University Catalogue: 2009-10
Special Academic Programs
In addition to the New Student Orientation Program, the University offers new freshmen a semester-long orientation to the University which is incorporated into specially designated “Freshman Experience” courses. New freshmen are invited to include one of these courses in their class schedules during their first semester at UW-Eau Claire.
Freshman Experience courses are small, with about 20 students per section, providing a “home base” where students learn not only about the subject matter of the course but also about the University and community. Students have the opportunity to work closely with the course instructor and a senior student mentor. The courses engage students in critical thinking, reading, and writing, and in independent and collaborative projects with classmates. They help students to understand the value of a liberal education. Through participation in out-of-class activities, students learn about the rich variety of informational, artistic, and recreational programs available at the University.
COMMANDING ENGLISH PROGRAM
The Commanding English Program (CEP) is a collaborative effort between the Student Affairs and Dean of Students Office and the College of Arts and Sciences. It is coordinated by Academic Skills Center staff in collaboration with Advising and New Student Initiatives, Admissions, Multicultural Affairs, Student Support Services, and a variety of academic departments. The CEP is a transitional academic program designed to assist U.S. bi-cultural students in developing academic English and learning strategies and to help them integrate into the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire community. In addition to one or two courses chosen with the help of an academic adviser, students take credits as a group with a core of faculty and academic staff working closely together to coordinate the curricula and guide student success. Out-of-class activities, one-on-one tutoring and mentoring, service-learning opportunities, and individual contact with instructional and support staff enhance student success. Students are admitted into the year-long program as a condition of admission. Further information may be obtained from the Admissions office. Visit the Web site at: www.uwec.edu/CEP.
COLLEGIATE BRIDGE PROGRAM
The Collegiate Bridge Program, coordinated by the Academic Skills Center, is designed for freshman students who meet minimum UW-Eau Claire admission requirements and demonstrate the potential to be successful. Students choose one or two courses with the help of an academic adviser, along with a core of English composition, a Humanities or Social Science course, and a student success seminar. Faculty work closely together to guide student success. Out-of-class activities and individual tutoring enhance and support the students’ experiences. In addition, the program assists students to develop a realistic understanding of college-level work, build the academic and personal skills necessary to succeed in college, and to take advantage of available student support services. Further information may be obtained from the Admissions office, the director of Collegiate Bridge, or the Collegiate Bridge Web site at: www.uwec.edu/asc/programs/bridge.htm.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
The Developmental Education Program, coordinated by the Academic Skills Center, provides courses designed to strengthen students’ college level learning strategies and critical thinking skills. It also serves to familiarize students with a wide range of academic support services and increase academic self-confidence. Students in selected developmental courses experience the immediate benefits of applying the skills and strategies learned to linked introductory-level courses. Developmental courses are designed to meet the needs of students who are entering college with concerns about their academic learning strategies and are available on a preassigned basis. Further information may be obtained from the Coordinator for Developmental Education. Visit the Web site at: www.uwec.edu/asc/programs/courses.htm.
RONALD E. MCNAIR POSTBACCALAUREATE ACHIEVEMENT PROGRAM
The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program, a TRIO program of the U.S. Department of Education, assists eligible upper-division students to prepare for and enter graduate school to pursue research-based doctorates. Targeted to academically talented first-generation students from low-income families and students from groups underrepresented among doctoral recipients, the McNair Program includes two years of intensive mentoring, specialized curricular and co-curricular offerings, collaborative research, and internship opportunities. McNair Scholars who desire to become college professors and/or researchers learn to appreciate, support, and undertake collaborative research. They gain an interdisciplinary and historical perspective on the American research community and become familiar with career opportunities and the professional climate of the Academy. Each year 10 to 12 new Scholars are chosen by means of a faculty nomination process. Visit the Web site at: www.uwec.edu/mcnair.
NATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE
The National Student Exchange (NSE), a consortium of more than 200 state supported colleges and universities, allows students to attend school in another area of the United States for up to one academic year. In bringing together students from different parts of the country, the program encourages participants to broaden their academic, social, and cultural awareness. Through a simplified admission process, students are able to enroll at their host universities and pay tuition at UW-Eau Claire. Grades and completed coursework are incorporated into the student’s UW-Eau Claire transcript, and are considered resident credit.
To qualify, a student must (1) be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at UW-Eau Claire in the term prior to exchange; (2) have a minimum 2.50 GPA; (3) be in good academic, personal, and financial standing at UW-Eau Claire; and (4) have 30 credits or more.
For more information about this opportunity for study in a new environment within the United States, Canada, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or Puerto Rico, contact the Student Affairs and Dean of Students Office (Schofield 240) or visit their Web site at: www.uwec.edu/sdd/nse.
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS
The University academic community strongly encourages students to live and study abroad. Such an experience contributes to an international perspective which is an essential part of a university student’s education for life at the dawn of the 21st Century.
Organized study abroad programs offer UW-Eau Claire students the experience of living in another cultural setting while continuing to pursue their immediate educational goals. To ensure that courses taken abroad will be appropriate to their academic programs at UW-Eau Claire, students should begin to plan for international study as early as possible, in consultation with their major adviser(s) and the Study Abroad Coordinators.
To participate in international programs, students must be in good academic standing and meet program eligibility requirements. Credits and grades earned in UW-Eau Claire programs abroad are resident credits and are applied directly to the student’s record. Students participating in semester or yearlong international programs are required to carry a minimum credit load of 12 hours per semester. The following programs are offered on a regular basis. They are more fully described in this catalogue under International Studies (College of Arts and Sciences):
Australia. (1) Direct exchanges and study abroad for one semester or the calendar year with Southern Cross University in Lismore. (2) One semester or the calendar year also available at Murdoch University in Perth.
Austria. One semester or academic year exchange with the University of Graz. A minimum of two years of college-level German is required. Five scholarships of up to $2,000, sponsored by the Viennese Ball Committee, are available to support students.
China. One semester or academic year exchange with Jinan University in Guangzhou, China. Students can take intensive Chinese language courses or Chinese language and culture classes, along with some courses in political science and economics courses taught in English. Housing is in student dormitories. No prior Chinese language required.
Costa Rica. (1) Spring semester program where students take two Spanish language courses and two courses with a Latin American Studies focus taught in English. Students live with host families and complete a two-week service project in a rural village. The program is for beginning through intermediate students of Spanish; no prior Spanish language is required. (2) Summer program offered for Nursing and Health Care Professions students. Students take a medical Spanish course at the appropriate level and an Introduction to the Costa Rican Medical System course in English. Students live with host families. Visits to urban and rural health care facilities are included in the program.
Costa Rica/Nicaragua. Fall program offered in conjunction with CEIDEPRO in Bagaces, Costa Rica and Granada, Nicaragua. Students will take two Spanish language courses and two courses with a Latin American Studies focus. They will live with host families in both countries and complete a two-week service-learning project. The program is for beginning through advanced students of Spanish; no prior Spanish language study is required.
France. Spring semester or academic year program in Pau, France. Courses in French language and culture. Students live with host families or in residence halls. Three semesters of French is required.
Germany. (1) Spring semester program at the Herder Institute of the University of Leipzig. Courses in German language and culture offered by UW-Eau Claire faculty member and German instructors. Students live with families for three weeks, then move to university residence halls. Minimum of three semesters of German language study is a prerequisite. (2) Various year-long exchanges available in the German state of Hessen through the Hessen-Wisconsin exchange. Locations include Darmstadt, Frankfurt, Fulda, Giessen, Kassel, Marburg, and Wiesbaden.
Global Student Teaching. Student teachers can complete half of their student teaching abroad. Global Student Teaching (GST) offers qualified students the opportunity to teach in English in 42 countries located in every region of the world: Africa; Asia; Europe; the Middle East; and Central and South America. UW-Eau Claire students have taught in Australia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, England, New Zealand, and Thailand.
Great Britain. (1) Fall or spring semester program at Harlaxton College near Grantham, England. British studies and other courses offered by U.S. and British faculty. (2) One semester or academic year at University of Winchester, Winchester. (3) One semester or academic year program at Lancaster University. Humanities, health sciences, social sciences, business. (4) One semester or academic year at the University of Aberdeen, the University of Glasgow, or the University of Stirling, Scotland. Summer options at Aberdeen and Stirling.
Greece. Fall, spring, or academic year program at American College Thessaloniki (ACT), Greece. ACT is known for its business courses, although there are limited humanities courses offered. All courses are taught in English. Students live in residence halls.
Ireland. One semester or academic year at University of Limerick. Business, sciences, Irish studies, humanities, and social sciences. Students live in residence halls.
ISEP-Direct. ISEP is the world’s largest network for post-secondary institutions cooperating to provide international educational experiences for their students. UW-Eau Claire is an ISEP Affiliate member, which gives our students access to ISEP-Direct. ISEP-Direct programs are fee-paid study abroad programs that provide study opportunities to select ISEP institutions outside the United States. To date, UW-Eau Claire students have studied in Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Ghana, Malta, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Thailand, and Uruguay through ISEP-Direct. Additional options include Brazil, Canada, Italy, South Africa, and Spain. ISEP-Direct programs are a good choice for students who are independent, flexible, and adventurous.
Japan. (1) Direct exchange for one or two semesters with Kansai Gaidai University near Kyoto. Housing is in dormitories or with Japanese families. Asian studies, business, Japanese language, and other courses available. (2) A study abroad program for one semester or the academic year in the historic city of Nagasaki. Students take Japanese language courses and Asian Studies courses taught in English. Students live with Japanese families.
Latvia. This fall semester program is offered in cooperation with the International Relations Office of the University of Latvia. Students may enroll in a variety of courses taught in English in the Baltic Study program or other University departments. Russian and Latvian language courses are also available. Students live in dormitories.
Mexico. Students may study at Tec de Monterrey campuses in two locations (Monterrey and Queretaro) for a semester or a full academic year. Five semesters Spanish required, except for business majors taking business courses/internships in English in Monterrey.
South Africa. Five-week summer program at the University of KwaZulu-Natal-Durban. Courses examine Zulu language and culture, cultural diversity, and the current political situation. Service-learning option available.
South Korea. The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire program in Suwon, South Korea is offered in cooperation with Ajou University, which is recognized as one of the top 10 universities in South Korea. Ajou University provides an excellent six-week international summer program in Korean/Asian studies and international business to international students. All courses are taught in English. Students live in dormitories.
Spain. Fall or spring semester program with the University of Valladolid. Spanish language and culture courses taught by Spanish professors. Housing is with Spanish families. Five semesters of Spanish language study is a prerequisite.
Sweden. One- or two-semester exchange program with Växjö University in Växjö. Courses taught in English in business and intercultural communications. Housing is in dormitories.
Thailand. (1) Six-week summer program in ethnic/Hmong studies and sustainable development, offered in conjunction with Payap University in Chiang Mai. Field visits, homestays in Hmong villages, and various cultural activities around Chiang Mai included in program. (2) Direct exchange and study abroad for one semester or the academic year at Payap University in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Students enroll in the Thai and Southeast Asian Program where they study Thai language and area studies. Area studies courses are taught in English and include the following disciplines: anthropology/sociology, religion, history, and fine arts. Students live in university housing.
Some grants are available to support study abroad. UW-Eau Claire students may apply for UW-Eau Claire Foundation Study Abroad Grants prior to departure for their program and for Haas Fellowships upon their return. Wisconsin residents may apply for Wisconsin Study Abroad Grants. Regular financial aid may be used on UW-Eau Claire programs.
Further information and assistance with study abroad programs are available from the Center for International Education (Schofield 111).
EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
Human Development Center
The Human Development Center (HDC) serves the dual purpose of educating graduate students in an interdisciplinary setting and providing clinical services to clients in the community and surrounding region. The HDC also serves as a center for multidisciplinary research. The disciplines participating at the HDC are Communication Sciences and Disorders, School Psychology, Reading (Curriculum and Instruction), Nursing, Social Work, and Special Education.
Psychological Services Center
The Psychological Services Center, a clinic staffed by faculty members from the departments of Psychology and Social Work, is located in the Human Development Center. The center provides psychological and family assessment, parent training, and behavioral consultation services to clients. Allied disciplines also participate in the center, providing a variety of consulting services, including health, education, and assessment.
Lac du Flambeau Service-Learning Project
For the past 10 years, approximately 60 students have participated in this experience. Students learn about the Ojibwa culture and the unique needs of the children and families of the Lac du Flambeau reservation. Participating nursing students perform wellness screenings, and school psychology students complete school practicum placements at the Lac du Flambeau school. Students spend one day helping in Head Start classrooms and participate in after-school tutoring programs. They also assist elementary school teachers in their classrooms. Students can participate in the Lac du Flambeau project to fulfill their multicultural assessment component of the curriculum at UW-Eau Claire.
Tutor and Mentoring Programs
These programs are designed to benefit UW-Eau Claire students, as well as students from participating organizations. University students gain experience serving as tutor/mentors for children and adolescents from the community. The Human Development Center is currently sponsoring tutor/mentoring programs at Lakeshore and Longfellow elementary schools and at the Boys and Girls Center.
Center for Communication Disorders
The Center for Communication Disorders provides diagnostic and intervention services to clients ranging in age from infants to the elderly. Graduate and undergraduate student clinicians, under faculty supervision, work in the clinic with clients who have communication disorders of all types including problems with voice, stuttering, speech sound production, hearing, and language. The Center is located on the first floor of the Human Sciences and Services building and provides services at low cost to clients. Fees may be adjusted upon the recommendation of a faculty supervisor. Services are provided free of charge to UW-Eau Claire faculty, staff, students, and their immediate family members. Contact Angela Sterling-Orth at (715) 836-4186 for additional information or to make appointments.
