STSC 1021 - College Success Strategies

Credits: 2
Hours/Week: Lecture 2
Course Description: Welcome to Century College! You are making a big transition in your life by becoming a college student. This course will guide you through that transition while helping you build skills to succeed in college and life. Course topics include academic expectations, college resources, paying for college, study and test-taking skills, time management, and goal setting. Course activities and assignments provide the opportunity to share your strengths and collaborate with fellow lifelong learners.
MnTC Goals
N/A

Prerequisite(s): None
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content
 

1. College Expectations 
   1. Unwritten rules of college
   2. Academic expectations
   3. Online learning skills
2. Century College Resources
   1. Advisor / Counselor 
      1.  Set up an appointment
      2.  Create a plan for next semester
      3. Registering
   2. Support Services
      1. Academic 
      2. Student Services 
      3. Library 
      4. Basic Needs
   3. Technology
      1.  Email
      2.  Learning Management System (LMS)
      3.  eServices
   4. Financial Aid
   5. Scholarships
3. Learning Strategies
   1. Active Learning
   2. Note-taking 
      1. Lectures
      2. Texts
   3. Test-taking strategies
   4. Evaluating the effectiveness of personal learning strategies
4. Time Management Strategies
   1. Focus/concentration/distraction management
   2. Time Management Tools (e.g. Planners, Calendars, To-Do Lists, etc.)
   3. Overcoming Procrastination
   4. Backward planning
5. Information Literacy
   1. Finding & evaluating information
   2. Library
6. Self-Awareness of Thoughts & Behaviors
   1. Personal Responsibility
   2. Mindset
   3. Emotional intelligence
   4. Motivation
   5. Stress/anxiety management
7. Goal Setting Strategies
   1. Personal strengths and limitations
   2. Long-term vs. short-term
   3. Breaking goals down into steps
   4. Personal, academic, and/or career goals
8. Problem-Solving
   1. Locus of Control
   2. Problem-Solving Strategies
9. Interpersonal Skills
   1. Work with peers
      1. In-person
      2. Virtually
   2. Work with instructors
   3. Self-Advocacy

1. assess ideas, principles, and/or patterns related to success in college and life scenarios.

2. use college resources to help achieve goals.

3. employ strategies to find accurate, relevant, and objective information.

4. determine a course of action or solve a problem by reflecting on experiences.

5. apply time-management strategies to achieve goals.

6. identify strategies for financing education.

7. identify next steps in a career plan.

8. articulate educational, professional, or personal goals through self-assessment and reflection.

9. create an academic plan in consultation with an advisor.

10. apply learning strategies to meet college expectations.

11. practice effective interpersonal skills
Minnesota Transfer Curriculum (MnTC): Goals and Competencies N/A
Competency Goals (MnTC Goals 1-6)
N/A
Theme Goals (MnTC Goals 7-10)
N/A

Courses and Registration