Lesley University

Colleges You May Like

• Boston University
• Emerson College
• Emmanuel College
• Northeastern University
• Simmons College

From the College

Lesley College prepares young men and women for careers that matter and lives that make a difference. The combination of expert faculty, stimulating classes, hands-on learning, career-focused internships, and exciting cocurricular activities transform, inspire, and prepare students to become catalysts and leaders of social change in their careers and in their communities. Whether embarking on their first professional position–95 percent of Lesley students have jobs within six months of graduation–or pursuing graduate study, students leave Lesley ready to make a difference in the world around them.

As one of four colleges that comprise Lesley University, Lesley College integrates the advantages of a small learning community with the academic and cocurricular resources of a large university. Students are able to cross-register for courses in the other schools at Lesley University, including The Art Institute of Boston. Five- and six-year Accelerated Bachelor’s/Master’s programs have been developed in conjunction with the School of Education and the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences. In addition, the Lesley Dividend offers qualified Lesley College students up to 12 free credits of graduate study in one of Lesley’s on-campus master’s degree programs.

Located steps from Harvard Square and minutes from downtown Boston, Lesley College offers the University’s more than 1,400 undergraduates small classes taught by accomplished University faculty members (not graduate students); more than fifty majors, minors, and specializations in the liberal arts and the professions (art therapy, communications, counseling, education, expressive arts therapy, human services, management, the environment, and the arts), including an honors program; and the opportunity to design their own program of study. Most importantly, Lesley students participate in field-based internships that begin freshman year, and complete between 400 and 650 hours of significant career-related experience.

The University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. The teacher certification programs have been approved by the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification (NASDTEC), which offers a reciprocity agreement in which more than forty states and other organizations have established standards for granting certification.

The Lesley campus is a mix of modern and Victorian-era buildings, located in Cambridge, right next to Harvard Law School, a quick walk from Harvard Square, and a short subway ride from Boston. The Boston/Cambridge area has everything: bookstores, cafés, theaters, concert halls, parks, festivals, professional sports teams, and students. In fact, nearly 230,000 students live in the “neighborhood “, making it America’s ultimate college town! Because of their educational, scientific, and business resources, a global political lens, and an outstanding cultural scene, both cities aptly support the many and varied internships in which our students are engaged. Additionally, the “T”, or subway system, takes people wherever they need to go including the airport and train stations, providing connections to all regions of the United States and the world.

Lesley College offers Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts degrees in the following liberal arts and professional areas: American studies, art history, art therapy, child and family studies, communication, counseling, education, English (creative writing, drama, literature), environmental science, environmental studies, European and world studies, expressive arts therapy, global studies, history, holistic psychology, an honors program, human services, management (marketing, not-for-profit, sport management), mathematics, natural science, psychology, sociology, and visual art (design, illustration, photography), as well as self-designed programs of study in such areas as arts management, foreign language, health studies, intercultural relations, leadership and social policy, and prelaw. All undergraduate students at The Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University earn Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees.

Students who are interested in teaching major in one of the following areas: early childhood education, early learning, elementary education, middle school education, secondary education, or special education. These students are also required to elect a double major in one of nine liberal arts areas. Completion of a major in education qualifies a student to be recommended for initial licensure in Massachusetts and the other states that are members of NASDTEC and have signed the Interstate Contract.

In conjunction with Lesley’s graduate programs, the following accelerated bachelor’s/master’s degree programs are offered: a B.S./M.A. in art therapy, clinical mental health counseling, counseling psychology, or expressive arts therapy, and a B.A./M.Ed. in early childhood education, elementary education, and middle school education.

All of Lesley’s academic programs are designed to integrate study in the liberal arts with professional course work and significant hands-on internship experience.

Internship experiences begin in the freshman year and are developmentally sequenced to complement classroom instruction throughout the undergraduate program. Internships are designed to show students what the workplace is like, challenge assumptions they may have about themselves and the world, and give the kind of experience that creates exceptional resumes. The internships are linked with seminar classes in which students discuss and evaluate their fieldwork, learning also from fellow students’ experiences about workplace issues and emerging trends. It is this careful integration of theory and practice that distinguishes Lesley’s curriculum from those at other colleges, providing students with a critical understanding of the real-world demands of their profession and the leadership skills necessary to succeed.

Through a comprehensive general education program, students also build a strong liberal arts foundation by taking courses in the arts, humanities, sciences, and social sciences. It is through their liberal arts coursework that students develop their ability to think critically and analytically, become creative problem solvers and strengthen their writing skills. Lesley’s goal is to build a culture of life-long learning.

Lesley University offers students the opportunity to participate in a number of Lesley-affiliated programs of off-campus study, in the United States and abroad.

Lesley students have studied in Florence, Hong Kong, Madrid, Prague, and Washington, D.C., as well as francophone Africa, China, Costa Rica, England, Ireland, and Sweden. Lesley’s own Audubon Expedition Institute offers a unique study opportunity for those committed to exploring matters of sustainability or the environment. Additionally, study/travel courses led by distinguished members of the faculty offer students the chance to discover the history, culture, spirituality, and art of various regions or gain an in-depth understanding of significant world events. Previous tours have included Bali; the British Experience; the Cuban Experience in Education and the Arts; Ecuador: Wisdom of Indigenous Peoples; Learning from the Holocaust; Morocco; People and Culture of Mexico; Tibet; Traditions and Cultures of the Southwest, and the sacred spaces of India.

The Eleanor DeWolfe Ludcke Library is a state-of-the-art multimedia information commons supporting the academic programs of the University through a collection of books, journals, and multimedia and electronic resources. Students and faculty may access the extensive collections via the Internet. Ludcke Library also houses the Kresge Center for Teaching Resources, as well as an instructional computer lab and three computer classrooms.

The Kresge Center for Teaching Resources offers one of the finest collections of juvenile literature in the Northeast, as well as teaching aids; video, audio, and film collections; and media services. Students may produce teaching materials using the center’s equipment, and professional staff members offer support in children’s literature, media materials, and production of teaching materials.

Ludcke Library is a member of the Fenway Library Consortium (FLC), a cooperative group of fifteen academic, special, and public libraries that offer reciprocal borrowing to the faculty and staff members and students of its member institutions.

Lesley’s state-of-the-art science labs are housed at University Hall. Their unique design emphasizes the integration of theory and practice.

Fees in 2009–10 for enrollment in Lesley College include tuition, $28,150; room and board, $12,400; a health services fee, $800 (estimate); and a student activity fee, $250. Costs are subject to change without prior notice. Students should call the University to confirm current expense figures.

No student should fail to consider Lesley because of financial concerns. More than 80 percent of Lesley College students receive financial aid from one or more sources. The average financial aid package for last year’s entering class, not including loans and work-study, was over $17,000.

The University participates in all federal aid programs, including the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, and Federal Work-Study programs. Lesley also offers its own grants and need-based scholarships, as well as guaranteed merit scholarships, ranging from $6000 to full tuition.

Students applying for financial aid must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and request that copies of the analyses be sent to Lesley University. Students applying for the fall term are advised to file the FAFSA by February 1.

Lesley College faculty members hold the teaching of undergraduates as their highest priority. Even more important to a student’s classroom experience, however, is the fact that many members of the faculty are trained practitioners, classroom educators, counselors, social workers, and business professionals. In fact, many continue to work in the field or as consultants and bring a wealth of real-world experience into their classroom teaching.

Of the 245 full- and part-time faculty members, more than two thirds hold a doctorate or other terminal degree. Faculty members serve as academic advisers for students, and the student-faculty ratio of 11:1 allows for a close relationship to develop between students and their professors.

The Student Government is the representative governing body of the Lesley College student population. Through its sponsorship, numerous organizations, activities, seminars, and conferences are brought to the Lesley campus.

Lesley College has designed the admission process to be reflective of the institution and its values. Lesley is an institution that values community and service to the community. Therefore, the College is interested in students who value making a difference in the lives of others and who have shown a commitment to community service. Lesley also seeks students who, through a strong college-preparatory curriculum, have gained the knowledge and skills that allow them to thrive and be successful in the academic programs. Graduates of accredited secondary schools with a total of 20 college-preparatory units of study are encouraged to apply for admission. Included in the 20 units are the following: English, 4 units; mathematics, at least 3 units (including algebra II); science, at least 3 units (including at least one lab course); and U.S. history, 1 unit. Please refer to the Lesley Web site for a full list of required admission credentials.

Students who have been fully matriculated in a degree program at another college or university may apply for admission as transfers. Transfer applicants must present a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5. The maximum number of credit hours that may be transferred is 65. Advanced standing is determined by the nature and quality of the work offered for credit.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning December 1, with a first-year early action deadline of December 1, a regular admission deadline of February 15, and a transfer application deadline of May 1 for the fall semester. All applications for the spring semester are due by December 1. A $50 application fee must accompany all freshman and transfer applications. Apply online and Lesley will waive the $50 application fee.

For further information about Lesley, students should contact: