Academics and Learning Environment
For the B student, the learning environment of a college is just as important as the quality of its academic program. Bellarmine University has 138 full-time and 162 part-time faculty members, offering a student-to-faculty ratio of 12:1. The most common course size is 10 to 19 students. Bellarmine University offers 39 majors with the most popular being nursing, business administration and psychology. The school has a general core requirement as well as a religion requirement. Cooperative education is not offered. All first-year students must maintain a 2.0 GPA or higher to avoid academic probation. Other special academic programs that would appeal to a B student include: self-designed majors • independent study • double majors • dual degrees • accelerated study • honors program • internships • certificate programs.
Highlights
Bellarmine University
Louisville, KY (Pop. 557,789)
Location: Major city
Four-year private
Founded: 1950
Website: http://www.bellarmine.edu
Students
Total enrollment: 3,090
Undergrads: 2,417
Freshmen: 603
Part-time students: 15%
From out-of-state: 36%
From public schools: 66%
Male/Female: 35%/65%
Live on-campus: 47%
In fraternities: 1%
In sororities: 1%
Off-campus employment rating: Excellent
Caucasian: 82%
African American: 3%
Hispanic: 2%
Asian or Pacific Islander: 3%
Native American: 0%
International: 1%
Academics
Calendar: Semester
Student/faculty ratio: 12:1
Class size 9 or fewer: 14%
Class size 10-29: 72%
Class size 30-49: 12%
Class size 50-99: 2%
Class size 100 or more: -
Returning freshmen: 78%
Six-year graduation rate: 63%
Most Popular Majors
Nursing
Business administration
Psychology
B Student Support and Success
This college’s Academic Resource Center is the place for help with classes and college careers. There are tutors available for the 100- and 200-level classes, both in individual and group study sessions. The staff at ARC helps to analyze students’ essays to improve grammar, style and formatting.
Bellarmine also offers a one-hour credit course called Freshman Focus. It helps freshmen make the transition to college. This program includes reading, writing, discussion and out-of-class activities. The focus of the course is increasing a student’s self-awareness and sense of purpose when it comes to his/her education and making important decisions about academic and social lives. Students are graded (A to F) in this class.
Bellarmine University provides a variety of support programs including dedicated guidance for: academic • career • personal • psychological • religious. The average freshman year GPA is 2.9, and 78 percent of freshmen students return for their sophomore year. What do students do after college? While many enter the work force, approximately 22 percent pursue a graduate degree immediately after graduation. One year after graduation, the school reports that 23 percent of graduates have entered graduate school. Among students who enter the work force, approximately 80 percent enter a field related to their major within six months of graduation. Companies that most frequently hire graduates from Bellarmine University include: Abercrombie and Fitch • AIG • AmeriCorps • Baptist East Hospital • Bellarmine University • Deloitte & Touche • Department of the Navy • Ernst and Young • Evanston Hospital • Frazier Arms Museum • GE Industrial • Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana • Hardin Memorial Hospital • Heaven Hills Distillery • Kessler Company • Kosair Hospital • Jefferson County Public Schools • Jewish Hospital • Mayor of Louisville • Norton Hospital • Old Towne Mortgage • Rescare • Saint Xavier High School • Sherman Williams • Strothman and Company • United Parcel Service • U.S. Bank • Wells Fargo • William M. Mercer Company.
Support for Students with Learning Disabilities
Students with learning disabilities may take advantage of specific support programs offered by Bellarmine University. According to the school, LD advisor/advocate can meet with faculty on an individual basis. Students with learning disabilities will find the following programs at Bellarmine University extremely useful: tutors • learning center • untimed tests • extended time for tests • take-home exam • oral tests • readers • note-taking services • reading machines • tape recorders • texts on tape • videotaped classes • early syllabus. Individual or small group tutorials are also available in: time management • organizational skills • learning strategies • specific subject areas • writing labs • math labs • study skills. An advisor/advocate from the Counseling Center is available to students.
How to Get Admitted
For admissions decisions, non-academic factors considered: interview • extracurricular activities • special talents, interests, abilities • character/personal qualities • volunteer work • work experience • geographical location • minority affiliation • alumni relationship. A high school diploma is required, although a GED is also accepted for admissions consideration. SAT or ACT test scores are required of all applicants. SAT Subject Test scores are not required. According to the admissions office: Minimum combined SAT score of 1000 (composite