private institution covering more than 25 acres (10 hectares) in a residential area of Salt Lake City, Utah. Founded in 1875 as a preparatory school, it became a senior college in 1944. The Presbyterian church owned the college until 1974. Westminster operates on a 4-4-1 system, which means two semesters of roughly four months each plus a one-month term in May. More than half of the full-time faculty hold doctorates. The college also employs numerous part-time instructors. Disciplines offered at the bachelor's level include education, liberal arts and sciences, aviation, fine arts, communication, computer science, management and other business-related fields, and nursing. About 10 to 15 percent of the undergraduates pursue advanced studies within a year of graduation. The college's own graduate programs fall into the areas of education, business, and communications. Westminster enrolls roughly 1,800 undergraduates and 350 graduate students, most of whom are state residents. Women outnumber men. About half of the undergraduates are over the age of 25, and many attend part-time. Limited campus housing serves primarily traditional-age freshmen. College life includes publications, honor societies, intercollegiate soccer, intramural sports, campus ministry council, and choir. |