King's College Graduate Courses - Summer 2008

Course Descriptions - Master's in Reading

Educ 500 - Educational Research for Teachers . This course deals with understanding, developing, and utilizing data as applied to educational problems. The course will include an overview of quantitative and qualitative educational research. The major emphasis of the course will be teacher involvement in the action research process. This course is normally taken just before undertaking the Reading Research Project (Educ 575). Permission required. (3 credits)

Educ 510 - Developmental Nature of Reading. The nature of literacy learning is explored from the perspective of children constructing meaning and being actively involved in their learning. The reading-writing relationship and authentic assessment procedures are stressed. (3 credits)

Educ 520 - The Writing Process K-12. This course examines writing as a means of facilitating language development and learning. Practical means of implementing writing and the writing process into all aspects of the curriculum are examined, along with the reading-writing connection and writer's workshop. The goal of the course is to develop an understanding of the purpose for writing in K-12 classrooms. (3 credits)

Educ 550 - Reading Clinic Practicum. This course is a clinic to implement instruction to improve a child's literacy abilities. The course provides for the application of the assessment and strategies discussed in Educ 516 and concludes the two-part Reading practicum experience. After working with a client, each student will write a report of the child's literacy ability, with a description of instruction, and recommend procedures for further assistance. Prerequisite: Educ 516. Permission required. (3 credits)

Educ 575 - Reading Research Project. Each student will engage in a reading research project in an area of special interest. Upon completion of the project, students will write a professional-quality academic paper. Prerequisite: Educ 500 . Permission required. (3 credits)

Educ 5237 - Meet the Authors: Writing Books for Young People . This course will examine children's and adolescent literature. Participants will gather in plenary sessions each morning with a panel of children's authors. In the afternoon, participants will meet in separate graduate-level sections for further instruction and discussion. Note: this course is different from the previously-offered Educ 5230 and Educ 5235 (Children's Literature Conferences) and may be taken by individuals who have already completed Educ 5230 or Educ 5235. (3 credits)
This course is being offered through the Professional Development Center; with the early-bird discount, tuition is $770. For more information, see the flyer for this course. Note: this course fulfills the requirement for Educ 523.

Educ 5844 - Time to Read a Different Book: Multicultural Literature for Reluctant Readers . In this class, participants will survey books from a variety of cultures which have been proven to draw reluctant readers to excellent modern literature. Participants will also explore the use of powerful methods for presenting these books to studnets in the classromm. Interest inventories, literature circles, book clubs, Socratic circles, and self-directed student literature groups will be investigated. Classroom management, modeling and scaffolding of supportive group behaviors, as well as the setting of boundaries within discussion groups, will be explored. Also discussed will be the association between outstanding literature and fostering of creative writing for young adults. This course will be taught by Danna Williams, M.Ed., Luzerne County Community College. It is being offered through the Professional Development Center; with the early-bird discount, tuition is $670. This course may be used as an elective in the Reading program. (3 credits)

Course Descriptions - Graduate Certificate in English as a Second Language (ESL)

Educ 600 - Basics of English Grammar, First and Second Language Acquisition and Instructional Strategies for Second Language Acquisition. This course focuses on the grammar and structure of the English language including the components: lexical, syntactical, phonological and morphological. Theoretical perspectives of first and second language acquisition are examined. Also covered: literacy development, and pedagogical or instructional teaching. Students develop activities to demonstrate selected instructional strategies and theoretical acquisition perspectives. Each student follows an ESL classroom student across several weeks, compiling a written study of teaching strategies, second language theories and activities that either worked well or didn't work. (3 credits)

Course Descriptions - Master's in Health Care Administration

HCA 500 - Introduction to Health Services Systems. This course is designed as a comprehensive introduction to the organization of the U.S. health care "system." It examines the major institutions, professions, and political forces that influence the provision of health care services in the United States . Students explore the development of each major component of the medical care system from an historical perspective by examining the changes in their organization and role over time. They also consider the major problems presently confronting each aspect of health care and discuss alternative means of resolving these issues for the future. This is a required course both for the master's program and for the certificate program in Executive Leadership. (3 credits)

HCA 501 - Health Policy. This course introduces the student to current major issues in health policy. This course discusses the politics of health policy in terms of legislation at both the state and federal level. Key forces such as power development, special interest groups, economics and cost benefit analysis are discussed. Major policy issues that are reviewed include managed care, public health, Medicare and Medicaid, technology assessment, and population-based medicine . This course will be offered on-line, via the internet . It is required in the master's program and is also required for both the certificate program in Executive Leadership and in Public Health Administration. (3 credits)

HCA 504 - Health Care Economics . This course is an in-depth study of the major topics in health care economics. The course examines the production, cost, and financing of health care services, delivery mechanisms and their effects, health labor markets and professional training, and use of economic evaluation tools (cost-effectiveness and cost-benefit analyses) in making decisions about allocation of scarce resources. Students comprehend the essential economic concepts, critically review relevant research evidence, and consider the policy implications for the various interest groups in both private and public sector. This is a required course for the master's program. (3 credits)

HCA 511 - Quantitative Business Methods for Health Care. This course focuses on the development and use of statistical analysis in health care. Students are introduced to the essential definitions, concepts, and tools of statistical analysis and Excel statistical functions. Students will use their knowledge of statistics and Excel to identify and run appropriate statistical tests based on the goal(s) of the analysis and data availability. Statistical tests covered include chi-square, t-test, analysis of variance, regression, and Logit. The goal of the course is to improve policy and administrative decision-making in health care settings using statistical techniques. This is a required course for the master's program. (3 credits)

HCA 531 - Understanding Organizational Ethics. This course is designed to expose graduate students to the kinds of moral problems they will encounter as professionals in their functional areas. The focus of the course is policy formulation and implementation, with emphasis placed on the ethical dimensions and ramifications of that process. A series of current corporate case problems is reviewed and discussed in order to raise some of the major ethical issues involved in managing the organization's relationships with its many publics . This course is required for the master's program. (3 credits)

HCA 571 - Health Care Marketing. This course provides a survey of marketing concepts as applied to health services organizations. An examination of marketing strategies useful in the delivery of health care services is provided to students. Special attention will be focused on market research, pricing, targeting a market, new product development, innovation, and the development of a marketing plan . This course will be offered on-line, via the internet . It is an elective both for the master's program and for the certificate in Executive Leadership; it is required for the certificate program in Public Health Administration. (3 credits)

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