WADE COLLEGE
Dallas, Texas
The College and Its Mission
Wade College is a small private college offering an associate degree program in merchandising and design. The College is a teaching institution that emphasizes professional study and the liberal arts.
Wade College exists and operates to provide its students with the skills and knowledge that are needed to be productive members of society. It further seeks to provide them with an enriching cultural, moral, economic, and social experience. The College is committed to serving the changing requirements of the merchandising, fashion design, computer graphic design, and interior design fields.
The purpose of Wade College is to offer programs of instruction that are designed to allow students to develop the competencies necessary for immediate employment and career advancement in their chosen fields; continue and complete a formal education in upper-level and graduate colleges and universities, if so desired; develop intellectual, humanitarian, and leadership skills that will advance their potential for success; and engage in continual self-improvement.
Wade College emphasizes individual student attention. To facilitate this, class sizes are usually small.
Academic Programs
The educational program emphasizes the importance of both general education and specialized study. The values of the former are deemed important to the development of responsible citizens in a free society; the experience of the latter is regarded as indispensable to students preparing for active careers. General education is versatile and helps students to better adapt to change so that they may advance in their careers. Specialized study helps them develop the professional skills that are required in their career fields.
Through the integration of diverse disciplines in art, design, business, computers, and the liberal arts, the Associate of Arts degree program reaches beyond specialized professional skills to a broader spectrum of knowledge. The curriculum promotes a well-rounded perspective of the world in general and the field of merchandising and design in particular.
For more than forty years, Wade College has specialized in academic programs leading to careers in the fields of merchandising and design. The Associate of Arts degree is a balanced program with dual majors in merchandising and design. Concentrations are offered in fashion design, interior design, computer graphic design, merchandise marketing, fashion merchandising, and interior merchandising. A minimum of 63 semester credit hours is required for degree completion. The associate degree is normally completed in four consecutive trimesters of full-time study. Each trimester is fifteen weeks in length and is equivalent to a traditional semester. Full-time students are expected to graduate sixteen months after entering the program. Individual degree plans can be developed for students with special needs.
Costs
In 200506, tuition for the academic year is $8850. Optional student housing is $3360 per academic year. There are additional fees and deposits. Textbooks, supplies, and course fees are estimated at $1480 per academic year. All tuition and fee costs are subject to change. Wade College has a guaranteed tuition rate for the four trimesters of the student's program.
Financial Aid
Wade College offers financial aid counseling and assistance in applying for a variety of federal financial aid programs. The U.S. Department of Education offers several financial aid programs to help students meet educational expenses. Students at Wade College are eligible to apply for financial assistance under the following federal student aid programs: the Federal Pell Grant Program, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Federal Work-Study Program, Federal Perkins Loan, William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program, and the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program.
The College is committed to helping every student plan for educational expenses. An individual Student Financial Plan is prepared for each registered student prior to the start of classes. Various payment options are also available.
Faculty
Each educational area is headed by a full-time faculty member with an advanced degree in his or her field. There are five full-time instructors. Numerous part-time adjunct instructors are also available. Usually, these are individuals who have advanced degrees and are also practicing professionals in their fields. Approximately 85 percent of the faculty members have advanced degrees.
Student Body Profile
The student body is 90 percent female and 10 percent male. The majority of students are from Texas, but students also come from Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and from almost every other part of the U.S. and several other countries. The average age is 20.5 years old. Most students are between the ages of 18 and 24, but there are many students over 30. The ethnic composition of the student body is similar to that of the North Texas area. Approximately 45 percent are white, 35 percent are African American, 15 percent are Hispanic, and 5 percent are Asian.
Student Activities
Numerous campus organizations and activities are available for student participation. The College has a chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for two-year colleges. Many students participate in the seasonal fashion apparel and furniture wholesale markets held on campus at the Dallas Market Center. They are assisted through the College's Career Planning and Placement Office.
Comprehensive student services are offered in the areas of housing, financial aid, part-time employment, counseling, and graduate placement. Student needs are given a high priority. Career planning and placement for students of Wade College is offered through the offices of the Executive Director and the Director of Student Services. Career development and professional job search assistance is provided to students and alumni though individual career counseling and exploration of various career opportunities. The office also provides instruction in writing resumes and cover letters, portfolio presentations and self-promotion, interviewing skills, and networking techniques to prepare students for the job market.
Facilities and Resources
Wade College is located at the Dallas Market Center, the world's largest merchandising and design wholesale complex. The Market Center features almost 5,000 showrooms for the wholesale display of merchandise. Students have the opportunity to learn right in the heart of the industry, where the education and business worlds come together. The Dallas area is one of the largest business markets for furnishings, apparel, merchandising, and computer technology in the United States.
The student residence apartments are located in the dynamic environment of North Dallas, 12 miles from downtown.
Wade College Library is located on the campus of Wade College. The library provides access to a specialty collection of materials reflecting the College's curriculum. The library's collection contains more than 7,000 bound volumes, 150 periodical subscriptions, and 400 audiovisual and computer items. The library is a member of AMIGOS, a regional network for resource sharing and technology. The library is also a member of OCLC, providing online search capabilities.
Location
Dallas, Texas is an international business, technology, and retail center. Dallas is known for its shopping, restaurants, and entertainment. Dallas is also home to the Cowboys, the Mavericks, the Rangers, and the Starsmajor professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL, respectively. The city and surrounding areas have a population of well over 2 million. The area is served by public transportation, including bus and light rail. Situated on a major interstate highway, the campus is easily accessible by car. Fort Worth, another major urban center, is within easy driving distance. The climate of Dallas is relatively mild in winter, warm in spring and fall, and hot in the summer.
Admission Requirements
Wade College adheres to a policy of open admissions for high school graduates or those students who have passed the GED test. This policy precludes admitting students on the basis of qualitative selection procedures. The philosophy of admission is that an educationally motivated individual is entitled to an opportunity for improved professional and personal success. The College provides a supportive educational environment so that individuals with a sincere interest have the opportunity to meet the educational rigors placed on them and successfully progress through course requirements.
Prospective students may apply for admission as early as one year in advance of the desired class starting date. Since annual enrollment is limited by facility space available in the Dallas Market Center, interested students are encouraged to submit their applications as early as possible. Wade College does not have an application fee. All applicants are required to interview with a representative from the Admissions Office prior to the start of classes. It is highly recommended that this interview take place at the College; however, in circumstances where the applicant's home is a great distance from the College, the interview may be conducted on the telephone or via the Internet.
Applicants are expected to register within 30 days of their acceptance by paying a nonrefundable $Q125 enrollment fee. Accepted applicants must submit verification of high school graduation or successful completion of the GED program prior to entry.
Application and Information
For more information, prospective students should contact:
