Pacific Core Competencies

Core Competencies

The following are Pacific’s university-wide undergraduate core competencies adopted in 2016:

  • Critical Thinking
  • Information Literacy
  • Oral Communication
  • Quantitative Reasoning
  • Written Communication

The primary purpose of the core competencies is to support undergraduate teaching and learning at all three campuses of the University. These undergraduate core competencies are required by WSCUC but are defined for Pacific by the University Assessment Committee (UAC). Definitions of the core competencies can be found here on Pacific’s website.

Pacific’s commitment to using this common set of core competencies in support of student learning will:

  • Give students, faculty, administration and staff a clear and concise understanding of the essential competencies of an undergraduate Pacific education;
  • Create a more coherent educational experience for students as schools and divisions align with these competencies;
  • Enable Pacific to assess undergraduate outcomes at the university-level to continuously improve teaching and learning.

The UAC is charged with coordinating the assessment of these competencies; however, it is the responsibility of each School/College, General Education, and the Division of Student Life to report how learning outcomes for their programs align with these competencies. Each academic degree program will have additional learning outcomes beyond the university-wide undergraduate competencies stated here. Schools and Divisions may also have additional learning outcomes common to all its programs.