UNIVERSITY OF WYOMING
LARAMIE, WYOMING
The University
The University of Wyoming (UW), a public land-grant institution founded in 1886, is a reflection of the global community it serves. The extensive range of academic programs offered at UW inspires the development of "new thinking" and promotes fulfilling careers in the rapidly evolving world.
As a Carnegie Research UniversityExtensive, UW's research goals are continually being pushed to the boundaries and beyond by its professors and students. It is this academic ambition that has allowed UW to provide high-quality undergraduate and graduate education, research, and service since 1886.
Wyoming, unique among the fifty states, has only one university. UW enjoys tremendous support from within its state as well as from an alumni network that spans the globe. More than 13,130 students from all parts of the U.S. and sixty-four other countries attend UW classes in Laramie and at outreach sites around the state. The variety of students at UW enriches the educational experience for all by fostering a multicultural environment that encourages sharing and learning about those with different heritages and cultural backgrounds. It is this dialogue that continues to promote respect and appreciation for diversity.
UW offers bachelor's degree programs in six undergraduate colleges: the Colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Engineering, and Health Sciences. Undergraduate education is a high priority at UW. More than 88 percent of the undergraduate courses are taught by professors, and the average class size is 29 students. UW also offers eighty-five graduate and professional programs, including the Doctor of Pharmacy, the Juris Doctor, and the new master's program in e-business.
There are more than 180 recognized campus clubs and organizations, including thirteen national fraternities and sororities, honor and professional societies, political and religious organizations, and special-interest groups. Students have the opportunity to participate in more than sixty different intramural and club sports. UW is a Division I member of the NCAA and competes in the Mountain West Conference in seventeen men's and women's sports. Campus recreational facilities include the Wyoming Union, which recently underwent a $10-million renovation and includes the UW bookstore, eating establishments, student computers, study areas, and a variety of services and resources for students. Additional facilities on campus include Half Acre Gym, an indoor climbing wall, an 18-hole golf course, tennis and racquetball courts, weight rooms, two swimming pools, rifle and archery ranges, indoor and outdoor tracks, softball and baseball fields, and a hockey rink.
UW houses 2,400 students in six residence halls, and freshmen are required to live on campus during their first year. While primarily coed, the residence halls offer a number of unique living environments, including quiet/study floors, special-interest floors, honors floors, single-sex floors, and other academic living environments. UW also offers fourteen different Freshman Interest Groups (FIGS), which are learning communities that offer common living areas and clustered classes to students with similar academic areas of interest.
Location
UW's 785-acre campus is located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Laramie, a scenic town of 30,000 people in southeastern Wyoming. Many UW students enjoy the easy access to Alpine and Nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, hiking, backpacking, camping, hunting, fishing, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Laramiewith its blue skies, clean air, and 320 days of sunshine a yearis a friendly and supportive university town, conveniently located 45 miles west of Wyoming's capital, Cheyenne, and only 130 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado.
Majors and Degrees
UW offers seventy-seven undergraduate programs within its six colleges, leading to B.A., B.S., B.F.A., and B.S.N. degrees.
The College of Agriculture offers majors in agricultural business (with options in agribusiness management, farm and ranch management, and international agriculture), agricultural communications, agroecology, animal and veterinary sciences (with options in animal biology, business, communication, meat science and food technology, preveterinary science, production, and range livestock), family and consumer science (with options in child development, dietetics, family services, human nutrition and food, and textiles and merchandising), microbiology, molecular biology, and rangeland ecology and watershed management.
The College of Arts and Sciences offers majors in American studies, anthropology, art, astronomy/astrophysics, biology, botany, chemistry, communication, criminal justice, English, French, geography and recreation, geology (with options in earth science and environment/natural resources), German, history, humanities/fine arts, international studies, journalism, management, mathematical sciences, mathematics, music (with options in education, performance, and theory and composition), philosophy, physics, political science, psychology, recreation and park administration, Russian, social science, sociology, Spanish, statistics, theater and dance, wildlife/fisheries, women's studies, and zoology and physiology as well as the option of a self-designed major.
The College of Business offers majors in accounting, business administration, business economics, economics, finance, management, and marketing.
The College of Education offers majors in elementary and special education, elementary education, industrial technology education, secondary education (with options in agriculture, art, biology, business, chemistry, earth/space science, English, family and consumer sciences, French, German, industrial technology, mathematics, physics, Russian, social studies, and Spanish), special education, trades and industrial education, and vocational homemaking.
The College of Engineering offers majors in architectural engineering, chemical engineering (with environmental and petroleum options), civil engineering, computer engineering, computer science, electrical engineering (with bioengineering and computer engineering options), management information systems (with accounting, business, and computer science options), and mechanical engineering.
The College of Health Sciences offers majors in dental hygiene, exercise and sports science, health education, health sciences, nursing, pharmacy, physical education teaching, social work, and speech-language and hearing sciences.
UW offers preprofessional programs in dentistry, forestry, law, medicine, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, and veterinary medicine. The School of Environment and Natural Resources also offers interdisciplinary studies that can be combined with course work in seven other fields of study, including the humanities, physical sciences, and social sciences.
Academic Program
The UW academic calendar consists of two semesters and a complete summer session. Depending on their degree program, students are required to complete 120 to 164 credit hours for graduation. Undergraduate programs for most majors can be completed in four years. Students may choose to double major within the same college, or they may pursue majors in two separate colleges for a cross-college major. Minors are also available in many areas. All students are required to complete the University Studies Program, which is a core curriculum that assists students in developing their skills and/or knowledge in oral and written communication, mathematics, science, diversity, global awareness, government, and culture. The University Honors Program provides academically ambitious undergraduates innovative and intellectual learning opportunities. Award-winning faculty members, unique and challenging course work, and senior research projects are the hallmarks of this program.
Off-Campus Programs
UW has approximately 350 international students and close to 100 international researchers/scholars during any given academic year. This diverse community represents some sixty-five countries. International Students Services provides support to this population through an extensive orientation program, the Friendship Families program, the International Neighbors program, and the International Resource Center.
International Student Services coordinates the National Student Exchange (NSE), which is a domestic student exchange consortium of more than 180 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. In addition, NSE host sites are available in Canada, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam. Membership in the NSE provides UW students with access to thousands of unique academic programs, classes, and faculty members on host campuses for either a semester or an academic year.
The UW Outreach School extends the university learning experience to Wyoming and the nation through credit and noncredit programs, University of Wyoming Television, Wyoming Public Radio, and the UW/Casper College Center. Credit programs are delivered via Internet/Web-based instruction, compressed video, audio teleconferencing, flexible enrollment (correspondence study), and on-site instruction. Select programs are offered, and degree availability may be limited.
Academic Facilities
The University libraries' collections number nearly 1.3 million volumes and offer links to a variety of library service collections. The William Robertson Coe Library houses materials in the social sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, business, education, and health sciences as well as more than 2 million federal publications and the Audio Visual Library, a collection of 4,000 video and film titles. Other libraries include the Science Library, the Brinkerhoff Earth Resources Information Center (geology library), and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium Research Collection. Additional collections are housed in the American Heritage Center and the George W. Hooper Law Library. A branch library is located at the National Park Service Research Center in Jackson, Wyoming. UW libraries participate in the Colorado Alliance of Research Libraries and in Region Four of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine. In addition, FERRET provides high-speed access to UW's online library catalogs.
Costs
UW tuition and fees for full-time undergraduates in the 200405 academic year were $3243 for Wyoming residents and $9273 for nonresidents. Room and board (double occupancy, unlimited meal plan) were $5943. Estimated expenses include $1000 for books and $2000 for personal expenses.
Financial Aid
Nearly 80 percent of all UW students receive financial assistance. More than $48 million is available in the form of scholarships, loans, grants, and work-study opportunities. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is required for need-based assistance (loans, grants, work-study) and for many scholarships. Most scholarships at UW are based on academic merit. UW participates in the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) program and offers the Nebraska Good Neighbor Scholarship. UW also offers the Western Heritage Scholarship Package to qualified students from non-WUE states. The priority deadline for financial aid is March1.
Faculty
More than 650 professors from the world's most respected colleges and universities have come to teach at UW. Recognized nationally and internationally as experts, 87 percent of the professors hold the highest degrees in their fields. UW professors are deeply committed to the success of their students. Only a small number of undergraduate courses are taught by graduate assistants, and many of the most distinguished and accomplished professors at UW teach first-year courses. UW maintains a low student-faculty ratio (16:1), which allows for individualized attention, instruction, and academic advising, as well as the inclusion of undergraduates in cutting-edge research projects.
Student Government
The Associated Students of the University of Wyoming (ASUW) comprises all students at UW. ASUW serves as the voice of the students, and its legislation has impact on many aspects of student life. The ASUW Senate acts as a liaison between the student body and the administration as well as the UW Board of Trustees and local and state governments. The student body president also sits as an ex officio member of the UW Board of Trustees. UW encourages all students to get involved and actively participate in ASUW.
Admission Requirements
To be admitted, high school graduates and new first-year students with fewer than 30 transferable college credit hours should have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or above (Wyoming residents) or 3.0 or above (nonresidents) and a composite ACT score of 20 or above or an SAT composite score of 960 or above and completed 13 high school units that include 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics, 3 units of science (including a physical science), and 3 units of cultural context courses (behavioral or social sciences, visual or performing arts, humanities or foreign languages). Admission with conditions canZ be granted to students who do not meet these standards but have a minimum 2.5 GPA or a 2.25 GPA with a composite ACT score of at least 20 or an SAT score of at least 960. Transfer students with 30 or more transferable semester credit hours must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0.
Application and Information
Students must submit a completed UW Application for Admission, official high school or college transcripts, ACT or SAT scores, and a $30 nonrefundable application fee. Students may apply and pay the application fee online at the Web address below. UW strongly encourages all prospective students and their parents to visit the campus.
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