An English language skills textbook to help ESL students acquire communication skills in the community (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) The book is aimed at CLB levels 5/6 focusing on intercultural skills and essential skills: reading text, document use, writing, oral communication, thinking skills, working with others, and computer use.

This course provides an introduction to the universe beyond the Earth. We begin with a study of the night sky and the history of the science of astronomy. We then explore the various objects seen in the cosmos including the solar system, stars, galaxies, and the evolution of the universe itself. As an online course, it is equivalent to 6 lecture hours, and satisfies science requirements for the AA and AS degree. It is designed to be thorough enough to prepare you for more advanced work, while presenting the concepts to non-majors in a way that is meaningful and not overwhelming. We will consider the course a success if you have learned how to think about the universe critically in an organized, logical way, and to have enhanced your appreciation of the sky around us.

This introduction to business course covers five modules including: The Context of Business; Entrepreneurship and Legal Forms of Business; Marketing; Accounting, Finance, and Banking; Management.

This textbook has been modified from OpenStax Biology by faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University. The goal was to provide students with a complete textbook with interactive features (reading quizzes, videos, links) that was highly engaging and, of course, at no cost to the students.

1. 1.1 Processes and Patterns of Evolution
2. 1.2 Evidence of Evolution
3. 1.3 Mutations
4. 2.1 Population Genetics
5. 2.2 Population Evolution
6. 2.3 Adaptive Evolution
7. 3.1 Speciation: Allopatric and Sympatric
8. 3.2 Speciation Isolation and Adaptation
9. 3.3 Reconnection and Speciation Rates
10. 4.1 Evolution and Classification
11. 4.2 Determining Phylogenetic Connections
12. 5.1 Prokaryotic Cell Structures
13. 5.2 Prokaryotic Growth & Metabolism
14. 5.3 Prokaryotic Diversity
15. 6.1 Evolution of Eukaryotic Cells
16. 6.2 Evolution of Simple Multicellularity
17. 6.3 Challenges to Complex Multicellularity
18. 7.1 Characteristics of Fungi
19. 7.2 Ecology of Fungi
20. 7.3 Classifications of Fungi
21. 7.4 Fungal Parasites and Pathogens
22. 7.5 Importance of Fungi in Human Life
23. 8.1 Land Plant Ancestors
24. 8.2 Adaptations of Plants to Land
25. 8.3 Seedless Non-Vascular Plants
26. 8.4 Seedless Vascular Plants
27. 8.4 Seedless Vascular Plants
28. 8.5 Seed Plants: Gymnosperms
29. 8.6 Seed Plants: Angiosperms
30. 9.1 Shoot Growth and Development
31. 9.2 Water Transport in Plants
32. 9.3 Sugar Transport in Plants
33. 10.1 Features of the Animal Kingdom
34. 10.2 Features Used to Classify Animals
35. 10.3 Early Animals
36. 10.4 Neurons and Glial Cells
37. 11.1 Types of Skeletons
38. 11.2 Muscles and Movement
39. 11.3 Protostomes
40. 11.4 Deuterostomes
41. 12.1 Evolution of Fishes
42. 12.2 Systems of Gas Exchange
43. 12.3 Evolution of Tetrapods
44. 12.4 Overview of the Circulatory System
45. 12.5 Fertilization in Animals
46. 12.6 Homeostasis in Animals
47. 13.1 Population Dynamics
48. 13.2 Population Growth
49. 13.3 Population Dynamics
50. 13.4 Interspecific Interactions

Comparative politics is the systematic study and comparison of the world's political systems. The course begins by discussing the factors and categories of analysis that political scientists and important international institutions like the World Bank, NATO, and the United Nations use regularly; it ends by comparing and contrasting governments from five different regions of the world: the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Define the chief characteristics of a nation state; Identify and explain various comparative methodologies used to compare various political systems; Distinguish between unitary, federal, and confederal governmental models; Compare and contrast political cultures in selected countries; Compare and contrast political socialization in selected countries; Describe and explain patterns of representation and participation in selected countries; Compare and contrast the roles and functions of political parties in selected countries; Compare and contrast the role of interest groups in selected countries; Identify and explain governance and policy-making in selected countries; Compare and contrast the role of the executive in selected countries; Compare and contrast the role of the judicial branch in selected countries; Compare and contrast the role of the bureaucracy and the policy process in selected countries; Describe and explain the political economy and development in selected countries; Identify and explain political challenges and changing agendas in selected countries. (Political Science 221)

This text, originally by D. Annand and H. Dauderis, is intended for a first course in introductory financial accounting. It has been extensively edited by Athabasca University and reflects current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). A corporate approach is utilized versus beginning with a sole proprietorship emphasis and then converting to a corporate approach.

The text focuses on core introductory financial accounting topics that match pre-requisite requirements for students advancing to Intermediate Financial Accounting. Excluded are advanced topics that are covered in Intermediate Financial Accounting, such as leases and bond amortization.

The text covers all essential topics, including: the accounting cycle; merchandising; assigning costs to inventory; cash and receivables; property, plant and equipment; debt financing; equity financing; statement of cash flows; financial statement analysis; and proprietorships and partnerships.

Lyryx develops and supports open texts, with editorial services to adapt the text for each particular course. In addition, Lyryx provides content-specific formative online assessment, a wide variety of supplements, and in-house support available 7 days/week for both students and instructors.

This text, originally by D. Annand and H. Dauderis, is intended for a first course in introductory financial accounting. It has been extensively edited by Athabasca University and reflects current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). A corporate approach is utilized versus beginning with a sole proprietorship emphasis and then converting to a corporate approach.

The text focuses on core introductory financial accounting topics that match pre-requisite requirements for students advancing to Intermediate Financial Accounting. Excluded are advanced topics that are covered in Intermediate Financial Accounting, such as leases and bond amortization.

The text covers all essential topics, including: the accounting cycle; merchandising; assigning costs to inventory; cash and receivables; property, plant and equipment; debt financing; equity financing; statement of cash flows; financial statement analysis; and proprietorships and partnerships.

Lyryx develops and supports open texts, with editorial services to adapt the text for each particular course. In addition, Lyryx provides content-specific formative online assessment, a wide variety of supplements, and in-house support available 7 days/week for both students and instructors.

This textbook, originally by D. Annand and H. Dauderis, was intended for a first course in introductory financial accounting. It was extensively edited by Athabasca University to reflect current International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). This most recent revision by D. Marchand converted the text from IFRS to reflect the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles of the United States (U.S. GAAP). A corporate approach is utilized versus beginning with a sole proprietorship emphasis and then converting to a corporate approach.

This course assists students in developing real world oral communication skills. Capture the dynamics of todayęs business realities and see the benefits of effective communication. Selection of topics, library research, analysis, oral style, use of visual aids, and preparation and delivery of various types of speeches and oral presentations are included. The Internet, e-mail, community interaction, and other practical tools support student learning and increase public speaking skills. Emphasis is placed on principles of cultural diversity. Prerequisite: College-level reading and writing skills.

The purpose of this course is to explore the foundations of the Humanities and to increase our understanding of the relationship between history and philosophy and how these relate to the issues concerning the human condition. During this course we will learn about some of the many traditions in the humanities, including the foundations of artistic expression. One of my main goals for this course is to demonstrate that every aspect of the humanities (art, history, philosophy, science, etc.) are all inherently related, and that we cannot accurately study one component of society or humanity without having a working understanding of the related components.

This class is a survey of the mass media, including newspapers, magazines, television, radio, book publishing, music publishing, motion pictures and advertising and how all of those have been affected by the development of the Internet. This course emphasizes the history and structural biases of the mass media, and encourages students to critically analyze the role of media in society, and to become media literate.

Sociology is the study of social groups, structures, processes, institutions, and events. This course will focus on understanding and applying the sociological perspective, which stresses the importance of the impact of social forces external to the individual in shaping peopleęs lives and experiences. This idea that we are all profoundly affected by the society in which we live is the guiding light of sociology. Sociologists also study the ways in which people, as they interact, shape their social systems. Topics studied will include socialization, social interaction, culture, groups, social structure, deviance, social inequality, social class, race, gender, institutions (political, economic, educational, family, and religious), collective behavior and social change. Students will be asked to learn the basic concepts, theories, and perspectives of sociology, to see how these operate in terms of social processes, structures, and events, and to apply this knowledge to better understand the social world.

This course looks at zoning and zoning regulation alternatives as they have been applied throughout the United States. The course focuses specifically on urban planning, which is a subset of land-use law. Other areas of land-use law, such as those affecting mineral extraction, natural resources and environmental regulation, are covered by other LawShelf courses.

This is an introductory level course and no prior knowledge of real property law or land-use law is required.

The first module introduces the student to regulation of land-use and distinguishes urban planning from other aspects of land-use regulation. We will look at the development and goals of urban planning in the United States and focus on its benefits and how municipalities seek to achieve those benefits.

Modules two and three cover zoning laws. We will start by discussing the authorities under which municipalities may regulate their zoning and the constitutional and practical limitations on municipalities’ abilities to regulate. Limitations include environmental regulations, constitutional limitations and antidiscrimination laws.

Module three moves to the nuts and bolts of zoning ordinances by focusing on the types of zones typical in “Euclidian” zoning systems and the additional zoning types typical of zoning regulations today. We also look at types of zoning regulations that incentivize certain types of developments and lifestyles.

Module four covers the land-use process. We will look at the steps by which developers must prepare their zoning applications and initial reviews and the factors under which their applications will be scrutinized. We’ll look at preliminary reviews, the hearings and appeals or requests for reconsideration. We will also discuss the role of eminent domain and the famous (or infamous) Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. City of New London that allowed governments to seize private property to redevelop depressed districts.

Finally, module five looks at alternatives to traditional zoning laws, such as the “smart growth” paradigm, which often features urban growth boundaries. We will look at the relative advantages and disadvantages of each type of land-use regulation and focus on the example of Houston, Texas, which is, far and away, the largest American city with no comprehensive zoning code.

When you complete this course, you will possess a substantial bird’s-eye view of how zoning and land-use works in the United States and the goals that it seeks to achieve. By combining this course with our courses on environmental regulation and natural resource law, you can secure a comprehensive grasp of land development laws and restrictions in the United States.

Innovation today considers the economic, environmental, and/or social sustainability of an innovative initiative from its inception or idea generation through to its commercialization or implementation. This concept applies to many types of innovation such as products, processes, services, technologies, and business models. Companies use innovation as a means to gain a competitive advantage and bring value to business stakeholders. This book introduces business innovation, from incremental innovation such as enhancing the performance of an existing product, service, or process, to radical or disruptive innovation such as one that has a significant impact on a market. The content examines how leaders foster a culture of innovation, how companies turn creativity into innovation, and how innovation transforms not only organizations but economies as well.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Business Innovation Foundation
Chapter 2: Thinking Creatively
Chapter 3: Service Innovation
Chapter 4: Process Innovation
Chapter 5: Sustainable Innovation
Chapter 6: Growth Strategy
Chapter 7: Design Thinking
Chapter 8: Product Innovation
Chapter 9: Innovation Risks
Chapter 10: Leading Innovation

Runway extension, construction of works in protected areas, subsidizing sustainable projects... they all happen within a design space, limited amongst others by legal rules and requirements. To make optimal use of the design space, you have to know about these rules and requirements. When does a contract have to be tendered out, what rules are then applicable, what can be subsidized and what are the restrictions, how to comply with air quality requirements and can a frog really block a project? What alternative designs can be given in order to avoid legal problems? These and other problems will be addressed in this course.

Les Conversations Mises à Jour is a collection of authentic conversations in French that targets mostly intermediate and advanced learners of French. Each conversation highlights the shared experience of two native or near-native French speakers and provides both an oral history of that experience and a trove of cultural references.

This course provides an introduction to critical thinking, informal logic, and a small amount of formal logic; its purpose is to provide students with the basic tools of analytical reasoning. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to: Understand what critical thinking is and why it is valuable; Distinguish between good and bad definitions, Recognize the differences between explicit and implicit meaning, and remove ambiguities of meaning from unclearly worded statements; Recognize arguments in writing, pick out good and bad arguments by their form, and construct sound arguments of their own; Diagnose the most common reasoning errors and fallacies, as well as identify ways of improving them; Understand the basics of sentential and predicate logic and gain practice manipulating meaning symbolically; Understand the rudiments of scientific methodology and reasoning; Evaluate arguments that rely on specific types of visual representation; Understand the basics of strategic reasoning and problem solving; Understand the particular challenges involved in reasoning about values and morality; Diagnose fallacies and evaluate arguments about values and morality. (Philosophy 102)

This is the second in a series of majoręs biology classes covering the principles of biology. The course is an integrated study of basic concepts concerning animal biology emphasizing animal evolution, diversity, phylogeny and a comparative look at general principles of animal form and function. This course is a lab science class and students will be required to participate in weekly lab activities and document their lab work for successful course completion.

Biol & 213 is the third course of a year-long series of biology courses for Biology majors. The first third of the course surveys prokaryotes, protists, fungi, and plants, focusing on diversity, evolution, and life cycles from an evolutionary perspective. We will then describe plant anatomy, physiology, growth, responses to the environment, and reproduction, emphasizing flowering plants. We will finish with ecology, focusing on population, and community ecology and expanding outward to ecosystems and the introduction of biodiversity and conservation.

This course is the first in a three-course sequence that introduces biology in preparation for advanced study in areas of biological science such as medicine, dentistry, cell biology, microbiology, or veterinary medicine. Biol& 211 introduces students to cellular structure and function. Major topics studied include: energy capture and utilization, cellular reproduction, inheritance, genetic mutation, protein synthesis, gene expression, and biotechnology.