Overview
Clarkson University Offers World-Class Technological Research in a Quintessential College Town
Clarkson University is a small technological college located in Potsdam, NY, the quintessential college village nestled in the foothills of the northern Adirondack region of New York. The beautiful northeast corner of the state is the home of the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. Within two hours of the campus are Lake Placid and the cosmopolitan Canadian cities of Montreal and Ottawa.
As New York State's highest ranked small research institution, Clarkson University has faculty on the leading edge of research of international relevance, and is the institution of choice for 3,000 enterprising, high-ability students pursuing degrees in more than 50 rigorous academic programs of study. Across the institution, faculty and students develop close, mentoring relationships and make lifelong connections that guide career success.
Clarkson is a small and focused technological university, allowing students and staff to develop personal relationships and use the world's pressing issues as a guide for what education should cover. Ingenuity and discovery are focal points of Clarkson's dynamic collaborative learning environment, innovative degree and research programs, and unmatched track record for producing leaders and innovators. The willingness to constantly try new approaches to learning means students are grounded in the fundamentals, but also equipped to create fresh solutions and breakthroughs in response to the challenges of the modern world.
Clarkson Students Experience the Natural Beauty of the Adirondack Mountains and the Charm of Potsdam Village
When it comes to location, students at Clarkson University get the best of both worlds. Clarkson is located at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. Students who want a break from hiking around the 640-acre Clarkson campus can explore the nearby 6,000,000-acre Adirondack Park. Whether skiing down nearby Whiteface Mountain or taking a weekend jaunt to Montreal, students have plenty of opportunities to get out in the big world.
Students can also enjoy the more intimate setting of Potsdam, an archetypical small college town with red sandstone buildings, numerous shops and restaurants, and plenty of opportunities for community involvement.
On campus, roughly 3,000 students live in Clarkson's close-knit residential community, sharing living accommodations and friendships with other students. First-year students live in one of three residence halls, all fully networked and fully furnished. Clarkson also has a popular "theme housing" option in which students who share common interests (such as outdoor enthusiasts, entrepreneurial business majors, or those desiring a substance-free residence) can choose to live together.
After the first year, students may choose to live in upperclassmen halls with suite-style arrangements, on-campus apartments with kitchen facilities, or off-campus chapter houses (for fraternity and sorority members).
Either way, the enterprising community and dynamic environment at Clarkson University lets students combine learning with recreation, so academic ideas are put to use in real-world situations, and many of the most important academic thoughts may occur out of the classroom. Of course, it helps that Clarkson has nationally recognized career services, research projects, award-winning extracurricular programs, and outstanding recreational opportunities.
Students at Clarkson Are Constantly Learning and Living, Combining Academic and Recreational Activities
Clarkson challenges its students to maximize their potential through personal and professional growth. Enthusiasm is rewarded, whether it is directed towards academic subjects, athletics, or something else. Over five dozen student groups exist on campus, from the student government and amateur astronomy club to the SPEED program (Student Projects for Engineering Experience and Design) where students work together to solve real-world competitive design problems.
Students more interested in athletics can join one of the numerous athletic teams, or go rock climbing with the Outing Club. Students more interested in community service can volunteer in the local hospital or organize charity events. Students interested in Greek life can join a fraternity or sorority, while those interested in media can write for the school paper or host a show on the campus radio station.
In short, students can nourish their interests at Clarkson with full immersion into the things that matter to them.
Clarkson is a Nationally Recognized Research Institution with Academic Options Offering Extraordinary Opportunities
Clarkson University students enjoy extraordinary opportunities to pursue faculty-mentored research. Many programs are shaped in response to business and industry, so students gain professional experience through internships and co-ops with corporations and government organizations, learning skills that are relevant to the challenges of the modern world. Coursework at Clarkson, as well as research and internships, are designed to give students real-world experience that will leave them with the preparation and training to be successful in the workplace.
Undergraduate degree programs offered at Clarkson are aeronautical engineering, American studies, applied mathematics and statistics, Areté (liberal arts/business), biology, biomolecular engineering, biomolecular science, management, chemical engineering, chemistry, civil engineering, communication, computer engineering, computer science, digital arts and sciences, electrical engineering, engineering and management, environmental engineering, environmental health science, environmental science and policy, financial information and analysis, global supply chain management, history, humanities, information systems and business processes, innovation and entrepreneurship, liberal studies, mathematics, mechanical engineering, physical therapy (pre-physical therapy leading to a doctorate), physics, political science, psychology, social sciences, and software engineering.
Clarkson Students Can Take Advantage of Honors Programs, Pre-Professional Training, and a Range of Special Alternatives
Students who do not wish to follow one of the 50 standard degree paths still have plenty of options. First-year students who are undecided on a major may begin in a general program in business studies, engineering studies, science studies, or university studies.
Clarkson also offers a university honors program; a three-year bachelor's degree option; a five-year B.S./M.S. in chemistry/biochemistry; a five-year B.S./M.B.A.; and pre-professional programs in dentistry, law, medicine, physical therapy, and veterinary science.
