Integrated Studies
The careers of today and tomorrow demand increasingly diverse skillsets.
In order to prepare our students in satisfying these requirements, they work on the principles of Project-Based Learning to solve multifaceted challenges. Integrated studies combine disciplines in unique ways that stimulate intellectual creativity and innovation, by connecting themes from Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences.
Integrated Studies I
Introduction to Integration
Introduction to Integration
In the first semester, YuCai International Course students will be introduced to and investigate the concept of integration. This course is primarily about developing the skills of active cooperation, through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This involves the ability to articulate one’s responses information and others’ opinions. For example, students may be asked to write about the ways in which poetry and a historical event are related. The International Course’s interdisciplinary approach means the inquiry in this course will be informed by and related to thematic content in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences courses. The students will also work with video, computers and industrial design.
Goals
The course is organized according to a layering principle, beginning with works that are “simple” in the sense that help student develop the individual skills that make an interdisciplinary project possible.
As the course progresses, the chosen assignments become more complex and the listening and viewing faculties are applied to works in which formal properties are paramount. The learning process is enhanced by field trips to experience events that will help engage students and increase their understanding of the types of interaction that are possible to create a successful final product. Students will produce class materials that will become a part of their college application portfolios including recommendation letters from projects and internships. Students will participate in video-taped interviewing skills and other activities to help them communicate their goals for internships and volunteer projects.
Main Texts
Tests and Assessments
Great Books faculty leaders will work intensively with students on formulating critical, reasoned responses, and on integrating these elements with the thematic concerns of the other courses. Short weekly essays, a final comprehensive semester essay test, and a final project will be due in this course. Students’ college preparatory e-portfolios will be due and assessed as homework.
Grading
Oral Participation (25%) Homework (15%) Essays (20%) Papers (20%) Test Scores (20%)
Student self-assessments in Collaboration and Individual Contribution will also be measured.
The course is organized according to a layering principle, beginning with works that are “simple” in the sense that help student develop the individual skills that make an interdisciplinary project possible.
As the course progresses, the chosen assignments become more complex and the listening and viewing faculties are applied to works in which formal properties are paramount. The learning process is enhanced by field trips to experience events that will help engage students and increase their understanding of the types of interaction that are possible to create a successful final product. Students will produce class materials that will become a part of their college application portfolios including recommendation letters from projects and internships. Students will participate in video-taped interviewing skills and other activities to help them communicate their goals for internships and volunteer projects.
Main Texts
- Selections from Junior Great Books and Great Books Series
- Selections from The Civilly Engaged Reader
- Readings from Civic Reflection.
- Also included will be original works of art and music, chosen to illustrate the themes and elements of the course
Tests and Assessments
Great Books faculty leaders will work intensively with students on formulating critical, reasoned responses, and on integrating these elements with the thematic concerns of the other courses. Short weekly essays, a final comprehensive semester essay test, and a final project will be due in this course. Students’ college preparatory e-portfolios will be due and assessed as homework.
Grading
Oral Participation (25%) Homework (15%) Essays (20%) Papers (20%) Test Scores (20%)
Student self-assessments in Collaboration and Individual Contribution will also be measured.
Integrated Studies II
Complex Interdisciplinary Work
Complex Interdisciplinary Work
YuCai International Course students will focus on development of college portfolios by investigating and developing detailed internship plans that will produce a major impact in their life and in the lives of others. Using the elements and forms of the literary, musical and visual arts, this course helps students implement a resume of their skills and abilities. Students learn through activities of active reading, listening and viewing, as well as the ability to integrate responses to works of art and music, social sciences and history, natural sciences and modern theories.
Goals
Students are taught to organize their original work according to interdisciplinary and thematic content that comes from selected activities in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences courses. Students write proposals using a variety of media which describes their personal project for volunteer community action or sports/artistic action.
As the course progresses, the students’ work becomes more complex and the listening and viewing faculties are applied to works in which formal properties are paramount. The learning process is enhanced by guest lecturers, systematic presentation skills and development of personal aesthetics which explore the definition of art of public speaking and the relationship of the speaker to the audience. Students will produce class materials that will become a part of their college application portfolios including recommendation letters from projects and internships. Students will participate in video-taped interviewing skills and other activities to help them communicate their goals for internships and volunteer projects
Main Texts
Tests and Assessments
Great Books faculty leaders will work intensively with students on formulating critical, reasoned responses, and on integrating these elements with the thematic concerns of the other courses. Short weekly essays, a final comprehensive semester essay test, and a final project will be due in this course. Students’ college preparatory e-portfolios will be due and assessed as homework.
Grading
Oral participation (25%) Homework (15%) Essays (20%) Final Portfolio (20%) Test Scores (20%)
Student self-assessments in Collaboration and Individual Contribution will also be measured.
Students are taught to organize their original work according to interdisciplinary and thematic content that comes from selected activities in the Humanities, Social Sciences and Natural Sciences courses. Students write proposals using a variety of media which describes their personal project for volunteer community action or sports/artistic action.
As the course progresses, the students’ work becomes more complex and the listening and viewing faculties are applied to works in which formal properties are paramount. The learning process is enhanced by guest lecturers, systematic presentation skills and development of personal aesthetics which explore the definition of art of public speaking and the relationship of the speaker to the audience. Students will produce class materials that will become a part of their college application portfolios including recommendation letters from projects and internships. Students will participate in video-taped interviewing skills and other activities to help them communicate their goals for internships and volunteer projects
Main Texts
- Selections from Junior Great Books and Great Books Series
- Selections from The Civilly Engaged Reader
- Readings from Civic Reflection.
- Also included will be original works of art and music, chosen to illustrate the themes and elements of the course: Portfolio Assessments from Junior Great Books Series 2 - 5 Also included will be original works of art and music, chosen to illustrate the themes and elements of the course: music lyrics and art pieces related to study in other classes;
Tests and Assessments
Great Books faculty leaders will work intensively with students on formulating critical, reasoned responses, and on integrating these elements with the thematic concerns of the other courses. Short weekly essays, a final comprehensive semester essay test, and a final project will be due in this course. Students’ college preparatory e-portfolios will be due and assessed as homework.
Grading
Oral participation (25%) Homework (15%) Essays (20%) Final Portfolio (20%) Test Scores (20%)
Student self-assessments in Collaboration and Individual Contribution will also be measured.
Integrated Studies III
Social and Scholastic Engagement
Social and Scholastic Engagement
Expectations: YuCai International Course students will focus on narration, rhetoric, logic and social engagement. Intensive practice in the art of public speaking moves the students into highly advanced means of communication. This skill will prepare them for a range of leadership roles in the future.
Goals
The final year of Integrated Studies will focus on technology skills that are necessary for success in university. This includes formatting, word processing, spreadsheets, and multi-media presentations. In addition, students will become familiar with how to conduct and utilize different types of academic research. With this knowledge, they will propose, plan, and execute research and incorporate it into a year-long thesis project. The topic of this project will be individualized for each student based on their academic and career interests. Through these extensive projects, they will polish their English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Organization: The course is organized to allow students to design and develop many topics of their choice and make short, three-minute presentations to selected audiences. These speeches will increase in length and deepen in content over time. The rules of proper engagement in speech situations and active listening are developed as the course progresses. Finally, many outside guests will visit the course during these presentations in order to provide objective or professional feedback.
Main Texts
Also included may be excerpts from:
Also included will be original works of art and music, chosen to illustrate the themes and elements of the course.
Tests and Assessments
Great Books faculty leaders will work intensively with students on formulating critical, reasoned responses, and on integrating these elements with the thematic concerns of the other courses. Short weekly essays, a final comprehensive semester essay test, and a final project will be due in this course. Students’ college preparatory e-portfolios will be due and assessed as homework.
Grading
Oral participation (25%) Homework (15%) Essays (20%) Final Portfolio (20%) Test Scores (20%)
Student self-assessments in Collaboration and Individual Contribution will also be measured.
The final year of Integrated Studies will focus on technology skills that are necessary for success in university. This includes formatting, word processing, spreadsheets, and multi-media presentations. In addition, students will become familiar with how to conduct and utilize different types of academic research. With this knowledge, they will propose, plan, and execute research and incorporate it into a year-long thesis project. The topic of this project will be individualized for each student based on their academic and career interests. Through these extensive projects, they will polish their English speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.
Organization: The course is organized to allow students to design and develop many topics of their choice and make short, three-minute presentations to selected audiences. These speeches will increase in length and deepen in content over time. The rules of proper engagement in speech situations and active listening are developed as the course progresses. Finally, many outside guests will visit the course during these presentations in order to provide objective or professional feedback.
Main Texts
Also included may be excerpts from:
- Public speaking through business strategies, e.g. “Toast Masters”
- Original works of art and music, chosen to illustrate the themes and elements of this speech and communication course, and which may include music lyrics and art pieces related to study in other classes.
Also included will be original works of art and music, chosen to illustrate the themes and elements of the course.
Tests and Assessments
Great Books faculty leaders will work intensively with students on formulating critical, reasoned responses, and on integrating these elements with the thematic concerns of the other courses. Short weekly essays, a final comprehensive semester essay test, and a final project will be due in this course. Students’ college preparatory e-portfolios will be due and assessed as homework.
Grading
Oral participation (25%) Homework (15%) Essays (20%) Final Portfolio (20%) Test Scores (20%)
Student self-assessments in Collaboration and Individual Contribution will also be measured.