OLS – Venture Courses & Descriptions
Note: The course prefix for the Venture program has been changed to OLS from VENTU.
OLS 100 Nutrition Health & Fitness I • 2 CR
Examine the concepts of nutrition as it applies to personal health, wellness, and safety. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 101 Nutrition Health and Fitness II • 2 CR
Builds on the concepts covered in OLS 100 to develop dietary and fitness strategies for a healthy lifestyle. Course explores the relationship between diet, exercise, and health, the role of culture and personal lifestyle in making food choices, and eating healthy in today’s fast paced, fast food world. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 100 or permission of instructor.
OLS 102 Human Sexuality & Body Awareness • 2 CR
Explores sexual attitudes, beliefs, and stereotypes within the context of our culture. Students examine sexual life cycles, adult lifestyles, reproduction, birth control, sexual abuse, and conduct for responsible sexual behavior. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 104 Ableness • 2 CR
Explores the historical context of intellectual disabilities in America. Students define and describe in writing the characteristics, effects, and gifts of different challenges, interview guest lecturers, participate in discussions and develop individual learning profiles. The relationship between brain organization and language, learning, memory, and patterning are emphasized. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 105 Introduction to Communication • 2 CR
Covers developing and improving fundamental and effective communication skills. Includes understanding interpersonal communication, active listening, non-verbal communication and communicating purposefully in the community. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 106 Communication in the Workplace • 2 CR
Students practice assertive communication and speaking effectively in a variety of work situations. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 105 or permission of instructor.
OLS 107 Healthy Relationships & Conflict Management • 2 CR
Emphasizes appropriate behavior in a variety of settings involving healthy relationships and the correlated strategies. Students explore and practice conflict management. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 110 Learning Strategies • 2 CR
Practice techniques for remembering information, organize study time and space, cooperate in group tasks, and interpret graphic aids. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 111 Learning Strategies in the College Environment • 2 CR
Techniques to improve learning including creating notes from text and lecture, synthesizing and summarizing information from multiple sources, cooperating in group tasks, composing basic paragraphs and monitoring comprehension. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 110 or permission of instructor.
OLS 112 News & the Citizen • 3 CR
Students study journalism from a variety of sources including research topics, engage in student led weekly current events discussions, and write news stories using word processing and desktop publishing skills. Students produce a newsletter as a final activity. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 110, 111, 140, and 141 or permission of instructor.
OLS 113 Critical Thinking through Writing • 2 CR
Identify and practice critical thinking strategies. Students research, analyze, and debate current social issues using argumentative and persuasive formats. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 110, 111, and 112 or permission of instructor.
OLS 114 Media Advertising • 2 CR
Explores media advertising and analyzes the ways consumers are influenced in their purchasing choices and attitudes. Students create a portfolio of media advertising samples, with documentation of purpose and target audiences. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 110, 111, 112, and 113 or permission of instructor.
OLS 120 Personal Finance I • 2 CR
First in a three quarter series covering personal finance. Students participate in hands-on activities, examine personal relationship to money, banking terms, value, checking and savings accounts, reconciliation, needs and wants, and money scams. Students apply math to personal finance and business problems. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 121 Personal Finance II • 2 CR
Second in a three quarter series. Students participate in hands-on activities, examine checking and savings accounts, discounts, credit and debit cards, and identify theft and money scams. Students apply math and spreadsheet software skills to personal finance and business problems. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 120 and either 141 or 142 or permission of instructor
OLS 122 Personal Finance III • 2 CR
Third in a three quarter series. Student participate in hands-on activities, examine paycheck information, consumer applications, and household financial organization. Students apply math and spreadsheet software skills to personal finance and business problems. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 120 and 121 or permission of instructor.
OLS 130 Critical Thinking through Science • 3 CR
Introduction to the scientific inquiry methods used to develop critical thinking skills as they apply to personal and workplace situations. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 131 Environmental Awareness I • 2 CR
Explores the nature of science in studying earth’s environment and processes, both above and below the surface, as it applies to daily life. Identifies geological events and the potential hazards and preventions associated with them. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 130 or permission of instructor.
OLS 132 Environmental Awareness II • 2 CR
Examines the forces of nature and their effect on the ever-changing earth’s surface. Features of the earth and geologic processes are examined as they apply to daily living using hands-on activities, demonstrations, and projects. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 130 and OLS 131 or permission of instructor.
OLS 133 Environmental Awareness III • 2 CR
Covers the importance of water and air on the earth and the preservation of these resources as they impact our lives. Explores water and air properties on the earth’s surface. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 130, 131, and 132 or permission of instructor.
OLS 134 Social Change in America • 3 CR
Overview of American history from a variety of viewpoints including Native American, African American, Asian, Latino, the disabled, women, and the working poor. Students examine how these voices changed the democratic society through review of literature and analysis of personal family history research. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 135 Reasoning through History • 3 CR
Focuses on improving language, reading and reasoning skills while reading short works by world writers from the 18th to 20th Centuries. Recognize patterns of behavior and social interaction. Writing includes expository essays. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 110, 111, and 112 or permission of instructor.
OLS 136 Citizenship • 2 CR
Examine and debate core democratic values, compare and contrast the organization of governments of multiple countries, examine and observe laws and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, analyze the multiple histories, cultures, perspectives, contributions and/or struggles of various peoples, with focus on people with disabilities. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 140 Introduction to Keyboarding • 2 CR
Develops basic skills in touch keyboarding and data entry for personal and workplace use. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 141 Fundamentals of Computer Software & Hardware • 2 CR
Covers basic hardware and software components, Widows operating system, word processing and spreadsheet applications. Students learn to create and manage files and apply word processing and spreadsheet applications to business solutions in the workplace. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 140 or permission of instructor.
OLS 142 Computer Applications in the Workplace • 3 CR
Includes keyboard review and covers presentation and personal information manager applications. Students create and apply presentation applications, e-mail, calendar and contacts to business solutions in the workplace. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 140 and 141 or permission of instructor.
OLS 143 Portfolio Fundamentals • 1 CR
Students develop, select, and organize core evidence and the corresponding reflections that are critical elements of a workforce portfolio. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 110 and 111 or permission of instructor.
OLS 144 Office Procedures and Customer Service • 2 CR
Covers typical office procedures and customer service skills. Includes filing, forms, faxing, copying, e-mail and telephone protocol, ten-key, and money handling. Emphasis is on developing quality customer service skills through discussion and role playing. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 172 or permission of instructor.
OLS 150 Strength & Fitness • 1 CR
Students use a variety of fun and innovative techniques such as resistance and cardio exercises to build endurance and core strength. Emphasis is on overall physical conditioning for both strength and flexibility using the Swiss ball tubing, and/or other equipment. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 151 Self Defense for Mind & Body • 1 CR
Develop body awareness with basic knowledge about and applications of self-defense including hand and foot techniques, blocks, defense zones, and the eight directional movements. Explore techniques for conflict resolution and philosophy. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 152 Tai Chi for Mind & Body • 1 CR
Develop body awareness with basic knowledge and applications of Tai Chi including hand and foot techniques, slow coordinated movements 1-8, meditation level V1-3, breathing techniques, and five elements V1-3. Emphasis on kinesthetic awareness, flexibility and stress reduction. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 153 Qigong for Mind & Body • 1 CR
Increase body awareness through basic knowledge and applications of Qigong including hand and foot techniques, slow coordinated movements, meditation, and breathing techniques. Emphasis on kinesthetic awareness of muscles and bones, flexibility, Qigong theory, and stress reduction. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 154 Martial Arts for Mind & Body • 1 CR
Develop body awareness with basic knowledge about and applications of martial arts including hand and foot techniques, blocks, and sequential forms. Explore techniques for conflict resolution, self-defense, increased mental awareness, kinesthetic awareness of muscles and bones, flexibility and stress reduction. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 155 Yoga for Life Balance • 1 CR
Covers basic Yoga postures, breathing techniques, anatomy and physiology to enhance balance, self control, self confidence, and physical competence. Emphasis is placed on integrating these elements within the individual and into his or her life. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 160 Visual Thinking I • 2 CR
Introduces students to visual thinking using elements of design and principles of composition. The aesthetic scanning method of visual viewing is introduced and practiced. Classroom experiences cover a wide range of applied art, media and subject matter. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 161 Visual Thinking II • 2 CR
Continues and builds upon concepts covered in OLS 160. Focus is on art history including styles, artists, cultures, concepts and techniques. Incorporates two or three-dimensional art activities demonstrating the art history covered. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 160 or permission of instructor.
OLS 162 Radio Theatre • 2 CR
Improves reading and speaking skills, and explores different facets of the human personality. There is heavy emphasis on sight-reading and basic characterization techniques. Class culminates in a taped radio theater production. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 163 Critical Thinking through Film • 2 CR
View and analyze a variety of fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction films. Decode character, plot, organization, ideas, themes, imagery, cultural influences, and symbolism. Interpret implied meanings from a film and connect them with other films, stories, or events. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 164 Historical Analysis through Film • 2 CR
View and analyze a variety of non-fiction, and historical fiction films. Emphasis on understanding film in society to reason, evaluate, connect stories to the real world, and classify them in terms of fiction, non-fiction, and historical fiction. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 165 World Culture Analysis through Film • 2 CR
View and analyze a variety of non-fiction, and historical fiction films and make connections between films and world culture. Students examine and describe how films express the world in spatial terms, human interaction, and cultural uniqueness. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 170 Self Advocacy • 2 CR
Students explore self advocacy and clarify needs in personal life and the workplace. Format includes public speaking, relaxation techniques, feeling comfortable in front of others, and using non-verbal and theater games. Class culminates in an ensemble presentation. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: Acceptance to the program.
OLS 171 Self Advocacy in the Workplace • 2 CR
Identify career goals, assemble strengths, skills, and abilities for self promotion in job interviews, in the workplace, and in the community. Emphasis on public speaking and being comfortable answering questions. Mock interviews designed around student interests or career choices. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 170 or permission of instructor.
OLS 172 Problem Solvers in the Workplace • 2 CR
Explore typical social interactions in the workplace to identify and employ successful behaviors. Identify and define appropriate business behavior and then rehearse appropriate responses to common encounters. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 170 and 171 or permission of instructor.
OLS 174 Career Exploration • 3 CR
Students assess their interests, skills, and strengths through a variety of methods, research jobs, and learn to create effective job-search materials. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 170 or permission of instructor.
OLS 175 Field Experience I • 4 CR
Students learn how to search for entry-level jobs or internships by assessing their strengths and interests, learning what jobs fit their strengths and interests, and preparing to obtain these jobs by learning and practicing job search skills. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 171, 172, and 174 or permission of instructor.
OLS 176 Field Experience II • 4 CR
Integrates practical work experience with academic objectives and guided reflection. Students participate in work-based learning to explore careers and learn employment skills in their career field of interest. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 171, 172, 174, and 175 or permission of instructor.
OLS 177 Communication Skills in the Workplace • 2 CR
Explores common interaction situations and challenges in the workplace. Identify and practice appropriate and successful methods of interfacing with co-workers and authority figures in the workplace. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS105, 106, 170 and 171 or permission of instructor.
OLS 179 Controversial Issues in the Workplace • 2 CR
Examine controversial issues in the workplace such as gender or racial discrimination, the ADA, harassment, sweatshops, and unions through case studies, related court cases and laws and current news stories. Structured to accommodate special needs learners. Prerequisite: OLS 170 and OLS 171 or permission of instructor.