private institution covering 160 acres (65 hectares) in Westminster, Md., 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Baltimore. It was founded in 1867 and named for the Western Maryland Railroad. The college grants bachelor's and master's degrees. Enrollment consists of roughly 1,200 undergraduates and 900 graduate students, most of whom come from the Middle Atlantic region of the United States. The majority of undergraduates live in campus housing. The academic calendar is divided 4-1-4, which means two full semesters of about four months each and a one-month term in between for study tours, independent projects, concentrated classes, or internships. About 85 percent of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. Undergraduate fields of study include liberal arts and sciences, business, communications, physical education, visual and performing arts, and social work. Western Maryland also offers a special program in education of the deaf. Students interested in engineering, forestry, and health-related careers can participate in five-year programs arranged in conjunction with other institutions. The college conducts graduate programs in education and the liberal arts. Students can choose from some 70 extracurricular activities covering a wide range of interests. About a third of the undergraduates join fraternities and sororities, and almost three fourths participate in intramural sports. Varsity sports teams compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. |