Towson University (TU) Introduction and Academics

Introduction

Towson University is the largest nationally recognized comprehensive university in the Baltimore area. The university was established in 1866 in downtown Baltimore and was then known as Maryland State Normal School. The school was set up with the primary objective of preparing teachers for Maryland public schools. The school was shifted to Towson in 1915. By 1963, the school had started offering various arts and sciences programs and was therefore rechristened as Towson State College. The college was granted university status in 1976 and in 1988 Towson State University was made part of the University System of Maryland. In 1997, Towson State University was renamed as Towson University.

Towson University is located in Towson, Md., a suburb of Baltimore and is spread over a beautifully landscaped area of 328-acres. The university has a total enrollment of 21,840 students as of fall 2010. Towson University comprises eight colleges, namely: Honors College, College of Education, College of Liberal Arts, College of Business and Economics, College of Health Professions, College of Fine Arts and Communication, The Jess and Mildred Fisher College of Science and Mathematics, College of Graduate Studies and Research.

Towson University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and the Maryland State Department of Education.

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Information Summary

Ranks 11th in Maryland and 460th overall. See the entire top 2,000 colleges and universities list
Overall Score (about)	87.2
Total Cost On-Campus Attendance	$26,834
Admission Success rate	N/A
ACT / SAT 75%ile scores	25 / 1200
Student Ratio Students-to-Faculty	20 : 1
Retention (full-time / part-time)	85% / 67%
Enrollment Total (all students)	22,923

Academics

Towson University offers 63 undergraduate, 44 master’s and 4 doctoral degree programs.

Undergraduate Degrees

The undergraduate degree programs offered at Towson University are: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Bachelor of Music (B.M.), Bachelor of Technical and Professional Studies (B.T.P.S.), and Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree programs. The most popular undergraduate majors are Elementary Education, Business Administration, Mass Communication, Psychology, and Nursing.

The Bachelor of Arts degree program is available in different areas of study such as Accounting, Art, Foreign Languages, Sociology/Anthropology, and Theatre Arts. The students opting for the Bachelor of Science degree program can specialize in areas such as Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Business Administration, and Exercise Science.

Graduate and Doctoral Degree Programs

The graduate degree programs offered at Towson University are: Master of Arts (M.A.), Master of Science (M.S.), Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Associate to Master’s (A.T.M.), Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), Master of Music (M.M.), Master of Education (M.Ed.), and Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). The doctoral programs available at Towson University are Applied Doctor in Audiology (Au.D.), Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Doctor of Science (D.Sc.), and Doctor of Science in Occupational Science (Sc.D.). The most popular graduate programs offered at Towson University are Applied Information Technology, Reading Education, Human Resource Development, Teaching, Instructional Technology.

Most Popular Fields of Study

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Admissions

To seek admission in Towson University, students are required to submit the admission application form, official high school transcripts, and ACT/SAT (Reasoning Test) test scores. Admissions are primarily granted on the basis of high school (grades 9-11) performance, educational preparation, standardized test scores, and high school coursework. Prospective freshman applicants are recommended to complete three units of mathematics (Algebra I, Algebra II and Geometry), three units of social sciences, four (Carnegie) units of English (including one each of English literature, composition, and American literature), three units of science (two with labs), two units of a foreign language, and six elective units. All first time college students and all transfer students with less than 30 credits are required to appear for diagnostic placement tests.

Transfer students seeking admission in Towson University must have completed at least 30 credits of transferable college work.

International Applicants

International students are recommended to apply for admissions before June 1 for fall term and before December 1 for spring term. They are required to submit the international application form, original secondary school transcripts/national exam score report, and certificates/provisional diplomas. They are also required to provide evidence of their proficiency in English by submitting their TOEFL/IELTS scores. Students are supposed to provide a certificate of finances to demonstrate availability of funds to finance the education and living expenses for a year.

Financial Aid

Towson University provides financial aid to students to help them meet their educational expenses. The basic objective of providing financial aid is to bridge the gap between family resources and annual educational expenses of the students enrolled for various programs at Towson University. Different financial aid programs available for the students are: grants, work-study opportunities, scholarships, and student loans.

Scholarships, Grants, and Loans

The need-based grant options include the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Academic Competitiveness Grant, National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant, TEACH Grant, and Institutional Grant. Students can avail various loan options such as Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized), and Federal Parent PLUS loan. Students can also apply for work-study programs wherein they can seek in-campus and off-campus work-study positions. They can only work for a maximum of 20 hours per week during an academic session. The merit-based awards include Helen Aletta Linthicum Scholarship, Provost’s Scholarship, Top 10% Scholars Program, Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship, Commonwealth Award, and Phi Theta Kappa Transfer Scholarship.

FAFSA

To apply for financial aid from Towson University, students are required to submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the U.S. Department of Education. To be eligible for financial aid, students must be U.S citizens or eligible non-citizens. Towson University recommends a priority deadline of March 1 to apply for the financial aid.

Student Financial Aid Details

Ranks 2962nd for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best scholarships and financial aid in Maryland.

Students

Towson University believes in creating an atmosphere where students are challenged to learn and grow outside the classroom. The Career Center provides assistance to students in defining career goals and finding opportunities for experiential learning. The Campus Recreation Services promotes a healthy lifestyle by getting the students involved in adventure pursuits, fitness, sports, and special events. The university has a Counseling Center that provides guidance to the students in dealing with emotional problems, learning new skills, and working towards their goals. The Student Activities office provides opportunities for the students to become active members of the campus and the wider community. There are more than 200 student organizations on campus which provide countless opportunities for students to interact with people having similar interests. Tutoring facilities are also available for students who want additional academic support.

Towson University: Housing and Dining

Towson University offers on-campus and off-campus housing support for the students. There are 15 on-campus residence halls. Students can choose to live in Paca/Tubman Houses, Millennium Hall, or University Housing. The dining facilities are available for the students of Towson University at 16 different locations and the menu options include vegetarian, halal, and kosher cuisine. The university campus features All-You-Care-To-Eat dining facilities, A-la-Carte dining facilities (Brick Street Café, 7720 Café, Patuxent, Starbucks, and Susquehanna), and convenience stores for the students.

Student Enrollment Demographics

Student Graduation Demographics

Athletics

Towson University is a member of the NCAA Division I and the athletic teams compete in the Colonial Athletic Association. There are 20 athletic teams which compete in men’s baseball, football, basketball, lacrosse, soccer, golf, and swimming and diving. The women’s teams compete in gymnastics, softball, basketball, field hockey, cross country, golf, lacrosse, indoor track, soccer, tennis, swimming and diving, volleyball, and outdoor track. The intercollegiate athletic teams are known as the Tigers. The school colors are Gold, white and black.

Athletic facilities are available for the students of Towson University at Johnny Unitas Stadium, Towson Center Sports Complex, Burdick Hall pool and John B. Schuerholz Baseball Park.

Bibliography

Towson University. About TU. Web. 15 December 2011.

Towson University. Housing and Dining. Web. 15 December 2011.

Towson University. Undergraduate Catalog 2011-2012. 2011. Print.

Towson University