Classes

Counseling

The Counseling Department offers courses which assist students with student success strategies, learning and study skills, AA degree and transfer planning, career development and internships, conflict resolution skills and behavior management. Disabled Student Services offers several such courses and more which provide specialized information for disability-related concerns.

COUNS 1, Developing Learning Skills  •  1 unit

This course is designed to help students at all academic levels to improve their study skills in time management, goal-setting, lecture and textbook note-taking, textbook reading, exam preparation, and test-taking to increase their academic success. This course is offered on a pass/no pass basis only.

COUNS 11, Orientation to Higher Education  •  1 unit

Transfer: CSU
This course introduces higher education and the Master Plan for Higher Education in California. Emphasis is on curricula available at community colleges, state and independent colleges and universities, and the University of California. Included will be a discussion of non-curricular areas in higher education and general educational policies, student government and its role in education, and environmental differences in the various institutions of higher learning, especially in California. This course should prove especially useful to international students or others unfamiliar with the structure and philosophy of higher education, both public and private. Offered on a credit/no credit basis only.

COUNS 12, Exploring Careers and College Majors •  1 unit

Transfer: UC*, CSU 
Prerequisite: None.
*Maximum UC credit allowed for Counseling 12 and 20 is 3 units
This class is designed for students who are either undecided about their educational or career goals, validating their decisions, or seeking to transition into a new career. Students are guided through a process that focuses on their individual interests, skills, personality and values to aid in the selection of a major, determine a career direction and develop career goals. Students will relate their self-assessment information to possible college major and career choices. Decision-making models and goal setting techniques are examined and will be used to develop short and long term education and career plans.

COUNS 13, Personal and Social Awareness  •  1 unit

The course presents the theoretical foundations and techniques of group processes. Through group interaction, the student gains greater self-awareness, sensitivity to others and more effective communication skills.

COUNS 15, Job Search Techniques  •  1 unit

The objective of this course is to teach the skills necessary for successful job hunting by students. Skills identification, interviewing techniques, researching the job market, and resume writing is explored.

COUNS 16, Job Success Skills  •  1 unit

This entry-level employment course provides the skills that new employees need to retain their jobs. These skills include communicating skills; getting along with employers, supervisors, and customers; exhibiting positive attitudes and behaviors; adapting to the company culture; and surviving the initial months on the job.

COUNS 19, Orientation Seminar  •  0.5 unit

Transfer: CSU
This nine-hour course for new students will provide a comprehensive introduction to the college environment by focusing on Santa Monica College’s programs and services and on the development of essential college survival skills. The orientation provides an overview of college policies and an insight into faculty expectations. It also includes an introduction to the structure of higher education systems, degree and transfer requirements, math and English/ESL assessment and interpretation, study skills, and financial aid information. Students will also develop and file a Student Educational Plan in consultation with a counselor.

COUNS 20, Student Success Seminar  •  3 units

Transfer: UC, CSU
This course provides an exploration of intellectual, psychological, social and physical factors that impact lifelong learning, well-being, and success. Topics include motivation and self-efficacy; critical thinking, academic integrity, and active study strategies; health issues and lifestyle choices; relating to others as a global citizen; written and oral communication; time management; career exploration; and educational planning.

COUNS 47, Understanding Money for Lifelong Success  •  1 unit

Transfer: CSU
This course provides students with the fundamental tools to make informed decisions that impact their short and intermediate-term finances. Topics covered include money management and the decision processes and behaviors underlying spending, saving, and borrowing. Counseling 47 is the same course as Business 47. Students may earn credit for one but not both.

COUNS 88A, Independent Studies in Counseling  •  1 unit

Transfer: CSU

COUNS 90A, General Internship  •  1 unit

Transfer: CSU

COUNS 90B, General Internship  •  2 units

Transfer: CSU

COUNS 90C, General Internship  •  3 units

Transfer: CSU

COUNS 90D, General Internship  •  4 units

Transfer: CSU

Counseling – Noncredit

COUNS 906, American Sign Language Level 1 (Beginner)  •  0 units

This introductory course is designed for the student with little or no previous knowledge of American Sign Language (ASL). ASL is taught using an interactive approach, which includes classroom conversation, games, and exercises. Students learn basic everyday communication skills, using signed words and finger spelling. Course content includes information about deaf culture and the deaf community.

Counseling: Disabled Student Services

The Center for Student with Disabilities is a program designed to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to all programs and activities on campus. Our primary goal is to encourage and promote independence in students so they may achieve their full potential. We strive to provide the highest quality programs and services to our students with disabilities including a variety of classes to support their academic success.

COUNS 1H, Study Skills Lab  •  0.5 unit

This course introduces specific learning and study strategies that assist students in meeting the academic demands of their college courses. Each class covers in depth only one area of study skills every 8 weeks. These classes are designed to target specific areas of weakness.

COUNS 2H, Study Skills Lab  •  0.5 unit

This course introduces specific learning and study strategies that assist students in meeting the academic demands of their college courses. Each class covers in depth only one area of study skills every 8 weeks. These classes are designed to target specific areas of weakness.

COUNS 12H, Career Planning  •  1 unit

Transfer: CSU
This course is designed to inform and assist students in making appropriate and satisfying career choices. Using self-evaluation instruments, students identify interests, abilities, values, and goals. Skills necessary for future career investigation and decision-making are included.

COUNS 13H, Personal and Social Awareness  •  1 unit

This course is designed for students who wish to gain greater self-awareness, become more sensitive to others, and improve their communication skills through group interaction.

COUNS 15H, Job Search Techniques  •  1 unit

Advisory: Counseling 12H.
The objective of this course is to teach the skills necessary for successful job hunting. Skills identification, interviewing techniques, researching the job market, and resume writing is explored. Emphasis is placed on understanding the legal rights of a person with a disability under federal and state laws.

COUNS 21H, Adapted Computer Technology  •  1 unit

In the context of word processing, students receive instruction in the assistive technology needed to provide computer access for completion of written academic assignments. This course is designed for the Disabled Students Program and students must enroll through the Disabled Students High Tech Center. Students must be concurrently enrolled in an academic class at Santa Monica College.

COUNS 22H, Adapted Computer Technology, Internet Skills for Academic Success  •  1 unit

In the context of the appropriate assistive technology and ergonomics, students learn Internet skills and resources helpful for academic coursework. This class is designed for students eligible for the Disabled Students Program, and students must enroll through the Disabled Students/High Tech Center. Students must be concurrently enrolled in academic classes at SMC. Experience with basic word processing skills is strongly suggested.

COUNS 25H, Adapted Computer Technology, Technology Tools for Academic Success  •  0.5 unit

In the context of the appropriate assistive technology and ergonomics, students learn software programs relevant to their academic success. Programs address academic strategies and reference tools, (e.g., brainstorming, organizing information, planning, spelling and homonym checking, dictionaries and thesauri), text to speech technology, and the fundamentals of industry-standard applications used in mainstream courses (e.g., Excel, Access, PhotoShop). This class is designed for students eligible for the Disabled Students Program, and students must enroll through the Disabled Students/High Tech Center. Students must be concurrently enrolled in academic classes at SMC. Experience with basic word processing skills is strongly suggested.

COUNS 26, Technology Literacy for Academic Success  •  1 unit

In the context of the appropriate assistive technology and ergonomics, students learn features of industry-standard applications (e.g., formatting a research paper in Word, creating a multimedia PowerPoint presentation) professors expect students to use for their course assignments. Students will use these technologies to create a short research paper and a PowerPoint presentation relevant to their academic coursework and/or learning strategies. This open-entry, self-paced course is designed for students eligible for the Disabled Students program, and students must enroll through the Disabled Students/High Tech Training Center. Students must be concurrently enrolled in academic classes at SMC.

COUNS 41H, Independent Living Skills  •  2 units

This course is designed for those physically disabled students who wish to function more independently in their activities of daily living (ADL). Emphasis will be placed on skill acquisition in both home and community activities through an application of problem-solving methods and a learning hierarchy. Assessments of functional performance will be administered in order to provide behavioral feedback information and encourage skill improvement. Skills necessary for a successful community and college adaptation will be included in the instruction. Principles of consumer advocacy and a historical framework of the disabled in the U.S. and California will be included.

COUNS 51, Test Taking/Memory Strategies  •  1 unit

This course is designed to teach specific learning strategies in the areas of test taking and memory. Students will learn to be more successful in taking various types of academic tests by applying specific strategies for test-taking, retaining and recalling information, answering test questions, and learning from mistakes.

COUNS 52, Textbook/Memory Strategies  •  1 unit

This course is designed to teach specific learning strategies in the areas of textbook reading and memory. Students will learn to improve comprehension of textbooks by reading actively, creating a variety of study tools from textbooks, and applying techniques for remembering what has been read.

COUNS 53, Phonics, Spelling and Vocabulary Development  •  1 unit

This course helps students develop strategies to improve phonetic and rule-based spelling. This course also helps students develop vocabulary through an understanding of word morphology. This course is designed for students with learning disabilities.

COUNS 54, Organizational Strategies  •  1 unit

The primary emphasis of this class is time management and task analysis. Students are taught how to break academic assignments down into individual steps and how to schedule these and other tasks on daily, weekly, and monthly calendars. Goal setting, prioritizing, procrastination, and evaluation of study time and environment are part of this planning process. Also covered are the organization of materials and information, preferred learning styles, and sensory modalities. This class is designed for students with learning disabilities and especially attention deficit disorders.

COUNS 55, Student Success Strategies  •  1 unit

This course is designed to assist students with learning disabilities in developing specific learning and study strategies in order to meet the academic demands of their college-level coursework.

COUNS 56, Written Language Strategies  •  1 unit

This course incorporates the use of computers and software to implement and support the step-by-step stages of writing strategies. This course is designed for students with learning disabilities.

COUNS 57, Listening, Note Taking and Memory  •  1 unit

This course teaches students strategies to improve how they learn and perform in mathematics.

COUNS 59, Textbook Strategies Using Technology  •  1 unit

Students learn to apply technology-based study strategies to enhance comprehension and retention of instructional materials. Students will apply the strategies with consideration for their learning styles and the types of materials they are reading. Comprehension strategies such as patterns of organization and skimming techniques are also covered. This course is designed for students with learning disabilities.

Counseling: Disabled Student Services – Noncredit

COUNS 910, ABI Connections  •  0 units

This course is taught in both the classroom and community settings for adults with acquired brain injuries. The course instructs students in retraining and increasing cognitive skills. Caregivers are encouraged to participate and will be included in any desired instruction.

COUNS 912, Basic Living Skills  •  0 units

This course is designed for developmentally disabled/slow learners. The curriculum includes the development of basic skills in the areas of meal planning and preparation, shopping, money management, social behavior, leisure, and pre-vocational skills.

COUNS 921, Learning Skills  •  0 units

This class provides individualized instruction to students who require specialized training in any of the following areas: 1) the use of adapted equipment or technology, 2) the acquisition of skills necessary to adapt to the college environment, or 3) the identification of learning strengths and weaknesses toward the development of an individual educational plan.

COUNS 912W, Developing Occupational Skills  •  0 units

The Developing Occupational Skills Class is designed for developmentally disabled/slow learners. The program curriculum includes the development of basic skills in the areas of meal planning and preparation, shopping, money management, sex education, social behavior, leisure, and pre-vocational skills.