Academics

Breaking the Mold of the Traditional College Education

Embracing the Liberal Arts

How does Virginia Wesleyan College provide a unique academic experience?

Our students and their parents frequently mention “the value” of education here, the “outstanding, caring faculty who know students by name,” the “individual attention,” the fact that “most classes have fewer than 20 students,” and “the wide variety of majors and the opportunities to create individualized majors.” Those factors matter and they are very significant to us. They are part of what makes the academic experience here a transformative one. At the same time, none of those claims necessarily makes us distinctive.

What does make our program distinctive is the way we bring together three contexts that shape the value and values here. Those contexts are described by our name: “Virginia Wesleyan College.” Some students might be attracted to “Virginia” because of its rich historical background or because of the surfing opportunities afforded by the beach. Similarly, some students might be interested in “Wesleyan” or “College,” because those words signal the opportunity to be very involved on campus in a variety of extracurricular activities. However, those contexts also shape who we are in terms of our academic identity.

The “Virginia” in Virginia Wesleyan College points to our geographical and historical location. We are not located in Arizona or Nebraska, so your education will be shaped in different ways than if you were there. Similarly, we are not in rural Virginia, so you will have very different opportunities than you would have there. For a class you may visit the Virginia Opera, the Stihl Manufacturing Company, WHRO (public television), NATO, or the Chrysler Museum. You may take a course on Problem Solving that focuses entirely on case studies from the Cheasapeake Bay. You may visit the largest naval military installation in the world. Or you may go with a science class into the bay or to the ocean in Virginia Wesleyan’s new research vessel. You will see all sorts of opportunities for the kinds of internships and externships that will provide an important foundation for after you graduate.

The word “Wesleyan” in our name comes from John Wesley, whose enthusiasm, energy, and faith led him to recognize that a meaningful education is one that moves beyond vocational training. Wesley once said, “The world is my parish.” Similarly, we emphasize that understanding and being sympathetic to others, serving others and society, and recognizing our own limitations is an important part of education. Students not only take courses that focus on values, but also have the opportunity to take service learning courses, where they might even find themselves tutoring grade school students or working in a homeless shelter. Students in the Portfolio Program create links between their education and the Hampton Roads community. And students in our Living/Learning Communities take courses, study, and live together, and see--in very concrete ways--how collegiality and community can shape their education and how they see the world.  The word “Wesleyan” emphasizes that our academic goals need to be greater than our own self interest . . . .or they are not worthy of us.

Finally, the word “College” in Virginia Wesleyan College also stands out.

We are not a university, a community college, or an on-line college. If you are looking for anonymity, VWC likely is not the place for you. Here faculty know your name. They want you to succeed. How you do matters to them.

Our conviction is that a liberal arts education is the best education, particularly in the long run, in ensuring life-long learning and the flexibility demanded in today’s job market. Many students complete individual research projects with faculty members. Many students bring together their majors in unique ways. Many find transformative internships. Some students find our Honors & Scholars program to be not only exciting and inspiring but also something much more personal than they would find at any other school.

Our invitation to incoming students is “Bring a spark. Light a fire.”

A spark could be an ability, a passing interest, even a hope.Whatever sparks you bring to the classroom and to your own education, whatever “Bring a spark. Light a fire” might mean to you, it means to us that your spark, our opportunities, and four years here will broaden your horizons and create possibilities far beyond what you now can imagine.We look forward to your experiencing the transformative Wesleyan education!