Westwood College approach to teaching and learning
Career-focused
Curriculum is designed and developed by its faculty with input from employers, subject matter experts, and professional organizations. The curriculum is frequently reviewed and updated to retain its vitality and to meet the needs of a changing workplace.
Respectful and collaborative learning environment
Westwood College serves a student population rich in diversity, and promotes a strong culture of mutual respect and collaboration. The College maintains a business-like environment and promotes attendance, focus, and professional behavior.
Active and applied learning
Active learning methods encourage strong student engagement, create a dynamic learning environment, and promote long-term retention and application of learning. Assignments are practical and encourage students to directly apply concepts and theories to life and career.
Student-centered
Since students are at the center of the College’s approach, the educational experience is designed with the end in mind to answer the question, “What knowledge, skills, and attitudes do students need to learn in order to succeed?”
Learner outcomes and assessment
In order to promote continuous improvement the College seeks to document student learning and works to answer the question, “How can we gather evidence so that students, faculty, employers, and the community know what the students have learned and can do?”
WESTWOOD COLLEGE GENERAL EDUCATION PHILOSOPHY
Westwood College’s philosophy and approach to General Education promotes the appreciation for life-long learning necessary to support the professional, academic, and personal success of Westwood students. Every degree programi ncorporates a common set of general dducation courses designed to prepare students with a basic foundation incommunication, problem solving, teamwork, ethics, and professionalism. These themes are then further integrated and applied throughout the core curriculum. Westwood College’s general education approach will inspire andinstill in our students the necessity for a life-long intellectual and social growth.
- Upon graduation Westwood College student will demonstrate understanding and appreciation for life-long learning and intellectual curiosity. Westwood College’s general education approach will develop, enhance and improve students’ writing, speaking, reading, listening and presenting skills.
- Upon graduation Westwood College students will demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills. Westwood College’s general education approach will emphasize the growth and development of critical and analytical thinking, qualitative and quantitative reasoning and the ability to synthesize and apply a range of thinking modalities in problem solving.
- Upon graduation Westwood College students will demonstrate the ability to solve problems by applying a variety of thinking methods. Westwood College’s general education approach will create and foster a greater degree of social, political, psychological, historical, and environmental awareness among our students.
- Upon graduation Westwood College students will demonstrate knowledge of ethical principles and attitudes of professionalism. Westwood College’s general education approach will provide our students with positive and successful collaborative learning experiences that will reinforce and strengthen students’ skills of relationship building.
- Upon graduation Westwood College students will demonstrate teamwork and interpersonal interactions skills.
The general education philosophy is embedded in the College’s academic programs through general education learning outcomes. All graduates of Westwood College degree programs are expected to demonstrate all nine general education learning outcomes:
- Demonstrate independent thinking
- Demonstrate life-long learning though continuous self improvement
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
- Utilize critical thinking skills to solve problems
- Demonstrate social responsibility through corresponding behaviors
- Implement ethical decision making
- Exhibit professional attitudes and behaviors
- Collaborate responsibly as a member of a team
- Apply interpersonal interaction skills to livingand working in a diverse world
