LEAP Prides

This pride provides an overview of American government and politics at the national level. In this course, we will first learn about the political institutions that comprise our political system. We will discuss their origins and the ways in which they structure our society. We then will transition into learning about the behavior of both the American mass public and political elites. We will discuss how everyday Americans make political decisions and how their elected representatives respond to the public’s political sentiments.  

Arguing About the World: this pride is reserved for Paterno Fellows aspirants who wish to become better, more capable participants in arguments about some of the most challenging and intractable social problems facing humanity. SOC 5 will examine current social problems such as economic, racial, and gender inequalities; social deviance and crime; and population, environmental, energy, and health problems. CAS 215 provides an in-depth examination of argumentation in both public and private contexts. The course requires students to investigate the process of researching sound evidence, constructing legitimate argumentative claims, and participating in live debates. Fundamental to this endeavor is a strong attention to research, ethics, and strategy. 

 This pride is only open to students aspiring to the Paterno Fellows Program. To enroll, contact Barb Edwards at bae1@psu.edu. 

In this pride, students will learn the myths of ancient Greece and Rome. These stories include the Olympian gods and goddesses (familiar to many from the Percy Jackson series), and the heroes of epics like Homer’s Iliad and Odyssey. Students will explore both the most famous versions of these myths in the canonical texts of classical literature and interpretations of myth in art, music, theater, and literature from the classical era to the modern day. This course will be especially beneficial for those students interested in art history, cultural anthropology, gender theory, ancient civilizations, and world religions. 

Offered only to incoming students, Aurora eases the college transition through fun and accessible virtual expeditions. As part of the Sirius Aurora experience, tour the United States from your computer, explore natural spaces close to home, and connect with your group virtually — all students of all abilities welcome. Participants gain not only skills from trained upperclassmen, but insight into college life in a relaxed environment. The classroom component introduces students to health and wellness topics such as: eating well on campus, group dynamics, time management, and mental and emotional wellness. Students earn all 3 GHW credits required to graduate (KINES 89). No outdoor experience required! For more information call (814) 865-3890 or visit findSIRIUS.psu.edu.

There are four sections of the Aurora Pride. Lion and Nittany are paired with CAS 100A (Effective Speech). Roar and State are paired with ENGL 15 (Rhetoric and Composition). Students should register for one section.

Through this course, students will gain a well-rounded level of competency in the use of spreadsheet software as a tool. Students will develop problem-solving strategies while gaining insight on the tactical use of spreadsheets. Concepts are contextualized in a broader discussion of information systems management including data security, ethical issues, social media, distributed (cloud) services, and emerging trends. This is a required course for all majors in the Smeal College of Business. 

There are five sections of the Business Problem Solving Pride: (1) Blue, (2) Lion, (3) Nittany, (4) Roar, and (5) State. The ENGL 15 course for the State section will meet in-person.

This pride is only open to students enrolled in the Smeal College of Business or the Division of Undergraduate Studies. 

This course introduces basic statistical concepts and models within the framework of business problems and applications. Students learn about the usefulness of business statistics to decision making, how to perform basic statistical and analytical procedures, and how to interpret, critically evaluate, and analyze data.  SCM 200 or STAT 200 is an entrance to major requirement for Smeal students. SCM 200 is a 4-credit course. Students enrolling in this pride will be enrolling in 7 academic credits. 

There are two sections of the Business Statistics Pride: (1) Lion and (2) Nittany. Students should enroll in one section.  

Many of the most pressing issues facing the world, such as climate change, racial inequality, food insecurity, and other social injustices, lie at the intersection of society, economy, and environment.  These problems exist at multiple scales from the hyperlocal to the global. Successfully addressing these challenges requires residents, communities, governments, businesses, and other organizations and institutions to work collaboratively on solutions using skills in critical thinking, community leadership, research, problem-solving, and communication. This pride will introduce students to the basic concepts, skills, and practices for community development and engagement that are necessary for addressing such issues.  

This pride provides an introduction to computer systems literacy. The history, architecture, and operation of computing systems and underlying computing theory are covered. The intent of this course is to ensure that students with diverse backgrounds can gain the information technology fundamental skills and understanding to succeed with subsequent in-depth courses in the Cybersecurity Analytics and Operations curriculum. At the same time, the general nature of the introduction may make it useful for other programs that involve education in concepts and skills relating to information and computing systems.  

 There are two sections of the Cybersecurity Pride: (1) Lion (in person) and (2) Nittany (virtual). Students should enroll in one section.

The EMS First-Year Seminar is designed to encourage students to begin the important process of 'thinking for a living.' The primary focus of the seminar is to promote critical reading and thinking skills, and to help students develop effective written and oral arguments. Students learn the importance of reading, sharing ideas and collaborating, through independent and group research, discussion and debate. We want our students to think about some of the major issues facing the world today, the role that science and technology have played in defining and addressing these issues, the way in which present-day thinking has been shaped by the past, and the development of scientific thought. The Seminar's content focuses on communication skills, but these are addressed within the context of issues relevant to the disciplines represented in EMS. As such, the discussions range across topics such as the Earth and its resources; scientific and technical aspects of global habitability; development of the advanced materials necessary for sustaining and advancing civilization in the 21st century; and the social, economic, and political factors that shape and constrain society's view of the Earth system. Students undertake three to five major writing projects throughout the semester, as well as several smaller one to two paragraph written assignments. Grades are determined from their performance on the written papers, oral presentations, and in-class participation. The Seminar is a required course for all EMS first-year students at the University Park campus and, together with English 015 and either English 202 or Speech Communications 100, will satisfy the Writing and Speaking requirements of General Education.

The human mind has been considered one of the “last frontiers” of science. In this pride, students will learn the psychology underlying student and teacher academic behavior, motivation, assessment, and more. This course is designed around state-of-the-art research of human learning and behavior. Students are introduced to prolific theories of learning and effective instructional practice—including classroom management techniques, motivation, and assessment. Students pursuing education-related majors and/or professions centered on teaching, human development, or speech pathology will find this pride valuable.  

This pride traces the historical, social, and linguistic development of English as the global language of business, technology, education, and the internet. The pride focuses on a bit of history, some linguistics, and assorted global locations where English is used.

Leaders, in whatever context, make difficult decisions, distribute scarce resources, direct and influence the conduct of others, and represent the goals of the enterprise they lead. Thus, they ought to exemplify prudence, fairness, integrity, honesty, trustworthiness, sincerity, and morally upright behavior. This pride investigates these concepts and the moral dilemmas that arise in developing or applying them. It also explores, philosophically as well as practically, the ways leaders might identify ethical challenges, analyze them, imagine possible solutions, and be motivated to do the right thing.   

This pride surveys the core philosophical questions connected with mass media: What is newsworthy? What is the whole story, and what makes it true? How ought media’s form influence the power of its content? What authorizes journalists to interpret the facts? How much does individual self-understanding and social organization depend on media images and tropes? Does it make sense to speak of “the media” as a unified phenomenon? As we work to formulate and answer these questions, students will acquire ethical understanding, media literacy, and an appreciation for the role media plays in the formation of cultural expectations about knowledge, values, and technology. 

NURS 203 is an introductory first aid course designed to provide the basic knowledge and skills to assist someone who is injured or ill. The course covers safety precautions of the responders including legal and ethical issues, teaches one-person CPR and airway obstruction, common injures resulting in bleeding and how to control bleeding, common medical emergencies, e.g. bleeding, water, ice, shock, thermal injuries. Heart attack, stroke and head injuries are a focus, and the proper way to transfer individuals with injuries. Environmental emergencies includes disaster preparation, terrorism, and triage.  

GD 100 places emphasis on problem solving and observing design, while developing intuition and creativity. Projects focus on the process of defining the parameters of a design problem, observing examples within the design industry, and critically evaluating examples of effective and ineffective design. GD 100 will help students to: 1. Understand the graphic design industry and the responsibilities of the profession. 2. Develop an appreciation for the practice of design. 3. Begin to develop the ability to define and solve problems. 4. Increase their knowledge of the history of graphic design and typography. 5. Refine their conceptual skills. 6. Learn and understand the vernacular of the industry. 

This pride provides a rigorous introduction to the theories, models, and tools that inform human-centered design and development. It lays the groundwork for subsequent courses in the sequence by examining the relationship between physical capabilities, cognitive and social models, and philosophical issues pertinent to human-centered analysis, design and development work. The course is practice-based, which means that it instructs more abstract concepts through practical activities and practice-based inquiry. Students will learn how to apply cognitive models and philosophical concepts to real-world problems.

NOTE: This pride was incorrectly listed as in-person in the printed LEAP Brochure. The courses in this pride will meet online and this is a virtual pride.

HDFS 249N provides a basic introduction to concepts, theoretical perspectives, and key empirical studies on adult development and aging. Students will become familiar with key developmental trends and challenges that must be addressed to achieve healthy growth and development throughout adulthood and late life. HDFS 239 provides a basic introduction to concepts, theoretical perspectives, and key empirical studies on adolescent development. Students will become familiar with key developmental trends and challenges that must be addressed to achieve healthy growth and development from the beginning of adolescence (puberty) up to the transition to adulthood

NOTE: This pride was incorrectly listed as being a virtual pride in the print LEAP Brochure. This courses in this pride will meet in-person.

This pride is designed specifically for students who first language is not Englsih. ESL 15 is a first-year academic writing course which includes work in composition, oral presentations, library research, and full participation in the steps of the writing and research process: brainstorming, basic research, drafting, peer review, revising, editing, and proofreading. Because the course is designed for international students, there is a strong focus on the expectations of American university instructors for time management, ethical writing, and class participation. ESL15 fulfills the first-year General Education (GWS) writing requirement. If you are an international student unable to make it to the United State for the summer session due to travel restrictions or limitations, the ESL department will work with you to take the ESL 15 course online.

Using the lens of applied linguistics, the pride explores how language and culture, language and society, and language and personal development interact. 

This pride examines mass communications in the United States, including the organization, role, content, and effects of newspapers, magazines, television, radio, books, and films. Students receive an overview of the interaction between mass media and society. By drawing from selected topics, the course pays particular attention to the social influences (e.g., economics, politics, technology, law, and culture) that shape media messages. The course examines the nature of media controllers as well as the character of users and consumers of media products. Students will gain understanding of the power and influences associated with media messages and practices. 

COMM 110 seeks to introduce students to the important role of the mass media in developing conceptions of democracy and democratic participation in contemporary societies. Utilizing current events, popular culture, and the students' own relationship to media as the template, this pride is designed to stimulate student thinking about the interrelationship between the dynamics of US culture, news, politics, and civil society in order to develop a greater understanding and appreciation of what civic engagement and global awareness can do towards nurturing democracy's principles and practices. 

How do individuals, firms, and governments make decisions? What determines prices? Are monopolies always bad? This course is designed to develop the basic concepts and techniques of microeconomic theory and its applications. Considerable emphasis is placed on the basic principles of economics, methods of economic analysis, price determination, consumer behavior, theory of the firm, and market structures. ECON 102 is an introduction

This course introduces students to nutrition principles necessary to promote a healthy lifestyle. Students will be better prepared to evaluate nutrition-related issues presented in the media and to make informed choices about their diet in order to promote health throughout their lives. Information about nutrients is presented and related to such topics as maintenance of ideal body weight, improvement in physical performance, and the role of nutrients in various disease states. This course is intended for non-nutrition major students and will fulfill 3 credits of the GHW requirement.  

This course is intended for students interested in nutrition, but it is not intended for students who plan to major in Nutrition. 

This pride offers students an overview of ethical issues, moral reasoning, and questions concerning the good and flourishing life for individuals and groups. It engages the work and critical interpretation of major figures in moral thinking and enters into the full complexity of contemporary moral problems. Students will study and evaluate competing accounts of the right way to live, including their overall plausibility, their background assumptions, and their practical implementation. 

This pride provides an introduction to the aesthetics, history, and science of photography including practical and critical approaches to the art of photography. This course introduces students to photography both as an art form and as a key method of visual communication in today's society. Students will be exposed to various photographic techniques and learn to create stronger, more compelling photographs. 

Introduction to Security and Risk Analysis is a preliminary course with a broad focus, spanning the areas of security, risk, and analysis. In addition to familiarizing students with basic technical terminology, it will also touch upon social and legal issues, risk analysis and mitigation, crime intelligence and forensics, and information warfare and assurance. This course will motivate students to understand the requirements for security in any government agency or business organization through the use of case studies. 

This course explores the foundations of equity-based educational practices and helps students construct individual working definitions of social justice. The course includes engagement with foundational, historical, and contemporary scholarly and popular literature; guest lecturers from the University and local communities; and multimedia. Students explore tensions between theory and practical application and begin developing a language of critique for considering issues within the world of education. Progress is assessed via a variety of artifacts including self-assessment, guided journal entries, reflection upon campus and community social justice events, and written and oral research reports on a social justice topic of choice. For students interested in the Social Justice in Education minor, the course provides a conceptual foundation and skill set. 

Have you ever thought the best way to learn about science is to do it? Would you like to isolate a virus? In this pride, students will learn about the nature of science by taking part in a research project conducted entirely by first-year students. In this Course-Based Research Experience (CURE), you will isolate a virus, called a phage, that infects bacteria. After naming and purifying your virus, you will extract the genomic DNA and take an image with an electron microscope. At the end of the summer, we will send the genomic DNA for sequencing and it will be used in further scientific study and contribute to the body of scientific knowledge. If you would like to continue working on the project, there will be opportunities to continue research in the Fall and Spring semesters through other CURE courses. BMB 205 counts as a student’s first-year seminar requirement. 

This pride is only open to students in the Eberly College of Science or the Division of Undergraduate Studies. 

This course would be beneficial for students who are planning a career in a field with high vocal use or public speaking requirements including education, healthcare, law, entertainment, and business.  Students will learn about normal and disordered voice production,  and will learn how to care for their voices to help maintain vocal health for a lifetime.  This course would be beneficial for students who may be considering a major in communication sciences and disorders.