Communications and Media - Freshmen

Course # MDIA 1211

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description

This course introduces the skills and knowledge needed to be effective storytellers and to develop impactful narratives in a culturally relevant manner.  The key historical, economic, technical and cultural developments are examined to gain an understanding of the evolution of English writing for media. The fundamentals of writing clarity, an eye for criticality, an awareness of audience as well as the importance of a proper structure, and format are key elements of the course.  This course will introduce students to the basic skills and knowledge needed to write for newspapers and magazines as well as for a range of digital media. The competencies gained in this course will be useful for all the production courses, but especially Media Production (Text) and Specialised Media Labs (Text).

Course Learning Outcomes

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

• Describe a brief history of media in English and relate it to the Central Asian context.
• Identify key rules of writing for publication
• Discuss the various forms of writing used in mainstream media
• Identify the key components of professional interviewing techniques
• Demonstrate, through practical exercises, the basic differences in writing for different short and longform formats, including print, sound and screen.
• Describe how writing for media is evolving in digital environments.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1016

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description 

The course is designed for foreign students who mastered the initial stage program. An important condition of these courses is that the students are well prepared, and that they can fully grasp and work through the material they have learned, both grammatical and lexical. Informative saturation will help develop intellectual skills and the ability to cognitive activity in general. For example, on tasks of such types as "let's argue", "convince a friend", reasoning over statements. On examples of texts with pre-text and post-text tasks, receiving lexico-grammatical tasks, engaging in discussion, students practically master the Russian language in all types of speech activity and spheres of communication, replenish their vocabulary.  

Course Learning Outcomes 

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

• Know the alphabet and the pronunciation rules
• Use basic grammatical structures, such as verb conjugation in the present tense, noun, adjective, and pronoun declension.
• Recognize basic sentence structures (affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences).
• Greet, say goodbye, and use basic polite phrases (e.g., “Hello,” “Thank you,” “You’re welcome”).
• Introduce oneself, ask for names, places of residence, professions, and other simple questions.
• Write short letters and messages using simple phrases (e.g., requests, expressions of gratitude).
• Use standard polite expressions for correspondence (e.g., “Respectfully,” “Thank you for your attention”).
• Use vocabulary for everyday communication (e.g., topics like food, transportation, family, hobbies) correctly.
• Describe simple actions and objects, as well as use basic adjectives to describe people, things, and phenomena.
• Read and understand simple texts, such as announcements, instructions, and short dialogues.
• Extract key information from texts (e.g., answering questions about what was read).
• Use the present tense of verbs to describe everyday actions.
• Use past and future tenses.
• Ask and answer simple questions and maintain basic conversations on everyday topics (e.g., “How are you?”, “Where do you live?”).
• Master phrases used in various situations (e.g., in a shop, restaurant, or train station).
• Use Russian for basic social functions, such as ordering food in a café, buying tickets, and interacting with locals.
• Participate in short interactions in Russian.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1017

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description 

The course is designed for foreign students who have an advanced command of Russian. The main goal of the course is to develop speaking and writing skills in Russian at a professional level and in different spheres of communication, including official communication, business and academic communication (both written and oral), as well as to teach them how to analyze publicist and artistic texts and minimal skills of creating such texts. The course is designed for 52 hours. Classes are held 2 times a week for two paired academic hours. Classes are organized interactively. Texts on different topics, styles and genres are selected for independent work.

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

• Use specialized terms and phrases typical for various fields of business (economics, finance, law, marketing, etc.).
• Write letters, business proposals, résumés, reports, and other documents in formal and neutral styles.
• Participate in business meetings, negotiations, conferences, and presentations in Russian.
• Articulate their position, formulate proposals, and respond to questions during business communication.
• Format business documents according to business correspondence standards.
• Identify the specifics of business communication in Russia, including cultural differences in business practices.
• Use a variety of communication styles depending on cultural and socio-psychological factors.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # DMNS 1004

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: Precalculus

Course Description

This course is for undergraduates not majoring in mathematical, physical, or life sciences. It is intended to cohere well with students' liberal arts and social science interests, by investigating applications of mathematics, much of it developed only relatively recently, in contexts which are relevant to individuals. Students who successfully complete this course in mathematics will have developed an understanding of fundamental mathematical concepts and their applications, will have developed their quantitative problem-solving skills, and will have developed a level of quantitative literacy that provides a foundation for success in their programmes of study, careers, and citizenship.

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

• Evaluate conclusions and inferences from quantitative information.
• Apply effective and efficient mathematical or other formal processes to reason and to solve problems.
• Describe how mathematics can contribute to the solution of problems in the world.
• Solve problems using algorithms or formulas.
• Model and solve problems using graphical methods.
• Analyze and interpret data, including calculating numerical summaries and creating graphical representations, to propose possible implications.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # MDIA 1070

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: 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 opinions and analyze 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:
Upon completion of the 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
• 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 Assessment and Grading:

Course # HUSS 2042

Credits 6

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course Description

The course aims to introduce students to the sociological study of society. This introductory course of sociology analyzes social interactions, social institutions, and societal change patterns. This course examines the key theoretical and methodological techniques used in sociology to address a variety of themes, including culture, class, race/ethnicity, gender, education, deviance, social change and so forth through a sociological perspective. This course provides students with an intellectual opportunity to learn, unlearn, and relearn about self, others, and society, as well as to position themselves preparing to design and adapt future societal norms. The course design involves students in developing their own sociological toolkit to analyze society by investigating the social structures, institutions, and social interactions that continue to shape human behavior and societal relationships. Students address issues of culture, socialization, inequality, and deviance through a combination of readings, seminar discussions, visual sociological activities, and research projects; as well as gain a better understanding of how AI-powered chatbots and technologies are rapidly influencing larger social systems.     

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

• Identify basic concepts and theoretical perspectives in sociology.
• Describe the social history of human societies and socialization across social life.
• Develop sociological imaginations / critical thinking skills and apply them to analyze social phenomena, various types of social structures, collective actions, and social changes in society.
• Identify, describe, and apply sociological research methods on contemporary and historical social issues.
• Communicate in diverse peer groups and collaborate to work as an effective team member on joint projects.

Course Assessments and Grading 

Course # HUSS 1082

Credits 0

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites: None

Course description

The purpose of physical education is to strengthen health and develop the physical and mental abilities of students. Physical exercises and sports games are 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 should 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 programme 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

Course Assessments and Grading

The course will be graded with PASS/FAIL.

Course # COOP 1001

Credits 2