General Education Courses for Game Art and Design

All students are required to earn at least 30 credit units of General Education as part of each degree program offered. General Education courses are usually taken in the first two academic years of a student’s program of study; however, Ex’pression reserves the right to place these courses throughout a student’s program schedule depending on course availability.

Course Descriptions:

ANTH110: Cultural Anthropology Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2) Prerequisites: None

This course is a comparative examination of family organizations, personal kinship, marriage, household and family conventions within the context of class, gender, race, ethnicity, ruralization, urbanization and globalization across different social and cultural systems. Students will study global norms and use research materials and multimedia channels to analyze and frame cultural facets within a historic context. Outcomes include an in-depth understanding of social organizations, including group dynamics and the role that cultural differences can play in global society. Students will be assessed using in-class and self-directed work, which includes research assignments, analysis, multimedia presentations, and topic-based reporting.

PSY111: Introduction to Psychology Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3) Prerequisites: None

This course serves as an introduction to psychology, focusing on the examination of historic developments and empirical approaches. Students will explore ideas of perception, cognition, personality and social psychology, and biological aspects of behavior. Topics include the development of personality, achievement motivation, self-understanding and anti-social behavior. The course surveys current theories in psychology, cognitive science, and behavioral economics.

ENG112: American Literature Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2) Prerequisites: None

This course is an introductory study of several genres of American literature, emphasizing both analysis of particular works and the range of forms and styles in prose and poetry. Students will analyze the stylistic and technical attributes of American literary masters through the evaluation of representative texts, primary sources, and multimedia channels. Class topics include postcolonial literature; literature from the South, Native American literature, Jazz Age and Harlem renaissance, and crime/mystery/science fiction through history. Frequent writing assignments will be made, including analysis of source material, topic research, and style essays. Students are assessed and graded on journal entries, research papers, and in-class participation.

ENG114: Analytical Writing Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2) Prerequisites: None

This course serves as a constructive introduction to the practice of written analysis; students will classify and categorize literary elements, develop thesis statements, and identify themes. Heavy emphasis is placed on analysis and interpretation of information and texts as well as critical reasoning and strategies. Students will develop a critical voice, and will learn how to read and write from an analytical perspective. Texts include the Modern Language Association handbook, and a collection of articles and essays.

ENG120: Creative Writing Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3) Prerequisites: None

This course presents the principles of writing fiction. Students will write both in prescribed forms and in experimental forms. Style, language, and structure in prose and poetry will be examined, and topic and thematic-based writing will be used to assess aesthetic choices and stylistic development. Students will learn best practices in developing and revising original composition, and will develop an aesthetic identity and personal frame of reference through developmental writing assignments and analysis.

SOC121: Sociology Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2) Prerequisites: None

In this course, students will explore sociological concepts and perspectives concerning human groups and infrastructure; aspects of study include development of groups and related socialization trends, culture, organization, roles and facets of past and modern societies, and conformity and deviance in societies. Students will analyze data through research and text analysis, with a specific focus on theory and application. Students will develop a greater understanding of social organization and how it conditions human behavior.

SOC131: Popular Culture Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3) Prerequisites: None

This course will survey the social mechanisms that shape modern popular culture. High, folk, and mass culture will be covered and related to the historical emergence of popular culture. Topics include mass media, commercialization, ideology, and cultural styles. Theories and methods for analyzing cultural expressions in popular music, art, film, television, and advertising will be presented. Students will be introduced to the ethical and economic issues that define popular culture, and will complete the course with a better understanding of the forces and events that shape current consciousness.

SCI141: Concepts in Science Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3) Prerequisites: None

This course presents essential principles in science, including an overview of systems and practices in physical, chemical, and biological science such as scale, energy, time, and systems of measurement. Related topics include the scientific method, good and bad science, research, and writing in the physical sciences. Students will develop an understanding of the scientific method and its approaches to problem solving.

HIS151: Modern Western Civilization Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3) Prerequisites: None

This course is a survey of the growth of Western Civilization from antiquity to the present, emphasizing themes in social, religious, military and political organization, and art and literature that reflect cultural interaction and change. This course emphasizes the political, social, cultural, and intellectual characteristics of history, which influence the twenty-first century. Students will use text and multimedia to enhance their understanding, and will be assessed using in-class presentation, personal journal writing, and special project development.

MAT160: Mathematical Concepts Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2) Prerequisites: None

This course presents concepts in polynomials, factoring equations, graphs, logarithms, and inequalities. Students will improve their analytical skills, including formulating mathematical solutions to a wide array of real-world problems, and will solidify a foundation in core concepts.

HIS221: American History Class Contact Hours (45) Semester Credit Units (3) Prerequisites: None

This course presents the experience of the American people from the colonial era to the present, emphasizing themes of immigration, slavery, commerce, personal liberty, culture, warfare, and the growth of democratic institutions. Students will develop independent, critical analytical skills to assess political and socioeconomic developments in American History.

MAT260: Geometry Class Contact Hours (30) Semester Credit Units (2) Prerequisites: None

In this course, vector analysis, curves and surfaces in three dimensions are covered through an understanding of planar and solid geometry. Students will develop an understanding of the importance of geometry and the role it plays in diverse applications. Topics will include properties and angles of shapes, space analysis, application and use of coordinates, and formulating accurate proofs.