Alternative Scheduling

Courses may start early or late in the semester. Pre-term classes will participate in Gateway Days. 

SESSION A: PRE-TERM

Please Note: This course is an intensive one-week pre-term course.

Through this one-week course you will select an area of study and explore different careers and majors related to that focus. This course is a three-credit course for UCCS freshmen. It is the first course in the Compass Curriculum and introduces students to the educational aims of this general education curriculum. This course includes best practices relating to welcoming and helping freshmen make successful adjustments to the university and is part of the Meta-Major's emphasis here at UCCS, specifically the focus on Arts, Humanities, and Media. There are four primary components of the GPS course, including interdisciplinary exploration of a course, the intentional development of key academic skills, linkage with university services, and collaborative involvement with faculty and peers.

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Section 010 / Instructors: Marcelle Hureau, Corlea Keeney / 8/19/24 - 8/23/24 

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This online course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

Starting college is the beginning of a new adventure for you and those around you. The Gateway Program Seminar’s aim is to help prepare you for some expectations that this new adventure will have for you so that you can be as successful in achieving your objectives as possible. This course’s theme is a metaphor we are using to help you discover the possibilities and opportunities of an as yet unexplored territory called “college.” This includes preparing for this new experience by gathering some new tools such as the technologies you’ll need and learning about the requirements of the course. Then you’ll start practicing for your adventure by plotting your path forward at UCCS: you will establish personal and academic goals and find the people that you’ll need to help you throughout your time at UCCS. Finally, you’ll explore the wilderness! You’ll locate a place that’s new to you (a hike, a museum, a local spot) and use all of your new skills, tools, and resources to craft a researched paper and reflective presentation. 

ONLINE / Section OL1 / Instructors: Leslie Rapparlie / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

What can we learn from a tree? This course invites students to embark on the adventure of academic skill development through exploration of the natural world. Combining the study of diverse natural phenomena and academic exploration and students will gain insight into both college life and the lessons nature has to offer. Through a blend of lectures, service learning, and hands-on projects, students will develop study skills, practice critical thinking, and the resources UCCS has to offer all while discussing the wonderful natural environment that surrounds us. By learning from nature, students will foster a sense of stewardship and responsibility for their own academic endeavors and our planet.

ONLINE / Section OL2 / Instructors: Lindsey Duthrie / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This online course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

Description:  This GPS course will introduce career exploration for students, helping them to navigate the process of resume and cover letter writing, virtual and in-person interviewing, career exploration, and other initiatives used to mitigate bias in the hiring process. Students will map a more efficient job search process through direct instruction, reflection, practical application, and peer/instructor feedback. By the end of the course, students will have a portfolio and experiences to reference as they navigate the job market.

MONDAY: 10:50 AM - 1:30 PM / Section HO2 / Instructors: Nicole Simmons, TBD / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24

SESSION A: PRE-TERM

Please Note: This course is an intensive one-week pre-term course.

Meta-Majors are collections of academic majors that have related courses. Meta-Majors cluster groups of majors that fit within a career area. Through this course you will select an area of study and explore different careers and majors related to that focus.

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Section 012 Instructors: Solveig Olsen, Joye Levy / 8/19/24 - 8/23/24 

SESSION A: PRE-TERM

Please Note: This online course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

Are you someone who dwells in magical worlds, powerful memories, or poetic moments of inspiration?  If so this one-week course will introduce you to intellectual curiosity, analytical reading, creativity, and listening skills through three genres of creative writing: fiction, poetry, and nonfiction.  We will explore creative prompts and assignments that ask you to become familiar with campus culture and your place in it, including (but not limited to) pondering architecture and landscape through sound and imagery.  We will also investigate our personal identities through self-reflection and a variety of contemporary readings from flash fiction to personal narrative to spoken word poems.  Through peer-review and revision in our writing workshop, you will apply your learning and refine your individual craft in creative writing.  Let's work together to get your creative dreams down on the page and connect you to exciting writing opportunities on campus!

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Section 041 Instructors: Martin Salgado, Sheldon Gaskell / 8/19/24 - 8/23/24 

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This online course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

Riddle me this: Do you have a brain or are you a brain? Let’s say you have brain transplant with your BFF. Now your brain is in their body and vice versa. Which person is the real you? Your brain with a different person’s body or your body with a different brain? Did you figure it out or did I just blow your mind?? This course is designed to get you thinking. From demystifying optical illusions to navigating the hidden curriculum in college, this life kit course will inspire you to think outside the box and towards your future! So, are you ready for some Brain Games?

ONLINE / Section OL6 / Instructors: Lori Salgado / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24

SESSION A: PRE-TERM

Please Note: This course is an intensive one-week pre-term course.

Human nature drives us to push harder, learn more, and be the best. We all want to stand out in our own ways. This course focuses on exploring who we are, the people and places that made us, and how we will pursue our dreams to enable us to be the best of the best!

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Section 050 / Instructors: Curtis Turner, Josie Smith / 8/19/24 - 8/23/24 

SESSION A: PRE-TERM

Please Note: This course is an intensive one-week pre-term course.

Head Start is an intensive one-week course designed to introduce incoming students to college life, campus resources, and essential skills for academic success. Taking place the week before the semester begins, this immersive experience combines interactive workshops, outdoor activities, and guided explorations of the campus community. Students will engage in team-building exercises, discover key support services, and develop strategies for effective time management and study habits. By the end of the week, participants will have formed valuable connections, gained confidence in navigating their new environment, and be well-prepared to embark on their college journey.

MONDAY-FRIDAY: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM / Section 052 / Instructors: Gina Baldoni-Rus, Michelle Prose / 8/19/24 - 8/23/24 

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

We all have monsters hiding underneath our bed, and maybe for you that monster is college. Horror has long been a genre that explores our anxieties concerning identity, religion, technology, difference/otherness, and environment, among other topics. This course will consider the transition to college life through the lens of horror studies, examining the various monsters you may encounter on campus in order to foster your critical thinking, connection with other students, and sense of community at UCCS. If the Final Girl is the triumphant survivor of many popular horror stories, then this class will empower you to be the Final Girl of your college experience.

THURSDAY: 4:45 PM - 7:20 PM /Section HO1/ Instructors: Cody Parish, Deka Spears / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

University life can be overwhelming, especially as personal and academic responsibilities begin to pile up. Fortunately, you have what it takes to achieve success. This course prepares you for success within and beyond university by exposing you to habits, skills, and resources you can begin utilizing immediately. You will learn habits of mind that support stress reduction and time management; key academic skills related to reading, note taking, studying, and test taking; how to use campus resources to guide your academic and overall wellbeing; and functional ways to improve life skills, including financial, career, and culinary literacy

MONDAY: 4:45 PM - 7:20 PM / Section HO3 / Instructors: Zachary Barker, Sara Kettlekamp / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

Stories shape the human experience. We are constantly telling and receiving stories. We will examine this important art form in the realm of film and television. What makes a good story? How do you tell a story for film or TV? Besides writing a story of their own creation, students will study two American classics: Casablanca and Star Wars from a storytelling perspective. Students will then work on their own "Storyboard" and use software called "Storyboardthis" to create and voice their original short stories. This process will introduce students to principles, concepts and elements of storytelling and the writing process for film and TV. They will learn how to pitch stories to a group and how to write using screenplay format and traditional narrative format, as well as how to work cohesively in a small group setting.

MONDAY and WEDNESDAY: 10:45 AM - 1:30 PM / Section OL9 / Instructors: Marcelle Hureau / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24 

Please Note: This course is recommended for non-traditional students, including military

This course is designed to help you transition smoothly into college, adjust gradually to the demands and rigor of university life, stay in college and succeed not only as a student, but also as you transition into a career field. As we approach our topic from many vantage points and speakers’ varied expertise and experiences, the emphasis is on holistic learning about higher education and UCCS.

THURSDAY: 10:50 AM - 1:30 PM / GPS 3010|Section 002 / Instructors: DeLyn Winters, Paige Koster / 8/22/2024 - 12/21/2024

SESSION B: LATE START

Please Note: This course is a late start Session B course and begins mid-semester. This course does not participate in Gateway Days.

The purpose of this course is to guide students with major, college, career, and life exploration. This asynchronous course is comprised of practical resources, activities, and information to help students explore who they are and strategically uncover how they want to show up in the world. By the end of this course, students will feel confident - and prepared - to start college, embark on their career interests, and get the most out of their next chapter in life.

ONLINE / Section OL10 / Instructors: Brianna Escobedo / 10/23/24 - 12/21/24