PERU STATE COLLEGE
Peru, Nebraska
The College
Peru State College offers a high-quality education at a minimum personal cost to the student. Students receive substantial personal attention with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio and thrive in a supportive learning environment designed for students with diverse abilities.
Peru State College was founded in 1867 as Nebraska's first college. It operates as a public state-assisted institution that offers Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Technology degrees in the principal areas of teacher education, business, humanities, and science and technology as well as numerous preprofessional programs and a Master of Science in Education. The College is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education.
Nearly 600 of Peru State's full-time students live in the eight residence halls on campus. Residence life options include single-sex halls as well as coed buildings and married student housing.
Students enjoy high-quality campus facilities, and an active social life is available on campus. The College offers more than thirty social and academic clubs, a fine arts theater, Benford Recital Hall, the Student Center, and an activities center/natatorium. Many students participate in the fifteen intramural sports offered. The Peru State Bobcats field NAIA Division II teams in women's basketball, cross-country, golf, softball, and volleyball and in men's baseball, basketball, football, and volleyball. The football program competes in the Central States Football League. All other sports teams are members of the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference.
Location
Peru State College, a prominent feature of the historic town of Peru, Nebraska, overlooks the Missouri River Valley. The Campus of a Thousand Oaks offers students the rural beauty of southeastern Nebraska only 65 miles from the state's two largest cities, Omaha and Lincoln. International airlines, passenger trains, bus service, and major highways provide convenient transportation for travelers to the area.
Peru State students enjoy four distinct seasons, from the red-gold blaze of autumn to lush green fields in spring. Many students enjoy hiking, mountain biking, camping, hunting, and fishing at nearby Indian Cave State Park.
Movie theaters and a variety of fast-food restaurants in nearby Auburn and Nebraska City provide students with additional entertainment opportunities.
Majors and Degrees
Peru State College awards the Bachelor of Arts and/or Bachelor of Science degrees in art; business, with options in accounting, computer information systems, management, and marketing; education, with endorsements in art, biology, business, chemistry, English, graphic design, history, language arts, liberal arts, mathematics, physical science, psychology, and special education; elementary education, with endorsements in early childhood education, middle school education, preschool handicapped, and special education; physical education, with an option in sports management and teaching endorsements in athletic coaching, physical education (K6), and physical education (712); English; mathematics; music, with options in music performance and music marketing and teaching endorsements in elementary vocal music education (K6) and vocal/instrumental music education (712); natural science, with options in biological science, natural science, nuclear technology, physical science, and wildlife ecology; psychology/criminal justice; and social science, with an option in history. The College also offers Bachelor of Technology degree in management.
Minors are available in biology, chemistry, mathematics, and music.
Academic Programs
Peru State College provides a strong liberal arts education designed to produce graduates who are literate critical thinkers with the social and technological skills needed to apply their knowledge effectively as they pursue their social and civic roles in a complex and changing world.
The academic year at Peru State College is divided into two 15-week semesters (fall and spring) with two optional 5-week summer sessions. Students who are seeking a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree must earn a minimum of 125 semester credit hours, at least 40 of which are upper-division 300- and 400-level courses. All bachelor's degree candidates must complete the general studies program, which is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in the liberal arts; a major (or for teacher education candidates, one field endorsement or two subject endorsements); and elective courses that support their educational objectives.
A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 is required for all teacher education degrees. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for all other degrees and for all courses used to fulfill requirements in an academic major. In addition, no grade lower than a D+ (or C for transfer credits) may be used to fulfill requirements in an academic major. A maximum of 66 semester credit hours may be transferred from a two-year institution toward requirements for a bachelor's degree program. A minimum of 30 semester credit hours must be earned from Peru State College; 24 of the last 30 semester credit hours must be earned in residence unless earned from another Nebraska state college or from a college with an official cooperative agreement with Peru State College.
An Honors program is offered to challenge academically gifted students. Honors courses are designed to stimulate critical thinking through an interactive seminar structure.
Students who are seeking a Bachelor of Technology degree from Peru State College must first complete a technical associate degree or its equivalent from a regionally accredited institution. The Bachelor of Technology program requires a minimum of 125 semester credit hours, at least 20 of which are at the 300 level or higher. A minimum of 59 semester credit hours must be earned at an accredited institution of higher education, and 30 semester credit hours must be earned through Peru State College. A maximum of 66 semester credit hours may be transferred into the program from the technical associate degree program. A minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 is required for all courses earned at Peru State College.
Students may earn credit toward degree programs through several standardized examination programs, including the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), the Proficiency Examination Program (PEP), and Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education Support (DANTES). Credits earned through examination are considered transfer credits.
Off-Campus Programs
Career Services offers students individualized career planning assistance. A resource library, Cooperative Education Internship information, computer technology and equipment, employment directories and search magazines, and major newspapers are available to students. Open and closed credential files are maintained for students and alumni. Individual assistance is provided in such areas as career counseling, designing an internship experience, job-search correspondence, interviewing, and negotiating job offers. The staff assists students in developing resumes, cover letters, and job search skills, and provides help in using electronic job search information.
Cooperative Education Internships are encouraged for students in every academic area. Students earn credit hours and gain applied work experience through field internships with outside organizations. The Cooperative Education Internship Program provides students with the opportunity to explore their chosen field of work and to gain valuable work experience while earning academic credit in their major or area of career interest. The maximum number of hours allowed for graduation is 12.
Academic Facilities
The Peru State College Library offers students access to several online databases and research utilities in addition to 105,615 bound volumes, 46,554 titles on microfilm, 7,070 audiovisual materials, and more than 1,500 print and full-text, online periodical subscriptions. Students have free access to the Internet from computer labs throughout the campus, including labs in each residence hall.
The Benford Recital Hall and the Art Gallery provide outlets for vocal, instrumental, and fine art presentations. Wheeler Activity Center houses an indoor running track as well as tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts; a weight room; and an Olympic-size swimming pool.
Costs
Tuition, fees, room, and board for a Nebraska resident for the 200405 school year totaled approximately $8800 (based on 30 semester credit hours, a semiprivate room, and a fifteen-meal plan). Additional expenses for books, supplies, and travel were estimated at $1100. Residents from adjacent states may benefit from reduced tuition if they qualify for the Student Opportunity Scholarship Program or the Midwest Student Exchange Program. Nonresident annual costs are $11,400.
Financial Aid
Currently, more than 85 percent of Peru State's full-time students are receiving financial aid. The College tries to meet the financial needs of all qualified students through a combination of federal, state, and institutional funds. In addition, merit-based scholarships are awarded for academic achievement, leadership, and demonstrated ability in the areas of art, drama, instrumental music, vocal music, and athletics. Nonresident scholarships are also available to qualified candidates.
All students should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to be considered for the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Work-Study, Federal Supplemental xEducational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, and Federal Family Education Loan programs.
Faculty
Peru State's student-faculty ratio of 16:1 ensures students personal interaction and an individualized education from 50 full-time and 50 part-time faculty members who are committed to undergraduate teaching and academic advising. Approximately 50 percent of full-time faculty members hold the highest degree in their field.
Student Government
The 23-member Student Senate, which consists of delegates elected from each class, is actively involved in decisions regarding the College's academic calendar, programs, and civic and cultural activities. The Campus Activities Board organizes hundreds of social, cultural, and recreational activities on campus each year.
Admission Requirements
Peru State College offers open admission to the state's residents who hold a Nebraska high school diploma or GED and who have not previously attended college. Admission is also granted to qualified transfer students, non-Nebraska residents, international students, and personal enrichment students. High school students may apply for admission as early as the first semester of their senior year, and all applicants should submit materials at least one month prior to the beginning of the semester they wish to be admitted.
Articulation agreements with twelve community colleges and technical schools provide efficient transfer of credits for students who wish to apply their Associate of Art, Associate of Science, or Associate of Applied Science degrees toward a bachelor's degree program at Peru State. Transfer students may apply for admission during their last year of attendance at another college or university.
Application and Information
Freshman applicants should submit a completed application for admission; an official high school transcript that lists cumulative grade point average, class rank, and graduation date; official ACT or SAT I score reports sent from the testing organization; and a Peru State College Medical/Immunization Form.
Transfer applicants should submit a completed application for admission, official transcripts from every postsecondary institution attended or enrolled in, official high school transcript (if applicant has completed fewer than 30 transferable semester credits), and a Peru State College Medical/Immunization Form. Online applications are available online at http://www.peru.edu/admissions/application.html.
To receive application forms, a College catalog, or additional information, students should contact:
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