it? UCA's multilingual environment is treated as a resource for examining how meaning changes across languages, cultures and media contexts.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should 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
• Recognise viewpoints embedded in, or omitted from, media messages
• Analyse 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 1134

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course Description

Academic Writing develops and reinforces the skills required for writing research essays and other academic papers. It continues to build language and linguistic skills and strategies to communicate in a variety of oral, written and digital formats. Through practical writing and presentation assignments, different genres of academic writing, research, citation and documentation techniques are explored. Using fiction and nonfiction, the students are encouraged to develop their own voice for a variety of genres and media.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• Present written and oral information in a well-reasoned, organized and engaging manner
• Conduct research to inform the development of and response to a research question
• Apply literary techniques to the analysis of a wide range of texts
• Critique nonfiction texts to determine the validity of arguments
• Synthesize relevant information from a variety of sources in support of an argument
• Write fiction and nonfiction for academic purposes
• Format written work according to specified style and citation rules

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1141

Credits 4

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 1142

Credits 4

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 # 1143

Credits 4

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 1045

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course description:

The course is designed for international students studying Russian with the aim of acquiring basic skills in written and spoken communication within a limited range of everyday, socio-cultural, and academic situations.

During Russian language classes, students learn proper writing and develop all types of speech activities: writing, reading, and speaking. The main objective of the course is to create conditions that encourage students’ interest in the subject and facilitate the effective acquisition of course content.

Starting with the study of the alphabet and correct pronunciation of letters, students learn basic conversational skills, social behavior, and simple ethical and aesthetic norms of communication in Russian. Through examples of dialogues and polylogues, they practice retelling texts based on the lexical and grammatical material covered in class. Special attention is given to the practical use of Russian in all types of speech activities and spheres of communication, with a particular focus on everyday and academic contexts.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• • be able to read Russian correctly and fluently;

  • listen to and adequately understand others’ speech;

  • speak freely and accurately within the topics studied;

  • be able to express opinions and reason correctly.

Course assessment and Grading 

Course # HUSS 1046

Credits 4

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description 

The course is designed for international students who have successfully completed the beginner level. An important prerequisite for the course is that students have a solid foundation and have thoroughly acquired and practised the material covered, including both grammar and vocabulary.

The course content is rich and varied, helping students develop their intellectual skills and overall ability to engage in learning and critical thinking. This is achieved through activities such as “Let’s Debate,” “Convince Your Friend,” and discussions of various statements and viewpoints. Through texts accompanied by pre-reading and post-reading activities, vocabulary and grammar exercises, and participation in discussions, students will develop practical proficiency in Russian across all language skills and areas of communication while expanding their vocabulary.

Each week, students are expected to complete a specified amount of work both during classes and independently. A creative approach to completing text-based tasks, thorough acquisition of the required vocabulary for each topic, and active engagement with exercises in both written and oral forms are encouraged in every class. Written assignments must be submitted by the specified deadlines.

Course Learning Outcomes 

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

• Read Russian accurately and fluently;
• Listen to and appropriately understand spoken Russian;
• Speak fluently and accurately within the topics covered in the course;
• Express opinions, evaluate ideas, and provide well-reasoned arguments;
• Demonstrate intermediate-level written communication skills in Russian.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1047

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course description:

The course is intended for international students who have an advanced level of proficiency in Russian.

The main goal of the course is to develop speaking and writing skills in Russian at a professional level and across various spheres of communication, including formal, business, and academic contexts (both written and oral). Students will also learn to analyze journalistic and literary texts and acquire basic skills for creating such texts.

The course consists of 52 hours of instruction. Classes are held three 2 a week, with two consecutive academic hours per session.

The lessons are organized in an interactive format. For independent study, students are provided with texts on various topics, styles, and genres.

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• • • improve grammatical and linguistic competence (systematizing and consolidating language material for use in written or oral texts within academic, professional, and scientific communication contexts);

    • enhance discursive competence;

    • develop social competence (the ability to understand the main social and behavioral characteristics of interlocutors);

    • build sociolinguistic competence (the ability to use various speech strategies and tactics employed in academic, professional, and scientific communication).

Course assessment and Grading 

Physical training

Course # HUSS 1081

Credits 0

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course description

The purpose of the Physical Education course is to promote students’ health and well-being, support the balanced development of their physical and psychological abilities, and foster sustained motivation to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle.

Physical exercises and sports activities contribute to the development of physical capabilities, improvement of fitness levels, enhancement of mental well-being, and the development of discipline and personal qualities.

The course has both practical and theoretical components and is designed to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to maintain health and physical activity and to participate safely and effectively in physical exercises and sports activities.

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
• choose 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.