Westfield State College

Location and Contact Information

The campus is in a large suburb.

Overview

Westfield State College was founded in 1838 as a normal school in Barre, Massachusetts. It was the first coeducational normal school of the nation. The college is currently located in Westfield, Massachusetts. WSC offers an array of degrees and certificate programs and is most recognized for its Education and Criminal Justice Programs.

Some of the academic divisions of WSC are the business management, computer science, liberal studies and English. The college also offers various scholarships like the Westfield State College Foundation Scholarships, Paul Tsongas Scholarship and Westfield State College Presidential Merit Scholarships.

WSC is home to numerous student organizations and clubs, including the Accounting Club, Business Club, Campus Crusade for Christ, Communications Club, Competitive Dance Club, Dance Club, Equestrian Club, Graphic Design Club and the Society of Professional Journalists.

Many students of WSC have gone on to become famous. Some of them are George B. Cortelyou, the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury from 1903 – 1904; Eduardo C. Robreno, the first Cuban-American federal court judge; and Nettie Stevens, who discovered the X and Y chromosomes.

Highlights (vs. Other Schools)

• Many students concentrating in security and law enforcement, therapy and counseling, and media.
• Large number of programs of study offered.
• Number of dorm rooms for students.
• Large number of students.
• Superior share of faculty on tenure track.
• High male/female ratio.

School characteristics:

• The school is public.
• Academic calender: Semester.
• Carnegie classification: Masters Colleges and Universities I.

Features of note:

• The school offers a faculty tenure system.
• There are one or more libraries on-campus.
• Campus housing is available.
• Students have meal (board) plans.
• Students may study abroad.
• Distance learning is available.
• Weekend study is an option.
• Part-time classes are available.
• ROTC.

Tuition and Financial Aid (2009-2010)

Financial Aid

Westfield State College participates in US Title IV financial assistance programs.

In 2009-2010, 82% of students received financial aid of some sort.

(Please refer to BrainTrack's financial aid articles section for background information.)

Similar Schools

Based on proprietary BrainTrack computer comparisons against all other US colleges, these schools appear to be most similar to Westfield State College:

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Degrees Awarded (in 2009-2010)

Faculty

Tenure (2009-2010):

Students

Student enrollment was 5,548 in 2009-2010 (5,044 full-time equivalent).

About 49% of the freshmen class in 2009-2010 was male and women were 51% of the class.

Undergrads are 83% of enrolled students and graduate students are 17%.

Students under 25 years old represent 82% of the student body. About 6% of the school is at least 40 years of age.

Among freshmen students, 99% are full-time and 1% are part-time.

Admissions Summary (2009-2010)

SAT Test Scores:

Room and Board

Westfield State College provides on-campus housing for 2,750 of its 5,044 (full-time) students (as of 2009-2010).

Students may purchase a meal plan which includes 19 meals weekly.

Athletics

School sports include football (New England Football Conference), basketball (Massachusetts State College Athletic Association), baseball (Massachusetts State College Athletic Association), and track (Massachusetts State College Athletic Association).

Graduate School Focus

Westfield State College offers graduate (post-Bachelor) studies. The highest degree offered is the Master.

Graduate offerings include continuing professional education.The school's Graduate School Carnegie Classification is Postbaccalaureate Comprehensive.

Programs of Study

(Number of degrees in 2009-2010 in parentheses)

ARCHITECTURE AND PLANNING (12 awarded)

• City/Urban, Community and Regional Planning

ART STUDIES (23 awarded)

• Art/Art Studies

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT (156 awarded)

• Accounting
• Business/Commerce

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (21 awarded)

• Computer Science
• Information Science/Studies

CONSERVATION AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (9 awarded)

• Environmental Science

DRAMA AND PERFORMING ARTS (2 awarded)

• Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts

EDUCATION AND TEACHING (258 awarded)

• Administration of Special Education
• Art Teacher Education
• Biology Teacher Education
• Business Teacher Education
• Education/Teaching of Individuals with Multiple Disabilities
• Educational Leadership and Administration
• Elementary Education and Teaching
• Elementary and Middle School Administration/Principalship
• English/Language Arts Teacher Education
• History Teacher Education
• Junior High/Intermediate/Middle School Education and Teaching
• Kindergarten/Preschool Education and Teaching
• Mathematics Teacher Education
• Music Teacher Education
• Physical Education Teaching and Coaching
• Reading Teacher Education
• Science Teacher Education/General Science Teacher Education
• Secondary Education and Teaching
• Secondary School Administration/Principalship
• Special Education and Teaching
• Teacher Education/Profess Development, Levels & Methods
• Technology Teacher Education/Industrial Arts Teacher Education

FAMILY AND SOCIAL WORK (38 awarded)

• Public Administration
• Social Work

LIBERAL ARTS (160 awarded)

• Economics
• English Language and Literature
• History
• Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
• Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
• Political Science and Government
• Sociology

MATHEMATICS (16 awarded)

• Mathematics

MEDIA (98 awarded)

• Communication Studies/Speech Communication and Rhetoric

MUSIC (11 awarded)

• Music

NUTRITION AND EXERCISE THERAPY (44 awarded)

• Health and Physical Education

SCIENCE (27 awarded)

• Biology/Biological Sciences
• Chemistry
• Physical Sciences

SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT (234 awarded)

• Criminal Justice/Safety Studies

THERAPY AND COUNSELING (123 awarded)

• Psychology