Section 26, Schedule #43131 Room: BAM 245
Dr. Gretchen Vik
Office: SS3114 (EAST Student Services Bldg.) Office Hours: MW: 1-1:45
Phone (and messages): 594-6024 or Email to Gretchen.Vik@SDSU.edu
My other classes meet MW 9-10:15, 4-5:40 pm, and 6-7:40 pm, so I am in the office a lot MW in between classes.

Course Objective: This class will give you tools to succeed at San Diego State by helping you learn about

• the campus and the services your fees pay for,
• effective use of your time in school and activities,
• how the university works,
• how to plan your future classes and career, and
• enjoying and profiting from your time here.

You will learn more about critical thinking, writing in a college environment, and using the library--all skills that will help you in all your other classes here. Your related study skills class will also help you take notes, study, and succeed on exams. The Integrated Curriculum program in Business is designed to help you get started successfully in your potential major.

MY responsibility is to help you succeed at SDSU--YOUR responsibility is to do your assignments, attend class and the field visits, and ASK QUESTIONS about campus survival strategies and intellectual life.

Required Materials
SDSU General Catalogue (1998-1999 Undergraduate)
A calendar, organizer, or scheduler (create one from the computer if you wish)
Spring 1999 Course Schedule (when available)

Expectations to receive CREDIT grade:
1. Get an SDSU Email address set up and USE it to contact me.
2. Be on time to class and resource visits. Email or call me if you will not be in class.
3. Turn in the written assignments:
--A one-page summary and analysis of each resource visit.
--A pre-assignment for some resource visits.
--Some writing reacting to readings I bring in or you choose.
--Calendar for time management
--Budget for October
4. Give one short, planned, but informal, presentation in class.

Weekly Assignments
Week 1: Introduction to course.
Handouts: data sheet (fill out now and hand in by end of class)
E-mail account instructions (send me an E-mail message by noon September 14 telling me which computer lab you are using to send it and how your semester is going so far);
calendar (fill out dates of your exams and papers in all your classes and bring to our class on September 9). Activities: Complete data sheet.
Assignment due September 16: Write a short article (200-300 words?) for your future alumni magazine about the job you would most like to have if salary were no object. Make sure the audience can "see" why that job is so good for you.

Week 2: Discuss article from Parade magazine

Week 3: Due: Dream Job Article. Activities: Discuss how your dream jobs fit your career plans. Discuss your research needs for the semester so next week's resource visit is most useful. Plan campus activity report: and possible presentation.

Week 4: Library Resource Visit, New Library Addition, rm. 76
You will learn about library search techniques using the PAC, a newspaper index, and the Expanded Academic Index. Visit the library ahead of time for a self-guided tour if you can.

Week 5: Due: library resource visit report (description and evaluation). Plan for Wellness visit: what questions do you have for representatives from Public Safety, Health Services, and Counseling and Psychological Services? Handout: Budget assignment.

Week 6: Wellness Resource Visit: meet in Love Library 431. Plan enough time to enter through the new library dome, go through the tunnel and then up to the 4th floor.

Week 7: Due: wellness resource visit report (description and evaluation). Discuss campus activities (your written reports and presentations).

Week 8: Career Services Resource Visit, SS 1200

Week 9: Due: your one-page report on the Career Services visit. Describe the visit to someone who was not there; then evaluate the information received and the presentation.

Week 10: Campus Activities: presentations on organizations/activities on campus you have researched. Activities: Bring the Advising Center Resource Exercise so I can help you finish it before the resource visit.

Week 11: University Advising Center Resource Visit, SS1641
BRING: Written-out answers to the advising questions on the University Advising Center Resource Exercise, test scores if available, SDSU General Catalog, SDSU Fall 1998 Class Schedule. Professor Vik will be at the Association for Business Communication meeting in San Antonio, Texas E-mail me your reaction to the Resource visit by midnight November 15.

Week 12: Activities: Work on your class schedule for Spring 1998. Visit from upperclassperson if possible.

Week 13: Plan your visit home at Thanksgiving and your short paper due December 2.

Week 14: Presentations on Business Research Topics.

Week 15: Due: Letter to 1998 Freshman (tell what to expect at SDSU and what to do to succeed here); Course evaluation.