New language courses to debut this fall at Glendale Community College
Eleven new programs, 18 first-time courses, and 19 revisions were unanimously voted to be added to the Glendale Community College 2018-19 curriculum during a board of trustees meeting on Tuesday.
In total, 48 changes were approved for the upcoming school year.
In terms of new programs, Glendale will be offering five inaugural associate’s degrees, one associate’s transfer degree, one creative writing certificate and four foreign language certificates.
“You look at new programs, there’s a strong increase in the number of programs in foreign languages,” said David Viar, the college’s president/superintendent. “I’m very excited about the new programs in creative writing and, also running through the curriculum improvements, the number of honors programs that are being added to our curriculum. Our honors program is, I think, without a doubt, among the top five in the state of California.”
Starting next fall, it will be possible to earn an Armenian language associate’s degree or an Armenian language certificate.
Completion of either requires 18 units starting with a beginning Armenian I class or Armenian for the Armenian speaking I class. Outside of three grammatical courses, students will have electives from which to choose, consisting of ancient and medieval Armenian literature, Armenian literature in the Enlightenment Era, 20th and 21st century Armenian literature, Armenian history and the Armenian diaspora.
As of this spring, Glendale Community College only offers three language degree programs: an associate’s degree, an associate’s degree for transfer in English and an associate’s degree for transfer in Spanish. That is despite 31% of credit students attending the local college identify as having Armenian ethnicity, according to 2016 figures.
The new classes brought immediate praise from one local group.
“We wanted to let you that we are very excited about the additions to your curriculum in regards to the certificate and the new associate degrees in languages,” said Aida Babayan-Alrayes, board member of the Glendale chapter of the Armenian National Committee of America, “especially the Armenian language.”
Along those lines, there will be both new associate’s degrees and certificate programs in French, Japanese, Spanish and Italian.
The last two programs will encompass a creative writing associate’s degree and a certificate program.
“It just is wonderful to see all these proposed courses and revisions and that we’re staying so current,” GCC board member Ann Ransford said. “Congratulations to the faculty for doing a great job. “
Several disciplines comprised the 18 new courses with the biggest subject being mathematics, as six classes were added, including honors calculus, analytic geometry and honors statistics.
Along with the math classes, there were new courses in fields such as anthropology (“Gender, Sexuality and Culture”), child development (“Introduction to Elementary Classroom Teaching”), electronic and computer technology (“Programmable Logic Controllers”), political science (“The Politics of Race in the United States”), sociology (“Introduction to Sociology”), English (“Introduction to Poetry: Creative Writing”), history (“Honors World History from 1500 to Present”) and physical education (“Badminton III”).
Lastly, course revisions impacted a handful of art, biology, business administration, coed, mathematics, physical education, psychology and sociology classes.
“We’re really working toward making our curriculum more relevant, and that is so important for our students,” board president Armine Hacopian said.
