AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE
Springfield, Massachusetts
The College
American International College opened in 1885. Today, the College has a wide geographic representation, and the 1,200 students come from twenty-eight states and forty-eight countries; the ratio of men to women is even. The majority are graduates of public high schools. About 48 percent are commuting students; all others live in the five residence halls. Students participate in a wide variety of activities that reflect their interests, ranging from volunteer work in the surrounding community to singing in the Chorale to sports. Varsity athletics include men's baseball, basketball, football, golf, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and wrestling and women's basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball. There are forty separate student clubs and organizations.
Location
American International College is located in Springfield, Massachusetts, a city of 165,000 people, which is the seat of Hampden County and the metropolitan center for half a million people. Springfield is also the transportation center of western New England, easily reached by automobile on Interstate 91 and the Massachusetts Turnpike, by rail via major north-south and east-west lines, and by plane via Bradley International Airport. There are many cultural offerings in the area, including the Springfield Symphony, Civic Center, and City Stage Theatre Company.
Majors and Degrees
The Bachelor of Arts degree is offered in the School of Arts and Sciences. Students may select majors in the areas of biology, chemistry, communications, economics, English, history, interdepartmental science, liberal studies, mathematics, philosophy, political science, sociology, and Spanish. Preprofessional programs in dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, physical therapy, podiatry, and veterinary science are also available. Minors are available in these disciplines as well as in the fields of athletic coaching, journalism, and physics.
The School of Business Administration awards the degree of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Majors include accounting, advertising and public relations, economics, entrepreneurship, finance, general business, hospitality management, human resource management, information technology, international business, management, marketing, and sports management.
The School of Psychology and Education offers the Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in psychology. The Bachelor of Science degree is offered in criminal justice, early childhood education, elementary education, human services, secondary education, and special education. Due to changing teacher certification requirements, students seeking certification must also complete the requirements of a second major from the School of Arts and Sciences.
The School of Health Sciences offers majors in nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
The nursing program awards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree through a four-year undergraduate program as well as through an upper-division program for registered nurses. The Division of Nursing is accredited by the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.
The occupational therapy program offers an accredited program leading to a combined Bachelor of Science in occupational science/Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (B.S./M.S.O.T.) degree.
The physical therapy program offers an accredited 6-year program leading to a doctoral degree in physical therapy.
Academic Programs
General requirements are virtually the same for all majors. One year of Freshman Composition is required, as well as four semesters of physical education. Other general education requirements include 12 semester hours in the social sciences, 3 in literature, 6 in humanities, 8 in a laboratory science, 3 in a quantitative course, and one computer-oriented course. To graduate, students are required to complete a minimum total of 120 hours of academic credit with a C average or better.
A special four-year program, the Supportive Service Program, assists students with learning disabilities to function in a regular college curriculum.
Off-Campus Programs
Opportunities for international study are available. Individually designed courses of study can be arranged at international universities for a summer, a single semester, or a full year of residence. It is possible to transfer up to one full year of credit for such study.
Qualified students are allowed to participate in off-campus internships under the supervision and guidance of experienced personnel. The type of work and the amount of supervision a student receives are left to the discretion of the faculty member to whom the student is assigned. This program is designed to provide all students with an opportunity to gain practical experience in their field of study and is required of the students in many of the business disciplines and in communications, criminal justice, education, human services, nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.
Academic Facilities
James J. Shea Sr. Memorial Library (1980) houses 125,000 volumes, 519 current periodicals, 14,800 bound periodicals, 12,759 units of microfilm, and 3,423 sound recordings and tapes. An area for group study, a media center, and individual study carrels are provided for students.
Amaron Hall is the primary facility for liberal arts and business classrooms. It also houses microcomputer laboratories and the computer center. Old Science and the newer Breck Hall of Science buildings provide up-to-date classrooms and laboratories for science, mathematics, preprofessional studies, and nursing. The Curtis Blake Child Development Center serves as a diagnostic center for children with learning difficulties and offers graduate-level courses in special education. The center also provides services for specially selected college-age students with learning disabilities.
Health Science Center is the academic center for the physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing programs. The 30,000-square-foot facility includes an amphitheater, several laboratories, classrooms, and faculty and administrative offices.
Costs
The comprehensive 200506 fee for tuition, room, board, and miscellaneous expenses is approximately $28,800. Books and supplies are approximately $500. Personal expenses average $1000 per year.
Financial Aid
American International College provides aid from institutional and external sources to assist 85 percent of the student body. The average financial aid package for the 200405 school year was $17,820. Scholarships and loans are available to those who demonstrate financial need and maintain an acceptable record of academic work and campus citizenship. Campus employment is available, and about 55 percent of the students earn a portion of their expenses. The College participates in the Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Pell Grant, and Federal Work-Study programs. Academic scholarships are available for eligible freshmen, and additional College grants are awarded on a need basis. Applications for scholarships and loans should be made to the Office of Financial Aid by April15 for the following academic year, but they are accepted as long as funds are available. Only the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required. Students are urged to file the FAFSA online. Further information about financial aid should be obtained from the Financial Aid Office directly. Students should contact the Admission Office for information about merit-based scholarships.
Faculty
The emphasis of the faculty is on teaching. The full-time faculty members number 86, of whom nearly 70 percent have earned doctorates. All teach freshman courses, and all faculty members, including department chairmen, serve as advisers to undergraduate students. The faculty-student ratio is 1:12.
Student Government
All students are members of the Student Government Association, and the elected officers play an important role in the administration of the College. Serious disciplinary problems are adjudicated by the various levels of the Student Judicial System, as well as by the Vice President of Academic Affairs and the Dean of Students. In addition, students are largely responsible for planning the various social activities at the College with the Director of Student Activties.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission must be graduates of an approved secondary school and must have successfully completed 16 units of study or show evidence of equivalent education. Among subjects that should be a part of a student's secondary program are English (4 units) and a selection from mathematics, science, social studies, and foreign languages. Applicants should take the SAT or ACT. Class rank, recommendations, quality of classes taken, and extra-curricular involvement are also factors considered in making admission decisions. American International College has no geographic or other quotas. Transfer applications are encouraged.
An interview at the College is recommended but not required of applicants to most of the programs; however, an on-campus interview is required of applicants to the Supportive Service Program. Guides offer campus tours to all guests; class attendance or an overnight stay may be arranged through the Admissions Office. Admission staff members also visit schools throughout the Northeast each year, and candidates who are unable to visit the campus are urged to meet with staff members or talk with alumni in their home area.
Application and Information
A completed application includes the candidate's high school transcript, SAT or ACT scores, and at least one letter of recommendation. Everything should be sent to the address given; a catalog or other information booklets may be requested from the same office. Decision letters are sent on a rolling basis.
The Dean of Admissions is glad to advise prospective students who wish to write or telephone for additional information.
Ice Hockey
