VUnited Scholars: Certificate in Community and Professional Development

This course introduces students to workplace expectations through a supervised, entry-level internship experience. Students begin exploring career interests while developing foundational skills such as punctuality, communication, teamwork, and task completion. Emphasis is placed on building confidence, understanding workplace routines, and engaging in reflective practice to support ongoing career development.

This course introduces students to career exploration through Industry Tours of local companies and organizations, helping them understand the jobs and workplace culture in different workplaces. Students will learn how to set meaningful short‑ and long‑term goals, complete an Industry Research Project, and build critical skills needed for their first on‑campus internship. The class also includes a Personal Profile Project to help students express their strengths and interests, along with a review of their CliftonStrengths Top 5 results to understand how these “superpowers” translate to a career.

This course prepares students for success in internship settings through a strengths-based, student-centered approach. Students will develop essential professional skills including effective workplace communication, time management, and self-advocacy. Topics include understanding workplace expectations and navigating professional boundaries. Students will learn strategies for managing stress, resolving conflict, and engaging in workplace culture. The course includes guidance on internship logistics such as forms, evaluations, and performance reviews, with an emphasis on reflection, goal setting, and continuous growth.

This course will help you to understand how to build healthy and appropriate relationships, with friends and colleagues in various aspects of your life: friendships, dating, workplace, family, and more! Learn about helpful conversational skills, apply concepts of conflict resolution in social settings, and reflect on the many different types of relationships in your life. Students will engage in a variety of hands-on learning experiences, presentations, and group work.

This course will be broken into three main units: Word Processing, Spreadsheets, & Presentations. Word/Word Processing – explore basic and advanced formatting, guidelines for creating effective print materials, and more advanced features of Word. Excel/Spreadsheets – creating an effective spreadsheet, calculations, & formatting; including a spreadsheet in a word document, automatic formatting. Powerpoint – principles of creating clear and concise presentations. Explore the powerful features of PowerPoint and how to use them for guided formatting to enhance your message.

This course will focus on becoming more comfortable speaking in front of others through a medium of singing and performance. We will focus on singing together in a group, enhancing breath support, diction, and presence as a means of becoming more confident speaking in public, presenting, and interviewing. Students will explore traditional singing technique, monologue delivery, as well as giving a presentation on a subject of the student’s choice.

Students will work with one another to build cohort relationships while learning skills to navigate the newness of college life. Students will uncover their personal strengths and areas of opportunity through the use of a strengths inventory. Students will connect with faculty and staff across campus to build their network. A focus of this course is student leadership including elements of self-leadership and introduction to a few leadership theories.

The course is designed for students to learn the underlying basis of written English to develop literacy abilities. Students will become aware of themselves as learners, readers, writers, and critical thinkers.

Using a hands-on approach, this course provides information necessary for the development of healthy exercise and physical activity programs, and teaches individuals to assess their personal status and activity needs. It also focuses on concepts of effective goal setting, enabling each individual to determine realistic goals for self-improvement and the use of physical activity for health-promotion throughout a lifetime.

This introductory course focuses on developing foundational skills, fitness concepts, and teamwork through participation in Special Olympics Unified soccer, volleyball, or football. Students will build confidence, sportsmanship, and communication skills while engaging in inclusive recreational and competitive activities with peers.

Building on Internship 1, this course deepens students’ engagement in the workplace through increased responsibility and skill development. Students continue to explore career interests while strengthening professional communication, problem-solving, and adaptability. Ongoing reflection and feedback support growth in independence and workplace readiness.

This course helps students strengthen their career readiness by learning the key elements of a résumé, including how to highlight volunteer activities. We will explore the fundamentals of networking, practice real‑world communication skills during a campus networking event with administrators and learn how to confidently answer “Tell me about yourself.” The class also features guest speakers who share insights from their own career paths, along with activities that help students identify the transferable skills they’ve gained during their on-campus internships. We will revisit and refine their short‑ and long‑term goals to stay focused on their personal and professional growth.

This course will examine the role that spirituality plays in serving the common good, especially in relation to social justice. Students will consider how conscience is formed, character strengths which contribute to becoming a “good person,” and the seven elements of Catholic social teaching. Students will assess the contributions of St. Augustine to the mission and vision of Villanova University and meet a variety of adult and student leaders who are striving to enhance the common good on campus and throughout the community and world. Field trips and guest speakers will be featured.

This course will continue to learn the underlying basis of written English to develop literacy abilities. Students will become aware of themselves as learners, readers, writers, and critical thinkers.

This course will center around developing those qualities where everyone feels their voices are heard. Since all of life is relational, the better our relations with each other, the better our lives. Emotions are a fundamental driver of behavior so students will develop those skills that help them engage better with their peers in social settings. Regulars channels of communication will be established and the value of each person will be of utmost priority in this course.

This class will help you figure out how to incorporate nutrition and fitness into a hectic college lifestyle and to continue this healthy lifestyle for your entire life. Topics will include, but are not limited to: improving dietary habits, plant-based diets, sports nutrition, dietary intolerances and food allergies, as well as the importance of weight maintenance, health, wellness and fitness.

Throughout this course we will elaborate on proper usage of public and private transportation. By the end of the course, they will be able to answer the following questions: What are various modes of transportation available in different regions? Where do I begin when attempting to use transportation to get to a location? How do I utilize public transportation What resources can I use to best navigate public transportation in new environments? How do I access private transportation such as ride shares?

This course provides an advanced internship experience with expanded responsibilities and increased independence. Students refine job-specific and transferable skills while contributing meaningfully to their work environment. Emphasis is placed on professionalism, self-advocacy, and effective workplace communication, with continued reflection to support career direction and skill development.

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to workplace readiness by covering key communication skills, résumé updates, and visits to both the Career Center and Career Fair. Students will learn how to create LinkedIn profiles and practice elevator pitches. We will also explore digital literacy in the workplace—including email etiquette, calendar management, cloud collaboration tools, cybersecurity basics, digital professionalism. Students will hear from Villanova’s Human Resources team about HR fundamentals such as pre‑employment paperwork, legal rights and responsibilities at work, and financial literacy for employment. Students will develop strategies for building positive work relationships, balancing personal and professional life, and planning transportation and commuting to internships and jobs.

Students will learn how to plan their personal finances and plan for financial and career success. Course will include personal money management.

Essential Living Skills is designed to give students exposure and practice in a variety of skills to assist with becoming more independent adults while living on their own. Within this course, students will focus on a variety of independent living skills such as finding a place to live, budgets, leasing agreements, roommates, safety, and the items/amenities needed for independent living. This course will be taught through the framework and lens of an Occupational Therapist, focusing on the whole person and accommodations or adjustments needed to successfully live on their own.

This class will help you learn how to incorporate nutrition into a hectic college lifestyle. Recipes for nutritious meals and cooking classes will be held each class. By the end of the semester, a cookbook with nutritional meals will be created. The importance of weight maintenance, health, wellness and food selection, as well as dietary habits, plant-based diets, sports nutrition, dietary intolerances and food allergies will be discussed.

An interactive course that helps students understand their legal, civic, and personal rights while exploring the responsibilities that come with living, learning, and working in a community. Through real-world scenarios and practical discussion, students build skills in self-advocacy, decision-making, ethical behavior, and respectful engagement across academic, workplace, and community settings.

This culminating internship experience prepares students for transition to post-graduate employment. Students demonstrate independence, consistency, and professionalism while performing job responsibilities in a real-world setting. Focus is placed on solidifying career goals, strengthening workplace competencies, and preparing for sustainable employment through reflection, feedback, and transition planning.

This course helps students build real‑world job skills by learning how to update their résumés and LinkedIn profiles, understand and practice applying for jobs, and use networking to find job opportunities. Students will practice preparing for interviews, participate in mock interviews, and use AI tools to draft cover letters. The class also emphasizes essential workplace knowledge, including how to read a paycheck, what is a performance review, and how to handle common workplace situations with confidence and professionalism.

This course helps students build real‑world job skills by learning how to update their résumés and LinkedIn profiles, understand and practice applying for jobs, and use networking to find job opportunities. Students will practice preparing for interviews, participate in mock interviews, and use AI tools to draft cover letters. The class also emphasizes essential workplace knowledge, including how to read a paycheck, what is a performance review, and how to handle common workplace situations with confidence and professionalism.

This class will teach more advanced cooking preparation. Students will be taught how to make complete meals and how to prepare meals for the week. Students will also get to explore other cuisines from around the work. Plant-based cooking and allergy free meals will also be covered during the course. This class will help you figure out how to incorporate nutritious and quick meals in a busy lifestyle and to continue for your entire life. Topics will include, but are not limited to: improving dietary habits, plant-based diets, sports nutrition, dietary intolerances and food allergies, as well as the importance of weight maintenance, health, wellness and fitness.

This course is designed to provide students with information about health, healthy behaviors, and strategies to use the health care system based on body systems. During the course, students will be introduced to concepts related to body systems and how the body systems work together to maintain health and well-being and their role in health promotion.

Students will learn advanced skills in leadership such as conflict resolution, problem solving, and advocacy. Students will take turns leading projects and activities to gain a better understanding of their own style of leadership.

The Nicene Creed begins: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and of all things visible and invisible.” To believe in the “invisible” is to be open to divine action in our midst, and to accept that Jesus, with the Father and in union with the Holy Spirit, continues to perform miracles, especially in relation to the Seven Sacraments of the Church. Students will consider each of the Sacraments and compare them to rituals and “rites of passage” in other faith traditions. Field trips and guest speakers will be featured.

An elective course focusing on literacy activities using a student-chosen novel. The course will incorporate reading, speaking, writing, games and activities with a possible field trip.

This course is designed to provide VUnited students with an introduction to teaching and caring for children from birth through elementary school by developing the knowledge and competence of early education fields. Emphasis is placed on nurturing child development, curriculum planning, and facilitating interpersonal and communication abilities. Students will discover experiences that advance developmental milestones in young children.

Students will engage in a cursory overview of American History from 1700 through 2022. Major events in the United States and demographic and cultural changes will be discussed, analyzed, and explored through basic readings. Major historical markers included with be the First Settlers, the Revolution, Expansion, Civil War, World War I, the Depression, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and present day.

This course provides a broad understanding of psychology, aspects of psychology including learning and development, cognition, social psychology, personality psychology, substance use disorders, psychology subgroups, and psychopathology. This course explores theories and models of psychology to include understanding different types of aspects of psychology, their subgroups, and assessment/tools to assist. It also continues building foundational knowledge, utilization of professional resources, and exploration of standards to help students have a deeper appreciation of psychology for application into their daily lives.

Throughout this course, we will engage with computer science as a medium for creativity, communication, problem solving, and fun! This course will be highly interactive and collaborative with students practicing a problem-solving process to address a series of puzzles, challenges, and real-world scenarios. Further discoveries will aim to show how computers input, output, store, and process information to help humans solve problems. We will also explore how Artificial Intelligence systems impact individuals and communities. Our main goal will be to create a collaborative classroom environment where we view computer science as relevant, fun, and empowering!

A survey of basic camera techniques and equipment, story boarding, steps to pre and post film production as Independent Film Makers.

Introduction to Sports Management offers a broad understanding of the major areas of the sports industry for those interested in moving on to challenging and exciting careers in major and minor league sports, high school and college athletics, sport-related nonprofit organizations, field management, and recreation facilities.

In this course, students explore the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including opportunity identification, market research, and value creation. Through hands-on activities, students begin developing a venture concept that addresses a meaningful social issue, laying the groundwork for a sustainable and impactful business.

Building on the foundation established in Entrepreneurship 1, this course focuses on advancing and refining a student-led venture. Students will develop business models, test assumptions, and create strategies for growth and sustainability, with an emphasis on launching and scaling solutions to real-world social challenges.

Throughout this course, we will explore the analytical and expressive nature of visual art through both art appreciation and studio art practice. Students will actively participate in close looking, discussion, and hands-on making to examine how artists use line, shape, color, texture, materials, and narrative to communicate ideas and emotions. In doing so, students will construct a framework for understanding how art is created, how to experience it, and how to express their own visual language.

Analyzing the making of a film. Students working in teams will be given assignments that will incorporate the use of lighting, sound, scene set-up, and b-roll. Students will edit the project, including music and animation.

This course explores the major periods of Western music history, including the Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and Modern eras. Through guided listening, students will begin to develop a vocabulary to describe what they hear while gaining an understanding of how music reflects historical events, cultural shifts, and the human experience. Students will engage with music through listening, discussion, and interactive activities designed to support a range of learning styles. The course will also encourage students to notice how different types of music affect their mood, focus, and emotional response.

This course explores the evolution of American music from early jazz through the rise of popular music styles including swing, bebop, rhythm & blues, soul, funk, disco, and pop. Through guided listening, students will continue to build a vocabulary to describe what they hear while gaining an understanding of how music reflects cultural, historical, and social change. Students will engage with music through listening, discussion, and interactive activities designed to support a range of learning styles. The course will also encourage students to identify how different types of music impact their mood, focus, and emotional response.

This course introduces students to the world of theater through interactive games, improvisation, movement, and creative expression. Students will build confidence, communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills while participating in a variety of engaging theater activities designed to encourage imagination and collaboration. Through improvisation challenges, storytelling, character creation, movement exercises, and ensemble games, students will strengthen their self-expression and comfort performing in front of others.

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of improvisational theater through creative games, spontaneous storytelling, and collaborative performance activities. Students will learn how to think on their feet, respond confidently in the moment, and work together as an ensemble while building communication, creativity, and self-confidence. The course encourages risk-taking, adaptability, humor, and teamwork while helping students become more comfortable expressing themselves both on stage and in everyday situations.

An introduction to the fundamentals of performance, communication, and self-expression through theater activities and group collaboration. Students will build confidence speaking and performing in front of others by participating in improvisation exercises, ensemble games, introductory acting activities, and basic vocal techniques. The course will focus on developing comfort with projection, diction, body language, and stage presence while encouraging creativity and teamwork.

This course will focus on becoming more comfortable speaking in front of others through a medium of singing and performance. We will focus on singing together in a group, enhancing breath support, diction, and presence as a means of becoming more confident speaking in public, presenting, and interviewing. Students will explore traditional singing technique, monologue delivery, as well as giving a presentation on a subject of the student’s choice.

This course introduces students to a variety of fitness topics through rotating units such as yoga, Zumba, and strength training, promoting overall health and wellness. Students will explore different exercise styles, build foundational skills, and develop personalized strategies for maintaining an active lifestyle.

Students will build on planning their personal finances after college, independent of their families, and plan for financial and career success.

A hands-on course that introduces students to the principles and practices of the hospitality industry, including customer service, teamwork, professionalism, and workplace expectations. Through real-world examples and experiential learning, students develop communication, problem-solving, and service skills essential for success in hospitality, tourism, dining, and customer-focused environments.