Director: Nicholas E. David
Instructional Staff: Cade Christensen, Lisa Cox, Sara Spaner
Since 1978, the University’s English Language Center (ELC) has addressed the needs of multilingual students whose primary native language is not English. Gonzaga’s ELC has served nearly 10,000 international students, introducing them to academic language and culture, higher education in the United States, while providing opportunities for intercultural exchanges with students from the U.S. and more than 70 other nations. The English Language Center encompasses the Intensive English Program, Gonzaga Global, Specialized Programs, Academic Support and testing, and an affiliation with the MA-TESL Program.
Intensive English Program (IEP): The ELC offers year-round intensive classes in 10 levels of instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL). These courses are designed to meet the needs of international students seeking undergraduate and graduate studies, as well as those of international professionals in improving their English language ability. Instructional policies and program guidelines of the Gonzaga University ESL Program are in accordance with the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), the national professional organization in this field.
Incoming Intensive English Program students are required to take the ELC Placement test in order to enroll in IEP courses. IEP courses in levels 1-5 earn ELCT credit.
ELC Undergraduate/Gonzaga Global courses: ELC Undergraduate courses support international and/or multilingual students with the linguistic and cultural adjustment to higher education in the U.S. through academic English and culture courses. These courses are English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses that develop linguistic skills that support student success in freshman and Core classes and are open to all international and/or multilingual students and scholars with permission from the Director. All ELC undergraduate courses carry elective credits that apply toward the total 128 semester credits required to graduate.
English Placement Test: Selected incoming international students take the English Placement Test to verify required courses and/or recommend optional courses. All incoming international students who are not exempted of English language requirements during the admission process are required to take the placement test. Permission to enroll in all ELCT undergraduate courses is to be obtained from the Director.
Gonzaga Global: For students who are ready to pursue undergraduate studies, but do not currently meet Gonzaga’s English proficiency requirements, admission to Gonzaga Global offers integrated academic language and culture courses that support and enrich a student’s undergraduate studies. Students apply for undergraduate and graduate admission to Gonzaga through the Gonzaga Global Program. Please see Gonzaga Global - https://global.gonzaga.edu.
ELCT courses + Multilingual (MLC) sections: ELCT 110 class is linked to MLC sections of the Gonzaga Core classes, COMM 100. These classes encourage the global engagement and intercultural competence of both domestic and international students. International students are placed into the ELC courses and the linked Multilingual (MLC) sections through freshman enrollment, Gonzaga Global, or their advisor upon approval by the Director. International students who are not required to take these courses may indicate interest through Gonzaga’s Freshman Survey or by working with their Academic Advisor.Specialized Programs: In addition to the academic ESL Program, the ELC offers short-term Specialized Programs for contracted groups of students, faculty and international visitors, including English as a Medium of Instruction, ESL Teacher Training, and Intensive English Language Programs.
Academic Support and Testing: The ELC conducts English Placement testing for all incoming international students as well as testing and services for all multilingual students or departments at Gonzaga that require or desire focused academic English language and culture instruction or support.
ELC and MA-TESL Program Affiliation: The ELC is affiliated with the following programs in the School of Education: Master of Arts degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (MA-TESL); Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate; and ELL endorsement. This important affiliation between programs includes shared faculty, curricular and programmatic integration, and opportunities for diverse student groups to collaborate in creative ways.
For more information about the English Language Center, visit www.gonzaga.edu/elc, or call 509-313-6562.
In addition to their major and minor areas of study, all undergraduate students follow a common program designed to complete their education in those areas that the University considers essential for a Catholic, Jesuit, liberal, and humanistic education. The University Core Curriculum consists of forty-five credits of course work, with additional designation requirements that can be met through core, major, or elective courses.
The University Core Curriculum is a four-year program, organized around one overarching question, which is progressively addressed through yearly themes and questions. Hence, core courses are best taken within the year for which they are designated. First year core courses encourage intellectual engagement and provide a broad foundation of fundamental skills. Second and third year courses examine central issues and questions in philosophy and religious studies. The fourth year course, the Core Integration Seminar, offers a culminating core experience. Taken at any time throughout the four years, broadening courses intersect with the core themes and extend students’ appreciation for the humanities, arts, and social and behavioral sciences. Finally, the designation requirements (writing enriched, global studies, and social justice) reflect important values and reinforce students’ knowledge and competencies.
Overarching Core Question: As students of a Catholic, Jesuit, and Humanistic University, how do we educate ourselves to become women and men for a more just and humane global community?
Year 1 Theme and Question: Understanding and Creating: How do we pursue knowledge and cultivate understanding?
- The First-Year Seminar (DEPT 193, 3 credits): The First-Year Seminar (FYS), taken in the fall or spring of the first year, is designed to promote an intellectual shift in students as they transition to college academic life. Each small seminar is organized around an engaging topic, which students explore from multiple perspectives. The FYS is offered by many departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of FYS courses).
- Writing (ENGL 101, 3 credits) and Reasoning (PHIL 101, 3 credits): The Writing and Reasoning courses are designed to help students develop the foundational skills of critical reading, thinking, analysis, and writing. They may be taken as linked sections. Writing (ENGL 101) carries one of the three required writing-enriched designations (see below).
- Communication & Speech (COMM 100, 3 credits): This course introduces students to interpersonal and small group communication and requires the application of critical thinking, reasoning, and research skills necessary to organize, write, and present several speeches.
- Scientific Inquiry (BIOL 104/104L, CHEM 104/104L, or PHYS 104/104L, 3 credits): This course explores the scientific process in the natural world through evidence-based logic and includes significant laboratory experience. Students pursuing majors that require science courses will satisfy this requirement through their major.
- Mathematics (above Math 100, 3 credits): Mathematics courses promote thinking according to the modes of the discipline—abstractly, symbolically, logically, and computationally. One course in mathematics, above Math 100, including any math course required for a major or minor, will fulfill this requirement. MATH 100 (College Algebra) and courses without the MATH prefix do not fulfill this requirement.
Year 2 Theme and Question: Being and Becoming: Who are we and what does it mean to be human?
- Philosophy of Human Nature (PHIL 201, 3 credits): This course provides students with a philosophical study of key figures, theories, and intellectual traditions that contribute to understanding the human condition; the meaning and dignity of human life; and the human relationship to ultimate reality.
- Christianity and Catholic Traditions (RELI, 3 credits). Religious Studies core courses approved for this requirement explore diverse topics including Christian scriptures, history, theology, and practices as well as major contributions from the Catholic intellectual and theological traditions (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses) .
Year 3 Theme and Question: Caring and Doing: What principles characterize a well lived life?
- Ethics (PHIL 301 or RELI, 3 credits): The Ethics courses are designed to help students develop their moral imagination by exploring and explaining the reasons humans should care about the needs and interests of others. This requirement is satisfied by an approved ethics course in either Philosophy (PHIL 301) or Religious Studies (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- World/Comparative Religion (RELI, 3 credits): Religious Studies courses approved for this core requirement draw attention to the diversity that exists within and among traditions and encourage students to bring critical, analytical thinking to bear on the traditions and questions considered. These courses carries one of the required two global-studies designations (see below) (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Year 4 Theme and Question: Imagining the Possible: What is our role in the world?”
- Core Integration Seminar (DEPT 432, 3 credits). The Core Integration Seminar (CIS) offers students a culminating core experience in which they integrate the principles of Jesuit education, prior components of the core, and their disciplinary expertise. Some CIS courses may also count toward a student’s major or minor. The CIS is offered by several departments across the University (click here [PDF] for list of CIS courses).
The Broadening Courses
- Fine Arts & Design (VART, MUSC, THEA, 3 credits): Arts courses explore multiple ways the human experience can be expressed through creativity, including across different cultures and societies. One approved course in fine arts, music, theatre, or dance will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- History (HIST, 3 credits): History courses are intended to develop students’ awareness of the historical context of both the individual and the collective human experience. One course in History (HIST 101, HIST 102, HIST 112, HIST 201, HIST 202) will fulfill this requirement.
- Literature (3 credits): Literature courses foster reflection on how literature engages with a range of human experience. One approved course in Literature (offered by English, Classics, or Modern Languages) will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social & Behavioral Sciences (3 credits): Courses in the social and behavioral sciences engage students in studying human behavior, social systems, and social issues. One approved course offered by Criminal Justice, Economics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, or Women and Gender Studies will fulfill this requirement (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
The Designations
Designations are embedded within already existing core, major, minor, and elective courses. Students are encouraged to meet designation requirements within elective courses as their schedule allows; however, with careful planning students should be able to complete most of the designation requirements within other core, major, or minor courses.
- Writing Enriched (WE; 3 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the WE designation are designed to promote the humanistic and Jesuit pedagogical ideal of clear, effective communication. In addition to the required core course, Writing (ENGL 101), which carries one of the WE designations, students must take two other WE-designated courses (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Global-Studies (GS; 2 courses meeting this designation): Courses carrying the GS designation are designed to challenge students to perceive and understand human diversity by exploring diversity within a context of constantly changing global systems. In addition to the required core course, World/Comparative Religion (RELI 300-level), which carries one of the GS designations, students must take one other GS-designated course (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
- Social-Justice (SJ; 1 course meeting this designation): Courses carrying the SJ designation are designed to introduce students to one or more social justice concerns. Students must take one course that meets the SJ designation (click here [PDF] for a list of approved courses).
Major-specific adaptations to the University Core Curriculum
All Gonzaga students, regardless of their major, will complete the University Core Curriculum requirements. However some Gonzaga students will satisfy certain core requirements through major-specific programs or courses. Any major-specific adaptations to the core are described with the requirements for the majors to which they apply.