About West Coast University

University Mission

At West Coast University, we embrace a student-centric learning partnership that leads to professional success. We deliver transformational education within a culture of integrity and personal accountability. We design market-responsive programs through collaboration between faculty and industry professionals. We continuously pursue more effective and innovative ways through which students develop the competencies and confidence required in a complex and changing world.

University Values

Institutional Learning Outcomes

Institutional learning outcomes are designed by the University as a whole, taking into account the role that both instruction and student services play in contributing to a student’s success. Institutional learning outcomes assume achievement of the stated programmatic learning outcomes of one’s discipline.

Upon graduating from a degree program offered by West Coast University, students should be able to:

1. Implement intellectual and practical problem solving skills through information assessment and critical thinking.
2. Demonstrate effective written communication skills.
3. Demonstrate effective oral communication skills.
4. Demonstrate computer proficiency and information literacy.
5. Describe ethical standards and legal guidelines associated with one’s chosen career field.
6. Explain why knowledge of and respect for the societal contributions of diverse cultures and perspectives is an important quality in one’s discipline.

University History

West Coast University (WCU) was originally chartered in California in 1909 as an ophthalmology school. In 1953, the University added evening-only programs. The success of this approach led the University to expand and diversify its programs to include offerings in health science. The University achieved accreditation by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities (ACSCU) of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 1963 and maintained that accreditation until March 1997. Associate degrees in science and master’s degree programs were introduced in the late 1960’s and 1970’s. In 1981, the University reorganized into three distinct colleges; the College of Business and Management, the College of Engineering, and the College of Letters and Sciences.

In May of 1997, new leadership was committed to refocusing the Institution’s program offerings to high-demand health care related programs that would be beneficial to working adults. These programs included Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Health Care Management. West Coast University became accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) in 2002.

A branch campus in Orange County opened for classes in September of 2007. At the same time, the University launched its first online classes to provide greater flexibility for its students. An additional branch campus in Ontario, California, began offering classes in November of 2008. In 2009 the Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree achieved accreditation through the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).

In June 2010, the University achieved an additional milestone, as it was approved to offer Masters degree programs in Nursing and Health Care Management by ACICS. In October of 2010, the Orange County, California campus Bachelor of Science program in Dental Hygiene received accreditation though the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA). In addition, in 2010 the University applied for Eligibility from the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). In fall of 2011, WASC granted the University accreditation.

In 2012 West Coast University opened its fourth campus in Dallas, Texas. The campus offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, the first one for the institution outside of the State of California.

The Master of Science in Nursing program achieved CCNE accreditation in 2012.  As growth progressed, WCU opened its graduate learning center near downtown Los Angeles.  In the fall of 2013, the University opened its Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program at the Los Angeles Campus. 

In April, 2014, West Coast University proudly opened its fifth campus in Miami, Florida.   

University Academic Freedom and Responsibility

West Coast University supports an environment of open investigation and animated discourse in the pursuit of enhanced student learning. In the spirit of Academic Freedom, faculty members are encouraged to engage in an exhaustive quest of relevant inquiry that is free from outside intervention. Faculty members have the right and responsibility to express their understanding of the facts related to the subject matter in a manner that is educationally effective and professionally appropriate; furthermore, faculty are expected to engage in continuous assessment and programmatic self-reflection to ensure students demonstrate competence in identified learning outcomes. Faculty members are expected to keep abreast of developments in the field and to share their knowledge with students. Within the University’s model of shared governance, faculty members are urged to collaborate with colleagues to identify opportunities for improvement in scholarship, teaching and learning.

Curricular consistency is paramount to a culture of assessment that embraces ongoing student learning assessment, program evaluation, and responsive change. Accordingly, faculty share co-ownership over a common curriculum, whereby all courses are taught in alignment with a faculty-developed master syllabus. It is recognized that faculty members possess broad differences in areas of expertise, research interests, and styles of instructional delivery. This richness of diversity powerfully contributes to a learning environment that produces original thought, creative inspiration, and critical reasoning skills. In summation, Academic Freedom is interwoven into all teaching and learning processes that sustain learning outcomes and ultimately produce lifelong contributions to society.

Similarly, staff members have the right and responsibility to keep abreast of developments in their professional fields, and to share knowledge with their colleagues in the field. West Coast University expects that staff members will express this freedom in an appropriate way in compliance with their professional responsibilities to serve students, faculty and the institution.

Facilities Description

West Coast University campuses and classroom facilities include courtyards, study nooks and gathering spaces that encourage connections between students, faculty and associates. The classrooms at each campus integrate advanced technology wherever possible, including permanently mounted projectors, projection screens, interactive whiteboards and technologies that capture, print and transmit images and text. Spaces are also provided at each campus to support student needs including meeting rooms, food service areas, and computer stations with wireless connectivity. Each campus also provides a library and master's degree-prepared librarian, along with administrative functions and staff including admissions, registrar, student services, career services and financial aid.

Los Angeles Campus

(Main Campus)

12215 Victory Boulevard

North Hollywood, CA 91606

The campus is located at the Victory Blvd. exit of Highway 170 (Hollywood Freeway). The campus has a total of 49,000 sq. ft. that consists of 9 Classrooms, 4 Lab Rooms, 7 High-fidelity Simulation Labs, 2 Study Rooms, and 2 Student Lounges. In the Computer Labs, there are a total of 297 computers, and throughout the campus are “Internet Bars”, or computer stations, with a total of 30 computers.

Los Angeles 

Learning Site

590 North Vermont Avenue 

Los Angeles, CA 90004

The Los Angeles Learning Site is located off the 101 freeway  in the heart of Los Angeles.  This facility has a total of 97,000 sq. ft. that consists of 9 Classrooms, 9 student computer areas, 4 physical therapy labs, a physical therapy skills clinic, 3 occupational therapy labs, 3 pharmacy labs, 2 student commons rooms, 22 student meeting rooms, and a library equipped with computer stations and private meeting areas.

Orange County Campus

(Branch Campus)

1477 South Manchester Avenue

Anaheim, CA 92802

The campus is located off Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) in Anaheim near Harbor Blvd and Katella. The Orange County campus includes both the Manchester building and the Learning Site on La Palma Avenue where additional classroom space is utilized. The Manchester building includes a Dental Hygiene simulation laboratory and a Dental Patient Clinic. This facility has a total of 34,084 sq. ft. that consists of 6 Classrooms, 2 Lab Rooms, 1 Dental Hygiene Simulation Lab, 2 Dental Hygiene Clinics, 4 Study Rooms and a Student Lounge. In the Computer Labs, there are a total of 85 computers, and throughout the campus are “Internet Bars”, or computer stations, with a total of 6 computers.

Orange County

Learning Site

2411 West La Palma Avenue

Anaheim, CA 92801

The Orange County Learning Site is located off Interstate 5 (Santa Ana Freeway) at the Brookhurst/La Palma exit. It is less than 5 miles from the Orange County Manchester campus. This site includes Nursing simulation laboratories and offices for the Nursing faculty and Administration. This facility has a total of 20,000 sq. ft. that consists of 5 Classrooms, 2 Lab Rooms, 4 Nursing Simulation Labs, 4 Study Rooms and 3 Student Lounges. In the Computer Labs, there are a total of 90 computers and throughout the campus are “Internet Bars”, or computer stations, with a total of 22 computers.

Ontario Campus

(Branch Campus)

2855 East Guasti Road

Ontario, CA 91761

The campus is located off Interstate 10 (San Bernardino Freeway) at the Archibald Avenue exit next to the Ontario International Airport. The campus has a total of 51,888 sq. ft. that consists of 15 Classrooms, 4 Lab Rooms, 7 High-fidelity Simulation Labs, 4 Study Rooms and 3 Student Lounges. In the Computer Labs, there are a total of 247 computers and throughout the campus are “Internet Bars”, or computer stations, with a total of 27 computers.

Institutional Accreditation

West Coast University is accredited by WASC Senior College of University Commission (WSCUC), a regional accreditation body recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). WASC is located at 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite #100, Alameda, CA 94501, 510-748-9001.

WASC Senior College and University Commission*

985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100

Alameda, CA 94501

(510) 748-9001

www.wascsenior.org

Original Accreditation: January 1963 to March 1997

New Grant: November 4, 2011

Programmatic Accreditation and Approvals

Dental Hygiene
The Dental Hygiene program offered at the Orange County campus is accredited by the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA).

Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA)
211 East Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-2678
800-621-8099 or (312) 440-4653
http://www.ada.org/en/coda/accreditation/

Nursing
The Nursing Baccalaureate and Master’s Degree Programs are accredited by the C ommission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530, Washington DC 20036, (202) 877-6791.

Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 530
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 887-6791
www.aacn.nche.edu/CCNE-accreditation

The nursing pre-licensure (LVN to BSN and BSN) programs offered at West Coast University are approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing located at:

California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN)
1747 North Market Boulevard, Suite 150
Sacramento, CA 95834
(916) 322-3350
http://www.rn.ca.gov

Occupational Therapy
The Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program offered at West Coast University has been granted Candidacy Status by the Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education (ACOTE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), located at:

Accreditation Council of Occupational Therapy (ACOTE)
4720 Montgomery Lane, Suite 200
Bethesda, MD 20814-3449
(301) 652-2682
http://www.aota.org/Educate/Accredit.aspx

Master of Science, Occupational Therapy Accreditation Disclosure
Once accreditation of the program has been obtained, MSOT graduates will be eligible to site for the national certification examination for the Occupational Therapist administered by the National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy (NBCOT). After successful completion of this exam, the individual will be an Occupational Therapist, Registered (OTR).

More licensure information can be found on the MSOT program information section.

Physical Therapy
Graduation from a physical therapist education program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE) is necessary for eligibility to sit for the licensure examination, which is required in all states.

Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (CAPTE)
1111 North Fairfax Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 706-3245
accreditation@apta.org
http://www.capteonline.org/Home.aspx

Doctor of Physical Therapy Program Accreditation Disclosure
Effective February 25, 2014, the West Coast University Doctor of Physical Therapy program has been granted Candidate for Accreditation status by the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education (1111 North Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA, 22314; phone: 703-706-3245; email: accreditation@apta.org). Candidate for Accreditation is a pre-accreditation status of affiliation with the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education that indicates that the program may matriculate students in professional courses and that the program is progressing toward accreditation. Candidate for Accreditation is not an accreditation status nor does it assure eventual accreditation.

Class Schedule Information

For programs operating on the 20-week semester model, classes are typically scheduled during the hours of 7:00 am to 11:00 pm Monday through Friday and 7:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Most often, students attend classes two to four days per week; however, some courses (most notably in the nursing programs) may require additional days of instruction per week. Nursing clinical rotations may be scheduled any day of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, 24 hours a day. The Dental Hygiene core curriculum requires students to attend classes, labs, and clinic sessions up to five days per week. After program completion and in preparation for clinical board examinations, Dental Hygiene students will be allowed to attend specific clinic sessions.

Class Times

Please Note: Nursing clinical rotations may be scheduled any day of the week, including Saturdays and Sundays, 24 hours a day.

University Hours of Operation

The campus administrative offices normal hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. Online courses and related technical support are available and accessible to enrolled students seven days a week, 24 hours a day.

Holidays Observed