Category: Academic

There is still nearly a month to go before my courses at Fayetteville State University begin, but yet the instructors for all of my classes have already gotten out an email. The pre-registration window officially closed on December 5th. Just as soon as it was closed, instructors began sending emails to students with textbook information as well as general course details for the upcoming semester. One of my instructors seems as though she is wound a little too tight though, her first email came across a bit like she was telling the roster that we were in the class by dumb luck and that we most likely shouldn’t be in it anyway because of the work required for the course. In an email dated 45 minutes later, she changed her statement and clarified that she really intended the message to indicate that each of us should take a look at our capabilities before committing ourselves to the course (funny thought, since it is a psychology course).

I’m not quite as eager to get started as the instructors are, but I will be once I finish the semester in progress.

Digital Photography Studio [ART288DH]
Michael K. Hensdill
This course provides the opportunity for advanced self-determined work beyond the limits of regular studio course sequences. Emphasis is placed on creative self-expression and in-depth exploration of techniques and materials. Upon completion, students should be able to create original projects specific to media, materials, and techniques. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability as a premajor and/or elective course requirement. — 3 hours

Registered

I have made some changes to my Spring 2009 schedule.

I have now officially added ART 288 DH (Digital Photography Studio) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3PM until 5:45PM.

I have dropped CHM 131 & CHM 131A (Introduction to Chemistry w/lab). I do not need the stress of such a heavy course in an already loaded schedule, and it will be nice to not have a class that late at night (until nearly 9PM on T and R).

The Digital Photography Studio course has been added because it is a course I am very interested in, but wasn’t on the original course schedule for the spring semester. Actually, it wasn’t even on the schedule until I requested that it be added after there was a late addition of a regular Digital Photography 1 course to the schedule.

If anyone is interested in taking the Digital Photography 1 or Digital Photography Studio courses with me, there are 4 seats left in the former and 3 in the later. The Gaston College CRNs are 014458 and 014578, respectively. The courses are in the same room at the same time.

Art History I [ART114]
Richard L. Gilbert
This course covers the development of art forms from ancient times to the Renaissance. Emphasis is placed on content, terminology, design, and style. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate an historical understanding of art as a product reflective of human social development. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in humanities/fine arts. — 3 hours

Nutrition [BIO155]
Paula H. Dedmon
This course covers the biochemistry of foods and nutrients with consideration of the physiological effects of specialized diets for specific biological needs. Topics include cultural, religious, and economic factors that influence a person’s acceptance of food, as well as nutrient requirements of the various life stages. Upon completion, students should be able to identify the functions and sources of nutrients, the mechanisms of digestion, and the nutritional requirements of all age groups. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement for transferability as a premajor and/or elective course requirement. — 3 hours

Introduction to Chemistry [CHM131]
This course introduces the fundamental concepts of inorganic chemistry. Topics include measurement, matter and energy, atomic and molecular structure, nuclear chemistry, stoichiometry, chemical formulas and reactions, chemical bonding, gas laws, solutions, and acids and bases. Upon completion, students should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of chemistry as it applies to other fields. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in natural sciences/mathematics. — 3 hours

Introduction to Chemistry Lab [CHM131A]
This course is a laboratory to accompany CHM 131. Emphasis is placed on laboratory experiences that enhance materials presented in CHM 131. Upon completion, students should be able to utilize basic laboratory procedures and apply them to chemical principles presented in CHM 131. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in natural sciences/mathematics. — 1 hours

Theories of Personality [PSYC310]
Vivian Dzokoto
Theories of Personality: An investigation of theories concerning the development and functioning of the normal personality, with attention to empirical findings related to individual adjustment or maladjustment. — 3 hours

Introduction to Clinical and Counselling Psychology [PSYC342]
Mei-Chuan Wang
Introduction to Clinical and Counseling Psychology: A survey of the history, theories, and applications of clinical and counseling psychology, with an emphasis on analyses of the various approaches to counseling and therapy. — 3 hours

I’m finally registered. I have selected the following courses

I keep being told that I have greater than 50 credit hours towards my registration date at Gaston College, but every time I try to enter the system, I am always given a different date than quoted for registration. Its a weird little bug in the way that Gaston counts their hours. What I keep getting told each semester when the system makes me wait an extra day (or a year ago, 2 days), is that it is based on the number of hours completed at Gaston. No where is this mentioned, not in the catalog, register, or in the table below captured from the registration system itself. I have > 50 credit hours, but I have <50 and >25 completed at Gaston. This sucks.

I am starting to slowly figure out how things work at Fayetteville State University…nothing happens automatically… it must be prompted. Need to declare a major? Send your form (guaranteed 3-5 days processing), then nag the department chair to respond to the declaration form, wait a few days, then email the registrar and remind them to process it. Need to get email? Register for classes (establishes student status), wait 24 hours (for the automatic process), wait 24 hours (for good measure), send nag mail to ITTS, get access to all authenticated services EXCEPT email, then wait 24 hours (to let everything refresh), finally, in frustration, log into FootPrints and file a problem report stating the discrepancies in the state of things, wait some more.

I find myself very conflicted with my Spring 2009 academic schedule. I want to take a science, but I can’t decide if I want to take Nutrition (BIO 155), Anatomy and Physiology (BIO 168), or Intro to Chemistry (CHM 131).  Nutrition and A&P are both offered as online courses, and the chemistry course is in-person during the evenings (TR 5:30-8PM). I have been afraid of Chemistry since having a bad experience in high school. I have always been interested in chemistry, but the same could be said for Anatomy and Physiology as well (not to mention advanced Physics stuff like optics). There are so many courses I could take, but I am having difficulty finding courses I feel really strongly about, except for the two psychology courses I am planning to take.

So, the TAC (Transfer and Advising Center) refuses to give me my registration PIN because I need to see my advisor in my department. I finally got communication with my advisor today, but my advisor told me that she had not been given my PIN, that it was assigned to TAC. Lucky for my, I have the nicest advisor in department and she dealt with TAC for me, including filing a complaint about my TAC advisor trying to toss me off to the department too quickly. I guess you could say that I have now been advised and have my PIN. I am registered for two of the three classes I wanted, and I’m waiting for a permit for the third. 

I have such strong feelings about the way I was treated by my TAC advisor… it probably isn’t healthy.