Depending on their interests and abilities, UNCW students may choose from several kinds of special courses and programs to individualize and otherwise enrich their studies.
Child Welfare Education Collaborative, North Carolina
The North Carolina Child Welfare Education Collaborative is a university-agency partnership that ensures a quality work force in child welfare settings. The educational goal of this program is to directly address the workforce need for social workers in child welfare settings. Administered by the Jordan Institute for Families, the collaborative includes North Carolina social work education programs, the NC Division of Social Services, the NC Association of County Directors of Social Services and the NC Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers. Educating, training, and supporting current and future social workers in child welfare meets the goal of strengthening families and protecting children. The collaborative offers focused educational courses, training and field experience in child welfare agencies. Participating universities include Appalachian State University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, Joint Masters of Social Work Program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro and North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, and University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Directed Individual Study
This course, designated as 491 in each department, involves investigation beyond what is offered in existing courses. To enroll in a Directed Individual Study, students must be a junior or senior. Additionally, students must have an overall grade point average of at least 2.00 and the approval of (1) the faculty member who will direct the study, (2) the departmental chairperson, and (3) the appropriate dean. Departmental criteria will include (1) the availability of the instructor (instructors may only supervise a limited number of independent studies each semester), (2) the appropriateness of and need for the proposed study in the student’s program, (3) the availability of library and other research resources, and (4) the feasibility of completion of the proposed study in the allotted time. Students are limited to nine credit hours of Directed Individual Study toward graduation requirements.
ETEAL Supported Initiative
Each semester, innovative applied learning projects are awarded an ETEAL grant, which allows students to engage in higher impact, more immersive, and deeper learning experiences. These initiatives exist in every academic department at UNCW, in online and distance learning, and even in some special programs with partners such as Housing and Residence Life or the Career Center. Students taking part in ETEAL—supported initiatives will incorporate intentional and critical reflection into their learning, enabling them to grasp the impact of their learning and to understand how those skills and concepts will help them academically, professionally, and personally in their future. In other words, not only are ETEAL’s Applied Learning Initiatives great experiences, they’ll also provide you with real world skills, experience, and expertise that you’ll need to succeed after graduation.
Field Experiences
Several departments within the College of Arts and Sciences and the professional schools offer field experience courses as part of their semester or summer programs. Participating students conduct individual or group research under faculty guidance at selected areas within and outside the continental United States. Apart from the greater Wilmington area, field experience courses have been conducted in such places as the Florida Keys, Barbados, the Bahamas, Portugal, and parts of Central and South America.
German Studies Consortium
Raymond L. Burt, coordinator
The German Studies Consortium links participating UNC institutions to facilitate the sharing of teaching and learning resources to enhance German Studies across The University of North Carolina system. This consortium offers a broad array of German Studies courses in the language, literature, and culture of the German-speaking countries taught by specialists in the field. The primary focus is on the sharing of upper-level German classes offered each semester on the North Carolina Information Superhighway. Participant universities include Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Western Carolina University. For course details, visit the UNC Online Exchange.
Portuguese Exchange
Regina Felix, coordinator
The Portuguese Exhange links participating UNC institutions to facilitate the sharing of teaching and learning resources to enhance Portuguese language and Portugurese and Brazilian Studies across the University of North Carolina system. This exchange offers courses in the language, literature, and culture of the Portuguese-speaking countries taught by specialists in the field. Participant universities include Appalachian State University, North Carolina State University, the University of North Carolina Asheville, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Unversity of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina Wilmington, and Winston Salem State University. For course details, visit the UNC Online Exchange.
Russian Studies Consortium
Dave Graber, coordinator
The Russian Studies Consortium links participating UNC institutions to facilitate the sharing of teaching and learning resources to enhance Russian Studies across The University of North Carolina system. This consortium offers a broad array of Russian Studies courses in the language, literature, history, film, society, and culture in the Russian-speaking countries, which can be taught in the target language and/or in translation by specialists with credentials in Russian Studies. The primary goal focuses on the sharing of elementary, intermediate, and upper level Russian Studies classes offered each semester as well as summer session courses on the North Carolina Information Superhighway and/or fully online. Participant universities include Appalachian State University, East Carolina University, North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and The University of North Carolina Wilmington. Courses are offered through the UNC Online Exchange.
UNC Language Assembly Exchange
Raymond L. Burt, UNCW coordinator
The UNC Language Assembly is a cooperative of the language departments of all 17 campuses of the UNC System, and serves the UNC System and the State of North Carolina by supporting the foreign language programs at the constituent institutions and by seeking to offer a wide diversity of foreign language choices to the students at all the UNC campuses. Students are not required to pay tuition at the other campus, since UNCW tuition applies to these courses as well. Courses are taught online or through videoconference technology. Students can directly enroll in language classes offered by campuses through the UNC Online Exchange.
Graduate Course Credit
(http://www.uncw.edu/gradschool)
Graduate Courses Taken for Undergraduate Credit
Graduate courses at UNCW or other accredited institutions may be used to fulfill undergraduate requirements if approved by the course instructor, student’s department chair, undergraduate dean, and the dean of the Graduate School. All other transfer credit policies apply. Permission forms may be obtained on the Graduate School home page at http://www.uncw.edu/gradschool/registration/forms.html.
Graduate Course Taken as an Undergraduate to Later Apply to a Graduate Degree
Undergraduate students who wish to take graduate courses and later receive graduate credit for them must (1) obtain permission in advance from the course instructor, student’s department chair and undergraduate dean, and (2) present it to the Graduate School for approval. Graduate courses taken under this provision may not be used to fulfill undergraduate degree requirements. Permission forms may be obtained on the Graduate School home page at http://www.uncw.edu/gradschool/registration/forms.html.
Credit for Approved Combined Degree Programs
Graduate courses used to fulfill an undergraduate degree requirement at UNCW may be applied to a graduate degree only when taken as part of an approved combined degree program. Courses applied toward an awarded degree may not be applied to a second degree except as described by specific degree programs.
International Programs
(https://www.uncw.edu/global/)
The Office of International Programs is comprised of three units: Education Abroad, English Language Center, and the Office of International Students & Scholars.
Education Abroad
UNCW offers more than 800 education abroad opportunities in more than 50 countries. Options available through the Office of International Programs include coursework taken abroad, international internships for academic credit, credit-bearing service-learning experiences, academic research, and virtual global learning opportunities. UNCW provides education abroad opportunities to suit nearly every major and credit earned through international programs may be applied towards a UNCW degree. Financial aid may be used in conjunction with education abroad programs and scholarships are available. Students may select from short-term and summer programs, as well as semester, year-long and two-year dual degree options.
All applications for any credit-bearing program abroad must be made through the Office of International Programs.
UNCW students who study abroad retain their active UNCW student status and will not have to re-enroll upon return.
Eligibility requirements include:
- 18 years of age at the time of participation
- Good disciplinary standing
- 2.5+ cumulative grade point average
- Sophomore+ status (select programs are open to first-year students)
- Any program-specific requirements
Further information is available at https://uncw.edu/international/abroad.
English Language Center
UNCW’s English Language Center offers courses in reading, writing, speaking, and listening, to non-native speakers of English. Students receive 20 hours of instruction per week. This intensive English program emphasizes Academic preparation. UNCW’s Conditional Admission policy allows students who wish to start a degree to transition smoothly into degree programs once they have completed the highest level of the ELC program successfully. The ELC Program is best suited for students who have at least a basic foundation of English.
Further information is available at: https://uncw.edu/international/elc.
Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS)
The Office of International Students & Scholars fosters globalization at UNCW by recruiting, admitting, welcoming, advising, supporting, engaging, and advocating for UNCW’s community of international students and scholars. OISS builds partnerships with overseas partners to attract international students to UNCW and fosters relationships with advisers, counsellors, agents, and governmental agencies to increase the international student and scholar population on campus. OISS provides transition support that addresses the unique needs of international students and scholars; ensures institutional compliance with federal immigration regulations for foreign students, visiting scholars, and employees on our visa sponsorship (F, J, H, and LPR); coordinates events and programs that engage international students with the broader community to promote a global culture throughout our campus; and serves the broader campus community in an administrative and advisory capacity.
Further information is available at: http://uncw.edu/international/isss/
Internships
Several programs in the College of Arts and Sciences, College of Education, College of Health and Human Services, and the Cameron School of Business offer students the opportunity to earn academic credit within a work environment external to the program. The purpose of the internship experience is to enhance, supplement, and integrate the learning that occurs in formal classroom settings. Permission of the dean and program offering the internship is required to enroll, and the program places limits on the number of credit hours earned applicable toward graduation. Internships designated by a 498 number will be graded on a Pass (P), Fail (F) basis. These credit hours earned will count towards the number of hours required to graduate, but the grade of Pass (P) will be excluded from the computation of the GPA. For further information on internships, refer to the courses numbered 498 in the course listings and then contact the departments offering them.
The Reverse Transfer Program is a collaborative effort between North Carolina’s Community Colleges and the University of North Carolina’s 16 constituent institutions. Students who transfer to UNC Wilmington from one of the 58 North Carolina community colleges are given the opportunity to combine the credits earned at UNCW with credit already earned at the community college to determine if the associate degree requirements have been met. Students have the opportunity to opt-in to this program at the time of admission as a transfer student. There is no cost to participate. For more information, contact the Office of the Registrar.
Eligibility: Students must have earned at least 16 college-level credit hours at one community college applicable towards their degree, to be eligible to participate. After earning a total of 60 combined credits, the student’s UNCW records will be sent back to their previous community college for evaluation. The community college will contact students via their UNCW email, with further details, if the Associate degree is awarded.
Service-Learning
Several UNCW courses employ service-learning opportunities. Service learning is an innovative method of teaching and learning that combines thoughtfully organized service to the community with other means of instruction. Community service-projects are integrated into and enhance the academic curriculum of students, fitting naturally into the philosophy and pedagogy of a variety of disciplines and fostering civic responsibility. Both students and the community benefit from service learning. Service-learning courses have several strengths, not the least of which is that they are adaptable to the needs of the community while providing structured time for the students to reflect on the service experience.
Summer Sessions
(http://www.uncw.edu/summer/)
Summer Sessions constitutes an integral part of the university’s year-round program. The principal academic terms of summer are two five-week sessions and one ten-week session. A variety of courses are offered for students who wish to accelerate their progress toward graduation, to supplement the academic load carried during the regular terms, or to remove grade deficiencies. During the summer sessions, students from other colleges and universities may be admitted as visitors by using the “Visiting Student” application on the Summer Sessions web page. Undergraduate students may earn a maximum of 8 credit hours per session, and graduate students may earn up to 12 credit hours during the entire summer term. Further information concerning the summer sessions may be obtained by visiting the Summer Sessions web page at www.uncw.edu/summer/.
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