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Probability

EC ENGR 131A Probability. (Instructor: Prof. L. Dolecek) introduction to basic concepts of probability, including random variables and vectors, distributions and densities, moments, characteristic functions, and limit theorems. Applications to communication, control, and signal processing. Introduction to computer simulation and generation of random events. Letter grading.

Writing for Public Speaking

Course for PEP students only. Outside enrollment not allowed.

Digging Up the Past: Finding out about past ecosystems

We've all seen the skeletons of dinosaurs and other fossil organisms in museums, although most people don't go beyond gaping at their size. Paleontologists can actually use information from those bones, and other lines of evidence, to find out about how these animals lived - how they moved, what they ate, even how they breathed. They can also make inferences about the environments of these animals - what was the vegetation, how much water was there, what was the temperature. And while this information is interesting in its own right by telling us something about our Earth's past, it can also be used to tell us something about how our world will change in the future in light of current climate change. Find out how we get this information, what we do with it, and the work of paleontologists in this xOPEN course.

The Play's the Thing

Great theater has the power to both entertain and inspire. At its best, a play can inform and even transform lives. This course features spectacle theater from Greek origins to today's socially relevant musicals, the work of our best playwrights, plays about famous people, and a focus on the actors' craft. Short scenes from staged plays on video, as well as actors performing live scenes and monologues via Zoom will be presented and discussed. We explore what engages us, makes us laugh, what touches our hearts, and what helps us live richer lives in tough times.

Food Studies Graduate Certificate Colloquium

Food is complex subject given that production, procurement, preparation, consumption, and exchange of edible matter is biologically vital to human growth, development, and function and critical to many aspects of society and culture. Food studies is growing cross-disciplinary field of research, teaching, and advocacy that encompasses and draws from cultural anthropology and geography, food law and policy, urban planning, sociology, literature, history, public health, nutrition, environmental science, molecular and cell biology, science and technology studies (STS), agronomy, and other disciplines. Survey of some of these wide-ranging topics and disciplines that define food studies.

Critical Reading and Writing

This introduction to literary analysis includes close reading and carefully written exposition of selections from one or more of the principal modes of literature: poetry, prose, fiction, and drama. This course looks at twentieth-century American short stories set in diverse regional, ethnic, gendered, and imagined communities. These are stories that speak to America's reality, sometimes puzzling, often frightening, more often than not just plain hilarious. This course also looks at short philosophical essays published in the eighteenth-century by perhaps the greatest English essayist, Samuel Johnson: his brief and pointed comments on social life and human experience provide just the opportunity to read broad and true observations of human nature expressed in prose of a very high stylistic and conceptual order. Transferable for UC credit.

Introduction to Earth Science

Elements of Earth science; study of Earth materials; nature and interpretation of geologic evidence; study of geologic processes; historical aspects of geology. Transferrable for UC Credit.

Brain Made Simple: Neuroscience for the 21st Century

General overview and introduction to the most exciting and fundamental topics encompassing the field of neuroscience. This course examines the basic physiology of the brain and nervous system and the revolutionary developments now affecting our understanding of the brain. Transferable for UC credit.

Methods of Teaching in Elementary Schools

Meets Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) requirement of a "course directly related to teaching in a self-contained classroom, excluding the methods of teaching reading" for teachers who hold a Single Subject Teaching Credential and wish to obtain the Multiple Subjects Teaching Credential without completing the full professional preparation program. For details, visit ctc.ca.gov/credentials/leaflets/cl621a.pdf. This course provides a study of the objectives, selection, organization, and presentation of the subject matter of all elementary school subjects with the exception of reading. Teachers develop a repertoire of teaching strategies appropriate to the developmental characteristics and learning styles of elementary school children.

Developing an Infant and Toddler Child Care Program

Instruction explores the components of a quality infant/toddler care program: costs, staffing, appropriate environments, developmental experiences, health issues and parent involvement. Instruction emphasizes the special needs of infants in a group care setting. Applies toward Title 22 Regulations and Title 5 Child Development Permits; elective course for ECE Lead Teacher and ECE Administration Certificate.

Infant and Toddler Development and Care

In this course, students learn about the development of infants and toddlers and associated principles of inclusive and respectful caregiving. This course focuses on factors affecting the physical, cognitive and psychosocial development of the young child in the first three years. The course covers developmental milestones, characteristics and growth patterns of children from conception through 36 months. Essential policies; principles; and practices that lead to quality care, developmentally appropriate curriculum and environments for children are examined. Topics include current brain research, infant health and well-being, recognition of atypical development, observation techniques, assessment strategies, and ways to communicate with parents and implement home visits. Students apply current theory and research to the care and education of infants and toddlers in group settings as they study infant/toddler development. Students are required to observe young children. Letter grade of "C" or better required for California permits.

Positive Discipline Strategies for Young Children

Learn the causes of disruptive behavior, examine the forces that operate on the behavior of the young child in school and identify problems that need teacher intervention. Covers strategies for eliminating disruptive behavior and helping young children achieve self-discipline. Applies toward Title 22 Regulations and Title 5 Child Development Permits; elective course for both the Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certificate and/or Early Childhood Administration Certificates.

Health, Nutrition and Safety in Early Childhood

This course covers guidelines for creating a safe and healthy environment for the young child, including emergency preparedness (fire, earthquake, first aid), health and public health-related issues, and the nutritional needs of children. Applies toward Title 22 Regulations and Title 5 Child Development Permits; recommended elective for both the Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certificate and/or Early Childhood Administration Certificate.

Music and Movement in Early Childhood Education

Instruction covers how to plan and lead developmentally appropriate music activities for young children. Students participate in rhythm, song, instrument, and movement activities that enhance children's participation in group "circle time" and independent music play experiences. Teaching strategies, environments, and material sources are explored through discussion and demonstration. Students may be required to observe young children. Applies toward Title 22 Regulations and Title 5 Child Development Permits; elective course for both the Early Childhood Lead Teacher Certificate and/or Early Childhood Administration Certificate. Letter grade of "C" or better required for California ECE Permits.

Exploring Ideas from Reggio Emilia in American Context

An in-depth exploration of the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. Learn how its theory, philosophy and principles relate to current early childhood education practices. Emphasizes U.S. translations and adaptations. Covers history, context, the image of the child, relationships and interactions, rhythm of the day, role of teachers, documentation, long-term projects and U.S. adaptations. Applies toward Title 22 Regulations and Title 5 Child Development Permits; elective course for both Lead Teacher Advanced Courses Certificate and/or ECE Administration Certificate.

Teaching in a Diverse Society for Early Educators

This course introduces students to Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and theory by incorporating strategies for creating a student-centered classroom. Students will learn to define anti-racism, identify embedded privilege and reflect on and recognize personal bias. Students will work on creating identity-safe, care-oriented classrooms. Specific topics include how to “center” the curriculum to authentically include linguistic diversity, diverse cultures and communities, understanding micro-aggressions and social justice.

Home and School Cooperation for Administration of Early Childhood Centers

Learn ways to create an optimal learning environment where children, parents and teachers function as a team in the educational process. Applies toward Title 22 Regulations for Supervisor, Administrator and Director; Title 5 Child Development Permits for Master Teacher, Site Supervisor and Program Director. This is a core required course for the Early Childhood Education Administration Certificate Program.

Principles and Methods of Teaching Elementary Reading

This course fulfills California requirements for (a) a subject-specific pedagogy course for teaching reading in a Multiple Subject Credential program (CA Preliminary Multiple Subject Credential Program Standards, 2017) and (b) a course in developing English language skills for beginning readers for credentialed Single Subject teachers who want to add a multiple subject credential (CTC document CL-621A 4/2017). Topics include assessment and instruction of foundational reading skills in the early grades, strategies to develop reading and comprehension of narrative and informational text to build discipline-specific knowledge, methods of instruction that are sensitive and responsive to the individual needs of all students, and selection of appropriate instructional materials and assessments. In order to complete assignments, participants must have access to at least 2-3 learners in the same grade level (in a classroom, after-school program or other setting).

History 142D: American Popular Culture

Survey of American cultural history since 1865, with emphasis on historical development of urban, consumer-oriented American mass culture that enveloped diverse groups of Americans as producers and consumers. Historical development of American popular culture according to changing set of political, economic, and social circumstances. Evolution of national and global framework for mass circulation of popular cultural expressions, as well as arrival of new technologies that enabled that development.

History of the United States and Its Colonial Origins: 20th Century

This course offers a comprehensive understanding of the cultural heritages, political institutions, economic developments, and social interactions which created our contemporary society.