SAW Courses

The SAW program offers several credit-bearing courses each semester, in addition to a variety of courses taught during the January-term. Recent January-term courses have included Public Speaking for ESOL Students; Activism on Paper: Writing and Social Responsibility from a 21st Century Perspective; Women, Speak Up! Using Your Voice for Social Change; Advanced Peer Mentoring: Research and Publication on Mentoring ESOL Students; and Controversial Conversations in Civic Discourse. The following courses are offered each semester:

CUSP 212: Peer Mentoring: Theory and Practice

Taught by the SAW Faculty Director, this speaking- and writing- intensive course is an introduction to the discipline of Writing Center Studies and its related fields. Regular readings introduce students to the foundational histories, theories, pedagogies, research, and scholarship shaping the field’s discourses. Through class discussions and analytical writing and speaking assignments, students critically examine competing arguments about best practices in order to devise their own philosophies of mentoring. A mentoring practicum, which includes observations of seasoned mentors at work as well as opportunities to conduct sessions, provides a practical lens through which to evaluate the theory. This 2-credit course is available by invitation only to those students who have applied and been accepted to work as SAW Peer Mentors.

CUSP 105: Speaking from Experience

Especially designed for seniors, this speaking-intensive two-credit course will help students reflect on, learn from, and speak about their unique Mount Holyoke experiences as they transition into their next steps after graduation. Using the same techniques that professional actors use to relax, focus their message and connect with their audience, students will improve their ability to communicate with confidence, express themselves authentically and inspire others.