| |
Studying in New Jersey
|
The state is home to many different types of higher education
institutions that operate independently within a coordinated
system. Each of the 56 colleges and universities has its own
distinctive mission and character, offering students a unique
blend of learning opportunities and experiences.
New Jersey's vision for higher education links excellence with
access and affordability. Quality teaching and high academic
standards ensure that degrees from New Jersey colleges and
universities are valued and respected. The campuses of New
Jersey colleges and universities are abuzz with activity day and
night. From historic buildings to sleek modern facilities,
students learn in a mix of traditional classrooms, high-tech
laboratories and state-of-the-art libraries. Many of the
colleges are residential, which fosters an active campus life
that includes a variety of social, cultural and athletic events.
The broad array of courses and programs offered at New Jersey
higher education institutions is enhanced by the abundant
cultural and natural resources available in and around the
state. From the mountains to the beaches, from nearby cities to
rural villages, the Garden States has something for everyone.
New Jersey's cities and its proximity to the major urban centers
of New York City and Philadelphia afford students access to
innumerable cultural resources, including world-class museums
and award-winning theater, music and dance. Fascinating
historical sites and professional sports venues are located
throughout the state, as well as unique natural resources such
as the 127-mile long Atlantic shore, the rustic Pine Barrens
Reserve, and scenic mountains and valleys. The students enrolled
at New Jersey colleges and universities come from a diverse mix
of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Roughly one-third are
minorities and almost 7,000 are foreign residents.
With the creation of the New Jersey Virtual University (www.njvu.org)
in early 1999, students can use the Internet to reach beyond a
single campus and access distance learning courses and programs
at 42 different colleges and universities in the State. Although
NJVU does not offer courses or grant degrees, the website
provides a user-friendly online index of over 800 distance
learning opportunities.
The virtual university complements other efforts to put New
Jersey's higher education system on the leading edge of
communications and information technology. The state government
recently committed $50 million dollars to create the high-speed
telecommunications technology infrastructure needed to support
distance learning, advanced research, collaboration with
business and industry, and other priority needs.
Three public research universities - Rutgers, the State
University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - offer
baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees in a wide range of
fields. They also offer professional degrees in areas such as
law, business, medicine, engineering, architecture and
education. In addition to teaching and learning, these
multi-campus institutions stress the importance of expanding the
frontiers of knowledge and discovery through research. New
Jersey is also home to five independent research universities
with similar offerings and missions, including world-renowned
Princeton University, a member of the prestigious Ivy League.
New Jersey's nine state colleges and universities, located
throughout the state, enroll over 77,000 students in
baccalaureate and graduate degree programs. As diverse in their
offerings as they are in their settings, the state colleges and
universities share the common goal of making affordable, quality
higher education available to all who are academically prepared.
Nineteen county-based two-year community colleges offer a wide
range of associate degree, certificate and training programs to
local students across the state. Many of their offerings prepare
students directly for the workforce. Other courses and programs
provide a solid academic foundation that prepares students to go
on to earn baccalaureate degrees at four-year institutions.
The 31 public institutions are complemented by 14 independent
four-year colleges and universities. In addition to the
aforementioned research universities, this category includes
nine liberal arts institutions that grant baccalaureates, and in
some cases, graduate degrees. New Jersey also has three
degree-granting institutions that operate for profit
(proprietary institutions) and eight religious and theological
institutions.
Almost all of these colleges and universities have a presence on
the World Wide Web. Their individual sites can be reached
through the index included in the New Jersey Commission on
Higher Education's website: www.state.nj.us/highereducation/searchpi.htm.
Quality academic programs, degrees recognized around the globe,
and proximity to exciting cultural and recreational resources
make studying in New Jersey an experience that provides lifetime
benefits. For international students, New Jersey is the perfect
place to live and learn. |
|
|
|
|
