Communication

All UCORE courses require students to demonstrate designator learning outcomes that advance Written Communication, a sub-goal of WSU’s Communication Learning Goal, totaling a minimum of 34 credit hours in UCORE-designated courses that include instruction and/or engagement with Written Communication (see the UCORE Curriculum Map (PDF) and UCORE Curriculum webpages). At the first-year level, the first-year experience course [ROOT] and foundational requirements advance Written Communication. At the senior-level, the senior capstone experience course [CAPS] advances Written Communication. Students also complete ways of knowing requirements, which advance Written Communication, during the UCORE curriculum.

Additionally, UCORE courses require students to demonstrate designator learning outcomes that advance Non-written Communication as appropriate to the designator (see the UCORE Curriculum Map (PDF) and UCORE Curriculum webpages). At the first year-level, students may complete a foundational Communication course [COMM] that advances Non-written Communication (note: students can take a second [WRTG] course instead of a [COMM] course). At the senior-level, Non-written Communication may be required in the senior capstone experience course [CAPS] as appropriate to the course and discipline.

Note: Announced in May 2022, revised designator learning outcomes were approved by the UCORE Committee to help clarify what students, regardless of major, should be able to know and do upon the successful completion of a course in that designator. Additionally, effective Fall 2023, UCORE added the [EQJS] designator to the “Ways of Knowing” component of the curriculum, with the requirement that students complete courses in at least six of the seven Ways of Knowing designators.

Current Evidence of Student Learning Related to Communication

Click on the headings for current evidence of student learning from key assessments associated with Communication in the context of the UCORE curriculum:

  • Student Achievement of [CAPS] Designator Learning Outcomes: AY 2023-24 [CAPS] Assessment Results As reported in the AY 2023-24 [CAPS] Assessment Summary of Key Evidence for UCORE (PDF), assessment results indicated that 85% of students met or exceeded expectations at the graduating undergraduate level on the designator learning outcome associated with Critical & Creative Thinking. Additionally, 83% of students met or exceeded expectations for Written Communication. In courses […]

  • Assessing Student Learning in Scientific Inquiry Courses: AY 2023-24 [BSCI]/[PSCI] Assessment Results As reported in the AY 2023-24 [BSCI]/[PSCI] Assessment Summary of Key Evidence for UCORE (PDF), assessment results indicated that that 72% of students met or exceeded expectations on the designator learning outcomes associated with Scientific Literacy. Additionally, 66% of students met or exceeded expectations for Quantitative Reasoning, 69% for Critical Thinking, 67% for Information Literacy, 69% for Written Communication, and 71% for Breadth of Learning. Inquiry in the Biological Sciences [BSCI] and Inquiry in […]