Virtual Visit to Wheaton (text version of the tour.)
A Rich Past When Warren Wheaton founded his namesake village in 1859, he encountered Jonathan Blanchard, an educator, social activitst, and fellow pioneer who would help him shape the destiny of the fledgling community. Wheaton and Blanchard shared a common vision for a settlement characterized by church related education. Wheaton donated land for the development of a Christian liberal arts college. On January 9, 1860, Wheaton College welcomed its first classes. Committed to a classical liberal arts curriculum and grounded in a Christian worldview, Wheaton rose from humble beginnings to become one of the nation's leading liberal arts colleges. Educational Purpose |
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A Beautiful Campus A walk across Wheaton's beautiful 80-acre campus is a walk through American architectural history. Red brick, white columns, gabled roofs, and arches identify revivals of Colonial, Georgian, Victorian, and Federal design. Blanchard Hall, the Romanesque limestone structure at the center of campus, constructed in the 1860-70s, is one of several area landmarks listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The exteriors of many of the newer buildings, especially those of Anderson Commons, the Wade Center, and the Sports and Recreation Complex, match the charm and stateliness of the old. |
A Concern for Values Wheaton's concern for values is a long-standing tradition, not a trend. Wheaton College has consistently appeared on the Honor Roll of Character Building Colleges established by The John Templeton Foundation. Such recognition reflects Wheaton's commitment to character development and to specific programs that advance this goal. Character-building cornerstones at Wheaton include its Center for Applied Christian Ethics, Urban Studies Program, the Human Needs and Global Resources Program (HNGR), the Honduras Project, Honey Rock Camp's High Road Wilderness Programs, and the many services and ministries of the Office of Christian Outreach. |
Academics that Count Wheaton College motivates its students to learn by upholding an academically rigorous curriculum and high academic standards in all 40 of its majors. Year after year U.S. News & World Report ranks Wheaton College in the top 100 national liberal arts colleges in the U.S. In a survey of baccalaureate origins of doctorate recipients, Wheaton ranked 11th in the nation in the total number of graduates (all fields) who went on to earn doctorates. Distinguished graduate schools such as those at Yale, Princeton, Harvard, and the University of Chicago regularly enroll Wheaton graduates in various fields. |
A Top-Tier Science Department With top quality faculty, sophisticated instrumentation, and abundant resources, Wheaton College's science department ranks today among the top 25 liberal arts science departments in the nation's "baccalaureate colleges." Here, careers in medicine, energy, natural resources, biological science, environmental science, engineering, law, and higher education get a good start. Students develop theoretical and experimental skills in classrooms, laboratories, and field environments where an interdisciplinary approach prevails. Wheaton is one of 50 liberal arts schools identified for producing the "best science graduates." One-quarter of all its science graduates go on to complete doctorates. |
Majors in the Arts and Sciences, Plus Special Programs In addition to 40 majors taught in traditional classroom settings, there are special programs that offer students off-campus study, research, and internship opportunities. These popular programs include the Black Hills Science Station in South Dakota; Honey Rock Camp in Wisconsin; the American Studies Program in Washington, DC; the Human Needs and Global Resources Program focused on Third World Development; Urban Studies; and ROTC. There are also study programs abroad in East Asia, England, France, Germany, the Holy Lands, Latin America, Russia, Spain, and Western Europe. Students can also pursue summer projects with members of the faculty. |
A Nationally Regarded Conservatory of Music Offering majors in performance, composition, education and history/literature, Wheaton's Conservatory of Music ranks with the finest music schools in the nation. The reasons why? A talented faculty, an 80-member orchestra, several outstanding music ensembles of the highest order, interesting workshops, opportunities for travel abroad, and a long list of renowned alumni. |
Art Department Arena Theatre |
Graduate Education Scholarship Committed to Servanthood." That's what the Wheaton College Graduate School is all about. The 400 students currently enrolled are preparing for careers that demand professional competence, wide-ranging skills, intellectual and spiritual maturity. Outstanding programs and faculty help this complex process along. Graduate studies at Wheaton lead to a master of arts degree in seven different disciplines, or a master of arts in teaching, a doctor of psychology degree in clinical psychology, or a doctoral degree in Bible and theology. Three non-degree graduate level certificate programs are also offered. Graduate School site Summer Programs |
Christian Distinctiveness It's been said that Wheaton is arguably the best school in the nation with a 'Christ-based worldview.' The truth in this has to do with the fact that being Christ-centered is so important here. Wheaton means it when it says it seeks students who are passionate about their Christian faith. Such sincere commitment mutually shared is important for building community. It is even more important for the sense of purpose it provides and for the way it influences a student's approach to learning and service. |
Outstanding Faculty More than 90% of the Wheaton faculty hold doctorates or the highest degree attainable in their field. Over a third have graduated from the top 25 graduate schools as designated by U.S. News & World Report. Ten percent graduated Phi Beta Kappa. The ratio of students to teachers is 12:1, and all classes are taught by the professors themselves. Wheaton encourages its faculty to engage in research, but not at the expense of strong teaching and mentoring. |
Top Students A profile of the Class of 2005 demonstrates the caliber of students that choose Wheaton. Of the 574 students who entered in the fall of 2001, 49 were National Merit Finalists. The group's average high school GPA was 3.67 and 60% of them graduated in the top 10% of their class. The middle 50% scored between 1230 and 1410 on the re-centered SAT and between 28 and 31 on the ACT; 129 of them are children of alumni; 12% are multi-cultural. Over 80% of them will graduate on time. Wheaton, with its emphasis on faith, learning, and service, is a place where students like this can thrive. National Merit Scholarship Corporation |
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Student Activities Page |
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Office of Christian Outreach |
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Celebrated Alumni Alumni community |
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