Lycoming College is a liberal arts and
sciences college dedicated to providing the type of learning that can be used
for a lifetime in a supportive, residential environment that fosters individual
growth and close interpersonal relationships.
U.S. News and World Report has recognized the
Carnegie reclassification of Lycoming. The College is one of the national
liberal arts colleges in the United States. It is something that Lycoming alumni
have quietly known for years. The reasons are simple.
All of Lycoming’s resources and faculty are dedicated to
the undergraduate education of just 1500 students. Classes are small and all
faculty members teach. With a 13 to 1 ratio of students to faculty, classes of
five or ten students are not uncommon, while even large introductory courses
average about 30 students. This means abundant opportunities for individual
attention by a faculty truly committed to teaching. The average graduation rate
for first time freshmen is 70%.
Lycoming students are superbly prepared to meet the
challenges of life through an academic program that includes both breadth of
study in the humanities, arts, social sciences and natural sciences and depth of
study in at least one area of concentration.
Those areas of concentration include bachelor of arts
programs in 31 major fields, and a bachelor of science in three major fields.
Those who intend to continue in medicine, dentistry, law,
the ministry or teaching will find excellent preprofessional preparation.
Through a number of cooperative programs with other colleges and universities,
Lycoming students can study engineering, forestry, environment, podiatric
medicine, optometry, and medical technology—while still enjoying the benefits
of a small college experience. They can also study at Oxford Brookes University
in Oxford, England; Anglia Polytechnic University in Cambridge, England;
Regent’s College in London, England; Lancaster University, Lancaster, England;
CUEF Université Stendhal-Grenoble 3 in Grenoble, France; and Tandem
International School, Madrid, Spain; or spend a semester in Washington, D.C., or
New York City through a number of other cooperative programs.
One of Lycoming’s most popular and successful ways of
blending career planning with a liberal arts education is through its internship
program. Close to one-third of Lycoming students gain real job experience as
part of a semester course load. The Williamsport area is particularly rich in
internship opportunities in business, communication, government, health and
social services. The close relationship between the College and the community
has given Lycoming students a chance to roll up their sleeves and gain
resume-enhancing experience rather than mere observation.
Most students complete their program of study in four
years, usually by taking four courses each fall and spring semester. However,
students may take one course during Lycoming’s May Term and from one to two
courses in each Summer Term.
Perhaps one of the most important qualities of Lycoming is
its feeling of community. Lycoming is a truly residential college where all
students, with the exception of close commuters, live on campus in one of the
College’s residence halls or apartments.
The quality of campus life is enriched by a variety of
extracurricular activities in which Lycoming students gain valuable leadership
training.
Students produce a newspaper, run the campus radio
station, edit a yearbook, mount theatre productions, participate in a nationally
acclaimed choir and concert band, as well as organize and manage their own
social fraternities and sororities, special interest clubs and campus-wide
social events.
Student athletes can try out for 19 different varsity
sports (10 for men, 9 for women) or participate in the College’s strong
intramural program.
Students are admitted free to productions at the Community
Arts Center. Student-run programs have brought in Adam Sandler, Fiona Apple,
Eve6, Sugar Ray and Brian Adams.
Lycoming’s campus lies near the historic downtown of
Williamsport, a city best known as the birthplace of Little League Baseball and
the site of its annual international championship. The greater metro area has a
population of approximately 75,000.
The rolling hills and forestlands of northcentral
Pennsylvania provide some of the state’s best scenery, as well as hiking,
camping, kayaking, and other outdoor recreation. Yet Lycoming is less than a
four-hour drive from New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore
and Pittsburgh.
The College enjoys a relationship with the United
Methodist Church and supports its tradition of providing an education to persons
of all faiths. The College is firmly committed to a policy of cultural diversity
and expects its students to work together in an atmosphere of respect and
tolerance.