Freshman Interest Groups

West Chester University

Contact Info
Lawrence Center 262
West Chester, PA 19383
610-436-3544
Fax: 610-436-2600
FIGs@wcupa.edu


FALL 2012 Freshman Interest Groups

American Outlook - HIS150 & PSC100 (Early Grade Prep majors and pre-majors)

Explore American history, culture, and government in ways that will help make connections to the material and to your life and the lives of your future students. Themes of American history will deepen your understanding of government processes. Both courses are required for education majors and also meet general education requirements.

Approaches to Health and Wellness - WRT120 & SPK208 (For Health Science Majors and pre-majors)
(Writing SAT 490-610 required)
An innovative partnership focused on Health and Wellness, and designed for students interested in understanding and examining health choices and practices and in creating change in their community through service and advocacy. Writing and Speaking invite students to focus on processes-their own and others’ - while reading in an area of interest.

Celebrating Difference - PSY120 & SWO225 (For all majors)

Understand others through this blending of disciplines that examines ethnicity, race, class, religion, gender, sexual orientation and much more in the context of families, laws, and society.  Gain cultural competence and reflect on widespread assumptions.

Economic Realities - ECO111 & GEO101 (For Business majors and pre-majors)

Explore economic, resource, environmental, and spatial realities. How do money and prices and geographic resources inter-relate? Examine essential business concepts while applying macro-economic principles to geographic realities. Both courses count toward all business degrees.

Global Linkages - PSC213 & GEO101 (For all majors and Political Science majors)

Globalization is emerging as one of the defining social and economic forces of the late 20th and 21st centuries. We will explore the political, economic, and cultural issues surrounding globalizing trends and critically examine their impacts on developed and developing areas of the world.

Leadership Academy - WRT120 & SPK208 (Recommended for Pre-Major students)
(Writing SAT 490 - 610 required)

Wondering how an academic degree might prepare you for the future? Enjoy an interdisciplinary experience that incorporates some career and academic advising to help students develop educational and career goals. Develop leadership skills by working with the local community.

Multicultural Voices - PSY120 & SPK208 (For all majors)

Engage in critical reflection and acquire essential understanding about the ways that ethnicity, race, class, religion, gender, and sexual orientation affect individuals and groups in our society.  Consider the impact of these critical components of identity on real people and on yourself.

Pop Culture - WRT120 & SPK208 (For all majors)
(Writing SAT 490 - 610 required)

Popular culture permeates our everyday lives through entertainment, media, clothing, sports, technology, and food. Taking the time to closely consider the impact of popular culture in our lives is an important part of gaining control over how we live. Explore the nature of popular culture, and focus in particular on writing, speaking, and visual texts.

Sustainable Lives - SOC200 & GEO101(For all majors)

How can we live, work, create, and consume in ways that are sustainable for the long term?  Examine how different societies damage or sustain their environments and their people.  Develop ideas to resolve critical problems in our lives.