WAGNER COLLEGE
Staten Island, New York
The College
Founded in 1883, Wagner College is a four-year, private residential college with a strong tradition in the liberal arts. Located in New York City's borough of Staten Island, the campus is situated atop Grymes Hill on the nineteenth-century estate of the Cunard family, founders of the famous shipping line. Wagner's 105-acre campus provides a setting that feels far away from the city; yet, Manhattan is just a free 25-minute ferry ride away. Recently, the College received attention for its nationally recognized curriculum, the Wagner Plan for the Practical Liberal Arts, which integrates courses across disciplines and directly connects course work to field experiences and internships. Wagner College is ranked number twenty-five in the "Top Schools" category in U.S. News & World Report's America's Best Colleges 2005 issue. Wagner College is a member of the Associated New American Colleges, Project Pericles, and Colleges of Distinction.
Wagner enrolls approximately 1810 undergraduate and 350 graduate students. About 80 percent of Wagner undergraduates live on campus in three residence halls that offer spectacular views of the New York Harbor, Manhattan, and the Atlantic Ocean. Students come from thirty-eight states and eighteen other countries. Students choose Wagner because it offers excellent academic preparation, superb access to professional and cultural opportunities, and a traditional college campus setting. Students gain access to exceptional professional opportunities within the curriculum and through the College's large and supportive alumni base in the New York City area and beyond. Wagner strongly believes that career development is an integral part of a student's educationone that begins in a student's first year at Wagner and culminates in a senior year practicum in a specific field of study.
Student life is active on the campus with more than sixty different clubs and organizations, including both national and local fraternities and sororities. Wagner offers a full array of activities and social events, many of which are planned by the student life staff. Wagner expands students' experiences beyond the campus with trips around New York City to museums, concerts, professional sporting events, Broadway shows, and many other attractions.
The College offers outstanding athletics programs, which include NCAA Division I standing in twenty-two areas, many intramurals, and an excellent coaching staff. Athletic teams offered are men's baseball, basketball, football (I-AA), golf, lacrosse, tennis, track/cross-country, and wrestling and women's basketball, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track/cross-country, volleyball, and water polo; club sports are cheerleading and men's ice hockey.
In addition to undergraduate programs, Wagner offers master's degree programs in business administration (M.B.A.), education, microbiology, nursing, and physician assistant studies.
Location
Wagner's location offers students the best of both worlds. Living on a wooded campus 35 minutes from Manhattan has distinct advantages. The 105-acre campus overlooks New York Harbor and Manhattan. Students enjoy living in the beautiful Grymes Hill section of Staten Island and the proximity to the resources of Manhattan, which are easily accessible by bus, ferry, or car. Wagner has much to offer students who want the benefits of an education in New York City but who also wish to pursue their studies in a classic suburban college setting.
Majors and Degrees
Wagner College offers the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Education. Undergraduate majors and fields of concentration are in accounting, anthropology, art, art history, arts administration, biology, biopsychology, business administration, chemistry, computer science, dance, economics, education, English, environmental studies, foreign languages (French, German, and Spanish), gender studies, history, information systems, international affairs, Italian studies, journalism, mathematics, microbiology, music, nursing, philosophy, physician assistant studies, physics, political science, psychology, public policy and administration, religious studies, sociology, and theater. A seven-year dentistry program with NYU is also offered.
Academic Programs
Wagner's undergraduate program, the Wagner Plan, is designed to provide a broad education in the liberal arts and in-depth study in a major. Wagner also believes that students learn best by reading, writing, and doing and therefore incorporates field experiences directly into the curriculum. As part of the graduation requirements, students must complete three Learning Communities (LCs)one in the first year, one in either sophomore or junior year, and one in the senior year in the major area of study. At Wagner, LCs consist of three courses that are linked by a single theme and share a common set of students. They are also directly connected to field experience based on the theme of the LC. Throughout the first semester, first-year students spend time at the designated site observing the organization, its practices, and its dynamics. Seniors are involved in a practicum connected to their major field of study.
Each candidate is required to complete 36 units for the baccalaureate degree. Students must elect a major as part of their studies and may select from more than sixty different majors, minors, and/or concentrations. Majors must be selected by the end of the sophomore year, with the exception of physician assistant studies and theater students, who must apply directly to the respective program. The academic year is divided into the fall semester (SeptemberDecember) and spring semester (JanuaryMay). Students may also enroll in one of several summer sessions.
Off-Campus Programs
Wagner College is a member of the prestigious Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) program, which is the nation's oldest and most selective study-abroad program. Interested and qualified Wagner students may choose among semester, summer, and vacation study-abroad programs in such diverse urban-based centers as Beijing, Berlin, Canberra, Dublin, LaPlata, London, Madrid, Paris, Tokyo, and Vienna. Classes are taught through a combination approach in which U.S. students take classes designed expressly for them as well as classes run by universities located within the host city, thereby integrating the U.S. students with students from that nation. Wagner College also sponsors an exchange program with California Lutheran University.
Academic Facilities
College facilities include twenty-three buildings for academic, recreational, and residential use. Wagner's recently updated science buildings house two electron microscopes and a fully functioning planetarium. Other facilities include a theater, a studio theater, an art gallery, a new sports and fitness facility, an indoor pool, and a new football stadium. All of Wagner's classrooms have been recently renovated.
Computer facilities at Wagner are abundant and accessible. The Spiro Computer Technology Center features Pentium III PCs, while Novell network servers provide numerous application software programs for word processing, spreadsheet, graphics, statistical analysis, and programming languages. In addition, Wagner provides a Mac lab for graphics applications and a UNIX lab. The three residence halls are fully wired for free Internet and e-mail access in each room, along with a new voice-mail system and free cable.
The Horrmann Library houses approximately 300,000 volumes as well as 1,000 titles in its periodical collection. The library is a member of the New York Metropolitan Reference and Research Agency, which provides access to more than 25 million volumes in the area.
Costs
Tuition for the 200405 academic year was $23,900. Room and board for the academic year were $7500.
Financial Aid
More than 70 percent of Wagner students receive some kind of financial aid. In addition to the availability of state and federal aid programs, the College itself is a source of more than $9 million in student aid each year. Counselors are available to assist in completing the Financial Aid Form.
Faculty
Because of its commitment to academic excellence, Wagner has always drawn a gifted faculty. Ninety-five percent of the 100 full-time faculty members hold a doctoral degree or the equivalent in their field. Many have published books and articles, and a large number have a combination of in-depth experience and academic qualifications. Wagner is strongly committed to keeping classes small and maintaining close relationships between faculty members and students; the student-faculty ratio is 16:1. Teaching is the first priority at Wagner, and all classes are taught by professors. Because faculty members are concerned about their students' intellectual and personal growth, they participate in all areas of College life. Faculty members regard New York City as an incomparable resource for course work and field experience.
Student Government
The Wagner College Student Government is democratically elected by the undergraduate student body. The government has legislative and judicial responsibilities. Students have numerous opportunities for involvement in organizations, special interest groups, and committees. Activities and events are planned by students with the assistance of the director of student activities.
Admission Requirements
Admission to Wagner is based primarily on academic ability. The admission committee also considers personal qualities that, in the College's view, enable a student to take maximum advantage of what Wagner has to offer and to contribute to the quality of campus life.
The applicant is assessed on the basis of high school achievement, class rank, recommendations of the guidance counselor or academic teacher, standardized test scores (SAT or ACT), and an essay. In addition, the student's citizenship record (participation in extracurricular, community, or religious activities) and character record (including information derived from the recommendations) are reviewed. A personal interview is optional but recommended. Scores on the SAT or ACT are required, and SAT Subject Tests are recommended. None of these factors is considered in isolation; all are weighed together so that a clear picture of the applicant and his or her chances for success at Wagner emerge.
Students considering Wagner should have completed a minimum of 18 units in the following academic areas: English, 4; history, 3; mathematics, 3; foreign language, 2; and science, 2. Four additional units from the following list of electives are recommended: art, 1; computer science, 1; foreign language, 24; history, 13; mathematics, 13; music, 12; natural sciences, 13; religion, 1; and social studies, 12.
Application and Information
Application should be made early in the senior year of high school. In addition to the completed application form and the nonrefundable fee, students are responsible for forwarding a secondary school transcript, two letters of recommendation, their personal essay, and SAT or ACT scores to the Admissions Office. The early decision application deadline is January1. The deadline for the theater program is December 15, and it is January 1 for physician assistant studies. The general application deadline is February15, and there is a final application deadline of March15.
Candidates are urged, whenever possible, to make an appointment with the Admissions Office to visit the campus and discuss their plans and goals with a member of the admission staff. They are also encouraged to talk with currently enrolled Wagner students. Arrangements can be made for candidates to meet with faculty members in departments of particular interest.
Further information may be obtained by contacting:
Wrestling
