Academic Skills Courses (ASC)

ASC 082. Effective Reading

Credits: 2
Typically Offered: FASPSU
ASC 082 provides strategies to help students increase reading efficiency, comprehension, and vocabulary to meet the demands of college-level reading. Students will select, read, write, and critically evaluate various written materials to improve their reading skills and enjoyment.

ASC 098. Basic Biology

Credits: 3
Corequisite: Registration in or previous successful completion of ASC 98L.
Typically Offered: ONDEMAND
The study of Basic Biology is intended to help those students without sufficient background in biology and chemistry to be successful in BIOL 150, MICR 202 or BIOL 220. Selected topics will include: chemistry as required to comprehend biology, basic cellular concepts, and human body systems and their functions.

ASC 62. ESOL College Communication III

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: FALL
ESOL College Communication III focuses on listening and speaking skills related to the technical program. The course emphasizes pronunciation, technical language and jargon, summarizing and presenting.

ASC 63. ESOL College Communication IV

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: SPRING
ESOL College Communication IV continues to focus on the speaking and listening skills necessary for an academic or technical program. The course emphasizes pronunciation, technical language and jargon, summarizing and presenting.

ASC 65. ESOL Reading Comprehension III

Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: FALL
ESOL Reading Comprehension III offers instruction in advanced vocabulary and reading comprehension skills.

ASC 66. ESOL Reading Comprehension IV

Credits: 4
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
ESOL Reading Comprehension IV offers continued instruction in advanced vocabulary, comprehension skills, and cultural awareness. There will be emphasis on genres, context and summarizing.

ASC 68. ESOL Grammar & Writing III

Credits: 5
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: FALL
Level III ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) grammar and writing emphasizes parts of speech, tenses, and the identification and construction of simple, compound, and complex sentences. Students will take part in extensive grammar study and produce written paragraphs.

ASC 69. ESOL Grammar & Writing IV

Credits: 5
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: SPRING
Level IV ESOL (English for speakers of other languages) grammar and writing places continued emphasis on sentence structure and paragraph building. Students will take part in extensive grammar study and produce a variety of written paragraphs.

ASC 70. Academic Writing for ESOL

Credits: 3
Prerequisite: Departmental approval.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
ASC 70 is designed to give ESOL students the tools necessary for success in a college writing course. Students will use the writing process to gather ideas, write, edit and revise short essays. This course prepares students for ENGL 110 College Composition I.

ASC 91. Algebra Prep I

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Placement is according to placement test scores or on a voluntary basis.
Repeat Status: Repeatable up to 2.00 credits.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
This course begins the development of the fundamental skills required for the successful completion of studies in college level mathematics courses. Topics include operations with whole numbers and fractions, orders of operation, simplification and evaluation of expressions, and evaluation of one and two step linear equations. Study skills will be incorporated throughout the course. Credit earned does not count towards any degree, nor does it transfer.

ASC 92. Algebra Prep II

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ASC 91 or qualifying placement score.
Repeat Status: Repeatable up to 2.00 credits.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
This course continues the development of the fundamental skills required for the successful completion of studies in college level mathematics courses. Topics include the solutions of linear equations and inequalities, formula manipulation, Cartesian geometry and the graphing of linear equations and inequalities, systems of equations, and an introduction to functions. Study skills will be incorporated throughout the course. Because this course is not college-level, credit counts towards student credit load but does not count towards any degree.

ASC 93. Algebra Prep III

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Successful completion of ASC 92 or qualifying placement score.
Repeat Status: Repeatable up to 2.00 credits.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
This course continues the development of the fundamental skills required for the successful completion of studies in college level mathematics courses. Topics include exponents, polynomials, factoring, quadratic equations, geometry, percentages and their applications, algebraic manipulation involving polynomial and rational forms, and unit analysis. Study skills will be incorporated throughout the course. Because this course is not college-level, credit counts towards student credit load but does not count towards any degree.

ASC 94. College Writing Prep I

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Placement is according to placement test scores or on a voluntary basis.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
College Writing Prep I is designed to build student confidence in sentence and paragraph writing. Applying the writing process, students will demonstrate sentence level coherence and paragraph clarity expected in beginner level writing. Students will identify and apply introductory sentence mechanics. This course is designed to prepare students for ASC 95 College Writing Prep II. Study skills will be incorporated throughout the course. Students must complete ASC 94 College Writing Prep I with a grade of Satisfactory (S) before advancing to ASC 95 College Writing Prep II. Credit earned does not count toward any degree, nor does it transfer. Initial course placement is based on placement scores. Before or upon starting an ASC course sequence, student may attempt to test out of the class by taking the Accuplacer (Writeplacer) test.

ASC 95. College Writing Prep II

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Qualifying placement score or previous successful completion of, ASC 94.
Repeat Status: Repeatable up to 2.00 credits.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
College Writing Prep II is designed to build student confidence in paragraph and essay writing. Applying the writing process, students will demonstrate paragraph clarity expected in intermediate level writing and will produce a beginner level essay. Students will identify and apply proper sentence mechanics. This course is designed to prepare students for ASC 96 College Writing Prep III. Study skills will be incorporated throughout the course. Students must complete ASC 95 College Writing Prep II with a grade of Satisfactory (S) before advancing to ASC 96 College Writing Prep III. Credit earned does not count towards any degree, nor does it transfer. Initial course placement is based on placement scores. Before, or upon, starting an ASC course sequence, students may attempt to test out of the class by taking the Accuplacer (WritePlacer) test.

ASC 96. College Writing Prep III

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: Qualifying placement score or previous successful completion of, ASC 95.
Repeat Status: Repeatable up to 2.00 credits.
Typically Offered: FASPSU
College Writing Prep III is designed to equip students for success in a college level writing course. Applying the writing process, students will demonstrate an ability to write cohesive intermediate level essays. Students will identify and apply complex sentence mechanics. This course prepares students for ENGL 110 College Composition I. Study skills will be incorporated throughout the course. Students must complete ASC 96 College Writing Prep III with a grade of Satisfactory (S) before advancing to ENGL 110 College Composition I. Credit earned does not count towards any degree, nor does it transfer. Initial course placement is based on placement scores or on a voluntary basis. Before, or upon, starting an ASC course sequence, student may attempt to test out of the class by taking the Accuplacer (Writeplacer) test.

ASC 98L. Basic Biology Lab

Credits: 1
Corequisite: Registration in or previous successful completion of, ASC 098.
Typically Offered: ONDEMAND
Basic Biology Lab is intended to help familiarize students with techniques and equipment necessary to be competent in the laboratory. Lab work will focus on introducing students to the process of scientific investigation, the use and care of the microscope, basic biological concepts, and the structure and function of the human body.