The Best Small College and Universities of Arizona
Southwestern College, Prescott College, Midwestern 911³Ô¹ÏÍø, The Art Center Design College
Known for its large state universities and public colleges of over 30,000 students, the search for a smaller university experience in Arizona will take some time for students. Fortunately, for what the state lacks in quantity, it certainly makes up for in quality. The high quality medical programs at the smaller colleges are matched by the arts programs and nontraditional educational system in place at schools across the state.
As with the foundation of many private colleges and universities, one will find religious freedom and expression at the heart of certain institutions in Arizona. However, above all, one can see the importance of the environment and breathtaking scenery of the state in its higher education facilities, from art and design to environmental studies. Even though the numbers are far lower than the large schools, the individual attention each student is getting has to be appreciated. Here are the best of the small colleges and universities in the state.
The history of Southwestern College is very much a tale of the American frontier, with missionary Ida Clouse taking some 150 acres under the Homestead Act to host Christian conferences in Cactus, Arizona. The year was 1917, and it took another 40 years (more than 10 years after Clouse’s death) for an educational institution to be started on part of this land. After its humble beginnings as a bible college, Southwestern College has expanded considerably and now offers numerous programs of study for Arizona students seeking an education in an intimate setting.
Academically, students hoping to enter the Christian ministries can pursue Bible Studies and Theology, while coursework in Business Administration, Science and Education are also offered. Among the other notable courses of study is the Music Program, which combines classical and modern musical training with religious song. Students can study sophisticated church choral music as well as get formal training in masters from Bach to Schoenberg.
Perhaps one of the most unique higher educational institutions in the Southwest, Prescott College allows students to design the large majority of their course of study. Offering what is known as a Resident Degree Program, students fulfill minimum requirements quickly so they can get on to their specialized plans of study. Degrees are awarded once the Adult Degree Program is finished, which involves a project which is similar to a master’s thesis.
Students who choose to take up environmental studies (a popular curriculum at Prescott) have the advantage of being in one of the most unique settings for a university, as the school and city are completely surrounded by forest land. On top of this field of study, students hoping to become teachers themselves will find one of the top programs in the Southwest in Prescott’s Education Department. Instead of relying on technical analyses and tradition, teachers are taught to use their own instinct and creativity in order to reach students in the twenty-first century. Perhaps most significant of all, students at Prescott rarely find themselves in classes of more than twelve people.
Considering the fact that there are not a large number of small universities in Arizona, Midwestern 911³Ô¹ÏÍø is an even more exceptional choice for anyone considering a future in the healthcare field. As the name would imply, Midwestern is the Arizona wing of the university based in Illinois which specializes in education in the medical field.
Among the highlights of the program include the Osteopathic Medicine program, which is quickly gaining recognition as one of the top programs in the region. Also available are course offerings in Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy and Bioethics. Numerous bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Biomedical Sciences are on the roster as well, with Cardiovascular Science, Podiatry, Optometry and Clinical Psychology rounding out the school’s extensive degree programs. The school tradition, begun in 1900 in Chicago and continuing on since 1995 in Glendale, Arizona, has served the new branch well and the new facilities open to Arizona students are likely to draw in even more candidates looking to enter the healthcare professions.
With the heavy presence of large state universities and athletically oriented colleges around Arizona, the Art Center Design College is an excellent alternative for students pursuing a future in the arts or other creative careers. Known as the ‘College for Smart Artists’ and based in Tucson, the Art Center Design College offers students options in Animation, Interior Design, Advertising, Photography and more modern studies like Landscape Architecture. Students benefit from the scenic campus, surrounded by mountains, as well as the small class sizes and enthusiastic student body.
Of course, as with most small art colleges, students looking to study Illustration and Studio Art will have access to the best instructors and facilities in the area. Alumni from the Art Center Design College are filling the advertising and art world across the country, from Disney and Nike to the art galleries of major museums.
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