Admissions Viewbook 2016–17

Find your fit.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

7,700+

6,300 = graduate students

enrollment

every state and more than

25 countries

90 more than

13:1

array of fields

Located next to the

MUSIC ROW,

just 2 miles from downtown Nashville

Approximately

81%

of students come from outside Tennessee

student to faculty ratio

undergraduate majors in a wide

world-famous

= 1,400

Average high school GPA for freshman class is

Largest Christian university in

Tennessee

3.6

No. 5

Ranked

Students hail from

undergraduate students

in the Regional Universities South category by U.S. News & World Report

For Fall 2016, enrolled freshmen scored on average

26

ACT 1210 SAT *

on the

and

on the

All figures are based upon admissions data as of May 5, 2016. (*Equivalent to 1140 on SATs prior to March 2016.)

From Here to Anywhere “From Here to Anywhere” is a motto you’ll hear a lot on our campus, but what does it mean?

At Belmont University, it means: A Christian community in which faculty, staff and students are committed to learning and growing together so that we can transform lives.

Students being surrounded by people who want to help them discover

their passions and strengthen their skills.

A place that

uniquely prepares undergraduates to live out their purpose on the planet, whether that translates to settling in Nashville or traveling the globe.

You’re going to be challenged academically, encouraged to serve others, inspired to dream big and empowered to find your future.

Ultimately, it means exactly what it says— Belmont is just the beginning you need to go from here…

to anywhere!

Table of Contents

what’s next

outcomes

nashville

mission

campus life

opportunities

s

academics

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nashville

mission

mpus life ca

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NEW MAJORS: FAITH & SOCIAL JUSTICE GLOBAL LEADERSHIP STUDIES PUBLIC HEALTH SPORT ADMINISTRATION WORSHIP LEADERSHIP

87% of classes have fewer than

30 STUDENTS

MOST POPULAR MAJORS

academics

1. Music Business 2. Nursing 3. Audio Engineering Technology 4. Commercial Music 5. Entertainment Industry Studies 6. Songwriting 7. Business Administration 8. Biology 9. Exercise Science 10. Psychology



KRISTEN 2017 koch demics aca

Free Your Mind

s

Chapin, ILLINOIS

mission

MAJOR: Exercise Science, Honors Program MINOR: Athletic Training

nashville

ABOUT ME: Resident Assistant Belmont Catholic Community Intramurals Exercise Science Club

comes out

I always have a book with me “The small classroom sizes allow you to form personal relationships with the professors and other students, but the campus is big enough so there are always new people to meet.

I also love how close the campus is to Jeni’s Ice Cream!”

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Well-rounded intellectual development isn’t confined to the classroom. Students can expect daily opportunities to attend guest lectures by national experts on a variety of topics, view important films, participate in discussion forums and enjoy an array of concerts, theatre performances and art exhibits.

And if you find yourself needing a bit of extra help, Belmont’s Learning Centers offer free tutoring and group study in math, writing and languages to provide additional academic support. Plus, since college students from the dawn of time revel in pulling allnighters studying for big exams, the Lila D. Bunch Library is open around the clock during the week.

mpus life ca

At the heart of all of your academic options lies Belmont’s commitment to student-centeredness. To take you “From Here to Anywhere,” first we have to get to know you, your skills, your passions, your dreams.

With small classes and faculty who consistently win national accolades for teaching excellence, you can rest assured that Belmont professors are dedicated to helping you reach your full potential. Moreover, the low student-to-faculty ratio guarantees opportunities for dialogue and collaboration between students and faculty, whether that involves conversing over the current political climate or engaging together in an intensive research project.

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Welcome to Belmont University, a home for higher education since 1890! Whether you’ve known your career path since you were a toddler or are still wondering what you want to be when you grow up, Belmont University can help you find your way with more than 90 undergraduate programs of study.

In addition to diverse and dynamic majors, you’ll also explore broad subjects through Belmont’s innovative—and nationally recognized—BELL Core, a distinctive General Education curriculum that provides a common intellectual and academic experience for each incoming class. Or, perhaps you’ll want to consider the Honors program, which offers unrivaled flexibility in designing unique majors while also giving highly motivated students an enriching and interdisciplinary course offering.

opportunities

600 200,000 74% more than

more than

of graduates held at least

students studied abroad in

2016

COMMUNITY SERVICE hours performed by students annually

1 INTERNSHIP during college career

Rock the Planet

s

mission

Clearly, while Belmont relies on state-of-the-art facilities and top-notch faculty to impart substantial knowledge, what happens in class is just one part of a more comprehensive whole. Known for its innovative approach, Belmont will challenge students to learn inside and outside the classroom, giving them practical, hands-on experience of all they will encounter in a 21st century world.

mpus life ca

Students will also discover interesting ways to connect with their new hometown of Nashville as Belmont seeks to engage the entire campus in service learning, internships and community service throughout the city. Handson, experiential education may occur at the Nashville Zoo, where future biologists conduct research in animal behavior, or it could happen in the Governor’s mansion, where tomorrow’s political scientists intern with state government movers-and-shakers. Or perhaps a community service project with a local hospice organization will inspire the next generation of health care workers to think more broadly of their roles with patients. Belmont’s campus provides plenty of opportunities for putting hands and feet to a variety of subjects with innovative labs, rooftop gardens, the first on-campus financial trading room in Tennessee and award-winning SimMan advanced patient simulators.

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Of course, Belmont’s beautiful campus isn’t the only place our students learn. In fact, they aren’t limited at all by geography. In addition to semester-long programs in Los Angeles (Belmont West) and Manhattan (Belmont East), the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) connects undergraduate students from all majors with international study opportunities on six of the seven continents (and you can sail past the seventh, Antarctica, on Semester at Sea). Students can earn Belmont academic credits on year-long, semester and short-term programs. Popular destinations include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, Cambodia, Guatemala, South Africa, Australia, China, France, Japan and Italy. Other off-campus, study-away programs are offered in the U.S. with recent trips sending students to Hawaii, Washington, D.C. and the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

Belmont Goes Global

Students study abroad, intern and serve around the world! nashville comes out

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campus life

160 more than

STUDENT

organizations & clubs

10

2001 TOP 10 17 NCAA Division I new residence halls built since

ATHLETIC TEAMS

rated a

“Most Beautiful Urban College Campus”

JORDON 2019 washington

Develop Community

MAJOR: Music Business ABOUT ME: The Belmont Beltones

nashville

Resident Assistant Volunteer at Book’em Bruin Recruiter

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“While finding my way during my first year at Belmont, my friends, my classes and the organizations that I got involved in helped me to grow immensely as a person. This is what I love about Belmont: its atmosphere has brought out the best in me.”

comes out

Finding your fit on Belmont’s campus all begins, though, with Move In Day and your introduction to our residential communities. With all freshman housing centered in the middle of campus, new students live mere steps away from their classes, and residential programming is designed to help freshmen build connections with one another and discover their Godgiven potential.

Warrenton, MISSOURI

mission

And if it’s just exercise you’re seeking, the Fitness and Recreation department can keep you physically active with daily group fitness classes, personal training options, a recreational gym, workout room, racquetball courts and even an on-campus climbing wall for adventurous types. That’s not to mention numerous intramural options like flag football, basketball, volleyball and dodgeball. If you’d rather cheer on a team than join one, Belmont has plenty to offer in that arena as well with 17 sports teams competing in the NCAA Division I. There’s nothing quite like cheering on the Bruins as they compete on campus or at the stunning nearby Rose Park athletic facilities overlooking downtown.

mpus life ca

Drive through any of the eight parking garages on Belmont’s 75-acre campus, and you’ll see license plates from all over the country. That diversity of origin is matched only by the variety of interests and talents you’ll find in Belmont classmates, and there’s no shortage of outlets to fit any desired hobby or activity. From recently started groups like the Equestrian Club or Swim Club to long-standing organizations like the Alpha Chi honor society or Student Government Association, Belmont offers countless opportunities both to connect with kindred spirits and be challenged in new ways. Greek life, intramurals, faith development organizations, sports clubs, service groups … you name it. At Belmont you will find a unique niche where you can plug in, build community and exercise your gifts.

mission

SERVE, Every fall new students participate in

a day of service to 15 different Nashville nonprofit agencies during the first week of school

200+ STUDENTS participated in

mission trips

to locations like

Apopka, Florida; Washington, D.C.; Guatemala; Haiti and New York City

Learn on Purpose

ALYSSA 2017 darkow

At the heart of what makes Belmont a great university is its mission: Belmont University is a student-centered Christian community providing an academically challenging education that empowers men and women of diverse backgrounds to engage and transform the world with disciplined intelligence, compassion, courage and faith.

It may be a bit of a mouthful, but the point of it all?

Belmont is committed to helping every student be a lifelong learner. In this constantly evolving world, “education” isn’t something anyone can confine to four years of college. At Belmont, we’re going to purposefully focus our attention on helping you grow intellectually, spiritually, socially and physically, and we’re going to give you the tools to continue that development after you graduate.

MAJOR: Nursing ABOUT ME: National Student Nurses Association

nashville

Bruin Recruiters Belmont Soccer Club Nashville Young Life Volunteer at Christian Women’s Job Corp

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“Dr. Ragsdale’s ‘Anatomy and Physiology’ class has been the most challenging, yet rewarding class I have ever taken. You can tell that he really cares about his students and wants us to succeed, and he does a great job at preparing us for our future nursing classes. I never would have thought that the human body has so many muscles!”

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Belmont also created the Convocation program in order to meet the needs of our changing student population and to create a broader learning experience. “Convos” play a large role in encouraging the promotion of well-rounded individuals by allowing students to delve into beneficial topic areas outside their majors and by providing shared experiences with the rest of the student body. In addition to lectures, discussions, exhibits and performances, the Convo program—like all aspects of Belmont—prioritizes the importance of community service. As our president often says, God created each student for a specific purpose, and we believe our greatest privilege in life is to be smart enough, healthy enough and capable enough to serve someone else.

Dayton, OHIO

mission

Many students often wonder about Belmont’s Christian mission and what that means in terms of their education. It’s pretty simple actually. By employing faculty and staff of the Christian faith—representing a wide spectrum of denominations and theological perspectives—Belmont ensures that students are enveloped in a Christian community in support of their personal growth. Students from every belief system and those who claim no religious affiliation are all welcomed into the University family. In addition, oncampus worship services and organizations, local and international mission projects, and numerous Bible studies offer students multiple avenues to explore and deepen their faith.

nashville Belmont Best of the Best Showcase

Bongo Java

Sevier Park

DOZENS of

restaurants within walking distance of campus, including Nashville’s famous

PANCAKE PANTRY

named No. 1

Friendliest City

by Travel & Leisure

Forbes ranked Nashville in the Top 10

“MOST POPULAR CITIES for MILLENNIALS” & in “Best Big Cities for Jobs”

ranked No. 1

by Huffington Post

20 20s Awesome U.S. Cities You Need to Visit in Your

Embrace Music City Nashville. Music City. Nowville. Whether it’s from the countless national accolades or the exploding cultural scene, Nashville is at the center of the spotlight these days, and deservedly so. Belmont’s campus sits in the middle of Music City, a rising urban mecca that still hasn’t lost its Southern charm. Home to all genres of music, Nashville offers distinctive performance venues to appeal to every taste, from the grandeur of the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall to the historical holy ground of the Ryman Auditorium to the honky tonks on Lower Broadway. Moreover, there are countless studios, clubs and songwriter nights throughout the city where aspiring artists—or anyone who simply loves great music—can discover new sounds.

But music is far from everything Nashville has to offer. Major industries in the Tennessee capital include finance, health care, higher education, insurance, publishing, technology, manufacturing and tourism.

Abundant opportunities exist for internships for students in any major of study, and with more than 12,000 alumni living in Middle Tennessee, networking with fellow Bruins can assist any post-graduation job search.

Urban life in Nashville holds strong appeal for young adults and families alike, particularly in the areas right around Belmont. Zooming into the Belmont Boulevard, 12 South, the Gulch and Hillsboro Village neighborhoods bordering campus, you’ll discover great restaurants and coffee shops, fabulous and quirky boutiques for shopping, and enough parks, sidewalks and bike lanes to provide plenty of outdoor recreation right in the center of the city.

TOP 10 Nashville Places to Visit (all within about 5 miles of campus)

Adventure Science Center & Planetarium....................... 2 mi

Bluebird Café.......................................... 2.7 mi

nashville

Belcourt Theatre................................... 0.5 mi

Frist Center for the Visual Arts........................................ 2.1 mi

Nashville Farmer’s Market............ 4.2 mi

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Nissan Stadium, home of the Tennessee Titans.......................... 3.6 mi

Nashville Zoo.......................................... 5.6 mi Parthenon................................................ 1.8 mi

Ryman Auditorium............................. 2.5 mi Centennial Park

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Radnor Lake............................................ 5.5 mi

outcomes

Of those attending grad school,

More than

Belmont graduates have an

85% 30,000 87% of Belmont graduates were accepted by their top pick

alumni worldwide

1st destination rate

Transform Your Life Belmont has so much to offer that it might be easy to overlook that this is a University that will truly take you from here to anywhere. Inside and outside the classroom, faculty and staff are committed to your growth and development, seeking to help you discover your passions and develop your gifts so that you can be a change agent in your community and the broader world.

Moreover, our graduates are well respected and highly sought after as proven by our First Destination Rate, a number that reflects how many of our alumni secure professional, full-time employment, enroll in graduate school or enlist in military service within six months after graduation. At Belmont, we’re at 87 percent. Ask around, and you’ll discover just how impressive that number is. More importantly, it gives you the confidence that not only will you receive a holistic, transformational education, but you’ll also have a distinct advantage in a competitive job market after you graduate.

TINA sharma

CLASS OF

2015

Nashville, TENNESSEE MAJORS: Applied Discrete Mathematics & Economics ABOUT ME: Alpha Chi National College & Omicron Delta Epsilon Honor Societies Intercollegiate Ethics Bowl Intern at Nashville Mayor’s Office of Innovation Intern at Congressman Jim Cooper’s Office Youth Organizer for the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition

comes out

Board of Directors at the Nashville International Center for Empowerment at’s next wh

“If I had to choose one thing that makes Belmont unique I would say the people, the many talented students and faculty. I especially loved the meaningful relationships I made with my professors. The faculty not only played an important role in my academic success but also helped me create a network outside of Belmont. This network helped me land a job at my dream company—Google.

I currently work in the Google Global Business Operations team in California helping agencies around the world work with Google products.”

Find Your Fit You’ve read a bit about what Belmont has to offer. Now it’s time to see for yourself. Schedule a visit! We offer campus visits Monday–Friday where you can attend an admissions information session, take a campus tour, enjoy lunch in the new Harrington Place Dining and learn more about your academic area of interest. Also make plans to attend a Preview Day which are unique Saturday visit days for you and your family to preview the university and meet current students and faculty in each major. Visiting campus is the best way to find out if Belmont is the right fit for you.

belmont.edu/visit

admissions@belmont.edu

615.460.6785 or 800.56ENROLL

belmont.edu/tourguide

/belmontuniversity

@belmontuniv

@belmontu

belmont.edu/bruinblogs

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Belmont awards a variety of academic merit scholarships to qualified admitted freshmen each year (approximately 55 to 60 percent of admitted freshmen are offered a merit scholarship). The application for admission to the University also serves as the application for merit scholarships. Recipients of the University’s most competitive and highest merit-based scholarships represent approximately the top two percent of the freshman applicant pool and must have completed the application file by December 1. General freshman academic merit scholarships do not require the December 1 deadline; they are considered on a rolling basis following the offer of admission. General freshman academic merit scholarships range from $3,000 to $10,000 annually. Admitted freshmen with academic credentials that meet or exceed the University’s freshman class profile (ACT composite score of 26 or SAT score of 1210 [for SATs taken March 2016 and beyond], with a cumulative high school grade point average of 3.5) are considered competitive candidates for general academic merit scholarship.

2016–17 Tuition and Fees

$31,390

2016–17 Room and Board

$11,330

Total cost for 2016–17

Percentage of students receiving financial aid of any kind

Belmont University named a

2016 Best Value

by Kiplinger

$42,720 75%

Need more info? Call 615.460.6403 or visit belmont.edu/undergradaid.

For Fall 2016, Belmont received more than

Approximately

5,807 7,192

freshman applications

83% first year retention rate

applicants were admitted

% 28 of FRESHMEN

were in the top 10% of their graduating class

1,629 freshmen

% 59 of FRESHMEN

were in the top 25% of their graduating class

MAJORS/PROGRAMS JACK C. MASSEY COLLEGE OF BUSINESS

School of Social Sciences • Audio

COLLEGE OF VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

• Accounting

• Communication

Department of Art

• Economics • Entrepreneurship • Finance • General

Business Business • International Economics • Management • Management Information Systems • Marketing • Social Entrepreneurship • International

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT & MUSIC BUSINESS • Audio

Engineering Technology • Entertainment Industry Studies • Motion Pictures • Music Business • Songwriting

& Video Production Studies • Corporate Communications • History • International Politics • Journalism • Mass Communication • Multimedia Production • Political Science • Politics & Public Law • Public Relations • Publishing • Sociology • Video Production

COLLEGE OF SCIENCES & MATHEMATICS • Applied

Discrete Mathematics & Molecular Biology

• Biochemistry • Biology • Chemistry • Computer

GORDON E. INMAN COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES & NURSING • Nursing •

Public Health Work

• Social

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS & SOCIAL SCIENCES School of Education • Early

Childhood Education Education • Exercise Science • Middle School Education • Secondary Education • Sport Administration • Elementary

School of Humanities • English • French • German

Science Physics • Environmental Science • Mathematics • Medical Physics • Neuroscience • Pharmaceutical Studies • Physics • Psychology • Web Programming & Development • Engineering

COLLEGE OF THEOLOGY & CHRISTIAN MINISTRY • Biblical

Languages Studies • Christian Leadership • Church Leadership & Administration • Faith & Social Justice • Philosophy of Religion • Religion & the Arts • Religious Studies • Worship Leadership • Biblical

• Art • Art

Education History • Design Communications • Studio Art • Art

Department of Theatre & Dance •

Theatre

• Theatre

Directing & Drama • Theatre Education • Theatre Performance • Theatre Production Design • Theatre

School of Music • Church

Music Music • Music (Bachelor of Arts) • Music Composition • Music Education • Music Performance • Music Theory • Music Therapy • Music with an Outside Minor • Musical Theatre • Piano Pedagogy • Commercial

INTERDISCIPLINARY PROGRAMS • Asian

Studies Leadership Studies

• Global

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS AVAILABLE IN: • Pre-Allied

Health

• Pre-Dental • Pre-Law • Pre-Medical • Pre-Occupational

Therapy

• Pre-Optometry • Pre-Pharmacy

• Spanish

• Pre-Physical

Therapy

• Pre-Veterinary

For detailed information on minor programs, concentrations within majors, degree requirements and course descriptions, visit belmont.edu/catalog.

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• Philosophy

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY Belmont University is a Christian community. The university faculty, administration and staff uphold Jesus as the Christ and as the measure for all things. As a community seeking to uphold Christian standards of morality, ethics and conduct, Belmont University holds high expectations of each person who chooses to join the community. Belmont University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, military service or sexual orientation. Inquiries or complaints concerning the application of these policies to students should be directed to the Dean of Students, 2nd floor Beaman Student Life Center, deanofstudents@belmont.edu, 615.460.6407.

SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES Under the Office of the Dean of Students, Disability Services (DS) oversees Belmont University’s reasonable accommodation process for students with disabilities in order to provide equal access to University programs and services consistent with both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. For more information, contact our office at 615.460.6407, Beaman Student Life Center, Suite 200, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

ACCREDITATION Belmont University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges to award baccalaureate, masters and doctoral degrees. Contact the Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404.679.4500 for questions about the accreditation of Belmont University.

Office of Admissions • 1900 Belmont Boulevard • Nashville, TN 37212 • BELMONT.EDU

The cover and interior of this book were printed on Rolland Opaque30 paper, which contains 30 percent postconsumer fiber. This paper was manufactured using renewable biogas energy and is FSC® and EcoLogo certified.

This paper saved 49 trees

47,408 gallons of water

4,850 pounds of waste

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