Developing holistic learners and intellectual thinkers

02 Jul 2019

A college experience serves a bigger purpose than receiving a qualification. It’s the opportunity for students to develop skillsets and mindsets that set them on the path to success.

Here, students who are committed to the Christian faith don’t have to choose between theological and academic learning when they enrol in a college like Westmont in California.

Westmont College helps students grow both spiritually and intellectually through a rigorous liberal arts education that not only enhances their academic ability, but also helps them become intelligent and effective professionals in their field of interest.

Westmont fosters a close-knit and caring residential community made up of undergraduates in a nationally ranked programme.

Students cultivate deep and fulfilling friendships with both their peers and professors that can stand the test of time and last a lifetime.

There are a variety of undergraduate programmes to suit everyone’s interest at Westmont College. Majors offered include art, biology, chemistry, communication studies, computer science, data analytics, economics and business, engineering, English-modern languages, history, interdisciplinary, kinesiology, physics, political science, psychology, religious studies, social science, sociology and anthropology, and theatre arts.

Students become immersed in knowledge in all areas, from history to psychology to biology, so they naturally become deep thinkers with a penchant for learning.

Westmont’s location in scenic Santa Barbara, often referred to as the American Riviera, gives students the chance to enjoy an education on one of the country’s most beautiful college campuses.

During students free time, there is so much for them to experience – outstanding museums, cultural programmes, restaurants and community activities.

They can also enjoy the great outdoors as the extensive coastline and Santa Ynez Mountains offer a range of outdoor sports and activities from surfing to hiking to skiing.

There are also opportunities to get involved in the local community as Westmont students, faculty and staff often engage with the Santa Barbara and Montecito communities, volunteering for a variety of local organisations, agencies and churches.

Preparing students for the future

Graduates today need to have a global perspective and international exposure to keep up with the growing demands of globally-interconnected workplaces.

Committed to a global focus and its outreach through its Global Leadership Center, Westmont College has established semester-long programmes led by Westmont faculty in East Asia, England, Europe, Uganda, Cairo, Mexico and Jerusalem.

Westmont’s global programme prepares students to live in a diverse, complex and quickly changing society so they can take their place as citizens of the world.

The breadth of the liberal arts, the opportunity to study or serve overseas and an emphasis on developing an international perspective help graduates make a seamless transition to a global marketplace.

There is also much focus on colleges today to develop employable graduates who become valuable and capable employees when they enter the workforce.

To prepare students for this, Westmont encourages and emphasizes entrepreneurial mindsets and experiential learning through internships and work opportunities on and off campus.

More than half of Westmont students spend a semester in an off-campus programme, and the college places students in industry-relevant internships for up to 20 hours a week.

Outstanding faculty also play a part in preparing students for graduate school or the working world. Alumni frequently go on to attend some of the finest universities in the world for graduate studies and 97% of graduating students are employed or begin graduate studies six months after graduation.

In fact, due to the rigorous pre-med programme, more than 85 percent of graduates who apply to medical school get accepted.

Learning beyond the classroom is not limited to practical learning. Here, students get a holistic experience and develop their talents and interests and focus on character development.

Students frequently participate in a variety of student clubs, activities and service projects. Athletes can compete with one of its athletic Warrior teams or play for a club sport or intramural league.

In recent years, Westmont has ranked among the top 10 institutions in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for overall achievement and won national championships in Golden State Athletic Conference and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Musicians perform with accomplished choirs and instrumental groups; the theatre programme stages classic plays and operas and an exciting Fringe Festival; and art students study in beautifully designed studios and exhibit artwork in the Westmont Ridley-Tree Museum of Art, which also hosts exhibitions by leading artists.

Research is a driving force at the college, as students develop close personal relationships with top scholars, many of whom pursue significant research and invite students to join them in their projects.

Westmont offers students opportunities to engage in research in all majors, and the college holds a symposium each semester for students to present their work and findings. Faculty publish their work and credit students who have been involved with the work.

They also benefit from close relationships with their professors in small class sizes, and there’s plenty of chances for discussion and collaboration with their peers.

Supporting students’ commitment to faith

A nondenominational Christian college, Westmont embraces a spirit of inquiry and provides a safe place where students can examine and advance what they know and believe.

Professors and students reflect a range of evangelical perspectives and churches. Chapel, an integral part of a Westmont education, features inspiring, internationally renowned speakers who encourage students to grow in their faith and personal formation.

Widely considered among the best of Christian colleges, Westmont has gained a national reputation for its strong faculty and academic quality and long been ranked as a Best Value College.

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