Communications and Media - Freshmen

Course # HUSS 1034

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course Description

The course explores the concepts of culture, tradition, and change in Central Asia. The focus is on factors that have produced the cultural complexities of contemporary Central Asia and how key life-cycle events and celebrations (marriage and death), the verbal arts, music, films, and dance embody and transmit the cultural memory and values of the region’s diverse peoples. The course helps students to explain how Central Asia’s cultures and cultural expressions present a diverse set of influences and values. The students delve into customs and practices that are subject to change and innovation.  Cultural expressions are the heritage of a complicated past, as well as valuable resources for nurturing innovation, understanding, and cooperation within contemporary societies. The students discuss the role of state and non-state cultural and art institutions and global organizations in safeguarding and revitalizing the cultural heritage of Central Asia.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Explore values, customs, and social systems and practices of various cultures to interpret the diversity of Central Asian cultures.
• Explain how cultural practices reflect the complex relationships between various aspects of life and identities in Central Asia.
• Analyze issues of identity and value of contemporary Central Asian culture to cultivate a critical approach to the study of cultural practices
• Explore one’s own cultural identity and values to embrace the co-existence of identities and cultures throughout Central Asia and the world.
• Produce proposals for cultural heritage projects

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # DMNS 1162

Credits 6

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course Description

This course is designed to teach students the principles of mathematics and how to apply those principles and concepts to solve complex problems. This course covers the computation of limits (graphically and algebraically), one-sided limits and continuity, fundamental theorem of calculus, techniques of integration, differential equations, especially first and second order differential equations, applications in marginal analysis and approximation using increments, and elasticity of demand. 

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• interpret a function from an algebraic, numerical, graphical and verbal perspective and extract information relevant to the phenomenon modeled by the function.
• calculate the limit of a function at a point numerically and algebraically using appropriate techniques.
• define the basic concepts and principles of differential and integral calculus of real functions. 
• interpret the geometric meaning of differential and integral calculus.
• apply the concept and principles of differential and integral calculus to solve geometric and physical problems.
• identify the extrema of a function on an interval and classify them as minima, maxima or saddles using the first derivative test.
• apply basic optimization techniques to selected problems arising in various fields such as physical modeling, economics and population dynamics.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # MDIA 1070

Credits 6

TBA

Course # HUSS 1114

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course Description

This course examines the complex and evolving role of the state within the contemporary global system, challenging the traditional view of the sovereign state as an autonomous actor. It analyzes how processes like globalization, economic interdependence, transnational social movements, and the rise of influential non-state actors (such as multinational corporations and international organizations) simultaneously constrain state power and create new demands for state intervention. Students explore critical tensions between global forces and domestic politics, investigating how states adapt their sovereignty, authority, and policy instruments to manage issues—from climate change and financial markets to security and human rights—that transcend national borders, ultimately questioning the state's continued primacy as the fundamental unit of political life.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:

• Describe and discuss theories of the state
• Apply theoretical perspectives on the state to real life events and situations
• Reflect on the complex interrelation of states with each other as well as with other actors
• Analyze the varied impact of globalization and technological innovations on states
• Develop critical thinking skills in evaluating state responses to global issues.

Course Assessments and Grading

Course # HUSS 1141

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None                                

Course description

The course aims to provide students with the ability to communicate in Kyrgyz language on the Beginner level and to develop students’ sociocultural competence through studies of Kyrgyz culture. Students learn to conduct conversations in the Kyrgyz community. Students practice and apply language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of tasks and activities appropriate for the Beginner level.

Course Learning Outcomes 

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to:

• understand short, simple questions and statements, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly and accompanied by visuals or manual gestures to support understanding and repeated if necessary.
• recognize every day, familiar words/signs, provided they are delivered clearly and slowly in a clearly defined, familiar everyday context.
• recognise numbers, prices, dates and days of the week, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly in a defined, familiar everyday context.
• understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
• produce simple, mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
• give information about matters of personal relevance (e.g. likes and dislikes, family, pets) using simple words/signs and basic expressions.
• produce simple isolated phrases and sentences.
• interact in a simple way but communication is totally dependent on repetition at a slower rate, rephrasing and repair.
• ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
• ask for or pass on personal details.
• use basic information about Kyrgyz culture, nation, and speech etiquette to achieve mutual understanding with representatives of Kyrgyz culture

Course assessment and Grading

Course # HUSS 1142

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None                             

Course description

In this course students will acquire Kyrgyz language on elementary level and familiarize themselves with an overview over Kyrgyz culture. Upon this course students will be able to conduct basic conversations in the Kyrgyz community. Students practice and apply language skills such as listening, speaking, reading, and writing in a variety of tasks and activities appropriate for the Elementary level. Relevant information about Kyrgyz culture will be shared.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to:

• understand short, simple questions and statements, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly and accompanied by visuals or manual gestures to support understanding and repeated if necessary.
• recognize every day, familiar words/signs, provided they are delivered clearly and slowly in a clearly defined, familiar everyday context.
• recognise numbers, prices, dates and days of the week, provided they are delivered slowly and clearly in a defined, familiar everyday context.
• understand very short, simple texts a single phrase at a time, picking up familiar names, words and basic phrases and rereading as required.
• produce simple, mainly isolated phrases about people and places.
• give information about matters of personal relevance (e.g. likes and dislikes, family, pets) using simple words/signs and basic expressions.
• produce simple isolated phrases and sentences.
• interact in a simple way but communication is totally dependent on repetition at a slower rate, rephrasing and repair.
• ask and answer simple questions, initiate and respond to simple statements in areas of immediate need or on very familiar topics.
• ask for or pass on personal details.
• use basic information about Kyrgyz culture, nation, and speech etiquette to achieve mutual understanding with representatives of Kyrgyz culture

Course assessment and Grading 

Course # 1143

Credits 4

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course description:

The course aims at developing and refining students’ language skills to take part in relatively complex conversations and exchanges that evidence their expanded and refined listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Students practice and apply language skills in a variety of tasks and activities appropriate for the Upper Intermediate Level. The course offers relevant information about making business in Kyrgyzstan; Kyrgyz values, culture and traditions; Kyrgyz literature and proverbs and famous sayings of Kyrgyz thinkers, writers and poets.

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon the completion of the course students will be able to:

• understand straightforward factual information about common every day or job-related topics, identifying both general messages and specific details, provided people articulate clearly in a generally familiar variety.
• understand the main points made in clear standard language or a familiar variety on familiar matters regularly encountered at work, school, leisure, etc., including short narratives.
• read with a large degree of independence, adapting style and speed of reading to different texts and purposes, and using appropriate reference sources selectively. Has a broad active reading vocabulary but may experience some difficulty with low-frequency idioms.
• give clear, systematically developed descriptions and presentations, with appropriate highlighting of significant points, and relevant supporting detail.
• give clear, detailed descriptions and presentations on a wide range of subjects related to their field of interest, expanding and supporting ideas with subsidiary points and relevant examples.
• produce clear, detailed texts on a variety of subjects related to their field of interest, synthesizing and evaluating information and arguments from a number of sources.
• use the language fluently, accurately and effectively on a wide range of general, academic, vocational or leisure topics, marking clearly the relationships between ideas.
• communicate spontaneously with good grammatical control without much sign of having to restrict what they want to say, adopting a level of formality appropriate to the circumstances.
• interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction, and sustained relationships with users of the target language, quite possible without imposing strain on either party.
• highlight the personal significance of events and experiences, and account for and sustain views clearly by providing relevant explanations and arguments.
• express news and views effectively in writing and relate to those of others.
• use information about Kyrgyz culture, nation, speech etiquette to achieve mutual understanding with representatives of Kyrgyz culture.

Course assessment and Grading 

Course # HUSS 1045

Credits 4

TBA

Course # HUSS 1046

Credits 4

TBA

Course # HUSS 1047

Credits 4

TBA

Physical training

Course # HUSS 1081

Credits 0

Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: None

Course description

The purpose of physical education is to strengthen health, develop the physical and mental abilities of students. Physical exercises and sports games is the way to a powerful and functional body, clear mind and strong spirit. The course is both practical and theoretical, it covers basic concepts of anatomy and physiology as well as health and safety requirements.  

Course learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• perform a range of physical activities
• understand health and safety requirements for a range of physical activities
• describe the role and progress of sport in Central Asia
• chose an appropriate physical activities program for their age and gender
• identify tiredness and its symptoms to control the body during athletic exercises
• describe the technique of running for a long and a short distance and jumping
• accomplish running for a short and a long distance and jumping according to all necessary norms
• describe the rules of a range of sports games
• participate in a range of sports games according to their rules and techniques

Course Assessments and Grading

* The course will be graded with PASS/FAIL.