Bridgewater College was recognized for providing an engaging, transformative student experience through connected learning by being named to the 2024-2025 Colleges of Distinction list.
A resource for college-bound students and their families, Colleges of Distinction recognizes higher education institutions that offer quality, comprehensive support to their students.
To be acknowledged as a College of Distinction, an institution must demonstrate its commitment to four distinctions: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities and successful outcomes. Bridgewater’s high-impact programs like study abroad and The Research Experience @ Bridgewater, which enables students to participate in undergraduate research even in their first year, promote active learning. Bridgewater’s liberal arts education helps students develop expertise in universal skills like critical thinking and effective communication. The Bridgewater community is strengthened by a variety of athletics, clubs, activities and traditions, and Bridgewater students prepare for success through internships, research opportunities and connections with faculty, staff and alumni.
In addition to being honored as a 2024-2025 College of Distinction, Bridgewater also received special recognition for its business and teacher education programs. Both programs are recognized for their interdisciplinary nature and the hands-on experiences that they provide.
“Our programs are devoted to connecting students to professional development and experiential learning opportunities that fully prepare them for their careers,” Dr. Barbara Long, dean of the Rev. Wilfred E. and Dr. Joyce A. Nolen School of Business and Professional Studies, which houses both programs, said. “It is an honor to receive this recognition once again for the work our faculty do to make the Bridgewater experience unique both in and out of the classroom.”
Bridgewater’s business administration major is one of the most popular undergraduate majors at the College, with it being the top major among Class of 2024 graduates and first-year students in the Class of 2028. The major prepares students to work in fields like accounting, finance, marketing and organizational management. The College’s Department of Economics and Business Administration earned the distinction in business by providing students with multidisciplinary exposure, a commitment to business ethics, dedicated advising, collaborative learning, industry connections and real-world experience.
The College’s teacher education program (TEP), which is fully accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), trains students to be subject-matter experts and skilled communicators. Students can focus on elementary education (PreK-6), secondary education (grades 6-12) or prepare to teach all grades (PreK-12). BC’s teacher education program earned the distinction in education by providing students with a stable and successful history, multidisciplinary exposure, practical experience, subject specialization, dedicated advising, industry connections and high-impact practices like student teaching opportunities in local schools.
The College continues to add new undergraduate and graduate programs that set students up for success. In fall 2024, the Bonnie Forrer and John Harvey Rhodes School of Arts and Humanities began offering undergraduate majors in criminology and game design, which are housed within the Department of Sociology and the Department of English, respectively. The College is also recruiting for new graduate programs, such as a master of arts and a graduate certificate in nonprofit management, which will begin in May 2025 and be housed in the Nolen School of Business and Professional Studies. Both graduate programs are pending approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and School Commission on Colleges during fall 2024.
Founded in 1880, Bridgewater College is a private, four-year liberal arts college in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Bridgewater College is home to approximately 1,450 students pursuing degrees in more than 60 undergraduate majors and minors and four graduate programs housed within three distinct schools.
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Rebecca Barnabi
