For Information Contact:
Admissions Office
Saint Joseph College
1678 Asylum Avenue
West Hartford, CT 06117
866-44-CTSJC (toll-free)
Fax: 860-231-5744
E-mail: admissions@sjc.edu
2006-2007 COSTS:
Tuition:
$23,825
Room and Board:
$9,225
Fees, books, misc.:
$800
West Hartford, Connecticut
Overview
For seventy-three years, Saint Joseph College has been combining excellence in liberal arts with professional education for women. Founded in 1932 by the Sisters of Mercy, the original Women’s College has expanded to include a coeducational Graduate School and baccalaureate degree completion program. In partnership with each other, these units of the College offer a diverse student population unmatched opportunities to excel—intellectually, socially, and ethically.
There are 1,871 undergraduates in the Women’s College, where faculty members and students have high mutual expectations and strive to maximize each person’s potential. The College is a community that promotes the growth of the whole person in a caring environment that encourages strong ethical values, personal integrity, and a sense of responsibility to the needs of society. Women lead every organization, from the Business Society and Student Government to Campus Ministry and Multicultural Affairs. They edit the journals; lead the choirs, dance, and drama groups; and captain every athletic team. Students also serve with faculty members and administrators on all major committees.
Saint Joseph College has thirteen Georgian brick buildings, including five residence halls, which are arranged around two tree-lined quadrangles on an 84-acre campus.
Saint Joseph College alumnae have considerable impact on the welfare of their communities. They are leaders in many fields, including aerospace research, business, medicine, education, social work, environmental science, law, and politics. Recent graduates enjoy successful careers in business, industry, government, nonprofit organizations, education, health care, human services, and the arts.
Saint Joseph College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The chemistry program is accredited by the American Chemical Society and the social work program by the Council on Social Work Education. The Coordinated Undergraduate Program in Dietetics is accredited by the American Dietetic Association. The nursing program is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education.
Location and Community
The College is located in suburban West Hartford, 4 miles from the state capitol building and the city of Hartford’s arts and entertainment district. Among the nearby attractions are the Hartford Civic Center and Coliseum; Bushnell Memorial Hall, where the latest Broadway musicals are performed; and the Wadsworth Atheneum, the oldest public art gallery in the United States. Hartford is a cosmopolitan city with diverse ethnic flavors. It is also the home of the Tony Award–winning Hartford Stage Company; the Hartford Symphony Orchestra; the Connecticut Opera Company and the Hartford Ballet; the Dodge Music Center, which features indoor and outdoor concerts; and several shopping venues, coffee bars, and restaurants.
Academic Life
Each student must complete a minimum of 120 credits to obtain a baccalaureate degree, and 53 of those credits should be distributed among the general education/liberal arts courses at the College. Specifically, students must take courses in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, religious studies, and physical education. The study of a foreign language is recommended. An academic adviser assists each student in planning her program of study.
An honors program is available, as are several bachelor’s-to-master’s degree programs. The Academic Resources Center provides tutoring and other academic support services. Students may design their own major or may develop an interdisciplinary major or minor around a particular theme or problem related to their special talents, personal interests, or career goals. An exciting component of most majors at Saint Joseph College is the internship. Students earn credit for internships at a variety of sites, including the state capitol building, the Bushnell Theatre, Aetna, Legislative Office, the Connecticut Department of Economic Development, WVIT-TV, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, and the Science Center of Connecticut.
Saint Joseph College’s faculty consists of 80 full-time faculty members and 4 librarians. Of the total faculty, 58 percent are women. Of the full-time faculty, 90 percent have terminal degrees in their fields. Small classes benefit both students and professors. The student-faculty ratio is 11:1. The faculty and all members of the College community promote the welfare of students and help them attain the objectives set forth by the College’s mission. Faculty members also participate in many extracurricular activities, including sports, campus ministry, and community service; direct students in independent study; involve students in scholarly research; and act as mentors before and after graduation.
Students at Saint Joseph College may take courses at cooperating institutions through the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education. This is a special arrangement among Hartford-area colleges—Saint Joseph College, Rensselaer at Hartford, Trinity College, Hartford Seminary, and the University of Hartford—through which students are able to take courses not offered at their home institution. No additional tuition is charged, and all credits are transferable.
Students at Saint Joseph College may study abroad during their junior year, a winter recess, or a summer session. Certain majors have specific international-study recommendations and opportunities, and the student is assisted by the Director of International Study in planning for an international-study experience. Cultural exchange programs with institutions in Japan, England, and Denmark are also available.
Majors Offered:
Saint Joseph College has always enjoyed a strong academic reputation based on a combination of liberal arts and professional majors. The College awards the B.A. or B.S. in American studies, art history, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, child study, dietetics, economics, English (cultural studies, literature/language, writing), environmental science, family studies (family and consumer science, contemporary family issues), history (archives and museum skills), international studies, Latin, liberal studies, management (financial management, human resource management, management information systems), mathematics (math/computer science, math/economics), nursing, nutrition, philosophy, psychology, religious studies, social work, sociology, Spanish, special education, undecided/open option, and women’s studies.
Teaching certification is offered in elementary education, secondary education, and special education.
Research, clinical, and work placements are factored into all majors as an important component of each student’s program. For instance, nursing majors begin their clinical training early in the sophomore year.
Facilities and Resources
The Pope Pius XII Library has a collection of more than 134,000 volumes, including computer databases, periodicals, microforms, audiovisuals, an OPAC, and superior on-line resources. A collection of materials used in elementary and secondary education is featured in the Curriculum Materials Center.
The College has two laboratory schools, which are utilized in its academic programs. The renowned School for Young Children, located one block from the campus, is a preschool that provides child study majors with training and experience. The Gengras Center, on the campus, is a community resource serving children and young adults (ages 3–21). It provides for special education needs and also helps to prepare special education teachers.
The College’s primary technology centers are located in McDonough Hall. Internet access is available throughout campus. Additional facilities and services include a media center that provides production materials, expertise, and equipment for making and using a number of media instructional aids; state-of-the-art science and nursing labs; the Academic Resources Center, which provides professional and peer tutoring; music and dance facilities; and an art study gallery that exhibits changing selections from the more than 500 prints and several hundred paintings that are part of the College’s art collection. The Carol Autorino Center includes Lynch Hall and the Bruyette Athenaeum, featuring a 365-seat auditorium, art gallery, print study room, large lecture hall, reception room, music practice rooms, and the Bistro. The building also houses the College’s archives and art collections.
Campus Life
Approximately 45 percent of the full-time Women’s College students live on campus. Special student services include career planning, alumnae mentors, internship placement, counseling, health services, academic advisement, and a campus ministry team. Most recently, the College constructed the Carol Autorino Center to establish the arts and humanities as an integral part of the student psyche. The center celebrates and articulates the College’s rich liberal arts tradition.
The Student Government Association works for effective communication among students, faculty members, and administrators. Students are encouraged to voice their opinions and concerns to the association for consideration and action. In addition, student representatives sit as voting members with faculty members and administrators on major College-wide committees. The Student Government Association encourages the development of leadership skills and provides funds annually for several of its members to attend leadership workshops.
Sports / Varsity Athletics
In just eleven years since the O’Connell Athletic Center was constructed, the College has become competitive in eight NCAA Division III sports: basketball, cross-country, lacrosse, softball, soccer, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball. The athletic complex features a six-lane pool, gymnasium, suspended jogging track, dance studio, fitness center, outdoor track, softball field, and tennis courts.
Expenses
The tuition and fees for full-time freshmen entering in 2005 were $22,825. Room and board cost $9225. The cost per credit for part-time students was $515.
Financial Aid / Scholarships
The goal of the Saint Joseph College Financial Aid Program is to place a high-quality, private education within the reach of as many qualified students as possible. This goal is achieved by offering need- and merit-based financial aid awards that include a combination of grants, loans, and on-campus employment opportunities. More than 92 percent of full-time undergraduate students receive some form of financial assistance.
Admission Requirements / Application
Saint Joseph College seeks women who are willing to accept the challenge of an excellent academic program while pursuing the interests and goals that will shape their future lives. Applications are encouraged from interested students of every race, age, and religious affiliation. In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Saint Joseph College is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunities and full participation for people with disabilities in higher education. Candidates for first-year admission should complete a four-year course of study in a regionally accredited secondary school. The program should include 16 academic units in college-preparatory courses distributed among the areas of English, mathematics, natural sciences, social studies, and foreign languages. Applicants are required to submit scores of the SAT or ACT tests. A personal interview is a highly recommended part of the admission procedure, since it offers a mutual opportunity for the student and College personnel to discuss educational and professional goals. The Committee on Admissions operates on the principle that a student’s ability, motivation, and maturity should be determined by a careful individual review of all the applicant’s credentials, including the academic record, standardized test scores, written personal statement, and guidance counselor’s evaluation. Special consideration may be given to some applicants whose preparation varies from the recommended pattern but whose record gives evidence of genuine intellectual ability and interest. International students should contact the director of admissions for further information. Saint Joseph College admits qualified students for transfer in both fall and spring semesters.
The Committee on Admissions recommends that application for first-year admission be made in the first semester of the senior year in secondary school. All applications should be completed by May 1. Students planning to apply for financial aid should do so at the same time they apply for admission. A nonrefundable $35 fee must be sent to the director of admissions with the application.
Transfer applicants for the spring semester should apply by December 1; applicants for the fall semester, by July 1. Students applying to the nursing program should contact the College to learn about special deadlines. Transfer candidates who wish to apply for financial aid should complete the admission procedure by June 1.
 |
 |
 |