The division’s mission is to provide a critical understanding of political, cultural, and societal knowledge via transfer and general education courses.
About the Humanities/Social Sciences Division
The Humanities/Social Sciences Division offers courses in anthropology, art, college skills, communications, criminal justice, dance, English composition, gender and women’s studies, humanities, history, journalism, literature, music, philosophy, political science, reading, sociology, speech, theater, and various foreign languages. The division is also home to programs of study in criminal justice, education and the fine arts.
Other Areas
The vast MCCC Art Collection has grown mostly through donations by our visiting artists and become the “largest collection of any college in Michigan outside universities with museums,” according to state auditors who visited back in the early 2000s. Funding for the development of a publication cataloging the collection was made possible by The Foundation at MCCC’s Cultural Enrichment Endowment.
The publication designed by Doug Richter, MCCC’s graphic designer, and written and edited by Paul Hedeen, retired dean of the Humanities/Social Sciences Division. It was made possible with the help of the contributing artists; Gary Wilson, associate professor of art emeritus and co-curator; Ted Vassar, assistant professor of art emeritus and co-curator; Richter; Hedeen; Mark Spenoso, photographer; the Office of Marketing and Communications (project management); Josh Myers, executive director of The Foundation at MCCC (project management); Therese O’Halloran, assistant professor of art and consultant, and our donors.
The College/Community Symphony Band is a very popular performance-based group. It is open to students, dual-enrolled high school students and citizens from the community who have experience with instrumental music. The band plays at least four concerts a year as well as at the MCCC commencement. Each year, several band scholarships are awarded to area high school students. Membership is by audition. Each year, the college awards 10 performing music scholarships.
The College/Community Agora Chorale is another performance-based group. Like the symphonic band, the Agora Chorale uses students and citizens from the community. It performs at least four concerts a year as well as at commencement. Each year, the college awards 10 performing music scholarships.
MCCC provides students with a number of theatre experiences. A general introduction to theatre history, an introduction to acting and directing, and opportunities for student productions are routinely offered. During the winter semester, either a lab performance or a major production is produced. It is not unusual for the casts to contain students, community members, and/or college staff.
Images is an annual publication of poetry, prose, and art. Faculty members of the Humanities/Social Sciences Division edit the magazine. Although most of the work chosen for publication comes from the art classes and our creative writing course, this magazine welcomes submissions from all students. The deadline for submissions to Images is usually in early February. Posters announcing the art and writing categories and other information are prominently displayed around campus leading up to the submission deadline.
One of the transfer program areas at MCCC leads to a degree in education. Students interested in elementary education are able to transfer a large number of introductory courses such as English composition, history, mathematics, political science, science and speech. This program also contains art, literature, mathematics and music courses, which are specifically geared to students planning a degree in elementary education at a four-year institution.
Those interested in teaching at the secondary level also have many classes available for transfer. Classes in art, English composition, dramatic arts, history, literature, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, science, sociology and speech are frequently taken for transfer credit.
Students interested in special education may take transfer classes whether they are interested in a secondary education endorsement or an elementary education endorsement.
MCCC also offers a class (EDUC 151, Exploring Teaching) that fulfills the pre-teaching requirement of many four-year institutions.
The Agora is published approximately 6 times during the fall and winter terms. The newspaper is produced by MCCC students enrolled in journalism classes under the guidance of a faculty adviser and student editors. Often the recipient of state and national awards, the Agora reports on school events and other issues of interest to the college community. Students interested in getting involved with the Agora should contact the adviser, Matthew Bird-Meyer, at mbird-meyer@monroeccc.edu or by calling 734-384-4288.
Visit The Agora website: http://www.mcccagora.com/
The Writing-Across-the-Curriculum program was developed to encourage faculty to use writing as a learning tool. The WAC program at MCCC views learning as a process and writing as a unique and important part of that process. The WAC program is committed to the idea that all students, regardless of the academic discipline they are pursuing, can benefit from writing.
Each year, faculty nominate students for their writing ability and their willingness to work with people. Nominees are screened and interviewed extensively before becoming writing fellows. Writing fellows are then assigned to individual courses. They help students by reading first drafts of writing assignments and conferencing students to discuss methods of improvement.
Because writing fellows are trained to work with a variety of abilities, the WAC program is available to all students regardless of their writing ability. Students who seek help from the Writing Center range from at-risk students to the best writers at MCCC. Visit their Web site.
Faculty
B.A., University of Alabama at Birmingham
M.F.A., Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
Contact Information
(734) 384-4295, jbazzell@monroeccc.edu, C-233
B.A., Wayne State University
M.A., Wayne State University
Contact Information
B.A., M.A., University of Central Missouri
Ph.D., University of Missouri
Contact Information
(734) 384-4288, mbird-meyer@monroeccc.edu,C-242
A.S., Monroe County Community College
B.S., Troy State University
M.A., Eastern Michigan University
Contact Information
(734) 384- 4285, lcouch@monroeccc.edu, C-238
B.A. Elon University
M.A. Michigan State University
Contact Information
(734) 384-4105, bggoodwin@monroeccc.edu, C-214
B.S., Central Michigan University
M.A.., Central Michigan University
Contact Information
(734) 384-4238, elaclair@monroeccc.edu, C-241
B.S., University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg
Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh
Contact Information
(734) 384-4232, kmohney@monroeccc.edu, C-237
B.S., Eastern Michigan University
M.A., Eastern Michigan University
Contact Information
(734) 384-4219, fmoorman@monroeccc.edu, C-239
A.A., Monroe County Community College
B.A., University of Toledo
M.A., University of Toledo
Ph.D., Wayne State University
Contact Information
(734) 384-4154, cnartker@monroeccc.edu, C-247
B.F.A., Limerick College of Art and Design
M.F.A., Illinois State University
Contact Information
B.A., Arkansas Tech University
M.A., Michigan State University
Ph.D., Michigan State University
Contact Information
(734) 384-4156, droberts@monroeccc.edu, C-234
B.A., Bradley University
M.A., University of Illinois at Springfield
Ph.D., Queens University Belfast
Contact Information
(734) 384-4157, msnyder@monroeccc.edu, C-232
B.A., University of Michigan
M.A., University of North Carolina-Charlotte
Contact Information
(734) 384-4336, mpersin@monroeccc.edu, C-240
B.A., M.A., Eastern Michigan University
J.D., Thomas Cooley Law School
Contact Information
B.Ed., University of Toledo
M.A., Michigan State University
CONTACT INFORMATION
(734) 384-4197, swozniak@monroeccc.edu, C-235
Featured
ACCELERATED LEARNING PROGRAM: ENGL 090 & ENGL 151 ALP
What is Accelerated Learning Program?
Accelerated Learning Program (ALP) allows students who do not have a qualifying score on the MCCC Accuplacer Test to complete both ENGL 151 and ENGL 090 in the same semester, not separately over two semesters. ENGL 090 is a supplemental course to support the work in ENGL 151. It is an opportunity for students to focus on reading, writing, and critical thinking in a discussion-based classroom environment.
Students will have one English instructor for both classes. Students will have several assignments to complete for both classes; the assignments in ENGL 090 are related to, and expand upon, content and skills from ENGL 151. In addition to reviewing material from ENGL 151, the ENGL 090 class will preview material and build background knowledge for successfully completing ENGL 151 assignments. This extra help supports students’ confidence and increases their abilities to successfully complete ENGL 151.
What are the benefits of taking Accelerated Learning Program (ALP)?
- ENGL 090 curriculum helps students succeed in ENGL 151. Being able to discuss and answer questions in the ENGL 090 classroom about ENGL 151 will help reinforce what is being taught in ENGL 151.
- Cohort model. Students get to know classmates and their instructor better since they have two classes together. The ENGL 090 class has a maximum of 10 students, so students will receive more individualized attention from their instructor.
- Students can graduate or complete MTA requirements sooner because they will finish ENGL 151 in one semester instead of having to take ENGL 090 and ENGL 151 in two separate semesters.
Students pay for five credits for the two courses. ENGL 151 counts as a three-credit course, but students do not receive credit towards graduation for the ENGL 090. In the state of Michigan, college credit cannot be awarded for developmental courses.
This associate of applied science program prepares in criminal justice prepares students for employment in positions that require an associate degree or transfer to baccalaureate programs in criminal justice. The associate of applied science program in law enforcement prepares students for employment in positions requiring both an associate degree and Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) certification.
The associate of fine arts degree with specialization in fine arts is designed to provide the student with an excellent foundation upon which to build a profession or an avocation.
Division Spotlight: The MCCC Art Collection
The vast MCCC Art Collection has grown mostly through donations by our visiting artists and become the “largest collection of any college in Michigan outside universities with museums,” according to state auditors who visited back in the early 2000s. Funding for the development of a publication cataloging the collection was made possible by The Foundation at MCCC’s Cultural Enrichment Endowment.