Scientific Literacy

UCORE courses require students to demonstrate designator learning outcomes that advance WSU’s Scientific Literacy Learning Goal as appropriate to the designator, with a minimum of four credit hours in UCORE-designated courses that include instruction and/or engagement with Scientific Literacy (see the UCORE Curriculum Map (PDF) and UCORE Curriculum webpages). Students complete at least one Inquiry in the Biological Sciences course [BSCI] or Inquiry in the Physical Sciences course [PSCI], which advances Scientific Literacy, during the UCORE curriculum. At the senior-level, Scientific Literacy 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 Scientific Literacy

Click on the heading for current evidence of student learning from key assessments associated with Scientific Literacy in the context of the UCORE curriculum:

  • Student Achievement of [CAPS] Designator Learning Outcomes: AY 2024-25 [CAPS] Assessment Results As reported in the AY 2024-25 [CAPS] Assessment Summary of Key Evidence for UCORE (PDF), assessment results indicated that 87% of students met or exceeded expectations at the graduating undergraduate level on the designator learning outcome associated with Integrative Learning. Additionally, 84% of students met or exceeded expectations for Information Literacy. In courses where instructors evaluated student learning on additional applicable learning […]

  • 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 […]