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At Penn State Erie, The Behrend College, a student-centered philosophy prevails, emphasizing student success and involvement, teaching excellence, and close student-faculty-staff interaction. Students have significant undergraduate research opportunities (with the college funding nearly $200,000 in undergraduate research annually) and learn through out-of-class programs and services that complement in-class experiences. Penn State Behrend values close faculty-student interaction, small classes, high standards for students, and a supportive living-learning setting. In this environment, student success is the most important outcome. Faculty and staff practice a variant of the golden rule: treat students the way you would want your own family members to be treated, support them, guide them in their goals and aspirations, take genuine interest in their success, and show them the wonders of a comprehensive education. The college provides a climate that promotes international understanding and multicultural awareness and respect. In a recent survey, nine out of ten Penn State Behrend graduating seniors said they would recommend the college to friends. More than 4,400 students benefit from the opportunities and prestige of a major research institution delivered in the student-centered collegiate setting that is Penn State Behrend. The college offers thirty-three baccalaureate degrees in the humanities, social sciences, business, science, engineering, and engineering technology. Also offered are six associate degree programs, including nursing, four pre-professional programs, and two graduate degrees: a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Project Management. Penn State Behrend was one of the first academic institutions in the nation to bring its schools of business and engineering together under a single roof, introducing cross-disciplinary collaboration in courses, projects, and outreach initiatives. The Sam and Irene Black School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, the premier accrediting agency for business schools. Baccalaureate degrees in computer engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering are all accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. The School of Engineering's baccalaureate degrees in electrical engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology, and plastics engineering technology are also accredited by the Technology Accreditation Commission of ABET. The chemistry degree in the School of Science is approved by the American Chemical Society, and Penn State Behrend annually produces more ACS-certified graduates than most other comparably sized institutions. The college was the first in the region to begin using a SCALE-UP approach to teaching introductory physics. An acronym for Student-Centered Activities for Large-Enrollment Undergraduate Programs, SCALE-UP utilizes an advanced lab environment without lectures to promote active, hands-on learning. The School of Humanities and Social Sciences' creative writing program is one of the few in the country offering the B.F.A. degree with an intensive and exhaustive course of study in both poetry and prose writing.
Campus life is enriched by more than 110 clubs and organizations, ranging from the Astronomy Club to the Behrend Beacon student newspaper to the Society of Women Engineers. In addition to twenty-one NCAA Division III varsity teams, Penn State Behrend offers nineteen intramural sports. Located adjacent to campus is Knowledge Park at Penn State Erie. This 200-acre research and development park houses knowledge-based companies that benefit students through internship and job opportunities. The college's 725-acre campus is located only minutes away from the heart of Erie, Pennsylvania, the Commonwealth's fourth largest city. The exceptional beauty of the Penn State Behrend campus provides an inspirational environment for the entire college community. |
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