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General Education

General Education Mission

The General Education program has been designed to facilitate students’ acquisition and application of knowledge through intellectual stimulation, scientific methodology, information and computer literacy, and communication competencies. Students master problem solving abilities necessary for success in the core curriculum and with application to personal and professional growth and well-being beyond the curriculum.

General Education Philosophy

Courses in the General Education program provide an academic foundation to prepare students for higher level inquiry in their chosen disciplines and prepare them to be responsible, ethical citizens in a global society. Content is constructed to build academic and analytical skills to further enhance educational, professional, and personal development. The program is designed to advance student’s knowledge and skills in reading comprehension, professional writing, and the development of appropriate comportment that is expected in work settings.

General Education Program Learning Outcomes

All undergraduate programs include a general education component. The leaning outcomes for general education are:

  1. Demonstrate competent written communication skills
  2. Employ effective oral communication skills
  3. Interpret quantitative data using mathematical principles to effectively identify core issues and solve problems
  4. Illustrate competence in the biological, physical, and natural sciences
  5. Locate disparate information through multiple sources demonstrating technological and informational literacy
  6. Analyze ideas and make decisions using critical thinking skills
  7. Describe and interpret diverse perspectives, value systems, history, cultural traditions, and artistic expression
  8. Articulate issues and arrive at a defensible conclusion, given a set of ethical dilemmas

 

WCYou Experience Requirement (FYS 001)

The WCYou Experience (FYS 001) is designed to support students as they transition to West Coast University, by introducing and connecting them to the culture and expectations of the University through curricular and co-curricular topics created to build a foundation for student success. Within the First Year Seminar (FYS 001) course, students will be provided information about campus services, resources, academic support, student life, and the WCU culture. 

Students are required to successfully complete WCYou Experience FYS 001 in the first term at West Coast University.  If a student does not successfully complete FYS 001 due to drop, withdrawal or failure, the student will be enrolled in the course in their second term and must successfully complete the course at that time.  Students who do not successfully complete FYS 001 by the end of their second term may be subject to dismissal from WCU.

Supplemental Student Instruction, Fall I, 2015 - Miami Campus

In the Fall I, 2015 term, the DEP structure was replaced with a new remediation strategy.  Effective wiht the Fall I, 2015 term, new students are admitted under conditional status if a TEAS V entrance examination composite score of between 48 and 58.6 was earned.  As a remediation strategy, conditional students are supported through an Academic Action Plan (AAP), one component of which prescribes enrollment in Supplemental Instruction (SI) modules so as to remediate in the TEAS V subcomponent area(s) for which a student did not receive a proficient score (Reading >69; Math >63.3; Science >45.8; and English >60).  The AAP is formulated by a faculty coordinator and inclusive of one-on-one tutoring sessions and content specific remediation resources customized to a student's noted academic deficiency.  The culminating goal of this remediation strategy is passage of the TEAS V exam with a composite score of 58.7%, which must be accomplished before entrance into nursing core courses is permissible.  As a component of the AAP, conditional students are placed in one or more SI modules based on the content specific deficiency as demonstrated via the TEAS V subcomponent scores. 

Math SI Module:

Includes the ALEKS adaptive learning product created by McGraw-Hill to assist the student in learning based on the deficient area.  Students assigned this module complete a diagnostic test initially and then following completion of an adaptive learning path, a post test is completed. 

Reading SI Module:

Includes the Langan Reading adaptive learning product created by McGraw-Hill.  This adaptive learning product helps the student to cultivate essential reading comprehension skills that are necessary for success in the GE and core Nursing courses, and passage of the TEAS V. 

Science SI Module:

Includes anatomy, physiology, and chemistry resources provided by McGraw-Hill.  These resources include adaptive learning as a learning tool to assess science deficiencies and also help students understand their weak areas and remediate as needed. 

English SI Module:

The English SI module also uses the Langan adaptive learning product created by McGraw-Hill; however, English and language content is center of focus in this module. 

Computer Proficiency Requirement

All students must take and complete a non-credit four module Computer Proficiency exam by the end of the first semester.