William Peace University - Overview
William Peace University -- Coeducational Opportunities in the Heart of downtown Raleigh, NC
William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina. It was founded in 1857 as Peace Institute, offering education for boys and girls in primary grades and to women from high school to college. Peace, an all women's college, became a 4-year baccalaureate college and graduated its first bachelor's students in August of 1996. Peace began offering coeducational evening courses through the William Peace School of Professional Studies in 2009. In 2011, Peace College transitioned to William Peace University and will begin admitting male students to its day program in fall 2012. Its mission is to prepare students for careers in the organizations of tomorrow. On average, more than 90 percent of the university's graduates are placed in jobs or graduate schools within one year of graduation.
William Peace University has been ranked among the nation's best in value-added gains in 3 of the 4 categories from the Collegiate Learning Assessment. The nationally employed assessment measures the improvement in critical thinking and analytical writing test scores of individual students between their freshman and senior years to determine how much they have learned while enrolled. WPU students also rank the university's academic programs among the best in the nation.
11 Majors Available at William Peace University
The educational experience at Peace goes beyond the classroom. Peace teaches students the skills necessary to succeed in both their professional and private lives. On average, more than 90 percent of Peace's graduates begin careers or pursue higher education within a year of their graduations.
The academic majors at WPU represent areas that connect to growing professional fields and demands. They incorporate pre-professional and liberal arts components. They include flexible pairings and specialized concentrations within each major.
Peace's new core curriculum emphasizes basic knowledge needed beyond graduation. There are mandatory courses in personal financial management, media literacy, and 4 years of writing courses within the English department.
A series of 3 classes focusing on career and professional development is a requirement for each student. Through the Portfolio Seminars Series, students will learn how to construct resumés, build portfolios, interview for jobs, or apply for graduate school.
An academic internship related to each student's major is required, with the goal of combining educational theory with job experience. Students can research Triangle Park, one of the nation's most innovative business and technical communities nearby, and which provides internship opportunities in finance or pharmaceuticals, and allows for research on sports, law, and politics. Sixty percent of Peace graduates report that their college internships result in job offers.
Students' skilled advisers for all 4 years will help them to explore careers, assist with decision-making, and provide personal attention to all areas of college life, both academic and social.
Students can expand their knowledge by immersing themselves in living experiences in countries around the world. A signature summer program at WPU focuses on Mexican culture and civilization while they live and study in Mérida, Yucatán. Community service is encouraged, and Peace's students embrace the concept of giving back by reaching out.
William Peace University (WPU) offers Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science (BS), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degrees in 11 majors, along with a variety of minor options. WPU faculty members use collaborative learning techniques that develop problem-solving skills and knowledge within a respectful and supportive learning environment.
Degrees are available in the following areas: acting, biology (pre-med, pre-dental, pre-vet, and allied health programs), business, communication, education, English, liberal studies, musical theater, political science, pre-law and psychology.
The School of Professional Studies Offers Evening and Online Programs
William Peace University offers 2 evening and online degrees through the School of Professional Studies: the BS in Business Administration (BSBA) or the BA in Liberal Studies. Courses are taught by experienced faculty members in 7-week, accelerated formats, and include many opportunities for individualized academic advising throughout the program. Classes are geared towards the unique needs of non-traditional students and working professionals.
The BSBA uses experiential and co-curricular learning to enhance the business curriculum and prepare students for success in a wide range of business careers, including human resources, leadership, management, and marketing. The interdisciplinary BA program addresses such areas of liberal arts as anthropology, communication, mathematics, and social sciences. BA students must use electives to complete either minor or major concentrations.
Internship Opportunities for Every Student
All students at WPU complete internships within their fields of study during their junior or senior years. The internships are offered in conjunction with internship classes, which include bi-weekly meetings with faculty members.
Recent internship sites include Duke University Medical Center, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, and the North Carolina General Assembly. Over 60 percent of graduates receive job offers from their internship employers.
Financial Aid Opportunities at William Peace University
Costs of tuition, room, and board at William Peace University remain below the national average for private 4-year institutions. Even so, the Office of Financial Aid works to offer students the information and resources they need to properly invest in their educations and their futures. The university is committed to making programs affordable,
The financial aid office compiles individualized aid packages for students that include all grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study awards for which they may be eligible. Scholarships and grants offered through the university include academic achievement scholarships, tuition assistance grants, departmental scholarships, and transfer merit grants. Monthly payment plans are also available.
Raleigh -- A City of Opportunity
William Peace University is located in the heart of Raleigh, North Carolina, near the state capital city's Glenwood South entertainment and shopping district, and just a few blocks away from the state Capitol and General Assembly. From campus, it's an easy stroll - or a free bus ride - to the heart of the City of Oaks, its political pulse, and its rich and varied museums, music halls, restaurants, theaters, and nightlife. Students can observe the state legislature in session, dine downtown in popular cafés, attend concerts or enjoy live theatre at the REP and NCSU.
Raleigh is consistently recognized as one of the best places in the nation to live, play, study, work, and meet new people. The city has been ranked on a number of reputable Top Ten lists, including "Money Magazine's" Best Places to Live. It has also been listed as a Top 5 City for Young Singles by "Kiplinger's Finance," a City That Rocks by "Esquire Magazine," and the number 2 Most Educated city by the Census Bureau.
One corner of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is home to more than 100,000 college students, and is a hub for high-tech, job producing industries. Students have many opportunities for entertainment and cultural enrichment, including concert halls, museums, shopping, and major league, minor league, and college sports games.