public institution covering more than 60 acres (24 hectares) in Salem, Mass., 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Boston. The college, founded in 1854, originally focused on teacher preparation but grew to offer various disciplines at the bachelor's and master's levels. Enrollment consists of 10,000 students in undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs. Women outnumber men. Most students are state residents. The academic calendar is divided into semesters. Undergraduate disciplines offered include liberal arts and sciences, visual and performing arts, business, nursing, communications, computer science, criminal justice, education, cartography, social work, and exercise sciences. The college conducts graduate programs in many of the same areas as undergraduate studies. Salem State has a limited amount of campus housing for interested students, with freshmen given priority. College life includes musical and theatrical groups, a student-run newspaper, a radio station, a speaker series, and intramural sports. Varsity sports teams compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (except the ice hockey team, which participates in Division II). |