Bridge to Success

The Public Speaking course introduces students to the art of public speaking, focusing on style, memory, and delivery. Participants will engage in interactive sessions, practical workshops, and community excursions, all aimed at enhancing their public speaking skills. By the end of the course, students will have developed the confidence and competence to excel in public speaking, preparing them for academic, social, and professional success.

This course explores the evolution of the American presidency from the Washington Administration — at the outset of the new republic — to the modern presidency of the twenty-first century. It places a special emphasis on the role of historical precedent in transforming the executive office. We will examine the evolution of the executive branch by exploring pivotal American presidencies, including the administrations of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Ronald Reagan. We will consider the presidency within the context of its times, considering how presidents acted both inside and outside their proscribed constitutional duties, often responding to extraordinary times with unprecedented measures both in domestic affairs and foreign affairs. We will consistently discuss the importance of historical precedents set by earlier presidential administrations and ask how the study of past presidential behavior might help us better understand the American presidency of our modern age.

An introduction to the art of acting. Students will learn the basic acting process, which includes ensemble work, script and character analysis, and the exploration and development of the student’s inner and external resources for performance. Development of basic acting skills through exercises, monologue, and scene work.