Overview
Students Learn on a Small Town Campus in the Picturesque Setting of the Appalachian Highlands
Frostburg State University, one of 13 institutions in the University System of Maryland, is located in the Appalachian Highlands of western Maryland. Nearly 4,300 undergraduates attend classes on this small town campus, spanning more than 260 acres. The university shares its name with the historic town it calls home, which claims a population of 7,500.
The Appalachian highlands region of western Maryland provides plenty of opportunities for outdoor and recreational activities close to campus, including Rocky Gap, New Germany, and Deep Creek Lake State Parks. The parks provide students with facilities, parklands, and lake areas for camping, boating, swimming, hiking, or skiing. Western Maryland's scenic mountain trails also offer perfect opportunities for cycling or horseback riding.
Frostburg is a classic college community with a Main Street business area of bookstores, restaurants, shops, and an arts and entertainment district. Students may ride to nearby Cumberland on the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad or plan road trips to Baltimore, Pittsburgh, or Washington, D.C., which are only a few hours away.
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Includes Majority of Academic Programs
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences boasts the majority of FSU's academic programs. Nineteen departments are represented with more than 30 undergraduate programs in the natural sciences, social sciences, fine arts, performing arts, and humanities. Students select from a variety of majors, including Theatre, Psychology, and Computer Science.
Lab work and undergraduate research are conducted in the Compton Science Center. This center houses the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering. The Compton Science Center features the best in technology and research facilities. It has state-of-the-art laboratories, as well as classrooms and offices covering 100,000 square feet of space.
The university's Education programs prepare professionals for quality instruction and leadership. Education students earn degrees leading to eligibility for certification in Early Childhood/Elementary Education and Elementary Education. In addition, the department provides programs leading to certification eligibility in Secondary Education and P-12 Education.
Students who enroll in the FSU Business College select classes from three majors at the baccalaureate level: Accounting, Business Administration, and Economics. Business Administration continues to be the university's most popular major.
Campus-wide Recycling Puts the Learning Green, Living Green Philosophy into Action
FSU recognizes that universities must promote environmental sustainability. In 2007, Frostburg became the second institution in Maryland to join the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. This national pact addresses global warming issues through a commitment to neutralize greenhouse gas emissions on campus. In response to this pact, the university formed the Learning Green, Living Green initiative to raise awareness of campus sustainability. Efforts to encourage sustainability include campus-wide recycling, installation of solar energy panels, a wind turbine, and a fleet of state hybrid cars.
First-year students connect to FSU by joining one of several learning communities in their first semester. These communities, called FSU Connections, offer freshmen the chance to investigate a major, life skill, or theme through connections with the general education program. FSU offers a learning community for virtually every major plus special-interest communities. The learning community experience includes a maximum of eight hours during the first semester.
Another unique learning opportunity at Frostburg is the Study Abroad program organized by the Center for International Education. Students, mainly in their sophomore or junior years, can choose from hundreds of overseas programs on six of the seven continents. Studying or working abroad allows students to embrace other cultures, meet people from all over the word, and learn about global education systems. Most credits earned during Study Abroad programs can transfer back to Frostburg.
