The General Education Program at Westmont Its goals and how to navigate the requirements

The Graduation Requirements Complete at least 124 units with at least a 2.0 GPA. Complete the general education requirements Complete a major with –a–at least 2.0 average in the upper-division major courses –a–at least one half of the upper division major requirements taken “at Westmont” Complete 68 units outside your major department Meet the senior residence requirement

The Purpose of the GE Foster –Intellectual vitality –Christian character –Commitment to service Provide –Support for the major area of study –Tools to relate specialized knowledge to other areas of learning, to life, and to the world

The Components of General Education at Westmont Common Contexts Common Inquiries Commons Skills Competent and Compassionate Action

Common Contexts – Purpose Ground our pursuit of knowledge in the context of God’s revelation Provide contextual background, concepts, vocabulary to support exploration in other areas

Common Contexts – Content Biblical and Theological Canons –Life and Literature of the New Testament –Introduction to Christian Doctrine –Life and Literature of the Old Testament Introduction to the Christian Liberal Arts –Philosophical Reflections on Truth and Value –World Civilizations in Christian Perspective

Common Contexts Special Considerations Common Contexts courses must be taken at Westmont Take these courses early. Try to complete these requirements by the end of your second year.

The Components of General Education at Westmont Common Contexts Common Inquiries Commons Skills Competent and Compassionate Action

Common Inquiries – Purpose Provide an introduction to a range of methodological approaches to knowledge and ways of thinking Provide a broad context within which to place the major discipline

Common Inquiries – Content Reading Imaginative Literature Exploring the Physical Sciences Exploring the Life Sciences Reasoning Abstractly Performing and Interpreting the Arts Thinking Globally Thinking Historically Understanding Society

Common Inquiries Special Considerations These are method, not departmentally, based Be conscious of the requirement that 68 units be taken outside the major department when selecting these courses One time only, you can use one course to satisfy two Common Inquiries requirements

Common Skills – Purpose Improve communication skills to support academic, professional and personal life Enhance the capacity to work with numerical data and analytic models Develop physical skills and habits of fitness to support a healthy and active life

Common Skills – Content Three writing or speech intensive courses –Writing for the Liberal Arts –writing/speech-intensive course in the major –writing/speech-intensive course outside the major Quantitative and Analytical Reasoning Modern/Foreign Language Physical Education (4)

Common Skills Special Considerations The first two parts (A and B) are not assigned units – they should be done in the context of other GE or major courses

Common Skills Writing for the Liberal Arts You should take this during your first year ENG 002: Composition is typically required You may use an alternate writing-intensive course if you have a qualifying test score (ACT, SAT WR II, TSWE) A qualifying score does not exempt you from the requirement – it gives you more course options.

Common Skills Writing/Speech-Intensive Courses Take these at a rate of one per year Take these in the context of another GE or major course Writing/Speech-Intensive courses in the major are typically offered as upper division courses Sections C and D of RS 20: Doctrine are writing-intensive

Common Skills Modern/Foreign Language If you will be continuing in a language, your course level will be established by a placement exam Student placing into the fourth semester of a language or with an AP score of 4 or 5 are not required to take an additional language course. However, they are encouraged to do so.

Common Skills Physical Education All students must take Fitness for Life (not necessarily first) and three additional activity courses You should take the PE Activity courses at the rate of at least one per year Only one PE Activity course per term will count toward your total unit count or the GE requirement Athletes can use their sport one time

Competent and Compassionate Action – Purpose Provide an opportunity to integrate the entire educational experience Put your learning into practice Initiate the practice of life-long, reflective service

Competent and Compassionate Action – Contents One of –Productions and Presentations –Integrating the Major Discipline One of –Serving Society; Enacting Justice –Communicating Cross-Culturally

Competent and Compassionate Action – Details These experiences are intended to be culminations of your studies – they should be done in your junior or senior year These must be done with the academic oversight, but need not be connected with a particular course It is preferable, but not required, to satisfy these requirements in the context of your major

The Flow of a Westmont Education Common Contexts Common Skills Major Competent & Compassionate Action Common Inquiries

AP, IB and A-Levels Credit toward the total 124 required units is awarded for AP scores of 4 and 5 and IB (HL) scores of 5, 6 or 7 Credit will be awarded after the registrar’s office has received official notice of the results You can tell what credit has been awarded by checking the GE checklist A maximum of 32 units will be accepted

AP, IB, A-Levels and the GE AP/IB credit may not be used to satisfy Common Contexts requirements Credit may be applied for up to three appropriate Common Inquiries requirements without restriction AP credit may be applied to additional Common Inquiries areas upon completing an advanced course in the area at Westmont Upon completion of the course, the student must file a form with the registrar's office

Planning for an Off-Campus Experience Plan early Talk with your major advisor GE courses that are not likely to duplicate off- campus offerings –Common Contexts courses (5) –Reading Imaginative Literature –Exploring the Physical Sciences –Exploring the Life Sciences –Reasoning Abstractly

Liberal Studies Majors (Prospective Elementary School Teachers) You will need to make specific choices for your GE courses to fit with your major Consult carefully with your departmental advisor

Questions? Common Contexts Common Skills Major Competent & Compassionate Action Common Inquiries