Meet West Coast University!

Explore WCU's history and learn how we can help you write YOUR story.

Why WCU Why WCU

It All Started in 1909…

…when West Coast University was established as a small ophthalmology school in California. In 1997, new leadership made a commitment to focus on high-demand healthcare programs, which would not only be beneficial to students but would also help address the need for qualified professionals nationwide.

Now, WCU is a nationally recognized university with campuses in California, Texas, and Florida, as well as diverse online programs in nursing, healthcare, and business.

WCU by the Numbers

Our Mission

At West Coast University, we embrace a student-centric learning partnership that leads to professional success. We deliver transformational education within a culture of integrity and personal accountability. We design market-responsive programs through collaboration between faculty and industry professionals. We continuously pursue more effective and innovative ways through which students develop the competencies and confidence required in a complex and changing world.

West Coast University History

Institutional Learning Outcomes

Regardless of your chosen program, when you graduate from West Coast University, you should be able to demonstrate:

  1. Critical Thinking

    Implement intellectual and practical problem-solving strategies through assessment and critical thinking.
  2. Quantitative Reasoning
    Apply appropriate mathematical and analytical methods to guide informed decision making.
  3. Communication
    Effectively communicate in all mediums (such as oral, written, non-verbal) to disseminate information and ideas.
  4. Digital and Information Literacy
    Utilize technology to identify and evaluate information.
  5. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    Demonstrate knowledge and awareness of individuals’ perspectives and identity while promoting a sense of belonging.
  6. Ethics
    Apply and promote ethical reasoning in local, national, and/or global communities.
  7. Collaboration and Teamwork
    Engage proactively and cooperatively in a variety of settings while exhibiting mindful and professional awareness of team dynamics.

University Commitment

  • To provide degree programs in fields of study that lead to professional success
  • To provide academic and support services to enhance student success
  • To provide a caring environment that is supportive and concerned with each student’s success
  • To provide curricula, facilities, equipment, and qualified faculty to prepare students for employment in an ever-changing job market
  • To offer innovative and alternative modes of educational delivery to meet the needs of students’ personal and professional schedules
  • To assist in meeting the employment needs of related professions

Profile of a Graduate

Professionalism

Graduates should treat all patients and clients with respect and dignity. They should also always maintain and safeguard the confidentiality of every patient and client. Maintaining a professional appearance and conduct themselves with professionalism is essential at all times. Graduates should understand the value of professional association affiliation.

Currency, Adaptability, and Lifelong Learning

Graduates should seek to adapt and remain current with the guidelines and scope of their practice. They should also espouse lifelong learning, and should exhibit this commitment via scholarly inquiry, including educational achievements in public and/or global health services, evidence based clinical care, and the sciences.

Interprofessionalism

Graduates should be prepared as health professionals to collaborate and work cohesively in interprofessional teams. They should strive to develop a safe, patient-centered, and population-based health care system to achieve optimal health and wellness.

Global Awareness

In addition to the commitment to local, state, regional, national, and public service, graduates should demonstrate an awareness and appreciation for international healthcare models and practices, while also adhering to university values and goals.

Clinical Application

Graduates should be prepared to apply their clinical skills and knowledge in a variety of diverse settings, both global and local, to promote public health. Graduates should be able to adapt to a variety of clinical situations.

Diversity and Cultural Sensitivity as ‘Healthcare Citizens’

Graduates should embrace a commitment to diversity and cultural sensitivity. Graduates should be prepared to meet the broad and disparate needs of their patients, clients, and the communities within which they serve. Graduates should be advocates for health care change and health promotion.

Service-Oriented and Community Advocacy

Graduates should demonstrate a sustained and meaningful sense of service to their patients, clients, and communities. Graduates should have participated in community service opportunities that have increased their sensitivity to and awareness of the communities within which they serve as part of their personal mission and values

Acquisition of Personal Attributes

Graduates should demonstrate altruism, integrity, dependability, compassion, respect, temperance, acceptance of criticism, emotional stability, self- awareness, and resilience. Each graduate should exhibit confidence in taking appropriate actions and personal accountability, and have the aptitude to respond quickly in emergency situations.

Team Player

Graduates should be willing to execute their professional skills as a member of a team. They should exhibit a keen awareness of team dynamics, and be willing to be open-minded, seek common ground, and support and encourage all members of an inter-disciplinary health care team.

Legal and Ethical Responsibilities

Graduates should be aware of the legal parameters of their scope of practice. They should abide by their respective professional code of ethics and/or oaths, as prescribed by each profession, and/or licensure body.

Leadership Skills

Graduates should contribute as leaders in their profession and understand their own strengths and weaknesses, and the importance of being flexible, and possessing good organizational and time-management skills to achieve a common goal.

Interpersonal Communication Skills

Graduates should be active listeners and communicate well with patients, clients, and families to understand their needs and explain treatments. Graduates should also communicate competently in written, oral, and electronic forms with patients, clients, and the healthcare team and should be sensitive to verbal and non-verbal cues.

Critical Thinking Skills

Graduates should think critically and address problems proactively. They should exhibit sound judgment and reasoning such as the ability to measure, calculate, analyze, and synthesize information pertinent to problem solving when making decisions.

Knowledge Attainment

Graduates should be qualified and knowledgeable practitioners, as demonstrated by passing board and/or licensure examinations, course grades, and by clinical evaluations, such as preceptorships and field experiences.

Acquisition of Evidence-Based Resources

Graduates should demonstrate knowledge of information resources and databases, to identify strategies for locating additional evidence-based resources to expand knowledge and skill bases, for referrals and reference. Graduates should also possess the ability to utilize computer technology and apply this expertise in professional and clinical settings.

University Values

University Values

Our organization puts students and their long-term success at the center of our values. We do not believe that customer-service as it applies to our students is mutually exclusive from student centricity, thus we are committed to serving our students even as we partner with them on the transformational educational journey they are engaged in.

Learn + Grow = Thrive

As a learning organization, we are committed to helping each member of our organizational community learn, and in so doing, get just a little better all the time. We are committed to the notion that in a time of hyperturbulence, helping both our students and our associates continue to learn ultimately leads to their growth.

Team Oriented

As we observe in the world of professional athletics, the best teams emphasize the concept of team over the individual, realizing that the whole is truly greater than the sum of the parts.

Collegial

There are two definitions that are equally apropos for this value: that authority would be equally vested in a number of colleagues, and that collegiality is reflected by a sense of camaraderie amongst those colleagues.

Transparent

We are committed to ensuring visibility into the work and the outcomes of each associate, and ever-so-much-the-more when it comes to illuminating “bad news” so as to quickly intervene.

Consensus Driven

We believe that in the multitude of input, risk is diminished and quality decisions are more apt to be achieved, ultimately leading to improved outcomes.

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