Core Courses

College Experience seniors prepare for the working world by participating in an internship. Students choose a career field and are provided with assistance from a job developer to apply and interview for job openings. Once an internship or job is identified, students are provided with one-on-one job coaching services until they feel confident in completing the job.

This course will focus on the beginning steps for employment: resume development, career assessment, interview skills, job shadows. Students will set personal goals related to careers and employment. This course will expose students to a wide variety of different careers, as well as hard and soft skills needed in the workplace. Early exposure to job shadows and self-awareness of individual skills sets will assist in the exploration process. Students partaking in this course will also develop and create their own career portfolio. The portfolio will consist of the following: previous work history, resume, summary of skills, references, letters of recommendation, and complete reference letters from past supervisors.

This course consists of advanced career counseling supported by a seminar. The seminar will focus on assuring students’ acquisition of skills in negotiating successful, real workplace situations, such as: communication refinement, acceptance and rejection, conflict and resolution, co-worker and supervisor relationships, self-awareness and self-monitoring, stress management and positive outcomes. Students will be engaged in performance assessment, involving input from students, employers, college professors, and job coaches.

Students will focus on learning how to put together a balanced meal, and the nutrition behind learning what a balanced meal entails. Students will also gain the skills to take a desired meal and break down the required ingredients needed to create the meal to develop a grocery shopping list. Students will use cook books and simplified recipes for meal inspiration. Students will create a one-week menu and grocery shopping list and shop on a $50 budget.

This hands-on workshop will allow students to practice the skills required for independent living. Topics may include but are not limited to: household maintenance, environmental services, laundry care, medical management, recreation and achieving a balanced lifestyle.

Cooking is a course designed to teach students with all experience levels how to improve their confidence in the kitchen. Students will learn how to use the appliances, learn the names of the kitchen tools and kitchen safety. Students will learn how to cook basic foods independently. As skills progress students will learn how to prepare multi-step balanced meals. Food groups, healthy choices and portion control will be discussed.

Students will create a personalized digital cookbook containing their favorite recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. Cookbooks will be developed over the span of the student’s time in the program, and will be used as an aide in menu planning and grocery shopping each week.

This course teaches students how to navigate the Saint Rose campus and the Capital District. Students will learn how to navigate the CDTA bus system through repetitive practice and visual aids until they can confidently and independently ride the bus. Students will learn bus routes to popular destinations. Students will also learn the route to prospective internships and the steps necessary to plan a route independently. Students will discuss situations and conditions they must take into account when traveling to a future site of employment to avoid being late or arriving too early and how to problem solve situations when speaking with employers if their public transit has them arrive late to work.

CEP students have the opportunity to get involved in two communities beyond the program: the College of Saint Rose and Albany city. Considering the opportunities these two communities have to offer, students have a wealth of varied activities to choose to be a part of. Weekly meetings and emails to keep students informed allow them to participate in multiple events during the week and on the weekend. A specific number of St. Rose sponsored events will be required throughout the semester. A specific number of weekend events will be required throughout the semester. This requirement is to ensure community involvement and social integration.

Cooking is a course designed to teach students with all experience levels how to improve their confidence in the kitchen. Students will learn how to use the appliances, learn the names of the kitchen tools and kitchen safety. Students will learn how to cook basic foods independently. As skills progress students will learn how to prepare multi-step balanced meals. Food groups, healthy choices and portion control will be discussed.

The objective of this course is to support students with their personal finances and spending habits as they continue to navigate the financial responsibilities of living independently. Students will enhance their knowledge on a variety of financial topics such as, budgeting, types of expenses, tradeoffs, prioritizing bill payments, monitoring bank transactions, creating a savings plan and much more. Students will plan a day trip throughout the course that they will need to budget for and plan out all related expenses.

Budgeting for Independence addresses the importance of financial education in real-life settings. This course is designed to increase students’ knowledge, independence, and experience with earning money, saving money, and spending money as it pertains to their future. Topics include: Banking & strategic shopping strategies, sales/ income taxes, understanding a paycheck, reading utility bills, budgeting for all independent living expenses, identity theft, confidently using cash & credit, percentages (tipping, discounts), and a strong focus on budgeting throughout the semester.

Students will learn all the facets of online banking, managing bank accounts via a phone application, and will plan their spending for the week. Students will also learn about direct deposit, managing paychecks, and how to check their account balance. Students will learn about filling out a W-2, and understanding how they are taxed with their future paycheck. Student’s will also learn how to read a paystub to understand their future paycheck deductions.

This course will study the management of funds. Topics discussed: importance of money, creating a budget, checking & savings accounts, pros and cons of varying forms of payment (cash, checkbook, credit/debit cards), keeping a balancing budget and identity theft. Students will be required to join a local bank, since hands-on visits to the bank are a necessary part of the class.

This course will delve deeper into the world of managing personal finances. Topics of discussion will include: creating and balancing budgets, comparing banks, choices associated with saving money, credit, loans and identity theft. As part of this course, students will be required to manage their own savings and checking accounts and explore the banking options discussed in class.

Upon completion of Finance I and II students will continue to work on their personal finances with a focus on budgeting. In preparation for independent living, students will learn how to set up and follow a budget. They will review where their money comes from (SSI,SSDI, parents, jobs, etc.) and what their expenses are. Students will continue to use skills they have learned in Finance I and II such as online banking and how to use their money responsibly in the community.

Upon completion of Budgeting I, students will continue to develop their personal fiancé skills. Students will open an account with Key Bank, learn how to use online banking including the use of a smart phone banking app. Students will practice withdrawing money from a Key Bank ATM, as well as learn safety and awareness when operating an ATM in the community. Students will begin to apply their finance and budgeting skills in the real world with the application of paying utility bills and rent.

This course focuses on learning the foundations of basic computer skills, including Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, Microsoft Word, search engines, the internet and e-mail. Students will receive hands-on training and will apply these computer skills in required courses for The College Experience Program. Internet safety will be stressed.

This course focuses on learning the foundations of basic computer skills, including Microsoft Word, search engines, the internet and e-mail. Students will receive hands-on training and will apply these computer skills in required courses for The College Experience Program. Internet safety will be stressed. This course is similar to Computer Applications, however, taught at a slower pace for beginners learning.

This course will provide students the opportunity to learn about, practice, and think critically about how they communicate with each other. Using a sociological perspective and experiential activities, students will learn about and practice understanding body language, building and maintaining relationships, conversational skills, online communication, conflict resolution, as well as how to deal with the potential stress and anxiety that can come from increasing responsibilities and external demands.

The purpose of this class is to help students improve their conflict resolution skills and help them navigate challenging situations with peers, family members, colleagues, and more. We will focus on conflict prevention, de-escalation, assertiveness, and problem solving so that students are better able to find resolutions that strengthen relationships with others and improve self-advocacy and confidence. Students will learn about natural supports to utilize at their job site such as Human Resources if they were to find themselves in a challenging situation with their supervisor.

Although in many situations, stress prompts us to respond to life’s challenges, we generally view stress as something to minimize and manage. Chronic stress affects our susceptibility to illness and disease, our ability to learn and retain information and the quality of our interpersonal relationships. In this course, students will learn specific stress management techniques that include breathing, yoga, and relaxation exercises aimed at reducing the physiological consequences of stress. In addition, students will learn behavioral and cognitive strategies that promote adaptive responses to various physical, psychological and emotional stressors that are an inevitable part of life.

This course will give students the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills specific to personal relationships. Through lectures, media, activities, and projects students will learn about friendships, stages of dating, communication, respect, social skills, including small talk, conflict resolution, and problem solving. Students will focus on professional boundaries, and relationships they would have with a co-worker or supervisor verse a friend they have from the outside.

Through this course, students will learn about all forms of communication and practice using them effectively. This includes but is not limited to: body language, written communication, verbal communication, and facial expressions. The class will discuss the importance of context when communicating with others and will compare and contrast casual vs. work conversation. Miscommunication and misinterpretation will be topics of discussion. Students will practice in small groups and as individuals to become better communicators.

The seminar prepares students for the culminating outcome: living and working independently. A series of discussions will focus on topics vital to mastery of successful community interdependence. Issues related to living with quiet enjoyment, healthy eating, balanced lifestyle that includes exercise and recreation, employment maintenance, life-long learning, and reciprocal personal relationships. The course provides opportunities for reflection about the path to graduation and post-graduation goals.

The experience is an optional practicum in planning and executing supported travel. Students engage in authentic collaborative planning for reaching their desired destination. The course assessment will be based on a student-produced travel itinerary and travel guide.

The seminar prepares students for the culminating outcome: living and working independently. A series of discussions will focus on topics vital to mastery of successful community interdependence. Issues related to living with quiet enjoyment, healthy eating, balanced lifestyle that includes exercise and recreation, employment maintenance, life-long learning, and reciprocal personal relationships. The course provides opportunities for reflection about the path to graduation and post-graduation goals.

Let’s face it – adults need 21st-century skills (now more than ever) to participate fully in their communities and make smart online choices. The way we communicate online is significantly different than in-person. Students will address real-life challenges and digital dilemmas that young adults face with the Internet, Social Media, and technology in general. Our mission is to help each student take ownership of their digital life by helping them improve the skills they need to excel as online learners, digital leaders, and tech-savvy citizens.

Rights and Responsibilities teaches students about their rights as American citizens and the responsibilities that come along with those rights. Students will learn about social justice, laws that affect their lives, disability rights, and advocacy. Students will be empowered to exercise their rights while respecting the rights of others.

In this course students will learn how to make thoughtful, planned out decisions using the decision making process: Identify the decision, gather information, identify alternatives, list possible consequences of each choice, take action, evaluate the results. Students will learn the difference between big, life-changing decisions, and small everyday decisions. Students will practice applying the decision making process to a variety of situations and work through complications and obstacles that can be challenging to navigate.

The focus of this course is to establish and maintain healthy living choices, such as making educated food choices, creating a weekly exercise regime and dealing with the stress associated with daily life. Students will discuss ways to maintain these habits upon graduation. Students will be expected to participate in various physical activities and relaxation techniques, as well as educate the class about a topic associated with health and wellness. The fitness center will be used as part of this class.

This class focuses on the importance of fitness and nutrition. Students will participate in a variety of workouts. Some of the sessions offered are: weight training, boxing, calisthenics, basketball, outdoor sports and aerobics. Students will be given the opportunity to lead and instruct their classmates in a fitness activity.

Students will discuss and role play with the goal to improve student social skills and awareness focused on the topics of living away from home, living with housemates, friendships, dating, and appropriate behavior for a college campus setting. Students will have the opportunity to submit discussion topics which they are struggling with to analyze the situation.

In this course students will refine their executive functioning skills by identifying individual areas of need from an array of topics, such as, time management, impulse control, prioritization, organization, and communication. Students will learn strategies for mastering these areas through hands on activities, role plays, and other interactive work stations. Students will learn how to hone these areas to increase employability as these skills are essential for success in most work environments and in most positions. Students will identify future places of employment they are interested in working, and research requirements of their employee for such positions to begin improving their skill sets in set areas, example- communication skills by phone.

This course is an introduction to health and well-being. Topics of discussion include healthy eating, daily exercise choices, as well as stress management. Students will be expected to participate in various physical activities and relaxation techniques.

In this course students will learn about sexuality, the anatomy of sexual organs, sexual acts, and most importantly, safety. Many meaningful discussions will be had around the topics of emotional readiness, the steps of sexual intimacy and how to build a healthy relationship. Planned Parenthood will visit class and talk about safety and equipment for protection. Explicit pictures will be used and scientific terms will be used to refer to sexual parts and acts.