Some counselor colleagues and I took an
extensive tour of Sonoma State University’s campus yesterday. What a beautiful place and convenient
location—a two hours drive from the Bay Area, just far enough away for many
students, with easy access both to the coast and to the Sierra Nevada mountains.
In addition to admiring the bucolic campus,
we were impressed by the residential housing for undergraduates, particularly
the freshman complex where all students are in themed units divided in
While the university’s most popular majors
include business, psychology, sociology, biology and kinesiology our tour guide
also noted the criminal justice and environmental studies majors and
highlighted the competitive pre-nursing and BS Nursing program. I was
particularly struck by Sonoma’s State faculty/student ratio of fewer than 30
students per class.
Another innovative
program is the Hutchins School of Liberal Studies where students can
simultaneously pursue an inter-disciplinary major and earn an elementary
education teaching credential in four years.
This program gives students a chance to interact in small seminars with
impressive faculty in art history, history of science, geography, and
anthropology, among other disciplines and reminds me of similar programs in
private liberal arts colleges.
Finally, we had a chance to tour Sonoma’s
new (2011) world-class Green Music Center, which brings renowned musicians in
all many genres to exquisitely designed Weill Hall and not only gives Sonoma
State students access to concerts but also is used by the Music Department for
performances and rehearsals.
Students and families considering a
relatively low-cost school with impressive programs, small classes, excellent
residential options, and an attractive location, should add Sonoma State
University to their college list.
No comments:
Post a Comment