Western was established in 1901. It was the first college on Colorado's Western Slope and is the fourth oldest public college in the state.
The College actually opened for classes in 1911 as the Colorado State Normal School. Originally planned as a preparatory college for teachers, Western's role changed when it became Western State College in 1923. Though for many years Western was known for its graduates who became teachers, it was, in fact, the first Colorado college designed to teach a primarily liberal arts curriculum, and the liberal arts have remained at the core of Western's academic life ever since.
Western's excellence has also been felt in other arenas. Western hosts the only nationally certified college Mountain Rescue Team, and a Wilderness Pursuits program offers students ample opportunities to explore themselves and the mountains, rivers, and forests which surround the College. The College's vibrant theatre and fine arts departments provide a cultural center for the entire Gunnison Valley. In athletics, Western traditionally has one of the country's finest small-college athletic programs. Western's teams are consistently ranked among the top in the NCAA Division II. Western's skiers, traditionally among the nation's best, compete in NCAA Division I.
Programs
Accounting, Administration, Anthropology, Art, Biology, Business, Business Administration, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Information Science, Criminal Justice, Economics, Education, Elementary Education, English, Entrepreneurship, Environmental Sciences, Exercise & Sport Science, Film, French, Geography, Geology, Government, History, Honors Program, Interdisciplinary Studies, Journalism, Latin American Studies, Law Enforcement, Management, Marketing, Math, Mathematics, Music, Music Business, Music Performance, Organizational Communication, Physics, Politics, Psychology, Recreation, Science, Sciences, Secondary Education, Sociology, Spanish, Special Education, Theatre
Campus type
Normal
Carnegie
Baccalaureate Colleges - Arts & Sciences
|
|
|
