Pathways to Service-Learning
As a student at North Shore Community College, there are multiple ways to get involved in service-learning. Professors across academic departments use service-learning in their courses, so be sure to check for those in your academic pathway!
Listed below is a representative sample of past service-learning courses offered.
Service-Learning Courses
Expand AllCollapse AllThrough lecture, discussion, and experiential exercises, the student will learn physical skills and breathing techniques that help to revitalize and quiet the mind. Practical applications of a series of gentle yogic movements, meditative techniques, and non-verbal communication skills including listening to the mind/body and recognition of the body's various energetic/emotional levels will promote self-awareness. An overview of different health systems will be offered to establish a common ground of understanding useful in one's professional and personal life. Designed for students of all ages and physical abilities. Fulfills open, liberal arts, and humanities electives.
Instructor: Denise Cady-Arbeau
This is the first semester of a two-semester course which studies the basic principles of biology. It is designed for those students pursuing a major in the life sciences. This course examines the cellular basis of life from an evolutionary perspective. Topics include the chemistry, structure and function of the cell, genetics, as well as an introduction to genomes, proteomes and bioinformatics. An emphasis will be placed on the relationship between scientific principles and scientific process. Laboratory work enhances lectures and develops laboratory skills. Non-science majors and students pursuing entry into health profession programs should take BIO101. Fulfills open, liberal arts, and laboratory science sequence electives when taken with BIO106, or BIO102, or BIO128 and BIO130, or BIO140 or BIO142. (3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of lab per week.)
Instructor: Young Bae Kim
A course for students pursuing a technical career requiring basic laboratory skills. A hands-on approach to instrumentation use, care and maintenance is provided. Topics of study include evaluation and preparation of solutions, viscosity and pH measurements, spectroscopy, protein determination, and separation techniques such as filtration, centrifugation, chromatography, and electrophoresis. Documentation and quality assurance are stressed. (2 lecture hours and 4 lab hours per week.)
Instructor: Young Bae Kim
This is a descriptive and quantitative general chemistry course designed for science and engineering majors. Topics include: introduction to measurement/significant figures/dimensional analysis/classification of matter, atomic structure/naming ionic and covalent compounds/nuclear processes, stoichiometry including molarity and balancing chemical equations, ionic equations including precipitation, acid-base, and oxidation-reduction reactions, gas laws, thermochemistry, quantum theory/electronic configurations/periodicity, chemical bonding/Lewis structures/resonance/valence bond/hybridization and molecular orbital theory (introductory), molecular geometry (VSEPR)/electronegativity, and other topics as needed. Laboratory work reinforces lecture concepts, and is intended to give students hands-on experience that will help them understand, appreciate, and apply chemical concepts. Fulfills open, liberal arts, and laboratory science electives. (3 hours of lecture, 3 hours of lab per week.)
Instructor: Sonja Gamby
Emphasis is on developing skills of writing, reading, analytical thinking, and research. Students are introduced to thought-provoking ideas in readings from a variety of disciplines and learn to organize material, analyze ideas, and produce clear writing.
Instructors: Nicki Buscemi, Kathy Yanchus, and John Zamparelli
Emphasis is on analytical writing based upon folktales, poetry, and fiction written for children. Among the authors whose works may be studied are Andersen, Carroll, Mother Goose, Clifton, Silverstein, and Stevenson.
Instructor: Cari Keebaugh
Introduces students to the study of the criminal justice system. Three components of this system, the police, courts, and corrections, will be studied and interrelationships will be shown between components. Outside readings with guest speakers will combine the practical and academic aspects. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours with them.
Instructor: Frank D'Agostino
A study of criminal law, constitutional and statutory provisions, purposes of criminal law, classification of crimes, elements of crimes, defenses available to those accused of crime, and jurisdiction of the courts. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours.
Instructor: Ann Koshivas
A study of leading U.S. Supreme Court decisions as they relate to the law of criminal procedure. Course work begins with an exploration of the 14th amendment as it applies to the states and continues with the laws of search, seizure, and arrest. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours.
Instructors: Ann Koshivas and Frank D'Agostino
A course in assessing and handling the "disturbance call" crisis. Will cover issues such as family fights, rape calls, crime victimizations, suicide, adolescent problems, alcoholism, and drug abuse. In addition to communication and problem-solving skills, referral techniques will be covered, focusing on agency resources in the area. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours.
Instructor: Rachel Roesler
This course traces the philosophy, history, and development of the juvenile justice system. Particular attention is paid to juvenile institutions and current treatment programs. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours.
Instructor: Ann Koshivas
This course provides an introduction to the concept and principles of sustainability. The course will examine major environmental issues and will challenge students to see themselves as part of a web of interactions connecting the environment, economy, and society. While offering both scientific and humanities perspectives on environmental problems, the course will stress personal and collective action as pathways to solutions for sustainable living. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours.
Instructor: Diana Davis
This course examines a range of sustainability issues that affect us all. Students will be encouraged to think about how their various choices in life and careers can and do affect their local communities, the environment and future generations. Topics include calculating and reducing carbon footprints, green building design, green roof and wall technologies, water conservation, community gardens, and composting and low impact sustainable landscapes. Students will also complete a service-learning project. Full-class participation of Lynn campus class-complete service at a variety of environmental sites.
Instructor: Barbara Heath
An exploration of the factors which determine academic, career, and personal success. Emphasis is on building the skills and awareness necessary to promote academic persistence and achievement. This is full-class or optional service-learning wherein students engage in a planned project.
Instructors: Margaret Figgins-Hill, Russell Green, Wanda Pothier-Hill, Danielle Santos, Kathy Yanchus
Provides the instruments to explore and evaluate personal values, motives, feelings, needs, attitudes, interests and personality traits especially as they pertain to awareness which will help a Human Services worker; and explores personal and societal prejudices, stereotyping behaviors, and biases. This is full-class participation service-learning wherein students select from a list of nonprofits and serve 12 hours.
Instructor: Gerard Sullivan
Examines key life events leading to increased insight, change, adaptation, growth, stress and/or crisis in the life of an individual. Concentration on interpersonal relationships, social cohesion and conflict. Coping behaviors, models and counseling approaches to stress and crisis interventions will be studied and practiced in class situations. This is full-class or optional participation service-learning wherein students select from a list of nonprofits and serve 12 hours.
Instructor: Margaret Figgins-Hill
Explores the process of socialization and the relationship between the mental health delivery system and current social issues. Examines social issues from the functionalist, conflict and interactionist perspectives. Introduces students to the role local, state, and federal governments play in responding to social issues and how students can become civically engaged in affecting public policy decisions and priorities. Fulfills open and liberal arts electives. Full-class participation wherein students serve at community partners aligned with course goals.
Instructor: Gerard Sullivan
An interdisciplinary course which focuses on the understanding of the recent theories concerning brain/mind function. Implications for intellectual and creative abilities, education and learning, job performance, and the enjoyment of life will also be addressed. This is optional service-learning wherein students pick from a list of sites and serve 12 hours with them.
Instructor: Jennifer Harris
This course is designed for prospective elementary school teachers. This course develops an understanding of the mathematical concepts of geometric figures and solids, congruence, similarity, constructions, measurement, geometric transformations, and descriptive statistics. This course is intended to provide students with an understanding and appreciation for learning and teaching mathematics as described in the NCTM Standards for School Mathematics. This course includes an exposure to relevant technology, calculators, and computers and how these can effectively be used in the instruction of mathematics to enhance the understanding and visualization of mathematics. Fulfills liberal arts, math, and open electives. Optional service-learning wherein students observe and tutor in math concepts in an educational setting.
Instructor: William Jackson
A course concerned with the development and implementation of therapeutic programs for the elderly and for adults who have chronic conditions and developmental disabilities within institutional and community-based settings. Designed to expose students to a variety of practice contexts and service delivery models with emphasis on activity programming, habilitation, health promotion and occupation-based intervention for the adult/older adult population. Through classroom and fieldwork assignments, students explore, assess, initiate, maintain and expand therapeutic programs for productive living and the promotion of health and wellbeing. Full-class participation in service-learning projects. Students do a needs assessment and create a presentation for a non-profit on a topic that fits their needs.
Instructor: Maureen Nardella
Introduction to philosophy as a specific way of thinking about human existence, the world, and God. It examines the arguments of philosophers concerning such topics as the existence of God, the problem of good and evil, free will and determinism, relationship of mind and body, and the limits of human knowledge. This is optional service-learning wherein students choose from a list of sites to do 12 hours of service.
Instructor: Fred Altieri
Study of the philosophical approach to moral experience. A systematic inquiry into human conduct with the purpose of discovering both the rules that ought to govern human action and the goods that are worth seeking in human life. Both classical and contemporary philosophers are studied. The student is confronted with the moral beauty of Socrates and Plato, the nationalism of Aristotle, the depth of Augustine, the categorical imperative of Kant, and the hard paradox of Kierkegaard. This is optional service-learning wherein students choose from a list of sites to do 12 hours of service.
Instructor: Fred Altieri
An introduction to the history and development of physical therapy practice and its evolving role in the health care setting. An overview of clinical education and the function of the licensed Physical Therapist Assistant are discussed. Professional core values, ethics, terminology, and documentation are reinforced through discussion, integrated clinical observations, and service-learning. This is a full-class participation service-learning course.
Instructor: Mary Meng-Lee
Continues Therapeutic Exercise 1 and introduces more complex techniques emphasizing treatments for the cardiac, pulmonary and neurologically impaired population. This is full-class participation where students create programming on cardiac disease prevention.
Instructor: Sarah Player
Systematic study of behavior including the development of psychology as a science, the biological basis of behavior, learning and memory, motivation, sensation and perception, personality development, cognitive processes, maturation and development, and adjustment. This is optional service-learning wherein students choose from a list of sites and do 12 hours of service.
Instructor: Jennifer Harris
An introduction to the psychological theories, research and practice that have affected women in the past and continue to affect women in contemporary society. It will examine psychological development from a feminist perspective and from the framework of gender. Attention will be given to gender roles, stereotypes, and identity development. This is optional service-learning wherein students choose from a list of sites to do 12 hours of service.
Instructor: Jennifer Harris
Study of the development sequences of growth from prenatal to death, including the methodological problems of developmental studies, individual differences, the interplay of heredity and environment and the development of language, motivation, and motor behavior. This is optional service-learning wherein students choose from a list of sites to do 12 hours of service.
Instructor: Jeri McLeod-Rabchenuk
This course explores the major theories in the field of personality psychology, including Psychoanalytical, Trait, Biological, Humanistic, Behavioral/Social Learning, and Cognitive approaches. Research methods and relevant research are presented with the goal toward understanding personality structure and its development, human motives and traits, and their assessment. Fulfills open, liberal arts, social science, and behavioral science electives. This is optional service-learning wherein students choose from a list of sites to do 12 hours of service.
Instructor: Jennifer Harris
Principles of mechanical ventilators and management of the ventilated patient and continuation of positive pressure therapies and ethical decision making. Full-class participation, education for diverse populations about respiratory care.
Instructor: Pat Adam
Introduction to the study of society, employing all the basic concepts of sociology, such as: the structure and functions of society, culture, norms, roles and status. Attention is given to the origins of sociology, its methods and its place as one of the social sciences. Fulfills open, liberal arts and social science electives. Optional service-learning.
Instructor: Troy Smith
This course explores how people communicate in relationship with one another. The class will engage concepts such as culture, gender, and identity from a Communication Studies perspective. Fulfills humanities, liberal arts, social science, and open electives.
Instructor: Sherri Raftery-Patton
This course uses the methods of Communication Studies to approach cultural experience. Students will be challenged to understand themselves as cultural beings and to explore how they might authentically relate to others within and without their own cultural paradigm. Fulfills open, liberal arts and humanities electives.
Instructor: Sherri Raftery-Patton
This is a laboratory course. Students will learn skills utilized in routine medical procedures in a small animal practice. This will include: immunizations, ear cleaning, physical exams, nail trimming as well as other activities. As part of this course students will handle animals brought to the school clinic for these routine procedures. (6 hours of lab per week)
Instructor: Sheila Magesky
Community Partners
Depending on the structure of your service-learning course, you will either be partnered with an organization by your professor or have the opportunity to choose one based on your personal interests.
Below you will find a representative sample of local community organizations that have partnered with North Shore Community College students in the past.
Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm - Andover, MABeverly Bootstraps - Beverly, MAGreater Beverly YMCA - Beverly, MAThe Food Project - Beverly, MANortheast ARC - Danvers, MANorth Shore Elder Services - Danvers, MA
Cape Ann YMCA - Gloucester, MA
Gloucester Council on Aging - Gloucester, MAThe Open Door - Gloucester, MA
Wellspring House - Gloucester, MAAll Care Hospice - Lynn, MABoys and Girls Club of Lynn - Lynn, MACollege Application Education Project - Lynn, MAGirls, Inc. - Lynn, MA
Lynn Arts - Lynn, MALynn Council on Aging Senior Center - Lynn, MALynn Emergency Shelter - Lynn, MAMass Coalition for the Homeless - Lynn, MAMy Brother's Table - Lynn, MAUnion Hospital - Lynn, MAAviv Centers for Living - Peabody, MAAmerican Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay, North Area - Peabody, MAPeabody Council on Aging - Peabody, MA
Torigian Family YMCA - Peabody, MAChildren's Friend and Family Services - Salem, MABoys and Girls Club of Salem - Salem, MA
Healing Abuse Working for Change (HAWC) - Salem, MASalem Hospital (North Shore Medical Center) - Salem, MA
Salem Mission/LifeBridge - Salem, MA
The Salem Pantry - Salem, MASalem Sound Coastwatch - Salem, MASalem YMCA - Salem, MA
Strongwater Farms - Tewksbury, MA
Girl Scouts of Spar and Spindle Council - North Shore AreaJunior Achievement of Eastern Massachusetts- North Shore Area