NCLC 249

Internet Literacy

This is a 4 credit New Century College course. The subject of study is various aspects of the Internet - Web publishing, evaluating Web sources, investigating virtual communities, becoming knowledgeable about copyright and the Internet, and other major Internet issues. A significant amount of class discussion will be on the Web. You will learn some basic html , use some Web publishing software, and learn Web design principles. This is not a graphics design class or advanced Web publisihing class. The major thrust of this course is academic - we will study and critique the Internet culture, discuss basic hypertext theory, and do a significant amount of reading, writing and critiquing. A significant amount of your work will be published on your course Web site. You will have the opportunity to revise some of your work if you follow these guidelines.

NCLC 244

Beats, Rhyme and Culture [Read Washington Times Article on the Fall 2002 class]

BEATS, RHYME AND CULTURE will examine the history of Hip-Hop and the effect it has had on our society. The primary focus of this course is to engage Hip-Hop not as a mode of entertainment, but as a medium of communication which impacts, represents, and misrepresents the life experiences of youth (especially inner-city youth) in the United States. The historical, socio-economic, and musical/aesthetic contexts from which Hip-Hop emerged will be analyzed. Distinct themes and phenomena that define Hip-Hop will be presented and discussed as well. The goal of this course is to have you critically think, write, and discuss the origins, themes, and direction of Hip-Hop in the context of contemporary American culture and abroad.

NCLC 445

Multimedia Research and Concept Development[<---Spring 2002 Course]

This is a 4 credit New Century College course. The goal of this course will be to provide a solid background in multimedia research and concept development from a scientific yet practical point of view. Students will gain a full understanding of the computer-based principles behind multimedia and appreciate the symbiotic relationship between the two. Finally, you will learn about the life cycle of development for a multimedia application including topics such as: "what constitutes a good idea," "usability testing," and "copyright issues."

NCLC 375

Hip-Hop Literacies
Hip-Hop LITERACIES, a four credit online (about 1/3 of the class sessions will be via the web), writing and technology intensive course, will examine the written expressions of Hip-Hop culture and deconstruct their meaning and impact.  Three distinct literacies can be identified within Hip-Hop:  Graffiti, rap music and spoken word poetry.

This course will indoctrinate students to Hip-Hop culture (1974-2000) and then revisit each literacy for critical inquiry.   Utilizing a combination of text, multimedia (film clips, music, pictures distributed via DVD), and intellectual dialogue, we will explore each literacy in proper space and context.  

Online portions of the course will employ discussion boards, live chats (based on class readings) and online literary critiques/reviews.   Finally, students will be required to attend 2 Hip-Hop related events as part of experiential learning.  

NCLC375

Black Voices In Hip-Hop

Black Voices in Hip-Hop (a four credit corse) will examine the first ten years (1968-1978) of the movement which has become known as Hip-Hop culture. While rap music has become the dominant aspect of Hip-Hop culture, it was graffiti and breakdancing which provided the foundation. Both of these areas will be examined, not only for their entertainment value, but for their contribution to the struggle for equality and recognition for the underprivileged minorities (despite the title of the course, contributions from other groups, especially Hispanic Americans will also be covered) whose collective voice had otherwise been muted and buried in the impoverished neighborhoods of urban America.
Specifically, the grassroots movement which took place in the South Bronx as a direct response to the lack of political power and overt alienation of the working/underclass of the Bronx will be scrutinized. Issues such as urban education, urban housing, political activism (as well as the governments response), media coverage, Black film, Black literature, and television will be covered. By the end of this course, students will be able to view the early years of Hip-Hop not only for its entertainment value, rather in context with the political, social, and even global events which affected its maturation.

BIS 491

Senior Project Presentation

This course provides a forum for formally presenting your Senior Project to peers, BIS staff, and your faculty advisor/committee members. BIS 491 runs concurrent to your enrollment in BIS 490: The Bachelor of Individualized Study (BIS) Senior Project. BIS 390: The Research Process is a prerequisite (for all admitted Fall 2000 and beyond).