Anthropology

School: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Wickline, Dean

Lisa Malley, Department Chair

The mission of the Anthropology Program at College of the Canyons (COC) is to provide a comprehensive four-field approach (i.e., biological, cultural, archaeological and linguistic) for lower-division students pursuing transfer majors in the sciences, social sciences and humanities. Introductory Anthropology teaching takes place within a scientific and evolutionary paradigm that promotes student success in higher education, encourages active civic engagement, and equips students with skills for a lifelong learning experience.

The Anthropology Department offers opportunities for science and non-science majors to acquire fact-based, evidence-driven knowledge, which can meet specific laboratory science and social science requirements for students transferring to four-year institutions. It can also provide options for meeting general education and diversity requirements and help students acquire critical-thinking and college-level skills.

The department will be working on the following initiatives over the next five years:

  • Developing additional curriculum, including two new courses – forensic and medical anthropology – and an Associate Degree for Transfer in Anthropology
  • Expanding course offerings at the Valencia campus in remodeled lecture/lab classroom space
  • Expanding co-curricular opportunities for students to engage them more in the community and provide them with career exploration activities

Initiatives specific to the Canyon Country Campus include:

  • Expanding variety of course offerings at the Canyon Country Campus
  • Beginning to offer honors classes at the Canyon Country Campus

To accomplish these goals and meet enrollment growth projections, the department will need the following:

Valencia Campus:

Personnel

  • One additional fulltime faculty member at the Valencia campus
  • One part-time (47.5%) classified instructional lab technician at the Valencia campus

Technology/Equipment

  • One laptop cart (class set of 35) for the Valencia campus to support lecture/lab offerings
  • Software for the planned forensics class (foreDisc) and increased licensing for the cataloguing software for archeology classes
  • Updated computers and printer for department conference room

Facilities

  • Complete the Boykin remodel at the Valencia campus to allow for expanded lecture/lab offerings

Canyon Country Campus

Personnel

  • No specific needs identified

Technology/Equipment

  • No specific needs identified

Facilities

  • One dedicated lecture/lab classroom with adjacent lab storage in a permanent building at the Canyon Country Campus

Communication Studies

School: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Wickline, Dean

Victoria Leonard, Department Chair

The primary goal of the Communication Studies department is to help students develop and refine essential oral and written communication skills which are needed in virtually every human interaction. In addition, many courses in the curriculum provide students with the tools to be successful in all communication arenas by focusing on how verbal and nonverbal communication varies within these contexts. Finally, this field of study focuses greatly on human behavior from a communication standpoint. Thus, students learn methods of dealing with communication problems within a variety of contexts. The program satisfies general education requirements, offers two Associate Degree programs, and prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions. In addition, students who do not transfer benefit from the skills attained in communication courses which will assist them in varied career paths.

Communication Studies seeks to provide students with a comprehensive education in the discipline of Communication Studies including emphasis in Communication Theory, Rhetorical Studies, and Performance Theory, as a way to prepare them for transfer, career, and life-long learning.

The department offers an Associate Degree, Communication Studies, and an Associate Degree for Transfer, Communication Studies.

The department will be working on the following initiatives over the next five years:

  • Developing a public relations course with a component that allows students to intern within local businesses
  • Developing specific courses in interpersonal communication for business leaders and healthcare workers, possibly through Canyons Extension or Economic Development
  • Developing a “Communication for Youth” Institute for local junior high and high school students
  • Collaborating with the Outreach Office to develop a Speakers Bureau that sends Communication Studies students to local high schools to talk about College of the Canyons

Initiatives specific to the Canyon Country Campus include:

  • Beginning to offer the classes needed to complete the Communication Studies major at night at the Canyon Country Campus

To accomplish these goals and meet enrollment growth projections, the department will need the following:

Valencia Campus

Personnel

  • Two fulltime faculty at the Valencia campus, one with expertise in forensics, another with expertise in communication theory
  • Continued stipend for Forensics Team coaches

Technology/Equipment

  • Wireless audio capability in all department classrooms
  • New and more efficient computers and projectors for all department classrooms
  • Equipment for speaker station in HSLH-135

Facilities

  • Remodel of HSLH-135 to allow for a speaker station and upgraded furniture to facilitate collaborative learning
  • Replacement of white boards in HSLH-204, 205, 135
  • Replacement of broken podiums in all department classrooms
  • Addition of secure, locking cabinets in all department classrooms
  • Additional wall outlets in the back of all department classrooms at the Valencia campus
  • Additional space (small, acoustically treated room) at the Valencia campus for Forensics Team preparation and practice sessions

Canyon Country Campus

Personnel

  • One fulltime faculty at the Canyon Country Campus to support offerings for majors

Technology/Equipment

  • Wireless audio capability in all department classrooms
  • New and more efficient computers and projectors for all department classrooms
  • Equipment for speaker station in Canyon Country Campus classroom

Facilities

  • Replacement of broken podiums in all department classrooms
  • Addition of secure, locking cabinets in all department classrooms
  • Classroom space in a permanent building at the Canyon Country campus with appropriate acoustics and classroom design that includes a speaker station that is not in front of the projection screen, upgraded furniture to facilitate collaborative learning, and secure, locking cabinets

Early Childhood Education (ECE)

School: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Wickline, Dean

Renee Marshall, Department Chair

The Early Childhood Education Department strives to achieve a comprehensive articulated system of professional services for Early Childhood Educators by providing quality pre-service and in-service training. This is accomplished by acknowledging the many levels of professionalism in the field with specific requirements of the various roles, responsibilities, and qualifications for each. The department provides training to a wide range of students in order to ensure a workforce that is reflective of the community in culture and socio-economic backgrounds.

The ECE programs (both the academic program for adults and the Center for Early Childhood Education that serves students and their families) continue to support the college by providing a licensed and accredited laboratory program that models essential quality workforce skills for students studying early childhood education. The lab school provides the connection between theory, child growth and development, best practices, and contextualized learning with the early childhood education academic department for all courses.The Early Childhood Education program offers courses leading to a degree that meets the State of California requirements to teach in preschool and childcare settings and several Early Childhood Education certificates which are suggested for teaching positions in a variety of programs.

The department offers an Associate Degree for Transfer, Early Childhood Education and Certificates of Achievement in Early Childhood Education/Infant-Toddler, Early Childhood Education/Preschool, Early Childhood Education/School-Age, Early Childhood Education/Special Education, and Early Childhood Education/Supervision and Administration of Children’s Programs.

Please also see the Center for Early Childhood Education section on page 16.

The department will be working on the following initiatives over the next five years:

  • Expanding partnerships with regional and statewide organizations and advocacy groups and continuing ongoing participating in regional and statewide initiatives
  • Advocating for professional aspects of Early Childhood Education through participation in PEACH and other professional advocacy groups and expanding participation in advisory groups
  • Providing additional professional development for faculty and Center staff to address needs in working with practicum students
  • Exploring ways to support students on K-12 career pathways

Initiatives specific to the Canyon Country Campus include:

  • Expanding opportunities for instructional and co-curricular offerings at the Canyon Country Campus

To accomplish these goals and meet enrollment growth projections, the department will need the following:

Valencia Campus

Personnel

  • One additional fulltime faculty member at the Valencia campus to support department growth
  • A continued partnership with Center staff at both campuses for fieldwork practicum and support for the instructional lab environment

Technology/Equipment

  • Equipment for modernized adult learning environments at both campuses, including SMART boards and iPads
  • State of the art observation equipment at both campuses
  • Security systems for both campuses

Facilities

  • Modernization and repair of current adult and children’s facilities with deferred maintenance plans at the Valencia campus, including a reconfigured entrance for ECE students that is separate from the Center’s entrancefor children and their families as well asstaff and faculty offices that are within the Center

Canyon Country Campus

Personnel

  • Two additional fulltime faculty members to focus on developing the program at the Canyon Country Campus
  • One fulltime classified staff member at the Canyon Country Campus to support both the center and the academic department at that campus
  • A continued partnership with Center staff at both campuses for fieldwork practicum and support for the instructional lab environment

Technology/Equipment

  • Equipment for modernized adult learning environments at both campuses, including SMART boards and iPads
  • State of the art observation equipment at both campuses
  • Security systems for both campuses

Facilities

  • A permanent facility for The Center for Early Childhood Education at the Canyon Country Campus that includes a state-of-the-art adult teaching floor with a view of the children’s classrooms from above, an entrance for Early Childhood Education students that is separate from the Center’s entrance for children and their families, appropriate outdoor space, staff and faculty offices within the Center, adequate storage, ample meeting space, and collaborative learning spaces for ECE students to access computers, printers, and other supplies to support student success

History

School: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Wickline, Dean

Sherrill Pennington, Department Chair

The History department offers a broad range of classes that examine the cultures, political institutions, social practices, and landmark events of people around the globe. History students are taught communication, critical thinking, and writing skills, which prepare them for further education and for success in the workplace. Their appreciation of diversity, and of the importance of civic engagement, prompts them to exercise their rights as voters and advocates for social change.

In a broad sense, history is the study and record of all human experience. It examines people, institutions, ideas and events through the past, develops cultural literacy, critical thinking and other useful skills while helping to plan for the future. By having knowledge of the origins and people of the past we are able to obtain a better understanding of ourselves as individuals and as a society. History provides a solid fundamental preparation for careers in business, industry, government, journalism, museum curatorship, and education. It also serves as a preparation for law school, foreign service, international work, urban affairs, and library science.

The department offers an Associate Degree, History and an Associate Degree for Transfer, History.

The department will be working on the following initiatives over the next five years:

  • Improving student success rates through continuing to develop supplemental learning options for students (“The Historian’s Craft” workshop series, study jams, tutoring, history reading group) and providing teaching-focused professional development
  • Increasing opportunities for faculty to participate in discipline-specific professional development at conferences and other locations to foster content expertise
  • Fostering civic engagement through continuing to develop the history lecture series, working with students in election periods to encourage registration and participation in the election process, and supporting national observations such as Black History Month and Women’s History Month
  • Developing a graduate-student mentoring program to develop new teachers who can also serve as additional resources for students in supplemental learning programs
  • Developing additional curriculum including World History II, African American history classes, British history, history of the West, African history, and presidential history

To accomplish these goals and meet enrollment growth projections, the department will need the following:

Personnel

  • Two fulltime faculty members to provide stable staffing and support student success initiatives

Technology/Equipment

  • VCRs re-installed in classrooms at both campuses to allow the showing of materials not available in DVD format

Facilities

  • At least one more dedicated classroom at the Valencia campus to support enrollment growth
  • White board replacement in BONH-305 at the Valencia campus

Political Science

School: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Wickline, Dean

David Andrus, Department Chair

Political Science attracts students who have a wide range of intellectual interests--including philosophy, law, economics, history, culture, psychology, regional studies, as well as those who have an abiding desire to better understand the vital questions associated with politics and government. The department trains students to think seriously and rigorously about politics and to prepare them for academic, political research, and professional careers in both governmental and private sectors.

The Political Science department's mission embraces elements of liberal arts, the social sciences, and citizens' education. Because the department's students vary in economic status, ethnic background, age, experience, and educational objectives, an essential component of the department’s mission is to develop courses and programs that respond to this diversity by offering students a broad background in the knowledge and skill essential to enhancing citizenship. The Political Science program supports and prepares students by offering a transferable degree and stand-alone courses that meet general education requirements.

Thedepartment offers an Associate Degree for Transfer, Political Science.

The department will be working on the following initiatives over the next five years:

  • Increasing the involvement and awareness of civic education, civic engagement, and citizenship in students through curriculum development, project-based learning, and community involvement
  • Developing additional transferable courses to enhance the political education of students as well as courses through Canyons Extension that will provide improvement to civic engagement and service within the community
  • Exploring options to promote Political Science 150, Introduction to American and California Government, as a required course to meet the American Institutions requirement for general education
  • Working alongside the Chancellor to develop partnerships and assess interest in the modification of K-12 curriculum and programs to infuse civics instruction throughout the K-12 system, increasing the efficacy of citizenship as well as better preparing new college students for political science studies and participation in public educational institutions
  • Continuing to strengthen the Model UN program, including securing ongoing institutionalized funding

To accomplish these goals and meet enrollment growth projections, the department will need the following:

Personnel

One additional fulltime faculty member

  • Faculty Interns and College Assistants to assist with department projects

Technology/Equipment

Access to specialized software for Model UN

  • Additional resources to create diplomacy exercises for online classes

Facilities

  • Office space for Faculty Interns and College Assistants

Psychology

School: Social and Behavioral Sciences

Paul Wickline, Dean

The Psychology department offers courses meeting general education and major requirements that introduce students to the breadth and depths of the various fields of psychology. Students are encouraged and taught to think critically about psychological issues and to understand the value of empirical investigation. The department seeks to foster each student’s appreciation for the field of psychology and its applications to behavior, including individual problems and human strengths. Students are inspired to participate in creative partnerships and to support the application of knowledge through service learning and internships. Technical competencies are fostered by integrating technology into the classroom often using learning management systems as a supplement and using software programs for statistics.

The department aims to create, evaluate, disseminate, and apply psychological knowledge and skills to understand and improve the lives of individuals, organizations, and communities.The Psychology Department's goal is to provide students with the education needed to enter a variety of careers or to pursue university transfer in psychology or related fields.

The department offers an Associate Degree, Psychology and an Associate Degree for Transfer, Psychology.

The department will be working on the following initiatives over the next five years:

  • Increasing discipline-specific professional development opportunities for faculty to allow them to maintain currency in their field
  • Expanding resources for student research, including expanding discipline-specific electronic databases
  • Continuing to develop co-curricular learning opportunities for students

To accomplish these goals and meet enrollment growth projections, the department will need the following: