Independent Course Alignment Program

Aligned/Badged Online Courses Available for Adoption

CVC-OEI is offering faculty in the California Community College system the opportunity to adopt fully-developed online (Canvas) courses that have been aligned with our CVC-OEI Online Course Design Rubric and have received a Quality Reviewed (QR) badge in our CVC Exchange.  Our sincere thanks to the faculty authors who have approved the sharing of their courses listed below!

Instructors interested in reviewing one or more of these courses for possible adoption can find them by searching in Canvas Commons using the name of the course or the faculty author’s name.

Though not required, instructors who download and use one of the courses through this Independent Course Alignment program can also earn a QR badge in our CVC Exchange by submitting the final course to their college's Local POCR Team (if applicable) for review.

Canvas Courses Available

ANTHROPOLOGY

ANTHR 2: Cultural Anthropology (3 units)

• C-ID: ANTH 120
• Catalog Entry:  This course is an introduction to the study of the concepts, theories, and methods used in the comparative study of sociocultural systems. This course includes a comparison of subsistence patterns, social structure, political organization, language, family, kinship, religion, and the arts as practiced by different cultures. It also explores social inequality, ethnicity, and gender and the application of anthropological perspectives to contemporary issues in the midst of culture change.
• Faculty-Author:  Shannon Hodges
• College:  Long Beach City College
• Uses fully-open course content: No 
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes - Uses Perspectives: An Open Invitation to Cultural Anthropology - Second Edition
• Requires proprietary software/applications: Yes (PlayPosit LTI, New Quizzes enabled, Padlet Board added as external tool, YouTube and Vimeo applications)
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: This course is designed as a 5-week course, which can be reorganized to accommodate a regular 16-week semester course. There is custom content in this course that adopting faculty will need to cut or replace before they offer the course at their college.

ANTH P103: Introduction to Archaeology (3 Units)

• C-ID:  ANTH 150
• Catalog Entry:  This course is an introduction to the study of the human past through archaeology. Through global examples of research and discovery, the course will demonstrate how archaeologists conduct field and laboratory research and explain human behavior scientifically through the archaeological record and material culture. Archaeological methods and theories are emphasized, as well as the public role and ethical responsibilities of archaeologists in the modern world.
• Faculty-Author:  Karen Oeh
• College:  Porterville College
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: Adopting instructors will need to replace instructor image and office hours on the Home page, Syllabus information on the Syllabus page, and examples of Archaeological field experience under Modules. The course also contains references to Porterville College, including Support Resources and Technology Support. In addition, this course is aligned to the Peralta Online Equity Rubric.

BUSINESS

BUS-32: Introduction to Business (3 units)

• C-ID:  BUS 110
• Catalog Entry:  A survey in business providing a multidisciplinary examination of how culture, society, economic systems, legal, international, political, financial institutions, and human behavior interact to affect a business organization’s policy and practices within the U.S. and a global society. Demonstrates how these influences impact the primary areas of business including: organizational structure and design; leadership, human resource management, organized labor practices; marketing, organizational communication; technology; entrepreneurship; legal, accounting, financial practices; the securities market; and therefore affect a business’ ability to achieve its organizational goals.
• Faculty-Author:  Travis Williams
• College:  Hartnell College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes, from OpenStax
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: The course contains references to Hartnell College as well as lecture videos from my face-to-face classes.

BUS-1A: Financial Accounting (4 units)

• C-ID:  ACCT 110
• Catalog Entry:  This is the study of accounting as an information system, examining why it is important and how it is used by investors, creditors, and others to make decisions. The course covers the accounting information system, including recording and reporting of business transactions with a focus on the accounting cycle, the application of generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements, and statement analysis, includes issues relating to asset, liability, and equity valuation, revenue and expense recognition, cash flow, internal controls, and ethics.
• Faculty-Author:  Travis Williams
• College:  Hartnell College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes, from OpenStax
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record 
• Notes from author:  The course contains references to Hartnell College as well as lecture videos from my face-to-face classes.

ENGLISH

ENGL 101: Introduction to College Reading and Composition (4 units) 

• C-ID:  ENGL 100
• Catalog Entry:  ENGL 101 is an introduction to college composition that begins to prepare students for writing in the university setting and for a variety of contexts beyond the classroom. Students practice critical thinking, reading, and writing by applying a variety of strategies. Through reading and discussion of selected works, students learn to identify arguments and analyze texts for purpose, audience, context, and overall composition. Through writing, students contribute to an academic conversation and learn to position their ideas in relation to the ideas of others. Students also develop skills in argumentation, source integration, analysis of evidence, college-level research methods, information literacy, and citing according to academic conventions. In the writing process, students learn to generate original ideas through writing and to revise their work according to audience expectations.
• Faculty-Author:  Piper Rooney
• College:  Glendale Community College
• Uses fully-open course content:  No
• Uses zero cost textbook:  No, but uses low-cost text (below $40)
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record

ENG 1A: Principles of Composition I (4 units)

• C-ID:  ENGL 100
• Catalog Entry:  Focuses on composing academic-style expository and argumentative essays; essays feature a comprehensive thesis and logical support. Students will write original compositions increasing in level of difficulty and length, totaling at least 6,000 words, which will use rhetorical strategies such as textual analysis, causal analysis, comparison/contrast and argument. Students will read, interpret, and synthesize non-fiction sources using Standard Written English and MLA format. 
• Faculty-Author:  Ryan Hitch
• College:  Saddleback College
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: No, but required textbook is low-cost (about $1 used)
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: There are a few Canvas pages of content specific to Saddleback College that an instructor from another college should replace.

ENG 1B: Principles of Composition II (3 units)

• C-ID:  ENGL 105
• Catalog Entry:  Provides instruction in critical thinking and in writing expository and persuasive essays and documented papers totaling a minimum of 8,000 words. Instruction focuses on the development of logical reasoning, on analytical and argumentative writing skills, and on research strategies. Assignments are derived from themes and works in various disciplines and cultures. 
• Faculty-Author:  Ryan Hitch
• College:  Saddleback College
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: There are a few Canvas pages of content specific to Saddleback College that an instructor from another college should replace.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNING

ESL 004A: College ESL IV Grammar/Writing

• C-ID:  n/a
• Catalog Entry:  Students in this intermediate ESL course learn written composition, grammar, and critical reading skills to prepare them for college work. The emphasis is on writing based on critical reading and personal experience. Students will be introduced to summarizing skills. Grammar skills and mechanics are emphasized throughout each lesson. Required: Eight to ten writing assignments, including at least four paragraphs of 200-300 words.
• Faculty-Author:  Monique Cleveland
• College:  LA Pierce College
• Uses fully-open course content: No (Uses Pearson Longman Publishers - John Antrasian - john.antrasian@pearson.com)
• Uses zero cost textbook: No
• Requires proprietary software/applications: Yes - MyEnglishLab.com
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: There are a few Canvas pages of content specific to the author and Pierce College that an instructor from another college should replace.

ESL 321: Beginning Multiskills II

• C-ID:  n/a
• Catalog Entry:  A high-beginning course in English for non-native speakers. Emphasis is on listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Continues the familiarization with customs and culture. This course may be offered for zero units on an open-entry/open-exit basis. 
• Faculty-Author: Jia Frydenberg
• College:  Saddleback College
• Uses fully-open course content: No, some proprietary content
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: It's 90% my own content + royalty free images from Creative Commons. I only use the "NO known copyright restrictions" content. I use YouTube content, mostly from my own channel. All YouTube content has been checked for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

ESL 345: Advanced Writing I

• C-ID:  n/a
• Catalog Entry:  Designed for the non-native speaker of English focusing on advanced-level writing skills. Emphasis is on gaining control of complex sentence patterns and standard rhetorical patterns. Reading, vocabulary, and grammar activities support and supplement writing instruction. This course may be offered for zero units on an open-entry/open-exit basis. The unit version of this course is not open-entry/open-exit and may not be repeated.
• Faculty-Author: Jia Frydenberg
• College:  Saddleback College
• Uses fully-open course content: No, some proprietary content
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: It's 90% my own content + royalty free images from Creative Commons. I only use the "NO known copyright restrictions" content. I use YouTube content, mostly from my own channel. All YouTube content has been checked for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

ESL 346: Advanced Writing for Work

• C-ID:  n/a
• Catalog Entry:  Designed to improve non-native speakers' reading comprehension and written communication skills necessary for advanced-level work using "real world" texts. Students summarize examples of American business and technical communication, design, write, and analyze different communication examples of memoranda, letters, descriptions, instructions, and other reports focusing on impact, accuracy, and clarity in relation to audience and purpose. Students also review sentence structure and grammar as needed. This course may be offered for zero units on an open-entry/open-exit basis. The unit version of this course is not open-entry/open-exit and may not be repeated.
• Faculty-Author: Jia Frydenberg
• College:  Saddleback College
• Uses fully-open course content: No, some proprietary content
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: It's 90% my own content + royalty free images from Creative Commons. I only use the "NO known copyright restrictions" content. There are a few Canvas pages of content specific to Saddleback College that an instructor from another college should replace.

FIRE TECHNOLOGY

FT4 – Building Construction for Fire Protection (3 units)

• C-ID:  FIRE 130 X
• Catalog Entry:  Examines the fundamentals of building construction as they relate to fire protection including occupancy, building equipment, facilities, fire resistive materials, and high-rise considerations.
• Faculty-Author:  Craig Schwinge
• College:  Cabrillo College
• Uses fully-open course content:  No. Course uses publisher content (e.g., powerpoints and quizzes).
• Uses zero cost textbook:  No. Course uses Jones and Bartlett text.
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record 
• Notes from author:  Some course content is specific to Cabrillo College such as library and tutoring resources.

HISTORY

HIST 310: History of the United States to 1865 (3 units)

• C-ID:  HIST 130
• Catalog Entry:  This is a survey course on the establishment and development of the United States from its colonial beginnings to the end of Reconstruction in 1877. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the political, economic, social, and cultural developments of the United States during the designated time period. The course will cover the ideological influences that were instrumental in shaping the Constitution and other related government structures. Additionally, the course will address the institution of slavery and how the divisive issue dismembered the nation and further complicated the process of Reconstruction.
• Faculty-Author:  Greg Beyrer
• College:  Cosumnes River College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes, from OpenStax
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record 
• Notes from author:
  • I use Google Forms for some assignments, and the links inside the course will force the user to make a copy. The same is true of the anytime feedback form that is linked from the course.
  • For the videos, I use a mix of Canvas Studio and YouTube. Canvas Studio videos are not included in this course exported or shared via the Canvas Commons, but I expect that another instructor would want to record their own videos.

HIST 311: History of the United States 1865 - present (3 units)

• C-ID:  HIST 140
• Catalog Entry:  This is a survey course on the development and growth of the United States from Reconstruction to the present day. Particular emphasis will be placed upon the political, economic, social and cultural developments during the designated time period. The course will cover the establishment and evolutionary status of the U.S. as a leading world power. Additionally, the course will address the changes to American society resulting from various revolutionary movements on race, gender, orientation, and labor. Includes coverage of California state and local government.
• Faculty-Author:  Greg Beyrer
• College:  Cosumnes River College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes, from OpenStax
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record 
• Notes from author:
  • I use Google Forms for some assignments, and the links inside the course will force the user to make a copy. The same is true of the anytime feedback form that is linked from the course.
  • For the videos, I use a mix of Canvas Studio and YouTube. Canvas Studio videos are not included in this course exported or shared via the Canvas Commons, but I expect that another instructor would want to record their own videos.

MATH

MAT201 - Elementary Statistics (5 quarter units)

• C-ID:  MATH 110
• Catalog Entry (as of February 2022):  The use of probability techniques, hypothesis testing, and predictive techniques to facilitate decision-making. Topics include descriptive statistics; probability and sampling distributions; statistical inference; correlation and linear regression; analysis of variance, chi-square and t-tests; and application of technology for statistical analysis including the interpretation of the relevance of the statistical findings. Applications using data from disciplines including business, social sciences, psychology, life science, health science, and education.  Transferable to both UC and CSU.
• Faculty-Author:  Larry Green
• College:  Lake Tahoe Community College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author:  This course has some content that only works for me, such as instructor contact information.

MATH 185: Single Variable Calculus II (4 units)

• C-ID:  MATH 220
• Catalog Entry:  Applications of integrals, including volumes, work, arc length, and surface area. Integration techniques, differential equations, conics, parametric equations, polar coordinates, improper integrals, sequences, and infinite series.
• Faculty-Author:  Mike Everett
• College:  Santa Ana College
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes (OpenStax)
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No (MyOpenMath)
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: This course may include content specific to this instructor and Santa Ana College that will need to be replaced by the adopting instructor.

PHILOSOPHY

PHIL-6: Introduction to Philosophy (3 units)

• C-ID: PHIL 100
• Catalog Entry:  This is a transfer-level humanities course introducing students to some of the major philosophical issues in the history of philosophy through the critical examination of primary texts. It will both explore what is special about the questions philosophers ask and consider the most famous answers philosophers have given to those questions. Areas covered include philosophy of mind, epistemology,metaphysics, moral philosophy, political philosophy, philosophy of science, aesthetics, and philosophy of religion.
• Faculty-Author:  Ramon Tello
• College:  Shasta College
• Uses fully-open course content: No
• Uses zero cost textbook: No - Uses John Cottingham, ed. Western Philosophy, 2nd ed. (Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishers, 2008) ISBN 978-1-4051-2478-2
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: There is some custom content in this course that adopting faculty will need to cut or replace before they offer the course at their college.

PHIL 001: Introduction to Philosophy (3 units)

• C-ID: PHIL 100
• Catalog Entry:  Study of selected classic examples of original works of philosophers: Literature of the discipline and analytical methods, aims, goals, and types of problems peculiar to philosophers and philosophical inquiry; metaphysics, epistemology, valuing and axiology, aesthetics, and religion.
• Faculty-Author:  Ari Krupnick
• College:  Berkeley City College
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: No, but low cost - Uses Norton Introduction to Philosophy, 2nd Edition
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: There is some custom content in this course that adopting faculty will need to cut or replace before they offer the course at their college.

POLITICAL SCIENCE

POLISC150: Introduction to American Government and Politics

• C-ID: POLS 110
• Catalog Entry:  Examines the institutions, activities, and issues of American and California governments including an overview of the major ideas and forces that shape the use of public power in American society, the Constitution, the three branches of government, political parties, interest groups, and the media. Satisfies the Title V U.S. Constitution requirement and the California State and Local Government requirement.
• Faculty-Author:  Steven Reti
• College:  College of the Canyons
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications: No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: There is some custom content in this course that adopting faculty will need to cut or replace before they offer the course at their college.

SCIENCES

BIOL-2 Introduction to Human Biology (3 semester units)

• C-ID:  N/A
• Catalog Entry (as of February 2022):  Hours: 51.00 Lecture.  Transfer Status: Transferable to both UC and CSU.  This course is an introduction to the basic principles of biology focusing on humans as biological organisms. Topics include chemistry; cell and tissue structure; human body structure and function; human reproduction and development; human genetics, heredity and evolution; and human ecology. An emphasis is placed on the application of principles to current issues, including common human diseases, genetic engineering, and the impact of humans on the world's ecosystems. (Regular Graded). Effective: 2009 Spring Semester
• Faculty-Author:  Suzanne Wakim
• College:  Butte College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author:
  • This course can be found in Canvas Commons.  There is custom content in the syllabus, orientation module, and some of the homepages that will need to be changed.  There may also be stray references in other modules, but nothing significant.
  • This course is undergoing a significant improvement for this summer (2022). I don’t mind sharing it now, but there will be a much better version soon.  However, the new version will also use “ungrading,” which may be a big jump for some faculty. 

GEOG 1  Physical Geography (3 semester units)

• C-ID:  GEOG 110
• Catalog Entry:  Degree Applicable, CSU, UC.  Lecture: 54.  Prerequisite: Eligibility for ENGL 1A. Minerals, rocks, earthquakes, volcanoes, and landscapes are presented within a framework of plate tectonics operating in concert with atmospheric and oceanic processes. A required course for students entering geoscience majors. May be taken by non-majors as a transferable physical science plus lab. Required field trips may involve overnight camping.
• Faculty-Author:  Dafna Golden
• College:  Mt. San Antonio College
• Uses fully-open course content:  Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook:  Yes
• Requires proprietary software/applications:  No
• Course Outline of Record

WORLD LANGUAGES

ITAL 401: Elementary Italian (4 units)

• C-ID: N/A
• Catalog Entry:  
• Faculty-Author:  Alba Boyer
• College:  American River College
• Uses fully-open course content: Yes
• Uses zero cost textbook: N/A
• Requires proprietary software/applications: N/A
• Course Outline of Record
• Notes from author: This course is an introduction to the Italian language and culture of Italy. It includes the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing Italian with emphasis on the communicative skills, as well as the fundamentals of Italian pronunciation and grammar. (The basic structure of this Elementary Italian course has been shaped around the OER Textbook for Elementary Italian Identità dell’Italia Contemporanea by Andrea Petri. The final product also includes curated resources from the OER textbooks Spunti (Leisawitz and Viale) and Tutt*a Tavola (Stacy Giufre and Melina Masterson), resulting in an open course which truly is a collage of linguistic and cultural components immersing the students deep into the contemporary language and culture of Italy.) There is also custom content in this course that adopting faculty will want to cut or replace before they offer the course at their college.