facebook pixel Skip to Main Content
Idaho State University home

Course Descriptions

The following brief course descriptions will provide students with an idea of what they will be studying in Idaho State University's Early College Program courses. Credit information is also provided. Courses offered in the high school may change. Students should check with their high school counselor for the most current list. For additional information on course descriptions please check the current undergraduate catalog at http://coursecat.isu.edu/undergraduate/

Anthropology

Course

Description

ANTH 1100

Discover Anthropology

(3 credits) Introduction to fields of anthropology: physical anthropology, archaeology, linguistics, and ethnology, and to biological and cultural development of humans. Partially satisfies Objective 6 of the General Education Requirements.

 

Art

Course

Description

ART 1105

Drawing I

(3 credits) Introduction to the fundamental skills of drawing, including composition, proportion, light, gesture, and black and white media. Students will begin to explore technical and conceptual approaches to drawing. May cover still life, landscape, figure drawing. Investigate artists and stylistic periods.

ART 2271

Introduction to Ceramics

(3 credits) Techniques of forming ceramic art by coiling, slab construction, and throwing on the potter's wheel, with emphasis on form, glazing, and decorative techniques.

 

Automotive Tech

CourseDescription

AUTM 0100E

Electrical Systems

 

(3 credits) Basic electrical theory, wiring diagrams, test equipment, diagnosis, repair, replacement of electrical components; including battery, starting, charging, and lighting systems. Upon successful completion, the student will be able to properly use wiring diagrams and test equipment to diagnose, test, and repair wiring and lighting in accordance with Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) standards.

AUTM 0100M

Engine Repair

(3 credits) Theory, construction, inspection, diagnosis, and repair on internal combustion engines and related systems. Topics include fundamental operating principles of engines and diagnosis, inspection, adjustment, and repair of automotive engines using appropriate service information. Upon successful completion, student will be able to perform basic diagnosis, measurement and repair of automotive engines using appropriate tools, equipment, procedures and service information in accordance with Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) standards.

AUTM 0100S

Auto Tech Fundamentals & Safety

(2 credits) An introduction to the automotive industry including safety practices, shop equipment and tools, vehicle subsystems, service publications, professional responsibilities and basic automotive maintenance.

AUTM 0101

Advanced Engine Mechanical & Repair

(4 credits) In-depth examination of engine mechanical operation, engine rebuilding, and technical measurements of engine components for proper fit. Engine machining process, engine installation, and customer invoicing will be covered. Students will be competent in over-head cam service, timing belt removal/replacement and adjustment, engine lubrication, and cooling systems, and valve adjustment to ASE standards. PREREQ: AUTM 0100M.

AUTM 0106

Brakes

(4 credits) Principles of operation and types, diagnosis, service, and repair of brake systems. Topics include drum and disc brakes involving hydraulic, vacuum boost, hydra-boost, electrically powered boost, and anti-lock and parking brake systems. Upon completion, students will be able to diagnose, service, and repair various automotive braking systems in accordance with Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) standards. COREQ: AUTM 0101, AUTM 0105, AUTM 0120.

 

Biological Sciences

Course

Description

BIOL 1101

Biology I

(4 credits) Major concepts in biology with an emphasis on the acquisition of new knowledge, cell structure and function, principles of inheritance, and evolution. This course is for students majoring in the biological sciences. PREREQ: Student must be able to place into MATH 1108. COREQ; BIOL 1101L. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

BIOL 1101L

Biology I Lab

(0 credits) Assignments to apply principles from BIOL 1101. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

BIOL 1102

Biology II

(4 credits) Major concepts in biology with an emphasis on the development of diversity, plant and animal structure and function, ecology, and behavior. PREREQ; BIOL 1101; COREQ; BIOL 1102L

BIOL 1102L

Biology II Lab

(0 credits) Assignments to apply principles from BIOL 1102.

 

Business Technology

CourseDescription

BT 0123

Financial Business Applications

(3 credits) In this course students will develop effective financial business concepts with emphasis on 10-key computations, banking concepts, payroll, retail computations, and time value of money.

 

Chemistry

Course

Description

CHEM 1101

Intro to General Chemistry

(3 credits) Atomic structure, chemical calculations, solutions, acid-base reactions, and equilibrium. May not be used as a prerequisite to other courses in chemistry except CHEM 1102. PREREQ: MATH 1108 or equivalent. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

 

Communication and Rhetorical Studies

Course

Description

COMM 1101

Fundamentals of Oral Communication

(3 credits) Basic course in oral communication that emphasizes the theory and practice of informative speaking, logical argumentation, persuasion, small group discussion, and interpersonal communication. Designed to explain the humanistic nature of human communication and to improve a student's ability to express ideas orally. Satisfies Objective 2 of the General Education Requirements.

   

Computer Science

CourseDescription

CS 1181

Computer Science and Programming I

 

 (3 credits) Problem solving methods and algorithm development with an emphasis on programming style. Secure software design/coding concepts for resilient software. Satisfies Objective 7 of the General Education Requirements. PRE-or-COREQ: MATH 1143 or MATH 1147.

 

Computerized Machining Technology

CourseDescription

MACH 0123

Interpreting Blueprints

(1 credit) Introduction to identifying blueprint information needed to produce a machined part, through the interpretation of lines, symbols, and numbers as shown on two and three view orthographic drawings. 

 

 

Division of Health Sciences

CourseDescription

DHS 1110

Intro to Health Professions

(3 credits) Introduction to health professional programs including an overview of roles and responsibilities of medical, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health professions as well as admissions requirements.

Economics 

Course

Description

ECON 2201

Principles of Macroeconomics

(3 credits) Introduction to the U.S. economy. Includes analysis of demand and supply as well as the topic of natural output, unemployment and inflation. Examines the roles of governmental spending and taxation and monetary policy conducted by the Federal Reserve. partially satisfies Objective 6 of the General Education Requirements.

 

English

Course

Description

ENGL 1101

Writing and Rhetoric I

(3 credits) Course in which students read, analyze and write expository essays for a variety of purposes consistent with expectations for college-level writing in standard edited English. Partially satisfies Objective 1 of the General Education Requirements.

ENGL 1102

Writing and Rhetoric II

(3 credits) Writing essays based on readings. Focus on critical reading; research methods; gathering, evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing ideas and evidence; documentation. Partially satisfies Objective 1 of the General Education Requirements. PREREQ: ENGL 1101 with a C- or better or equivalent.

ENGL 1115

Major Themes in Literature

(3 credits) Introduction to literature through the study of one or more major themes that cross historical and cultural boundaries. May be repeated for up to 6 credits with different content. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

ENGL 1175

Literature and Ideas

(3 credits) Introduction to the critical reading of various literary genres, with attention to the interpretation and evaluation of representative texts. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

Finance

Course

Description

FIN 1115

Personal Finance

(3 credits) Evaluate and analyze personal and public information and databases to develop financial literacy for budgeting, credit, borrowing, planning, insurance, investing and estate planning. Examine financial literacy within the larger context of the regulatory environment, society, data integrity and ethics. Satisfies Objective 8 of the General Education Requirements.

French

Course

Description

FREN 1101

Elementary French I

(4 credits) Intended to teach students basic communication skills and grammatical structures in French and to acquaint them with the culture of the French-speaking countries. Practice in the language laboratory is required. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

FREN 1102

Elementary French II

(4 credits) Intended to teach students basic communication skills and grammatical structures in French and to acquaint them with the culture of the French-speaking countries. Practice in the language laboratory is required. PREREQ: FREN 1101 or equivalent. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

FREN 2201

Intermediate French I

(4 credits) Extensive review of grammatical structures and continued emphasis on developing students' communication skills in French.  Contrastive study of culture as reflected in the French language. Practice in the language laboratory is required. PREREQ: FREN 1102 or equivalent. Satisfies Objective 9 of the General Education Requirements.

FREN 2202

Intermediate French II

(4 credits) Extensive review of grammatical structures and continued emphasis on developing students' communication skills in French.  Contrastive study of culture as reflected in the French language. Practice in the language laboratory is required. PREREQ: FREN 1102 or equivalent. Satisfies Objective 9 of the General Education Requirements.

 

Geosciences

Course

Description

GEOL 1101

The Dynamic Earth

(3 credits) Understanding the Earth as a dynamic system. Explores the interaction between four major earth components: the solid earth, the atmosphere, the ocean and biological communities, including humans. Specific focus on climate change, natural hazards, and Earth resources. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

GEOL 1101L

The Dynamic Earth Lab

(1 credit) Focuses on the Earth System and the interaction of humans with the environment. Topics include: earth, water and energy resources as well as natural and human-caused disasters. COREQ: GEOL 1100. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

 

German

Course

Description

GERM 1101

Elementary German I

(4 credits) Intended to teach students basic communication skills and grammatical structures in German and to acquaint them with the culture of the German-speaking countries. Practice in the language laboratory is required. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

GERM 1102

Elementary German II

(4 credits) Intended to teach students basic communication skills and grammatical structures in German and to acquaint them with the culture of the German-speaking countries. Practice in the language laboratory is required. PREREQ: GERM 1101 or equivalent. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

 

Health Care Administration

Course

Description

HCA 1115

US Health Systems

(3 credits) An introductory, comprehensive overview of the healthcare industry, health and disease, health professions, institutions, populations, and reimbursement, addressed from the three point perspective of history, terminology, and current issues.

HCA 2210

Medical Terminology and Communication

(2 credits) Terminology and vocabulary basic to all areas of medical science, hospital services, and allied health specialties. Develops skills in correct written and oral usage of medical terms.

 

 

Health Education

Course

Description

HE 2200

Promoting Wellness

(3 credits) A survey of the issues and topics that most affect health and wellness. Particular emphasis is placed on the intelligent self-direction of health behaviors. Topics address individual health assessments and decision making skills.

HE 2201

ST: Stress & Emotional Health

 

(1 credit) Selected topics in Health Education. Topical courses emphasizing the effects of individual lifestyle choices on health. Topics may include stress and emotional health, consumer health, and trust and self-esteem. May be repeated for up to 3 credits

HE 2221

Introduction to Community and Public Health

(3 credits) Concepts essential to understanding the discipline: competencies, ethics, health education theories and philosophies, and career opportunities for professional health educators in school and community settings.

 

Health Occupations

CourseDescription

HO 0106

Medical Terminology

(2 Credits) Body systems approach to theory and application of medical terms including anatomical, pathological, surgical and diagnostic as well as appropriate abbreviations. Equivalent to HE/HCA 2210.

HO 0107

Medical Law & Ethics

(3 credits) Principles and application of law to health care organizations and personnel, standards of care and liability; covers tort, contract and statutory law. 

History

Course

Description

HIST 1100

History in Film

(3 credits) Frameworks for analysis of the interpretation of the past in film. Involves comparative, critical evaluation of primary source documents and historical studies in relation to film, including documentaries. May be theme- or topics-based. Satisfies Objective 7 of the General Education Requirements. 

HIST 1111

United States History I

(3 credits) Colonial origins and achievement of independence, constitutional government, national boundaries, and the preservation of the union. Partially satisfies Objective 6 of the General Education Requirements.

HIST 1112

United States History II    

(3 credits) The domestic and international development of a plural, industrial society. Partially satisfies Objective 6 of the General Education Requirements.

HIST 1118

US History and Culture

(3 credits) An introduction to U. S. history and culture, including cultural change over time. Focuses on a significant historical theme, which varies by course section. Satisfies Objective 7 of the General Education Requirements.

 

 

Human Performance and Sports Studies

Course

Description

HPSS 2237

 Activity Performance Techniques III

(3 credits) Laboratory-enhanced skills in fitness and conditioning-based recreation, nontraditional games and activities. Emphasis on skill development and performance.

HPSS 2243

Anatomical Foundations of Human Activity

(3 credits) Study of human body structure including the neuromuscular, skeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, reproductive, and organ systems. Course is designed for health and physical education candidates.

 

 

Mathematics

Course

Description

MATH 1143

College Algebra

(3 credits) Functions and their graphs. Notation, domain, range, composition, and inverses. Basic transformations or graphs. Polynomial, rational, exponential, and logarithmic, functions and their graphs, with applications. Theory of polynomial functions and equations. PREREQ: MATH 1108 or equivalent test scores. 

MATH 1144

Trigonometry 

(2 credits) Circular functions and right triangle approaches to trigonometry. Graphs of trigonometric functions: amplitude, frequency, phase shift. Trigonometric identities, inverse functions, and equations. Introduction to vectors in the place, polar coordinates, and polar representation of complex numbers. PREREQ: MATH 1143 or equivalent test scores. 

MATH 1147 

College Algebra and Trigonometry

(5 credits) A single one-semester course equivalent to College Algebra (MATH 1143) plus Trigonometry (MATH 1144). Credit cannot be granted in both MATH 1143 and MATH 1147, or in both MATH 1144 and MATH 1147. PREREQ: MATH 1108. 

MATH 1153

Introduction to Statistics

(3 credits) Descriptive statistics, probability, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing for one and two parameters. Emphasis on applications to a wide variety of disciplines. PREREQ: MATH 1108 or equivalent test scores. Satisfies Objective 3 of General Education Requirements.

MATH 1170

Calculus I

(4 credits) Real-valued functions of one real variable: limits, continuity, derivatives, integrals, applications. PREREQ: MATH 1144 or MATH 1147 or equivalent test scores. Satisfies Objective 3 of the General Education Requirements.

MATH 1175

Calculus II

(4 credits) Techniques of integration, trigonometric integrals, improper integrals. Applications of definite integrals. Sequences and series. Parametric curves in the plane, polar coordinates. PREREQ: MATH 1170.

MATH 2275

Multivariable Calculus

(4 credits) Multivariable calculus. Vector algebra and geometry. Functions of several variables. Differentiation. Optimization. Multiple Integrals. Parametric curves and surfaces. Line and surface integrals. Vector fields. Green's, Stokes', and divergence theorems. PREREQ: MATH 1175.

 

Medical Assisting

CourseDescription

MA 0104

Intro to Medical Assisting   

(4 credits) An introduction to the administrative skills and functions of the Medical Assistant in the medical office, which include: communications, appointment scheduling, accounting, insurance processing, and management skills. PREREQ: Previous semester course sequence. 

 

Music: General Education

Course

Description

MUSI 1100

Introduction to Music

(3 credits)A listening-oriented course with Western art music as its principal focus. Designed for the general student. No music reading ability/performance skills are assumed. Credit cannot be granted in both MUSI 1100 and MUSI 1108. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

Physics

Course

Description

PHYS 1111

General Physics I

(3 credits) Introductory physics course for students in scientific and technical fields, particularly the biological sciences; mechanics, wave motion, thermodynamics. PREREQ: MATH 1143 or MATH 1147 or equivalent. COREQ: PHYS 1113. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

PHYS 1113

General Physics I Lab

(1 credit) Demonstrating principles of physics. COREQ: PHYS 1111. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

PHYS 1152

Descriptive Astronomy

(3 credits) Survey of the historical and modern observation of the sky. Physical relationships in the solar system; planets, satellites, comets, etc., and theories of the creation of the universe and life in the universe. COREQ: PHYS 1153. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

PHYS 1153

Descriptive Astronomy Lab

(1 credit) Use of astronomical equipment, telescopes, cameras, etc. COREQ: PHYS 1152. Partially satisfies Objective 5 of the General Education Requirements.

 

Political Science

Course

Description

POLS 1101

American National  Government

(3 credits) This class examines the United States political system covering not only the Constitutional basis, structure, and organization of the national government but also the interactions of individual citizens and organized groups in civil society with the institutions of government. Required for all students majoring in political science. Partially satisfies Objective 6 of the General Education Requirements.

POLS 2202

Introduction to Politics Critical Thinking and Analysis

(3 credits) Introduction to critical thinking about politics. Students learn to comprehend and critically analyze discourse and writings on political and social issues, to identify errors in the logical or presentation of facts in political discourse, to be able to demonstrate independent political judgment by formulating logically valid and factually sound arguments. Required for all students majoring in political science. Satisfies Objective 7 of the General Education Requirements.

 

Spanish

Course

Description

SPAN 1101

Elementary Spanish I

(4 credits) Intended to teach students basic communication skills and grammatical structures in Spanish and to acquaint them with the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

SPAN 1102

Elementary Spanish II

(4 credits) Intended to teach students basic communication skills and grammatical structures in Spanish and to acquaint them with the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. PREREQ: SPAN 1101 or equivalent. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.

SPAN 2200

Intermediate Enrichment

(2 credits) Enhances intermediate students' progress in listening, speaking, reading, writing as well as broadening cultural and historical understanding. May be repeated for a maximum of 4 credits.

SPAN 2201  

Intermediate Spanish I

(4 credits) Extensive review of grammatical structures and continued emphasis on developing students' communication skills in Spanish. Contrastive study of culture as reflected in the Spanish language. PREREQ: SPAN 1102 or equivalent. Satisfies Objective 9 of the General Education Requirements.

SPAN 2202

Intermediate Spanish II

(4 credits) Extensive review of grammatical structures and continued emphasis on developing students' communication skills in Spanish. Contrastive study of culture as reflected in the Spanish language. PREREQ: SPAN 2201 or equivalent. Satisfies Objective 9 of the General Education Requirements.

SPAN 2210

Spanish for Health Care I

(3 credits) A course designed to teach health care professionals how to communicate proficiently with Spanish-speaking patients. Integrates thematically related vocabulary, grammar, and culture with an emphasis on occupational communication. PREREQ: SPAN 1102 or equivalent.

SPAN 2211

Spanish for Health Care II

(3 credits) A course designed to teach health care professionals how to communicate proficiently with Spanish-speaking patients. Integrates thematically-related vocabulary, grammar, and culture with an emphasis on occupational communication. PREREQ: SPAN 2210 or equivalent.

 

 

Theatre

CourseDescription

THEA 1101

Survey of Theatre

(3 credits) An audience-oriented course in the creative processes and aesthetic principles which guide artists of the live theatre, film and television in the shaping and reflection of human value. Partially satisfies Objective 4 of the General Education Requirements.