Baker
University
College of Arts and Sciences,
Baldwin City, KS. 66006
800-873-4282
http://www.bakeru.edu
COSTS:
Tuition:
$19,880
Room and Board:
$6,420
Fees, books, misc.:
$460
Baldwin City, Kansas
Overview
Baker
University was founded in 1858 by a group of Methodist ministers. It was
the first University in Kansas and is regarded as the top private school
in the state. Guided by principles of integrity, honesty, compassion,
and civility, Baker University produces graduates who make a difference
in their communities throughout the world.
Baker’s reputation is strong. Four Rhodes Scholars and two Pulitzer Prize winners in journalism have graduated from Baker. Two recent graduates have been awarded the prestigious Goldwater Scholarship for their excellence in the area of science. U.S. News & World Report and the Princeton Review consistently rank the University as a top school in the Midwest. In addition, Baker has been recognized for its value by Money magazine and Barron’s Best Buys in College Education.
Baker’s School of Nursing (SON) began in 1991 when the University and Stormont Vail HealthCare, a major medical center, entered into a partnership. The close relationship with the hospital provides convenient experiential learning opportunities with state-of-the-art equipment. The May 2005 graduating class had a 100 percent pass rate on the NCLEX, and students generally are employed before they graduate. Campus housing is not available in Topeka and students are free to choose their own housing arrangements.
The School of Professional and Graduate Studies (SPGS) was established in 1988 to expand opportunities for the adult students Baker had begun serving in 1976. Its nontraditional degree programs are offered in an accelerated format convenient to working adults. The school has produced more than 8,000 graduates in business, education, and liberal arts programs.
There are more than 900 students on the Baldwin City campus, approximately 2,200 in School of Professional and Graduate Studies locations, 135 at the School of Nursing, and 165 undergraduates in education.
Baker is affiliated
with the United Methodist Church and is accredited by the Higher Learning
Commission of the North Central Association. The nursing program is accredited
by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, the Teacher Education
Program by the Kansas State Board of Education, music programs by the
National Association of Schools of Music, and business programs by AACSB
International—the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Location and Community
The College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education’s bachelor’s
degree offerings are at the main campus in Baldwin City, a community of
3,500 people located 40 minutes from Kansas City. The School of Nursing
is in Topeka, a city of 128,000, and is one hour’s drive from Baldwin
City. The school operates in Pozez Education Center, which adjoins Stormont
Vail HealthCare. The School of Professional and Graduate Studies is based
in Overland Park, Kansas, a suburb of Kansas City, just 40 minutes from
the Baldwin City campus. The location is easily accessible by state and
federal highways that provide quick and convenient access for students
who travel directly from work. Classes are also offered in Lawrence, Topeka,
and Wichita, Kansas, and Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Academic
Life
Baker emphasizes the liberal arts tradition through a general education
program that develops fundamental intellectual skills and provides experiences
and ideas that assist the student in making informed decisions as a member
of society. The College of Arts and Sciences operates on a 4-1-4 academic
calendar with two 5-week sessions of summer school. The month of January
is set aside for Interterm, a period when students enroll in only one
class. Interterm classes may be taken on campus or abroad, and internships
are numerous.
To complete a bachelor’s degree at Baker, a student must successfully complete 132 semester hours with a Baker GPA of at least 2.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
The Baker honors program provides an opportunity for highly qualified students to complete advanced work in regular classes for honors credit and take special honors sections of courses. Honors participants are required to have a minimum 3.5 high school GPA and a minimum composite score of 27 on the ACT.
Majors
Offered:
Baker University encompasses four schools. The
College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at the main campus in Baldwin City
offers more than forty majors and areas of concentration. Students may
earn Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music or Bachelor
of Music Education degrees.
The School of Education (SOE) offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees through programs at the main campus and at locations throughout Kansas and Missouri. Students may major in elementary, secondary, or middle-level-math education. In addition, a special education component of the program leads to provisional licensure.
Students who graduate from the School of Nursing receive a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. The school offers the final two years of preparation for a B.S.N., and its population draws from the CAS campus as well as other universities and community colleges.
The School of Professional and Graduate Studies (SPGS) serves working adults through business, liberal arts, and conflict resolution programs leading to Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Science in Management, and master’s degrees. Courses are conducted at convenient times to best serve working adults. Baker also offers an Associate of Arts in Business degree program designed for adults who are just beginning their academic career path. Students in these programs have class one night each week and work weekly with a study group. Students can earn their degree in as little as two years, though the amount of time depends upon prior course work undertaken.
Facilities
and Resources
The main campus in Baldwin City blends historic
beauty and modern function. Classroom buildings, offices, the library,
and the student union surround a central arboretum with a mixture of greenery
that provides beauty all year. In fact, four buildings on campus are listed
on the National Historic Register. While preserving Baker’s historic
landscape, the school is devoted to embracing technology and had spent
more than $25 million in facility improvement over the past 15 years.
The nursing program is located in the Pozez Education Center at Stormont
Vail HealthCare medical center. The building provides modern classrooms,
a learning lab, health sciences library, computer lab, and fitness center.
Students perform clinical work at the hospital and at other sites in the
community. The School of Professional and Graduate Studies offers classes
in the metropolitan areas of Kansas and the western edge of Missouri.
Campus
Life
The main campus is residential, and Greek life involves nearly 50 percent
of the student population. There are four houses each for men and women.
Students under age 23 who are not living in a Greek house live in one
of four residence halls offering suite-style accommodations. Upperclassmen
may live in student apartments on campus.
Student organizations have a strong presence at the main campus, the home of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the School of Education (SOE). Ninety percent of the student body is involved in more than one activity or organization.
Sports
/ Varsity
Athletics
Athletes compete at the NAIA Division II level in the Heart of America Athletic Conference. There are nine men’s and ten women’s sports offered at Baker. The University has a rich athletic history that includes early-day leadership in founding the NAIA.
Expenses
Tuition for undergraduates in CAS and SOE is $19,880. Double-occupancy room and board for the year are $6,420 and fees are $460. Nursing school tuition is $12,800. The cost of SPGS and SOE programs varies depending upon the program.
Financial
Aid / Scholarships
Students in all of Baker’s schools have the opportunity to receive
financial aid. Ninety-five percent of the full-time students in CAS and
SOE receive financial assistance. Non-need-based scholarships awarded
on academic merit and leadership are available for up to $8000 and are
renewable each year. Baker leads the independent colleges in Kansas in
the amount of Kansas State Scholar funds awarded to its students.
Financial assistance
is available on both a need and non-need basis to full-time students.
Aid based on need is given to students who demonstrate genuine need as
determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Applications
for financial aid should be submitted as early as possible since aid is
awarded on a rolling basis and may be exhausted by the summer months.
The University participates in all federally supported student-aid programs.
Admission
Requirements / Application
Applications for undergraduate admission to the College of Arts and Sciences
and School of Education are reviewed by the director of admissions and,
in some cases, an admission committee. Readiness is determined by evidence
of ability to do college work at Baker and an interest in acquiring a
liberal arts education. In most cases applicants who meet two of three
academic criteria—an minimum ACT composite score of 18, a minimum
2.75 high school GPA, and/or placement in the top half of the graduating
class—are admitted. Other applicants are evaluated on an individual
basis. Transfer students are eligible for admission with a minimum 2.3
college GPA in all college-level hours attempted, as determined by the
Baker University Office of the Registrar. Applicants not meeting the minimum
2.3 GPA are evaluated on an individual basis.
The School of Nursing admits students in both the fall and spring semesters, with Baker CAS students receiving priority admission. All program prerequisites must be completed with a grade of C or higher on a 4.0 grade point scale, with an overall prerequisite cumulative GPA of at least 2.7. Only required prerequisite courses are considered in calculating the GPA.
To be eligible for admission into the School of Professional and Graduate Studies, bachelor degree programs applicants must have one year of full time work experience, two letters of recommendation, a minimum TOEFL test score (600 paper-based, 250 computer-based, or 100 Internet-based), official transcripts from all colleges attended, and an official high school transcript with a minimum GPA of 2.3 or official GED certificate with a minimum score of 47
Baker
University
College of Arts and Sciences,
School of Education, or School of
Nursing Admissions
Baldwin City, KS. 66006-0065
800-873-4282
http://www.bakeru.edu
School of Professional
and Graduate Studies Admissions
8001 College Boulevard
Overland Park, KS. 66210
913-491-4432 Ext. 690
913-491-0470
http://www.bakeru.edu
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