Academic Learning Services (ALS)

ALS 002, LEADERSHIP, 0 Credits

Provides students with basic personal and interpersonal leadership skills that can be used within and outside of a work setting. Through practice, the leadership experience help students explore motivation, decision-making, time management, power, team building, conflict, ethics, dealing with change, communication skills, and diversity issues.

ALS 107, CAMP ORIENTATION, 1-3 Credits

Assists students of migrant worker background to develop successful skills adaptive to the culture of higher education.

This course is repeatable for 9 credits.

ALS 109, TRIO-SSS FIRST-YEAR STUDENT SUCCESS, 2 Credits

For TRIO-SSS students. Designed to ease their transition to college by providing technological and academic skills, as well as knowledge of resources and the information necessary to be successful students and productive citizens. Students will also learn the importance of self-reliance and the skills necessary to be self-sufficient.

ALS 114, CAREER DECISION MAKING, 2 Credits

Students will become knowledgeable about the world of work and career development theories using career assessment, literature, media, and computer resources.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 116, ACADEMIC SUCCESS, 2 Credits

Assessment and development of strategies for succeeding in university-level academics. Topics include time management, goal setting, critical thinking, note taking, and study skills.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 139, WELCOME TO OSU: INTERNATIONAL FIRST YEAR EXPERIENCE, 3 Credits

A university integration class specifically designed for new students at Oregon State University. Explore topics such as academic integrity, working with academic advisors, U.S. academic culture, navigating campus resources, communicating with professors, and integrating into the campus community.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 140, INTRODUCTION TO UNIVERSITY READING AND WRITING, 3 Credits

Students will strengthen their ability to comprehend and analyze a variety of texts. They will also improve the unity and coherence of their writing as well as develop techniques for writing in an academic setting. Students will focus on strategic reading and content analysis; comparing and contrasting ideas; considering different points of view; and linking cause and effect relationships. In addition, students will be introduced to concepts regarding academic accountability and using outside sources in their writing.

Corequisites: ALS 181

ALS 141, INTRODUCTION TO UNIVERSITY LISTENING AND SPEAKING, 3 Credits

Students will improve their ability to understand main ideas, important details, and implied meanings of authentic academic speech. They will listen to audio and video lectures, participate in in-class discussions, improve their note-taking skills, and conduct basic research that they will present in formal and informal in-class presentations.

Corequisites: ALS 181

ALS 145, BUILDING STRATEGIES FOR GRADUATE SUCCESS, 3 Credits

Provides international graduate students with cultural and academic support to supplement other content-based and language-focused courses. Emphasizes skills for graduate student success such as time management, group work, planning, professional development, and effective communication. Surveys campus resources.

ALS 150, INTO OSU ACADEMIC READING AND WRITING 5, 3 Credits

Designed to provide international and/or immigrant students substantive practice in reading and writing English at the advanced level. Read, understand and discuss a variety of academic readings from the natural and physical sciences, the social sciences, the humanities and literature. Work on reading skills; vocabulary acquisition; library and research skills; paraphrasing and summarizing; and the organization, style and development of essays.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 151, INTO OSU ACADEMIC LISTENING AND SPEAKING 5, 3 Credits

Skill building to develop and improve comprehension and notetaking of lectures in an academic format. Students required to give individual and group presentations including informational, argumentative, and persuasive presentations. Instruction is given in cross-cultural communications styles, non-verbal communication, questioning techniques, and clarifying information.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 161, LECTURE AND PRESENTATION METHODS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, 3 Credits

Develop and improve comprehension and notetaking of lectures in an academic format. Give individual and group presentations. Develop skills in cross-cultural communication styles, non-verbal communication, questioning techniques, and clarifying information.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 162, ADVANCED ACADEMIC WRITING FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, 3 Credits

University reading and writing skills for international students. Comprehension of advanced authentic academic texts, including full-length academic articles on a variety of topics. Production of written texts that develop arguments systematically, synthesize and integrate information from multiple sources, underline relevant salient issues, and expand and support opinions on a range of advanced academic topics. Academic reading, and writing strategies.

Prerequisite: ALS 150 with C- or better

Available via Ecampus

ALS 165, TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS, 3 Credits

Helps students develop comprehension of university-level academic material, engage in classroom discussions, and make academic presentations. Comprehension topics include note-taking skills and understanding organizational structures and signals used by university academic lecturers and discussions in STEM-related fields. Presentation skill development activities prepare students for COMM 111Z and COMM 218Z, focusing on incorporating outside research from library sources (such as academic journals, newspapers, magazines, and textbooks) and working together with other students. Emphasis on group participation, equal sharing of group projects, self-evaluation, and critiques of the presentation styles of peers and lecturers.

ALS 166, WRITING/RESEARCH METHODS FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS, 3 Credits

Emphasizes reading and writing skills required for graduate-level STEM majors at the university, focusing on a wide range of reading skills and strategies that include critically analyzing academic journal articles, synthesizing ideas, vocabulary expansion, and vocabulary acquisition skills. Reading and vocabulary study are centered on a range of STEM fields and student interests. Written work focuses on writing critical reactions to readings through synthesizing multiple sources and developing coherent arguments. Students develop skills of summarizing, paraphrasing, utilizing appropriate grammar, customizing their writing style to their audience, and increasing familiarization with library and online resources.

ALS 174, PROFESSIONAL WRITING FOR GRADUATE BUSINESS STUDENTS, 3 Credits

Emphasizes development of reading, writing and critical thinking skills needed for progression into the MBA program. Written work focuses on writing critical reactions to readings, summarizing, paraphrasing and synthesizing information and increasing familiarization with library and online resources. Additionally, the course gives attention to a range of reading skills and strategies, including vocabulary expansion and vocabulary acquisition skills. Students will develop business vocabulary and knowledge of key business concepts by reading and analyzing real-world business case studies and writing case briefs.

ALS 176, PROFESSIONAL WRITING FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADUATE STUDENTS, 3 Credits

Emphasizes reading, writing and critical thinking skills required for success in graduate STEM classes. Written work focuses on writing about in-class experiments that replicate real-world procedures in STEM fields. Develops summary skills, with an emphasis on technical report writing, and develops skills in writing about procedures and recommendations. Focuses on improving reading comprehension of authentic STEM texts found in reports, articles and published papers. Students will develop skills in using STEM-focused online databases. Finally, teamwork and revision are essential components of the course.

ALS 181, INTO OSU ESL BRIDGE, 2 Credits

This course acts as a "bridge" for international students enrolled in specific OSU courses. It supports the understanding of OSU course assignments and vocabulary, and helps to build language skills needed to fulfill assignments. Classroom activities include, but are not limited to, discussions, in-class exercises, vocabulary games and exercises, and work in Canvas.

This course is repeatable for 8 credits.

ALS 190, BEST ORIENTATION, 1-5 Credits

Focuses on study skills, time management and college success strategies specifically targeted to improve the academic performance of first-year student athletes at Oregon State University. Covers study strategies, time management, note taking, test preparation, critical reading, OSU’s campus resources, and online learning platforms. Students practice these skills in an accompanying baccalaureate core class. Provides first-year student athletes with a summer introduction to college along with strategies for balancing athletics and academics at the Division I level.

This course is repeatable for 5 credits.

ALS 191, UNIVERSITY EXPLORATORY STUDIES PGM FIRST-YEAR TRANSITIONS, 2 Credits

Provides support to new first-year University Exploratory Studies Program (UESP) students in their transition to the university and explores foundational experiences and resources to support academic and personal exploration at OSU. Examines tools to identify personal strengths, values, interests and preferences, and resources to reflect on how these elements correspond to the various academic pathways at the university.

ALS 199, SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-3 Credits

Equivalent to: ALS 199H

This course is repeatable for 9 credits.

Available via Ecampus

ALS 199H, SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-3 Credits

Attributes: HNRS – Honors Course Designator

Equivalent to: ALS 199

This course is repeatable for 9 credits.

ALS 210, HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN YOUR INTERNSHIP SEARCH, 2 Credits

Internship preparation course designed to provide students with the fundamental tools to find and secure an internship. Topics will include internship search strategies, resumes, cover letters, and interviewing. Guest speakers will provide additional insight into these topics from the perspective of employers and students with prior internship experience. Reflection on student's interests, values, and goals will also be integrated into the course.

ALS 299, SPECIAL TOPICS, 1-3 Credits

This course is repeatable for 9 credits.