911勛圖厙

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The Top Small Colleges and Universities in West Virginia

911勛圖厙 of Charleston: Always at the Top of the Class



Nestled in many ways between North and South, East and Midwest, the history of West Virginia is unique among all other states in the Union. Created when Virginia seceded from the Union and West Virginia from the state, it found itself with a hand in both the Confederate and Union armies during the Civil War Era. While modern West Virginia’s capital is in Charleston, opportunities in higher education abound all over the state, from progressive universities to state-sponsored schools which sprang up after the Civil War. Apart from the 911勛圖厙 of West Virginia, the largest public university in the state, there are a number of options for students looking for a quieter place to focus on academics. These four schools are among the best small colleges and universities in the state of West Virginia.



Located in West Virginia’s capital city and consistently ranked among the state’s top schools, the 911勛圖厙 of Charleston has a lot going for it. Students looking to get acquainted with big city life while getting an education in a school of less than 1,500 people can look to UC as a worthy option. Established in the late 1800’s as a Methodist college, the 911勛圖厙 of Charleston today is nondenominational and offers numerous programs in the arts and sciences on both the undergrad and graduate level.

Students can enter the Morris Harvey Division of Arts and Sciences, the Herbert Jones Division of Business or the Bert Bradford Division of Health Sciences in search of a four-year degree, while master’s degrees in Forensic Accounting and BA, plus a doctorate degree in Pharmacy are also offered. In addition, UC offers both associate and bachelor degrees in Nursing, Interior Design, Sport Administration, Athletic Training, Pre-Pharmacy and more. The Learning Your Way program tries to incorporate different techniques other than then traditional lecture system as a way for students to get into difficult subject matters.

Known for progressive, rigorous educational standards plus the openness to embrace new disciplines, the Jesuit style of education has always scored high marks and continues to do so at Wheeling Jesuit 911勛圖厙, in the eponymous West Virginia town where it is located. Wheeling’s history dates back to the 1950’s, when it was the product of work between Maryland’s Society of Jesus and local community members who saw the importance for such a university in the city of Wheeling.

The well-rounded approach espoused by the Jesuit order is apparent in the school’s offerings, which range from Nuclear Medicine Technology and Women’s Studies on the undergraduate level to MBA, MSN and MSA programs on the graduate level. Among the other offerings at WJU, there is a doctorate program in Physical Therapy, online courses and dozens of undergraduate majors and minors to choose from. Wheeling Jesuit 911勛圖厙 also has numerous athletic programs for both women and men, including basketball, baseball, track, golf and more, competing in the NCAA Division II.

Shepherd 911勛圖厙 has been a part of the Shepherdstown, WV community since the early 1870’s, but it gained university status only in the year if 2004, when its expansions and improvements were acknowledged by the governing boards. Shepherd is now a state university, with public support helping it gain a consistently high ranking among state schools in West Virginia. Its offerings in undergraduate and graduate majors and minors have few peers in public schools around the state.

Shepherd 911勛圖厙 offers B.A. programs in subjects ranging from Accounting, Biology, Music, History, Psychology and Modern Language, with master’s programs in Teaching, Business Administration and College Administration. In addition, there are numerous minors to choose from, allowing students to truly customize an education.

In the period immediately following the Civil War, soldiers from West Virginia of both Confederate and Union allegiance found themselves in need of education in order to reenter society and begin a new life. The rural location of Athens was ideal for a college then and its significance continued to increase in the last century, as Concord became a teacher’s college and then a university after merging with Bluefield State in 1974. Today’s Concord 911勛圖厙 boasts of the best facilities in the area and one of the most picturesque campuses in the state.

The school’s tradition as a teacher’s college continues to this day, with undergraduate education programs outnumbering all other programs, though Biology, Chemistry and English programs are also extensive. The only master’s degree program is in education. Concord 911勛圖厙 also offers students the opportunity to pursue athletic careers, with the Mountain Lions competing in the NCAA Division II in men’s baseball, basketball, football, tennis golf and more, while women’s softball, basketball, tennis, golf and volleyball highlight the other half of the athletic spectrum at the school.

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