The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is home to over 200 faculty and staff housed in 7 divisions. The college offers 33 majors, over 50 minors, and select graduate programs. Approximately three-fourths of the university’s graduates complete a major within the college.
Our Mission
The College provides the central learning experience for all undergraduate students at Western Oregon University. The faculty are committed to engaging students in academic discovery and intellectual growth via the core curriculum, major and minor baccalaureate curricula, and mastery in select graduate programs.
Our Goals
Engage students in scholarly pursuits that benefit their preparation for life-long learning and societal engagement.
Provide an environment where students may develop disciplinary competencies necessary for their chosen career fields.
Provide opportunities for faculty-student mentoring and out-of-classroom learning opportunities.
Happenings in the college--
WOU math preparation for elementary teachers receives national recognition…
WOU's math curriculum for elementary school teacher preparation was among 10 programs singled out in a nationwide study as meeting critical coursework needs in teacher preparation. WOU was one of 77 institutions selected by the National Council on Teacher Quality for math curriculum review. The study examined university curriculums for their relevance, breadth and depth of math training. The complete report is available at the NCTQ. The mathematics department is strongly committed to teacher preparation in mathematics and works closely with colleagues in the College of Education to develop curricular programming for teaching math at the elementary and more advanced grades. This July 21 - July 25, math faculty Cheryl Beaver, Laurie Burton and Klay Kruczek will be hosting a Mathematical Association of America PREP (Professional Enhancement Program) workshop "Active Learning Approaches and Visual Methods for Teaching the Foundational Mathematics for Elementary Teachers Courses" at WOU for 17 participants from around the U.S.
Math faculty members (l-r) Drs. Maria Fung, Cheryl Beaver, Scott Beaver, Michael Ward, Laurie Burton and Klay Kruczek. Chair of the department, Dr. Hamid Behmard, is not pictured.
Math and Nursing construction progressing...
Building renovation to house the WOU department of mathematics and the Oregon Health & Science University School of Nursing (Monmouth campus) is progressing ahead of schedule. The building will have the latest in computer-assisted math education classrooms and nursing simulation laboratory facilities. Mathematics and nursing faculty will move into the building in August and classes in the building will start with fall term. Portland-based Soderstrom Architects and FORTIS Construction, Inc. are handling the renovations. For more information about the project please contact the WOU planning department.
Communication Studies Program receives national recognition…
WOU's Communication Studies Program is the recipient of the Program of Excellence Award from the National Communication Association's Undergraduate College and University Division. The Rex Mix Award is presented to one undergraduate program each year and recognizes "...quality, innovative, theoretical, and practical programs." The winning departments "tend to solidly ground their programs in the theoretical foundations of the field while embracing new developments and advancing practical application in innovative ways." The award will be presented to representatives of the communication studies department at the 94th annual NCA convention to be held in San Diego, California in November.
Fire Services Administration baccalaureate program recognized by National Fire Academy …
Western Oregon University’s Fire Services Administration program was the recipient of the 2008 Lasting Achievement Award issued by the United States Fire Administration/National Fire Academy at their annual spring conference. The baccalaureate program was recognized for the caliber of its long-term involvement in the National Fire Academy’s Degrees at a Distance program; WOU has been providing programming since 1979. Professional fire personnel across the US and Canada can complete baccalaureate training through a combination of on-line and intensive 1- and 2-week institute courses offered by WOU. LaRon Tolley, who accepted the award on behalf of the university, directs the program. The program admits students who have experience as working firefighters or who have completed community college fire-fighting programs.
Len Papp (l), fire prevention officer with the Brampton Fire and Emergency Services, Brampton, Canada will be graduating June 14 with a B.S. in Fire Services Administration. Mr. LaRon Tolley (r) is director of the program.
Previous happenings...
Additional activity showcases can be found at individual divisional and departmental web sites.
| The Dean's Faculty Highlight -- |
June 23 , 2008
Biology professor is principal investigator on state-funded Math and Science Partnership program training grant …
Dr. Karen Bledsoe, adjunct professor of biology, is the principal investigator on a 2-yr, $500,000 Oregon Department of Education Title IIB Math and Science Partnership (MSP) training grant awarded to Western Oregon University and the Oregon Science Teachers Association. Dr. Bledsoe and colleagues from Oregon State University, Willamette University and Central Oregon Community College will provide professional development training for elementary school teachers leading to a science endorsement to their teaching license. The ultimate objective of the training grant is to improve student performance on state math and science performance metrics. Teachers may choose to receive college credit from Western Oregon University for their participation in this project. Dr. Bledsoe will be working with teachers in the Sisters and Bend LaPine school districts. For more information about the Oregon Department of Education's Math and Science Partnership Program.
Previous dean's selections... |
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Useful
Resources
Master of Arts in History – starting fall 2008
The OUS Board has approved the introduction of a Master of Arts in History at WOU. The MA Program in History promotes a community of scholars dedicated to excellence in teaching, professional and community service, and research. It is designed for teachers seeking to strengthen their history content, for students planning their professional careers with a background in history, for individuals seeking career advancement or personal enrichment, and for students preparing for doctoral programs. Details about the program.
The Master of Arts in History can be completed within a single academic year (including summer) or through the course of four summers.
The graduate program will begin in fall 2008. For more information, contact Dr. David Doellinger, Chair, Department of History at 503-838-8254. |
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Nursing is coming
to WOU in fall 2008
Oregon Health & Science University's School of Nursing and Western are partnering on a 1+3 year BSN degree at WOU. Click to see details on applying.
OHSU faculty will teach the clinical coursework and WOU faculty will teach the freshman-year pre-nursing coursework, general education courses, and Jr/Sr-level elective coursework.
Pre-nursing students may apply to OHSU School of Nursing in early 2008 for admission to their first clinical sophomore cohort, starting at Western in fall 2008.
Admission into the WOU pre-nursing program is handled through the undergraduate admissions office. The pre-nursing program is offered by the Natural Science and Mathematics Division.
Students who may need a little more time to prepare for admission to the OHSU nursing program (or other baccalaureate nursing programs across the nation) can also chose to complete Western's 2-yr pre-nursing track prior to starting in the nursing degree program. |
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