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HASS11110 programs

Academic and Communication Skills 2

This course is designed to equip first-year students with the academic literacies necessary to think and communicate like scientists, mathematicians, and STEM professionals. Emphasis will be placed on understanding and using discipline-specific language, critical thinking, problem-solving, and cross-cultural communication skills. The course will help students engage with STEM texts, participate in group discussions, and develop written and oral communication skills in their fields. Additionally, students will learn the origins of many STEM terms through Latin and Greek roots, which are foundational for understanding complex technical vocabulary. Through collaborative learning, case studies, and problem-based learning (PBL), students will not only develop the vocabulary to succeed in their disciplines but also learn to connect knowledge across STEM fields and engage with global issues through a cultural lens.

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6
ECTS
180
hours in a term
From the Spring Semester 2025 syllabus

What you will learn

  • •Demonstrate proficiency in disciplinary language by using appropriate STEM vocabulary in both written and oral communication within their specific fields (e.g., applied mathematics, STEM education).
  • •Analyze complex STEM texts by identifying and interpreting key ideas, arguments, and technical concepts, demonstrating the ability to break down technical vocabulary using Latin and Greek roots.
  • •Engage in cross-cultural communication by discussing and presenting STEM topics in a culturally responsive way, considering how different cultures approach scientific and mathematical problems, with a focus on global STEM challenges.
  • •Apply critical thinking skills to solve real-world STEM problems by utilizing disciplinary knowledge and collaborating with peers on group projects.
  • •Produce clear and effective written reports and presentations on STEM-related topics that demonstrate clarity of thought, appropriate use of disciplinary language, and an understanding of the problem-solving process.

How it is graded

30%
Assignments
Week 3, Week 5, Week 9, Week 11
30%
Midterm Exam
3-7 March 2025 (Week 8)
40%
Final Exam
28 April – 2 May 2025 (Week 16)

Workload

180 hours in a term, about 12 a week
In-Class Time 56 hIndependent Study 55 hAssignments 46 hExaminations 18 hGroup Discussions 5 h

Week by week

Books

Culturally responsive teaching
National Equity Project
recommended
Resources for Effective STEM Instruction
National Science Teaching Association (NSTA)
recommended
Reframing classroom Management: A toolkit for educators
Teaching Tolerance
recommended

Where it fits

No prerequisites

Requirements come from syllabi. Check with your advisor.

Rules

Attendance is compulsory. A student missing 25% (32 hours or more) of all instructed hours will be forced to withdraw from the course under the University Academic Regulations.

Who teaches it

Not in the timetable this term.

Files

syllabus
ACS 2
Academic and Communication Skills 2 · Spring 2026
Open
syllabus
HASS 111 Pilot Study0
Academic and Communication Skills 2 · Spring 2025
Open