Overview
Chatham University Prepares Women for Engagement with the Global Community through a Comprehensive, Balanced Education
Chatham University is a private, selective, nonsectarian institution in Pittsburgh, PA, fully accredited and including degree programs through the doctoral level. Chatham prepares its students not only to excel in their professions, but also to be fully engaged with the world and become environmentally responsible, globally conscious citizen leaders for democracy.
Chatham is comprised of three distinctive colleges - Chatham College for Women, the co-ed College for Graduate Studies, and the co-ed College for Continuing and Professional Studies, which offers online and low-residency degree programs. Chatham includes the historic 39-acre Woodland Road arboretum campus featuring 125 different varieties of trees, and the new Chatham Eastside at Fifth and Penn avenues. Chatham also owns the Eden Hall Campus on 388 acres located less than an hour from the main campus, where students can enjoy special programs focusing on environmental sustainability. Eden Hall Campus is also home to the university's new School of Sustainability and the Environment.
Chatham was originally founded as Pennsylvania Female College in 1869, and continues to provide female undergraduates with strong preparation for law school, medical school, scientific graduate programs, and Chatham University's own co-ed graduate programs. Chatham gives students the personal, professional, and leadership skills they require, allowing students to use their knowledge outside the classroom with internships, study abroad programs, service learning, and leadership training opportunities, as well as personal development seminars.
Students at Chatham receive not only a strong grounding in the sciences and liberal arts, but the opportunity to develop effective communication skills, social consciousness, environmental awareness, and interest in public service.
Chatham University Makes It Easy to Be Involved in the Community, with Easy Transportation and a Full Residential Life
Chatham University houses undergraduates and graduates in a mixture of traditional residence halls and apartments. Chatham's residence life program aims to contribute to each student's academic, social, and personal development, encouraging a culture of learning, meaningful connections, and student involvement in the community. The aim of the residential program is to develop a mature character and personal responsibility.
Many upper class women agree that campus life as a first-year student was greatly improved by having a roommate. All incoming residential students fill out a roommate survey upon acceptance to Chatham, and roommates are matched based on their study habits, sleep habits, and interests.
Students local to Pittsburgh, or students who have completed their first two years at Chatham, may opt to live off-campus instead. All commuting students are automatically members of the Commuter Student Association, a body of commuting students whose purpose is to integrate commuting students into campus activities.
All students may use their Chatham ID to ride any Port Authority bus, LRT, or incline for free. This allows students to avail themselves of Pittsburgh's rich business, cultural, and entertainment opportunities. Chatham students can also partake of the educational and social offerings of nine other area universities, including the University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University.
Students who attend Chatham are expected to contribute to the campus community by engaging in academic and co-curricular life, respecting the honor code, and taking an interest in community service.
Chatham Offers a Variety of Student Clubs and Sports Activities
Numerous student organizations thrive on the Chatham campus, from the Minor Bird literary magazine to the Chatham Forensics Club. Many student organizations and activities are funded by the Chatham Student Government, where student representatives are elected annually to help serve the community.
Chatham is an NCAA Division III member with nine intercollegiate sports: basketball, cross-country, ice hockey, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, volleyball, and water polo. The Athletic and Fitness Center also has facilities for swimming, squash, rock climbing, strength training, and cardiovascular fitness, and is open to all students.
With a Low Student-Faculty Ratio and Small Classes, Students Get Personalized Attention in a Wide Range of Academics
Chatham students may choose from more than 30 majors in the sciences, social sciences, humanities, fine and performing arts, pre-professional programs, and such interdisciplinary areas as environmental studies and global policy studies.
Students may also create their own interdisciplinary or double-major programs. These programs are enhanced by a senior tutorial where students work on original research projects one-on-one with a Chatham professor. The undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio at Chatham is 9-to-1, and undergraduate classes at Chatham average 16 students, small enough to allow for personal attention.
Students who wish to continue on to a master's or doctoral degree can apply for the Accelerated Graduate Program. Chatham students in their third year can apply to begin a master's degree through Carnegie Mellon during their senior year.
Chatham is Career-Focused, and Offers Financial Aid as Well as Entrepreneurship Training for Students and Local Women
Incoming Chatham students from Pittsburgh public schools may be eligible for the Pittsburgh Promise scholarships. Veterans and children of veterans may be eligible for the Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement program. Other need-based and merit-based financial aid is also available.
The Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham helps create economic opportunities and foster entrepreneurial thinking for students and local women in business. The CWE helps women achieve the skills they will need to become successful women in business.
