Courses

Search for courses listed in this bulletin. To find a semester course schedule (including instructors, meeting times and locations), go to mynmu.nmu.edu.

SP 412 Nonverbal Communication 4 cr.
  • Offered: Infrequently
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Development of an understanding of the range of phenomena included in the study of nonverbal communication. A study of the relationship of proxemics, kinesics, chronemics and haptics to the total human communication process.

SP 421 Organizational Communication 4 cr.
  • Offered: Every Third Semester
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Designed to acquaint students with theories and principles of effective communication within organizational settings, with specific application of behavioral theories to contexts of communication relevant to organizations such as labor unions, hospitals, government agencies, business, military and educational institutions.

SP 422 Crisis Communication 4 cr.
  • Offered: Winter
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Understanding the prodromal conditions that create crisis situations for businesses, organizations, and high-profile individuals and applying communication theories to create appropriate responses to a crisis situation. Through case studies, simulations, and creation of a crisis communication plan, students learn how to anticipate and plan communication strategies for the post 9/11 era.

SP 425 Communication Ethics 4 cr.
  • Offered: Infrequently
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Principles and perspectives of ethical communication will be studied and applied to a variety of communication contexts. The impact of honest versus deceptive communication on the individual and society is evaluated.

SP 432 Environmental Communication 4 cr.
  • Offered: Every Third Semester
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing.

Understanding the social and cultural foundations for and strategic and tactical dimensions of the effective promotion of environmental policy, including the psychology of environmental communication; historical and cultural analyses of environmental rhetoric; environmental communication in government, business and communities; and the role of the media.

SP 434 Environmental Communication in an International Context: Brazil 4 cr.
  • Offered: Contact Department
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing.

This course is designed to introduce students to the environmental conditions in Brazil while focusing on the ways in which Brazilians communicate about and understand communications related to those conditions in the context of an integrated social science perspective. Following a series of on-campus workshops dealing with Brazil in general as well as a variety of social science perspectives, students will spend two weeks in Brazil studying and applying concepts. 

SP 480 Communication Capstone 2 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter
  • Prerequisites: SP 310, completion of 32 credits in the major and registration for graduation.

Taught as a seminar and focused on assessment of educational outcomes in the major as students finalize their preparations for graduate studies and/or entry into the workforce. Current and emerging issues in the field of communication studies, along with general current events, provide a basis for developing professional portfolios, reflecting on educational experiences, and completing various assessment-based tasks.

SP 492 Internship in Communication Studies 1-8 cr.
  • Offered: On demand
  • Graded: S/U
  • Prerequisites: Junior standing. Students must submit required forms to register for their internship before the end of the 4th week of a semester in which the internship will take place.

Practical, applied experience involving placement in a job situation.

ST 101 Clinical Assisting 1 cr.  (3-0-2)
  • Offered: Fall Winter
This course is designed to orient the student to clinical environments, hospital organization and policies, and introduce the student to basic assisting terms and skills that are used in these environments. These skills include: patient indentification, patient's vital signs, communication skills, aseptic technique, and patient transfer and positioning techniques. Notes: Meets first four weeks of the semester.
ST 111 Basic Surgical Concepts and Techniques 3 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Offered: Fall Winter
  • Prerequisites: ST 101 or permission from instructor.
An introduction to the fundamentals of operating room technique. It will address the physical/psychosocial aspects of the surgical patient and the team work needed among all members of the operating room to affect a positive outcome. After full explantions of the instuments used etc, the student will practice the perfect basic operating room skills. Notes: Meets the last 11 weeks of the semester.
ST 211 General Surgical Procedures 4 cr.  (3-0-3)
  • Offered: Winter
  • Prerequisites: ST 111.
This course builds upon the concepts in ST 111 and includes the theory and practice for general, gynecology, obstetrics, genitourinary, otorhinolaryngology, endoscopy and orthopaedic surgical procedures. Emphasis on procedural steps, specialized equipment, instrumentation and specific anatomical and physiological characteristics will be applied to each surgical specialty.
ST 212 Specialty Surgical Proc and Pharmacology 4 cr.  (3-0-2)
  • Offered: Fall
  • Prerequisites: ST 111.
This course begins with pharmacology and then expands on the concepts of ST 111. It includes theory and practice for the following specialties: cardiovascular, thoracic, peripheral vascular, neurologic, oral, ophthalmic, plastic, reconstructive, pediatric and geriatric. Emphasis on procedural steps; specific anatomical and physiological characteristics will be applied to each of these specialties. Lab meets only the last 11 weeks.
ST 220 Issues and Seminar for Surgical Technology 2 cr.  (2-0-0)
  • Offered: Summer
  • Prerequisites: ST 111.
This course covers the development of personal/professional relationships in the operating room. Concerns of credentialing, continuing education and membership in the professional society; legal, moral, ethical, and liability scenarios; current trends, opportunities and preparation for employment; and basic concepts of physics, electricity and robotics will all be included and explored.
ST 250 Clinical Practice 2 cr.
  • Offered: Summer
  • Graded: S/U
  • Prerequisites: Admission into the surgical technology program and completion of the following courses with a "C" or better: CLS 109, CLS 204, ST 101, ST 211, ST 212, BI 207 and BI 208.

ST 250 and 260 represent the Surgical Technology Practicum. Together these courses represent a full-time commitment of a 500-hour, 21-week supervised practicum at various affiliated hospital sites. Grading is on an S/U basis.

ST 260 Surgical Technology Practicum 14 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter
  • Prerequisites: Admission into the Surgical Technology program and completion of the following courses with a "C" or better: CLS 109, CLS 204, ST 101, ST 211, ST 212, BI 207 and BI 208.

ST 250 and 260 represent the Surgical Technology Practicum. Together these courses represent a full-time commitment of a 500-hour, 21-week supervised practicum at various affiliated hospital sites. Grading is on a S/U basis.

ST 360 Advance Practice for Surgical Technologists 2-16 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter Summer
  • Prerequisites: Must be a certified surgical technologist (CST) in order to pursue a bachelor’s degree in clinical health science with two years’ experience in the field of surgical technology (with proof of employment) and advanced cardiac life support training (ACLS). A minimum of 2.5 in the major and NMU cumulative GPA.

Designed to give certified surgical technologists a full-time practicum experience in one or several advanced practice areas. Depending on the student’s goals, experiences desired and available internship slots, credit may be variable and range from 2 to 16 credits.

SW 100 Exploring Social Work 4 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter
Introduces students to the social work profession. A broad survey course covering the educational requirements of the profession and fields of practice. The course assists students in making career choices about social work. Students are required to do 20 hours of volunteer work in addition to scheduled class sessions.
SW 208 Methods of Social Research I 4 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter
  • Prerequisites: SO 101 or instructor's permission.

Introduction to techniques of data analysis for social research. Applied uses of descriptive and inferential statistics are emphasized. Computers and statistical software are used as part of the instruction process.

Notes: Cross listed as SO 208.
SW 230 Human Behavior in the Social Environment I 4 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter
  • Prerequisites: SO 101 and PSY 100, or instructor's permission.

Examination of social and behavioral science applications to practice. Presents social systems model for analyzing human functioning in the social environment.

Notes: Formerly SW 330.
SW 272 Basic Crisis Intervention Skills 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Offered: Contact department

Crisis is best defined as a perception of an event or situation as an intolerable difficulty that exceeds the resources or coping mechanisms of the person(s). Effectiveness in crisis intervention requires a basic knowledge of human behavior and purposeful communication skills. In this course, the humanistic and strengths perspectives are applied to understanding and responding to persons in crisis. Students will learn and practice skills in establishing rapport, empathetic listening, de-escalation, and other verbal and nonverbal communication. Students are also introduced to the community human services network, so that they have knowledge of resources available for follow-up. This course is particularly well-suited for students who are pursuing careers in human services professions, but can be applied in many other professional and/or personal situations.

SW 283 Tribal-Centered Victim Services 4 cr.  (4-0-0)
  • Offered: Summer
  • Prerequisites: NAS 204 and instructor approval.

This course provides students with an introductory, experiential opportunity to practice social service work with Tribal communities in the Upper Peninsula. Students will be placed in a Tribal victim services agency where they will both observe and perform relevant tasks in cultural competence with Native American peoples, and a foundational understanding of Native American culture will allow students to develop increased competency in this area.
 

 

Notes: A maximum of 12 students will be allowed to enroll in the course. Per the grant, the course will start with fewer students (6) and progress toward (12) by the end of the 3 year grant period.
SW 308 Methods of Social Research II 4 cr.
  • Offered: Fall Winter
  • Prerequisites: SO 208 or equivalent or instructor's permission.
Introduction to methods, concepts and techniques of social research, including sampling, questionnaire and interview design, experiments, observation, evaluation research and ethics. Involves research projects on social science issues. Computers and statistical software may be used as part of the instruction process. Notes: Cross-listed with SO 308.