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University of Mary Washington

Virginia - United States

Overview

The University of Mary Washington is a coeducational, public institution that offers graduate and undergraduate degrees. In addition to its primary location in the heart of historic Fredericksburg, UMW has two other campuses – one in Stafford, which caters to working professionals, and another in Dahlgren, which offers graduate science and engineering programs. There are three colleges – arts and sciences, business, and education – all of which produce graduates who are critical thinkers prepared to succeed. UMW also recently developed a Center for Economic Development, which connects faculty and students with regional initiatives and businesses seeking their assistance.

Founded in 1908 and named for the mother of our country’s founding father, the University of Mary Washington has built a rich history of traditions and academic excellence. The institution has evolved from its beginnings as Fredericksburg’s State Normal and Industrial School for Women to one of the nation’s premier, selective public liberal arts and sciences universities today.

From 1944 to 1972, Mary Washington functioned as the women’s college of the University of Virginia. Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious honorary academic organization, established a Mary Washington chapter in 1971. Shortly after Mary Washington became coed in the early 1970s, it was reorganized as an independent college. Having added a limited number of graduate and professional programs beyond the central undergraduate curriculum, and having established more than one campus, the General Assembly of Virginia in 2004 renamed the institution University of Mary Washington.

The university continued to evolve with the creation of two new colleges in the summer of 2010, when the College of Business and the College of Education joined the College of Arts and Sciences in fulfilling the University’s mission of providing rigorous undergraduate and graduate programs.

Location

The university is within an hour’s drive of both Washington, D.C., and Richmond, Va., providing students with unique internships, research excursions, or recreational opportunities. Students also can head west to see Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, or east to visit the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean. In addition, the City of Fredericksburg offers an exciting mix of history, culture, and recreational activities.

Student Body

There are approximately 4,000 undergraduate students enrolled at the Fredericksburg campus from 40 states and many foreign countries. About 20 percent identify themselves as members of a minority group. About 60 percent of students live on campus in one of 17 residence halls or campus apartments.

More than 1,000 students are enrolled in degree completion and graduate programs and other credit-bearing courses, primarily at the Stafford Campus.

Faculty

Students at Mary Washington learn from master teachers, more than 90 percent of whom have earned a doctorate or other terminal degree in their field. The university has no graduate teaching assistants. Since 2006, UMW has had three faculty members receive Fulbright Awards to teach abroad.

Academic Programs

UMW provides a strong undergraduate education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with more than 40 majors and programs of study. Students may double-major or design their own interdisciplinary majors. Many students also conduct independent research, hold internships, and study abroad.

Degree Programs

Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Liberal Studies, Master of Science in Elementary Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Education, Master of Science in Management Information Systems, MBA-MSMIS dual degree


Faculties

Undergraduate

Business Administration

Biology

International Affairs

Theatre Arts

Computer Information Systems

Graduate

Business Administration (MBA)

Information Systems


English Requirements


Scholarships

For detailed information please contact University. 


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