• Harper Home
• Academics
• Choose a Start Smart Elective

Choose a Start Smart Elective

For many students, the transition to college can be challenging.  Start Smart classes are designed to help students in this transition by addressing many of the common “new student” concerns and to ensure that students receive all the support they might need.  Start Smart courses are taught by experienced faculty who care about new students and know exactly how to provide support AND inspire – at the same time.

Start Smart Students:

• Learn about the college experience with other new students.
• Benefit from meeting one-on-one with their advisor.
• Develop skills to succeed in their major and career and/or take time to explore their options.
• Map out their academic plan from start to finish!

What are Start Smart classes?

Students will take a First Year Seminar course or a Start Smart Course during their first year at Harper College.

• Find open Start Smart courses for Spring '23

FYS101- FIRST YEAR SEMINAR

Students will work on college skills that will help them be successful in all their classes while exploring majors and career paths that Harper has to offer. During this class, students will be encouraged to meet with their advisor and work together to create an Ed Plan. This ensures that students will get a degree or certificate on time.

FYS/ENG Learning Community

First Year Seminar Learning Community is a partially integrated Learning Community that pairs an FYS class and ENG class. The same group of students are taking the same FYS and ENG back-to-back. The class is taught by two teachers who know each other, plan assignments together, and have your best interests in mind.

Students who are part of a learning community at Harper feel more supported, have a greater sense of community and do better in their classes.

* Please note that you must register for both classes at the same time.

MATH REBOOT
Math ReBoot is a First Year Seminar class designed for students who place into Math 055. During this course students, will have an opportunity to practice important learning strategies and study skills while preparing to retake the ALEKS placement test.

Other Start Smart Courses

ART121- DESIGN I
Introduces students to skills fundamental to two-dimensional visual organization. Explores elements such as line, shape and color, and principles such as unity, balance and variation. Provides a foundation for all areas of art and design. Start Smart Program sections include exploration, discussion, and advising for transfer and careers in all areas of art and design.

ECE101- INTRO TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDU
Provides an overview of early childhood care and education, including the basic values, structure, organization and programming. Examination of the student’s personal qualities in relationship to expectations of the field. Directed observation in a variety of programs and settings. Fifteen (15) hours of observation required. (NOTE: The program’s health requirements must be completed prior to observation.)

EDU201- INTRODUCTION TO EDUCATION
This course provides an overview of the American education system and the profession of teaching. Includes an exploration of career opportunities, licensure requirements for teachers and teacher aides, as well academic planning for both transfer and career.

EGR100- INTRODUCTION TO ENGINEERING

Introduces engineering techniques, methods and history. Explores career options and requirements for various engineering fields. Covers interrelationships within and between engineering, technology and science to allow differentiation between various career choices. 

ELT110-INTRODUCTORY ELECTRONICS
Introduces fundamentals of electricity and magnetism. Covers basic electrical laws and principles. Presents electrical quantities, units, symbols and notation. Examines foundational electronic materials and components. Presents elementary DC (direct current) and AC (alternating current) network analysis, key semiconductor devices, and simple analog and digital circuits. Also covers electrical safety considerations, laboratory instrumentation and test and measurement techniques.

EMG101- INTRODUCTION TO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Provides a foundation overview of emergency management. Students will examine the need for emergency management, processes and elements involved in disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

FAS112- FASHION BASICS
Presents fashion merchandise through evaluation of fashion products. Develops awareness of construction, as well as workmanship and design elements, such as fabric, color, silhouette and taste.

FIS100- FUNDAMENTALS OF FIRE AND EMERGENCY SERVICES
Provides an overview of fire protection; career opportunities in fire protection and related fields; philosophy and history of fire protection/service; fire loss analysis; organization and function of public and private fire protection services; fire departments as part of local government; laws and regulations affecting the fire service; fire service nomenclature; specific fire protection functions; basic fire chemistry and physics; fire protection systems; introduction to fire strategy and tactics.

FSM111- INTRODUCTION TO THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY
Orients students to the hospitality industry, its organizational structure and integration of the modern industry components. Operational considerations are discussed. Career opportunities are explored.

FYS101- FIRST YEAR SEMINAR

Students will work on college skills that will help them be successful in all their classes while exploring majors and career paths that Harper has to offer. During this class, students will be encouraged to meet with their advisor and work together to create an Ed Plan. This helps to ensure that students will get a degree or certificate on time.

HVA101- REFRIGERATION FUNDAMENTALS
Introduces vocabulary, concepts and scientific principles used in the refrigeration and air conditioning industry. Studies theories on heat laws, pressures, matter, and energy; examines refrigerant chemistry and the refrigeration cycle. Covers proper refrigerant management techniques and safe practices. Emphasizes practical application, troubleshooting techniques, measuring and testing the operation of the basic refrigeration cycle; including working with ACR copper tubing, tools, and instruments. (formerly RAC 101)
Prerequisite: Prior or concurrent enrollment in ELT 110 (Introductory Electronics) and MTH 097 (Basic Technical Mathematics) with grades of C or better, or consent of coordinator.

HVA103- HEATING PRINCIPLES
Introduces vocabulary, concepts and scientific principles used in the heating industry. Studies heat laws, heat transfer, and examines fundamentals of the combustion process. Covers gas, oil, and electric forced-air systems for residential comfort heating. Emphasizes practical application for testing and adjusting system performance, troubleshooting electrical systems and control, working with gas pipe, preventative maintenance, service and repair. (formerly RAC 103)

KIN200- INTRODUCTION TO THE FIELD OF KINESIOLOGY
Provides a fundamental introduction to the academic content areas that make up the discipline of kinesiology, including: anatomy & physiology, exercise science, biomechanics, motor control & learning, psychology and sociology. Introduces the professional field of kinesiology and looks at career paths within the major such as: Rehabilitation, Sports Management, Personal Training, and Physical Education. This course assesses students' personal traits and professional skill sets, with emphasis on development for increased candidacy in academic and/or professional pursuits related to the field of kinesiology.

LEJ101- INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Studies the history, role, development, and constitutional aspects of law enforcement and public safety. Review of agencies and functions involved in processes of administration of criminal justice. IAI CRJ 901

MGT111- INTRO TO BUSINESS ORGANIZATION
Introduces the nature of business and the environment in which it operates. Forms of business ownership, introduction to operative and facilitating facets of business operation, management, marketing, accounting, statistics, business law, finance, investments, insurance and labor-management relations.

PLS101- INTRODUCTION TO PARALEGAL STUDIES
Surveys the functions of law; courts and lawyers in modern society; analysis of the origin, training and role of the paralegal; professional responsibilities of the lawyer; outline of the fields and specializations within the practice of law; and instruction in legal research and writing upon a review of the sources and works of law. Students must take the Paralegal Studies entrance examination.

SCM101- SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT
Introduces Supply Chain Management (SCM) and the end-to-end (E2E) business processes necessary to achieve market and financial value, as well as competitive advantage. SCM is achieved by an organization proactively adopting initiatives to move suppliers and customers into collaborative relationships for mutual gain. Attention is focused on the fundamentals including customer service, fulfillment, demand planning and forecasting, inventory control, procurement, storeroom/warehousing, production control/operations, and physical distribution/logistics. All topics focus on technology, financial trends and career paths within the field.