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Bridgewater College's mission is to educate "the whole person." What does that mean? It means we care about every aspect of you as a person – mind, body, and spirit. At BC, we do not just focus on academics. Everything we do is intended to further your wellbeing and growth as a person. Learning becomes a life-long pursuit that goes beyond classrooms and books. Serving in your community and making ethical decisions means your growth does not just benefit you. It also benefits everyone else and makes our communities better places to live. Being healthy and living with purpose prepares you to keep pursuing your dreams, no matter what happens. Our mission is all about you. Bridgewater College educates the whole person by providing a challenging and supportive learning community that fosters its students' growth and empowers and motivates them to live educated, intelligent, healthy, purposeful, and ethical lives in a global society. The College embraces the core values of integrity, equality, service, and community, inspired by its history with the Church of the Brethren. The College is a welcoming, diverse, and vibrant community, committed to understanding and respecting individual differences and actively engaging all of its members. College is a time for you to raise the bar for yourself. At Bridgewater College, you will join more than 1,900 students in a transformative education we call the "Bridgewater Experience." Every time the victory bell rings at Memorial Hall—whether it signals the first day of classes, an athletic win, or graduation day—you will share in the celebration. You are part of Bridgewater's close-knit community. Here, you will have professors who want to get to know you. You will meet the staff who are dedicated to making you feel comfortable and welcome. Moreover, you will make new friends who are eager to learn with you. Grow with you. The beauty of the Shenandoah Valley is stunning. You will find lots to do here. Take a hike in a nearby national forest. Canoe on the Shenandoah River. Ski at Massanutten Resort. Revisit early American history at the Frontier Culture Museum in Staunton or one of the many Civil War battlefields in the Valley. Visit an art gallery. Take in a concert or theatrical production. Living on campus is an integral part of your academic experience at Bridgewater. You will become a more responsible person and develop the skills to get along with others. With our wide selection of living options—from residence halls to apartments, coed, single-gender, or honors housing—you will find a place that suits your personality. Eating well is an essential part of maintaining a healthy body and a sharp mind. Even though you will be busy with studies and extra-curricular activities, there is no reason to skip a meal. Bridgewater's dining services provides a wide selection of tasty, fresh, and nutritious foods, offered in two convenient locations. You can take time for a relaxing dinner with friends or grab a snack between classes. You will work hard in class. However, it is also essential to open your mind to new experiences. Get involved in a club that matches your interests. Run for a Student Senate office. Lead a campus tour for prospective students. Start a new organization. Read books to children at a local elementary school. As you participate in student clubs and organizations, you will apply lessons you have learned in the classroom to the real world. You will develop new skills. Become a strong leader. Prepare for life beyond College. At Bridgewater College, you will be prepared for more than a career. You will be ready for a lifetime of learning. The journey starts here. With rigorous academic programs. Small class sizes. Opportunities for undergraduate research and study abroad. And so much more. Our faculty scholars are not only experts in their fields, but they also care about teaching – and about getting to know your interests and abilities. Through their mentoring, you will learn what it takes to gain the expertise necessary for success. More than 60 majors and minors. Concentrations such as Digital Media and Pre-Law. Pre-professional programs and dual degrees through BC and other institutions. It all adds up to a host of ways to customize your degree at BC. When you become a part of the BC community, you become part of a history that goes back to 1880. That is when a 26-year-old decided to start the Spring Creek Normal School and Collegiate Institute. Daniel Christian (D.C.) Flory opened the school on September 6, 1880, with six students, including one woman. Bridgewater has always admitted women and was the first private liberal arts college in Virginia to do so. In 1882, the College moved to Bridgewater, Virginia. It gave diplomas to its first graduates on June 18, 1886, and officially became Bridgewater College in July 1889, chartered by the Commonwealth of Virginia to grant undergraduate degrees. The College is historically affiliated with the Church of the Brethren. In keeping with its heritage, the College promotes the values of peace, justice, equality, service, and human dignity in an inclusive and caring community. Bridgewater is committed to cultivating the full potential of its students to excel in all areas of life. View full university

Bridgewater State University has high expectations – of our students, our region, and the institution itself. Our goal is to provide outstanding growth opportunities and learning experiences that will transform lives. Since its founding in 1840, Bridgewater State has remained steadfast in its commitment to empower individuals and instill in its community an abiding desire to advance the public good. Our rigorous and dynamic academic environment encourages students and faculty to develop their strengths and become leaders. At the same time, we strive to lead by example. As the university continues to build momentum, we continuously reinvest in our students' success and our region. As the comprehensive teaching university of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bridgewater State University has a responsibility to educate Southeastern Massachusetts and the commonwealth residents and use its intellectual, scientific, and technological resources to support and advance the economic and cultural life of the region and the state. While maintaining its historical focus on teachers' preparation, Bridgewater State University provides a broad range of baccalaureate degree programs through its Louis M. Ricciardi College of Business, College of Education and Allied Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics. At the graduate level, the College of Graduate Studies offers Master of Arts and Master of Science in select disciplines, as well as Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Education, Master of Public Administration and Master of Social Work. Also, Bridgewater State University prepares educators for postbaccalaureate and postmaster's licensure. Through the comprehensive information technology and distance education resources available at Bridgewater State University, including the John Joseph Moakley Center for Technological Applications, the university has made technology an integral component of teaching and learning on campus and is a regional center for the enhancement of teaching through technology for PreK-12 teachers and university faculty. The university's growing number of innovative academic programs helps to ensure that Bridgewater State University students are prepared to think critically, communicate effectively, and act responsibly within a context of personal and professional ethics. For example, the Academic Achievement Center, particularly its first-year advising program, is often cited as a model for other institutions. At the same time, the Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research represents an unparalleled opportunity for students to work closely with faculty mentors and to present research and creative work at regional and national conferences. Bridgewater State University benefits from Connect, its regional partnership with other public higher education institutions in the region – the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Massasoit Community College, Bristol Community College, and Cape Cod Community College. Connect coordinates the academic, administrative, and development activities of public higher education in Southeastern Massachusetts, and introduces shared activities and programs among member institutions. The Leading for Change Higher Education Diversity Consortium is a voluntary collaboration of higher education institutions in Massachusetts and New England committed to identifying student and employee diversity best practices through uniform and transparent use of data, institutional benchmarks, and reflective practice. Experts from Bridgewater State University, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bristol Community College, and Harvard University have worked together to identify student and employee benchmarks for higher education success. The consortium's benchmarks were unveiled on June 11, 2014, Leading for Change Conference at Bridgewater State University. Public and private institutions are invited to join the consortium. We invite you to review Bridgewater's wide-ranging options, find the program that works for you and become a Bridgewater State University student. With a broad range of high-caliber undergraduate and graduate programs, Bridgewater offers outstanding educational opportunities and tremendous flexibility for all of its students – day, evening, residents, and commuters – full time or part-time. As a state-supported university, we maintain a firm commitment to providing greater access to higher education. Our faculty and facilities are second to none. Bridgewater's Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping students cover the costs of a college education. We will explore your options with you – including grants/waivers, loans, and work programs – and provide you with the personal counseling and support you need to assemble the necessary funding. Bridgewater has developed a diverse array of innovative academic programs that foster critical thinking, effective communication, creative problem-solving, and civic engagement. With more than 90 areas of study to choose from, you can explore your interests and pursue your dreams. Bridgewater State University believes that if we make a top-quality education accessible, we can change lives – and change the world. Our students have proven us right. Year after year, BSU students astonish us with their hopes and ideas, aspirations, and achievements. Our outstanding faculty is committed to continuing this tradition of excellence by providing opportunities and forums that engage students' imaginations, inspire personal growth, and enrich intellectual explorations. Bridgewater State University strives to ensure that each of our students has access to the services they need and the activities that will inspire them. The departments within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management are here to get students connected in ways that matter most to them. Less than 30 miles from Boston and 35 from Providence, Bridgewater's campus provides a safe, supportive culture for undergraduate and graduate students alike. We offer a wide range of services to help with housing, academic support, internships, and career planning. Diverse and engaged, our community keeps the campus life with various events, activities, clubs and organizations. View full university