Overview
Eastern's Liberal Arts Core Curriculum Gives Students a Strong Educational Foundation
Eastern Connecticut State University prides itself on being Connecticut's public liberal arts college. Students are educated according to a strong liberal arts tradition that has long been a hallmark of Eastern. The university's core curriculum is based on a classical system of education that dates back to the Middle Ages. While core curricula at other schools often give students a basic introduction to many topics, the core curriculum at Eastern has the distinction of being designed in three stages, so students begin by taking courses that prepare them for more advanced learning. The result is students whose liberal arts knowledge base runs deeper and is therefore more meaningful to them in their personal and professional lives. Eastern's core curriculum is designed to allow students to develop an educational foundation that is integrated across disciplines, rather than introductory and fragmentary.
Low Student-Faculty Ratio and Small Classes Allow Meaningful Student-Faculty Interaction
At Eastern Connecticut State, students learn in small class settings that allow them to engage with their peers and with professors in meaningful discussion that will broaden their horizons. The university values student-faculty interaction, and students are encouraged to develop independent projects that enable them to actively engage with the material they are learning. This interactive style of education is made possible by Eastern's low student-faculty ratio of 16:1. The average class size is 23 students, and courses are taught by experienced faculty members, 92 percent of which hold terminal degrees in their fields.
Interdisciplinary Study Options Complete a Full Range of Undergraduate Degree Programs
Students at Eastern Connecticut State University can choose from thirty-three undergraduate majors in fields as diverse as accounting, biology, social work, and the visual arts. In addition to an honors program and a general studies major, Eastern offers an individualized major program, which allows students to pursue an interdisciplinary, self-designed course of study. The individualized major results in either a B.A. or B.S. degree, and with the help of faculty advisers students develop degree programs in areas that complement each other and provide a strong knowledge base that can facilitate acceptance into graduate schools. Eastern Connecticut State also offers teacher certification programs in physical education and early childhood, elementary, and secondary education. Additionally, fifty-six undergraduate minors let students supplement their major fields of study by concentrating in a secondary field.
Affordability, Generous Financial Aid, and Tuition Reduction Programs Make Eastern a Good Value
As a public liberal arts college, Eastern Connecticut State provides a quality education in the liberal arts tradition without the sometimes exorbitant costs found at comparable private institutions. The school's financial aid program helps students discover ways of financing their education. Of full-time undergraduate students, 72 percent receive financial aid awards directly from the university. Furthermore, Eastern offers its distinctive New England Regional Student Program, which benefits students who are residents of the other five New England states by giving them access to reduced tuition and fees depending on the program of study they plan to enter. Combined with already affordable tuition, these financial aid programs make an Eastern Connecticut State education an achievable goal.
Eastern Connecticut State Gives Students an Advantage as they Enter Careers and Grad Schools
Graduates of Eastern Connecticut State University have an impressive record of success and a high job-placement rate. Of recent graduates, 92 percent are enrolled in graduate schools or have job positions within six months of graduation. The university has an alumni network of over 25,000, so graduates have access to connections and opportunities that can help them gain an advantage in the academic and working worlds. A number of student employment and international programs allow students to gain valuable experience before they graduate, which contributes to their desirability in the eyes of prospective employers and graduate schools.
Outdoor Activities Are in Abundance Close to the Eastern Connecticut State University Campus
Eastern Connecticut State University is a publicly funded, coeducational university located in Willimantic, Connecticut. The surrounding area offers many educational and recreational opportunities. Outdoor activities abound in the region. the Mansfield Hollow Dam state park is only a seven minute drive from campus and represents a perfect location for fishing, kayaking, hiking, snowshoeing, and mountain biking. Biking and walking trails are in abundance in the area, including at Wolf Rock, which is also a popular destination for rock climbing. Several museums and cultural centers are local to the Eastern campus, and the cities of Hartford, New Haven, Providence, Boston, and New York, with all the cultural and recreational activities they boast, are easily accessible from campus.
