JOHNSON STATE COLLEGE
Johnson, Vermont
The College
Founded in 1828, Johnson State College served as a school for the training of teachers until the 1960s, when it expanded into the liberal arts and the sciences. The current enrollment is more than 1,758 men and women. Sixty percent of the College's students are Vermonters; 40 percent are out-of-state and come from more than from twenty-three states and ten other countries. The campus has modern facilities, including a state-of-the-art Library and Learning Center, Dewey Campus Center, the beautiful Dibden Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, a visual arts building, an excellent science facility, a health/athletics complex, an on-campus snowboard park, and newly renovated residence halls. The College is surrounded by 350 acres of meadowland and forest. Located on a hill overlooking the village of Johnson, the campus commands a breathtaking view of the Green Mountains. The College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is approved by the Vermont State Board of Higher Education.
At the graduate level, the College offers the Master of Arts in Education degree with specializations in elementary licensure, middle school licensure, secondary licensure, special education, and curriculum instruction. The curriculum instruction track allows students to choose from several strands: early childhood, literacy, and content specialist, as well as individually designed strands that can be negotiated by the student with a faculty adviser; the Master of Arts in counseling; and the Master of Fine arts in studio arts, in conjunction with the Vermont Studio Center.
More than thirty clubs and organizations provide a variety of student activities. These include Basement Medicine (the student newspaper), the Gihon River Review (the literary magazine), the Dance Ensemble, the Theater Club, the radio station (WJSC-FM), the College Concert Band, and the Outing, Earth Awareness, Snowboarding, and International Clubs. Varsity athletic competition is available for women in basketball, cross-country running, soccer, softball, and tennis and for men in basketball, cross-country running, lacrosse, soccer, and tennis. Many intramural and club sports, including indoor soccer, baseball, golf, hockey, lacrosse, rugby, swimming, and volleyball, are also available. Johnson State College's health education/sports complex includes two weight-lifting areas, a basketball court, a gymnasium, racquetball courts, a swimming pool, a training room, and a human performance lab. Also on campus are outdoor tennis courts, cross-country running and ski trails, a snowboard park, and large playing fields. The gymnasium and outdoor athletic facilities also provide recreational outlets for many individuals in the campus community. Stearns Hall houses a post office, the Summit Book Store, and a spacious dining room. The College has a Counseling and Health Center. The Dewey Campus Center houses the Dewey Commons Snackbar, the Advising Center, and a Career Resource Center.
Location
The College is just 20 minutes from Stowe, the ski capital of the East; 45 minutes from Burlington, Vermont's largest city; and 90 minutes from Montreal, Canada. Other attractions near the College are Smugglers' Notch ski area, Jay Peak ski area, Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream Factory, and Lake Champlain. The College can be reached by rail (Amtrak) or air (Burlington International Airport).
Majors and Degrees
Johnson State College offers major academic programs leading to the Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree in anthropology/sociology, art, athletic training, biology: field naturalist, business management, drama and theater, English, environmental sciences, health sciences, history, hospitality and tourism management, integrated environmental science, journalism, liberal arts, mathematics, music, outdoor education, political science, psychology, and wellness and alternative medicine. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is offered in creative writing and studio arts.
The Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree leading to state teacher certification is offered in art education (K12), dance secondary education, elementary education, life sciences (biology) secondary education, mathematics secondary education, music education (K12), physical education (K12), physical sciences (chemistry, and social studies.
Associate of Arts or Associate of Science degrees are offered in general studies, management, and technical theater.
Certificate programs leading to business certification in nonprofit management and small business are offered in accounting, French for business majors, nonprofit management, and small-business management.
Minors are available in adventure education, anthropology/sociology, arts management, biology, business, chemistry, dance, drama, environmental education, French, gender studies, history, journalism, literature, mathematics, music, natural resources, political science, prelaw, psychology, Spanish, studio arts, and theater.
Academic Programs
The Johnson State curriculum provides students with a general liberal arts background and the opportunity for career preparation in a specific area. All students in four-year programs are required to complete at least 120 credit hours in the selected program of study. Those studying for the associate degree must complete at least 60 semester hours of credit in the selected program of study. Students may transfer internally from two-year to four-year programs.
Transfer credit is awarded for college courses in which a grade of C or above was earned. Accepted transfer students receive a credit evaluation.
The academic year consists of fall and spring semesters of fifteen weeks each and a six-week summer session. The College offers courses in the evening and on weekends through the External Degree Program.
Off-Campus Programs
Johnson State College provides internship opportunities in all degree programs, including student teaching for education majors.
The College offers study abroad opportunities through the National Student Exchange and the New EnglandQuebec Student Exchange. Other student-abroad opportunities are available.
Academic Facilities
The 350-acre, hilltop campus houses modern, well-equipped buildings. College facilities include an art gallery, art studios, dance studios, the Visual Arts Center, three computer centers, a library, a student center, the Child Development Center, and the Dibden Center for the Fine and Performing Arts, which contains a theater. The Library and Learning Center contains more than 106,000 volumes, an audiovisual department, microfilm and microfiche units, government documents, periodicals, journals, records, the Vermont Room, the Art Room, the Ellsworth International Room, and the Children's Library. The Babcock Nature Preserve, a 1,000-acre tract of forests and ponds, serves as an outdoor laboratory for scientific and educational research.
Costs
Estimated tuition and fees for the academic year 200506 for Vermont residents are $5980 and for nonresidents, $12,920. Room and board expenses are $6620.
Financial Aid
Seventy-six percent of Johnson's students receive financial assistance from federal, state, College, or other sources. Grants, loans, and work-study jobs are available for qualified students. Applicants for financial aid should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March1 of the year preceding anticipated enrollment. All financial aid awards are based on need. The College offers renewable academic scholarships for both freshmen and transfers. Special scholarships are also available.
Faculty
The full-time faculty at Johnson consists of 54 men and women, 91 percent of whom hold a Ph.D. or equivalent degree. Adjunct faculty members, many of whom are local professionals, complement the full-time faculty. The student-faculty ratio is 17:1. Each student has a faculty member serving as an academic adviser.
Student Government
The Johnson State College Student Association is a vital and active organization that has a strong voice in College affairs. Student representatives are elected to the Student Assembly, which helps plan curriculum and program developments. The association coordinates student social and cultural activities, including dances and numerous clubs.
Admission Requirements
Admission to Johnson State College is granted to applicants who have demonstrated the potential to succeed at the college level. They are evaluated on the basis of their high school transcripts, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores (SAT I or ACT), and class rank. The College emphasizes course selection, grades, and participation in extracurricular activities in reviewing applications.
All candidates should successfully complete a college-preparatory program that includes 4 years of high school English, 2 years of mathematics, 3 years of social science, and 2 years of science (one course with a laboratory). Applicants who do not qualify for regular admission may receive acceptance to the Transition Year Experience. A campus visit and an interview are strongly recommended.
Application and Information
The College has a rolling admission policy and processes applications throughout the year. However, high school students seeking fall enrollment are encouraged to apply early in their senior year. The College admits first-year and transfer students regardless of their state of residence. Notification dates are also rolling. Students may enter at the beginning of the fall or spring semester.
The student's application file is complete when the following items have been received: a completed application form, a $34 nonrefundable application fee, a transcript from the high school and any colleges previously attended, a writing sample, standardized test scores, and a reference from a teacher, a college adviser, or an employer. An enrollment deposit of $200 and a $100 housing deposit are required by May1 or within two weeks of notification of acceptance if the applicant applies after May1.
For application forms and further information, students should contact:
