Overview
Specially designed seminars allow students to discover and explore their own educational and career goals, to define what it is to be a liberally educated person, to develop critical and creative thinking, communication, and problem solving skills, and to examine work from a liberal arts perspective. The total commitment to the program involves taking 20 credit hours of PORTfolio courses over the course of your time at Virginia Wesleyan. The 20 credit hour commitment (out of the total of 120 credit hours required for graduation) is the equivalent of a minor field of study at VWC, which range from 18 - 27 credit hours.
The following sequence of courses is a suggested sequence. However, as conflicts arise with other required classes students are encouraged to skip around and take the PORTfolio courses out of the suggested sequence. The only requirements to enter the program are the PORT 121 and PORTfolio FYS course offered during the fall semester of the freshman year. All other PORTfolio courses may be taken out of sequence if necessary. Additional sections of PORT 122 and PORT 221 will be added based on demand in alternate time slots and during alternative semesters.
Freshman Year
- Fall - PORT 121: Self and Circumstance (3 credit hours)
- Fall - PORTfolio First Year Seminar (1 credit hour)
- Winter Session - PORT 124: Learning through Service in Hampton Roads (3 credit hours)
- Spring - PORT 122: Liberal Arts Seminar (3 credit hours)
Sophomore Year
- Fall - PORT 221: Problem Solving Seminar (3 credit hours)
- Winter Session - PORT 225: PORTfolio Career Study: An Integrative Career Experience including an Externship in the career field of your choice (3 credit hours)
- Spring - PORT 311: Director's Seminar and Speaker Series (1 credit hour)
Talk to your PORTfolio Advisor during your Sophomore year to allow for adequate planning time for an Internship or Study Abroad experience.
Junior Year
- Internship Experience or Study Abroad is strongly suggested.
Students can concentrate on their major requirements during the Junior year and make up any missed PORTfolio courses during this time. The Director's Seminar runs each spring semester and students will be encouraged to retake it if they disire to do so.
Senior Year
- Spring
- PORT 420: President's Senior Seminar (1 credit hour)
- PORT 421: Senior Synthesis and Segue (2 credit hours)
- Internship Experience or Study Abroad optional if desired.