Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University Degrees

Wesleyan University appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Colleges for Young Democrats.

Earning a college degree is the best way to earn a higher income and find a position that is more satisfying. But many working adults find it difficult to attend traditional classes due to work, family and social obligations. Wesleyan University does not offer online degree programs, but the university does offer courses needed for degree programs in an online format. This provides some flexibility for students who may find it difficult to attend on-campus classes.

Wesleyan University has six colleges that offer a wide range of degree programs. Colleges at Wesleyan University include:

• College of East Asian Studies
• College of the Environment
• College of Film and the Moving Image
• College of Integrative Sciences
• College of Letters
• College of Social Studies

The College of East Asian Studies strives to cultivate an outstanding group of students with strong language abilities as well as to promote knowledge and engagement with the history, culture, and significance of East Asia. The college offers a degree program designed to provide students with a deep knowledge of East Asian culture. The program focuses on:

• China
• Japan
• Korea

Students are also encouraged to study other East Asian countries as well. Courses may include:

• Foundations of East Asian Cultures
• Japanese Philosophy
• Buddhist Art and Architecture in East Asia
• Visionary Journeys through Sacred Landscape

Students may concentrate their studies in:

• History
• Language, Literature, and Film
• Music
• Philosophy and Religion
• Political Economy

The College of the Environment focuses on the resilience of the human spirit and a desire to keep the ecosystem healthy. The Bachelor of Earth and Environmental Science covers many aspects of the natural world, not only on Earth but on other planets as well. The degree includes instruction in:

• geology
• environmental science
• environmental chemistry
• ecology
• planetary geology

Students are able to decipher the structure, composition, and dynamics of Earth’s system as well as apply the scientific method and understand data derived from those methods. Courses that may be required include:

• Dynamic Earth
• Mineralogy
• Earth Materials
• Structural Geology
• Modeling the Earth and Environment

The College of Film and the Moving Image fosters the study and practice of visual storytelling. It offers an undergraduate degree in film studies designed to prepare students for careers in:

• film
• television
• media

The program blends history, analysis, and production to provide a well-rounded understanding of film. The program focuses on Hollywood as the pinnacle and foundation of visual storytelling, emphasizing cinema as an audience-centered artistic practice. Courses required may include:

• History of Global Cinema
• Sight and Sound Workshop
• History of Spanish Cinema
• Directorial Style in Classic American Film Comedy
• The Art and Business of Contemporary Film

The College of Integrative Sciences provides students with an understanding of problems faced in:

• energy
• public health
• the environment

It provides them with methods to meet those challenges. The College offers a dual Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in Neuroscience and Biology. The program provides students with the opportunity to perform research alongside experts in the field. Students gain an understanding of neuroscience and biology in preparation for work at the doctorate level. They gain an understanding of:

• neural development
• neuroanatomy
• neurotransmitters
• the molecular biology of neurons

They also learn how the various parts come together to produce systems. Courses required may include:

• Chemical Senses
• Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Waves, Brains, and Music

The College of Letters has a focus on European literature, history and philosophy. It offers an undergraduate degree program that focuses on Antiquity, the Middle Ages, Early Modern Period and more. Students gain an understanding of Europe’s diverse and changing social norms as well as the emergence and change of the disciplines associated with each. The program is broken down into five colloquia which include:

• The Ancient World
• The Middle Ages
• The Early Modern Period
• The 19th Century
• The 20th-21st Century.

The College of Social Studies offers a degree program that focuses on:

• history
• government
• politics
• social theory
• economics

The program is reading and writing intensive, requiring:

• weekly essays
• small group tutorials
• a vibrant intellectual environment

The undergraduate degree in History provides students with:

• critical thinking
• interpretation of source material
• methods for persuasive writing

Students develop the skills to make sense of complex topics and tell good stories. A research project is required to complete the degree.

About Wesleyan University

Founded in 1831 by Methodist leaders, Wesleyan University began with just 48 students. The school is named for John Wesley, the founder of Methodism. It’s one of the oldest Methodist institutes of higher learning in the country. Unlike other colleges and universities of its time backed by religious organizations, Wesleyan offered a liberal arts program rather than theological training.

Since its inception, Wesleyan has been at the forefront of higher education, offering a college curriculum that placed modern languages, literature and natural sciences on the same level as classics. In 1870, Judd Hall became the first American college building to be dedicated completely to scientific study.

Initially, only men were permitted to attend Wesleyan and the majority of them were Methodist. Starting in 1872, Wesleyan began admitting women. However, in 1911, male alumni felt that allowing women to learn next to men diminished Wesleyan’s standing and created the Connecticut College for Women in New London. Once the school was completed, women were no longer allowed to attend Wesleyan.

In 1937, Wesleyan University separated from the Methodist Church. African Americans were admitted in the 1960s and, in 1968, the first female students were allowed to return to the school as transfer students. In 1970, women were granted full admission to Wesleyan. Today, Wesleyan offers instruction in 46 departments with 45 major fields of study. There are around 3,000 students.

Wesleyan University Accreditation Details

Wesleyan University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education. Accreditation indicates that the school has the resources to meet its stated goals and objectives. It also indicates that Wesleyan offers degree programs that are of the highest quality as determined by criteria created by the Commission.

Wesleyan University Application Requirements

Applicants who have not earned college credit beyond high school graduation must submit official high school transcripts as well as a secondary school report. They must provide a personal essay and a counselor recommendation. Applicants who have earned college credit equal to one full year of attendance or the equivalent of six Wesleyan credits must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities provided. Applicants who have had significant interruptions in their schooling must provide an explanation of their educational situation, background, and chronology as part of their essay.

Graduate applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university if applying for master’s level programs or a master’s degree or higher for doctorate programs. They must provide official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended.

Wesleyan University Tuition and Financial Aid

Full-time tuition at Wesleyan University is $56,704 per year. The Office of Financial Aid is committed to enabling any student who wishes to attend to afford their education. Approximately 42 percent of students received need-based scholarships totaling $45,875. In order to qualify for financial assistance, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Most families who earn less than $60,000 per year are offered a financial aid package that replaces student loans. Those with an income between $60,000 and $80,000 are offered financial aid packages that reduce the amount that must be borrowed to cover the cost of tuition.

Wesleyan University offers a wide range of degree programs. Although Wesleyan University does not offer any online degrees, it does offer courses in an online format that allow non-traditional learners to achieve their higher education goals.