Academic Calendar 2023/24

Academic Support Courses

UFV offers a number of courses that can help prepare students to work at the university level. Subjects include rapid reading, writing, study skills, research, critical thinking, computing, education and career planning, and employment search.

Critical thinking and strategic learning for excellence are vital to successful achievement at university. Whether learners are students returning to education after many years, recent high school graduates, or current post-secondary students, CSM 104 or CSM 108 and 208 can help them understand learning theories and principles and their effective application for academic success. For more information regarding these additional courses, refer to course descriptions below.

English language proficiency requirements

Students registering in post-secondary level courses (numbered 100–499) will be required to meet the English language entrance proficiency requirements. Students in ELS or the University Foundations programs can register in those courses identified in the University Foundations program with lower levels of language proficiency.

 

CCP LC

0 credits

College and Career Preparation Learning Centre

Prerequisite(s): Department Permission Required

Learning Centres focus on upgrading designed to provide students with entry-level requirements for specific UFV vocational, applied, and academic programs.

CCP LC2B

0 credits

College and Career Preparation Learning Centre (Extended length)

Prerequisite(s): Department Permission Required

A Learning Centre that provides about twice as much contact as usual.

COMP 061

1.5 credits

Fundamental Computer Studies

Prerequisite(s): None. Note: Students should have basic English proficiency in order to be successful in this course.

Computers are a pervasive part of daily life in personal, work, and educational situations. This course helps students with little or no experience gain the confidence to perform basic computer operations: keyboarding, word processing, emailing, and using the Internet.

COMP 071

1.5 credits

Intermediate Computer Studies

Prerequisite(s): COMP 061 or equivalent. Note: Students should have basic English proficiency in order to be successful in this course.

Computers are increasingly becoming a part of daily life in personal, work and educational environments. This course introduces students with basic computer skills to the Windows environment, Blackboard, Excel spreadsheets, electronic communication, Power Point presentations, and intermediate topics in Word.

COMP 091

3 credits

Provincial-Level Computer Studies: Graphics and Publishing

Prerequisite(s): COMP 071 or equivalent. Note: Students should have basic English proficiency in order to be successful in this course.

This provincial-level computing course teaches intermediate to advanced computer skills in current online technologies, publishing, digital art, and graphics. Students will use their computer skills to develop problem solving and critical thinking skills as they apply computer applications.

CSM 104

3 credits

Integrated Academic Learning Skills

Pre- or co-requisite(s): One of CMNS 099, ENGL 099, ENGL 091, ENGL 081 or ESL WG84 or equivalent

This course is designed for International Education students to provide academic strategies and skills to support their first-year courses. Topics covered include analytical listening strategies, contemporary study approaches, university-level reading strategies, and interactive group communication skills. Material from other disciplines will be used to explore the Canadian academic culture to increase success in university studies.


Note: This course is not equivalent to CSM 108.

CSM 108

3 credits

Critical Analysis and Learning

Prerequisite(s): None.

This course examines student learning styles, presents principles behind learning, and provides strategies and techniques for academic success. Topics include critical thinking skills, understanding students' personal learning styles, learning strategies and problem-solving across the disciplines, overviewing the research paper, and reading effectively, efficiently, and critically.

CSM 208

3 credits

Learning Methodology

Prerequisite(s): CSM 108 or one of the following: CMNS 115, CMNS 125, CMNS 145, CMNS 155, CMNS 165, or ENGL 105

This course is a continuation of the principles and skills learned in CSM 108 and introduces students to the next level of critical analysis and higher education learning. The course investigates critical thinking processes, effective thinking strategies across the disciplines, problem solving, resolving group conflicts, active learning through alternative ways of thinking, expository and persuasive presentations, presentation skills, meta-cognitive learning, and intellectual argument and reasoning.

ECP 074

3 credits

Education and Career Planning: Skills for Success

Prerequisite(s): ENGL 061 or UUP department permission

The goal of Education and Career Planning is to enhance life, educational, and employment readiness skills of adult learners. Learners will devise a realistic employment plan for themselves in a changing and diverse world with clearly stated and achievable preliminary and intermediate goals. Personal, education, and career development is an ongoing process through which learners integrate their personal, family, school, work, and community experiences to facilitate career and lifestyle choices. Learners will examine their lives and lifestyles and be encouraged to make made adjustments as necessary to achieve their goals.

ECP 094

3 credits

Provincial Education and Career Planning

Prerequisite(s): None. ENGL 071, English 10, or any two English Language Arts 10 courses recommended.

Students in this course will demonstrate, evaluate, and document personal management, academic, and teamwork skills that are transferable to the workplace, propose steps to develop or strengthen personal training and employability skills, consider educational and labour market options, and prepare their education and/or work search action plan. To build a realistic action plan outlining steps to manage their educational and career plan, students will determine appropriate program and course selection to reach employment goals, including course entrance requirements, financial costs and resources needed, time commitment, and support services within the institution and community.

RSS 098

3 credits

Introduction to Reading, Writing, and Study Skills

Prerequisite(s): Admission to the Health and Human Services UFV/CTC program.

This introductory reading and study skills course is designed specifically for students in the Health and Human Services program at CTC. Students will learn effective reading techniques to facilitate comprehension and retention. The course includes paragraph writing, the expository research paper, and basic standards of university writing. In addition, program content material will be used as a basis for learning preliminary study strategies.


Last updated: May 2019

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