Washburn University of Topeka
Topeka, KS 66621
(913) 231-1010; (800) 332-0391

Washburn University of Topeka, a public, primarily commuter institution established in 1865, offers programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, nursing, education, and technical and other career-oriented fields. There are 4 undergraduate and 3 graduate schools. In addition to regional accreditation, Washburn has baccalaureate program accreditation with APTA, CAHEA, CSWE, NASAD, NASM, NCATE, and NLN. The 2 libraries contain 300,000 volumes and 100,000 microform items, and subscribe to 1800 periodicals. Computerized library services include the card catalog, interlibrary loans, and database searching. Special learning facilities include a learning resource center, art gallery, planetarium, and TV station. The 160-acre campus is in an urban area 60 miles west of Kansas City. Including residence halls, there are 18 buildings.

Student Life: 95% of undergraduates are from Kansas. Others are from 42 states and 17 foreign countries. 87% are from public schools. 78% are white. The average age of freshmen is 23; all undergraduates, 26. 40% do not continue beyond their first year; 50% remain to graduate.

Housing: 170 students can be accommodated in college housing, which includes single-sex and coed dormitories, married-student housing, fraternity houses, and sorority houses. In addition, there are family houses. On-campus housing is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Priority is given to out-of-town students. 80% of students commute. Alcohol is not permitted. All students may keep cars.

Activities: 5% of men belong to 1 local and 3 national fraternities; 5% of women belong to 4 national sororities. There are 80 groups on campus, including art, band, cheerleading, chess, choir, chorus, computers, dance, drama, drill team, drum and bugle corps, ethnic, honors, international, jazz band, literary magazine, marching band, musical theater, newspaper, orchestra, pep band, political, professional, radio and TV, religious, social, social service, student government, and yearbook. Popular campus events include Homecoming and Greek Week.

Sports: There are 5 intercollegiate sports for men and 4 for women; 10% of men and 10% of women participate in intramural sports.

Disabled Students: 95% of the campus is accessible. Wheelchair ramps, elevators, special parking, specially equipped rest rooms, special class scheduling, lowered drinking fountains, lowered telephones, and specially designed residential suites are available. Note takers, readers, library assistance, recorders, and tapes are also available. Services: Counseling and information services are available, as is tutoring in most subjects. There is a reader service for the blind and remedial math and writing.

Campus Safety and Security: Measures include 24-hour foot and vehicle patrol, self-defense education, and lighted pathways/sidewalks.

Programs of Study: Washburn confers B.A., B.S., B.A.S., B.B.A., B.Ed., B.F.A., B.G.S., B.M.; B.P.A., B.S.C., B.S.N., and B.S.W. degrees. Associate, master’s, and doctoral degrees are also awarded. Bachelor’s degrees are awarded in BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE (biology/ biological science}. BUSINESS (accounting, business administration and management, business economics, and marketing/retailing/ merchandising), COMMUNICATIONS AND THE ARTS fart, art history and appreciation, dramatic arts, English, French, German, music, music performance, Spanish, speech/debate/rhetoric, and theater design), COMPUTER AND PHYSICAL SCIENCE (chemistry, computer programming, information sciences and systems, mathematics, and physics), EDUCATION (art, early childhood, elementary, music, physical, and secondary), HEALTH PROFESSIONS (medical laboratory technology and nursing), SOCIAL SCIENCE (anthropology, corrections, economics, history, human services, law enforcement and corrections, liberal arts/general studies, philosophy, political science/government, psychology, public administration, religion, social work, and sociology). Business administration has the largest enrollment.

Required: To graduate, students must complete courses in the humanities, English composition, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required over 124 credit hours, with 30 to 60 credit hours in the major.

Special: Washburn offers internships in numerous departments and study abroad in Holland, Denmark, Japan, and Mexico. Dual and student-designed majors, a general studies degree, credit by exam, non-degree study, and pass/fail options are also available. A 3-2 engineering degree is possible in conjunction with the University of Kansas and Kansas State University. There is a freshman honors program.

Faculty/Classroom: 60% of faculty are male; 40%, female. 91% teach undergraduates and all do research. No introductory courses are taught by graduate students. The average class size in an introductory lecture is 35; in a lab, 20; and in a reguiar course, 25.

Requirements: The ACT is required. Applicants should be graduates of an accredited secondary school or have the GED. AP and CLEP credits are accepted.

Procedure: Freshmen are admitted to all sessions. Applications should be filed by August 1 for fall entry, December 1 for spring entry, and May 1 for summer entry. Washburn accepts all applicants. Notification is sent on a rolling basis.

Transfer: Applicants must meet the same requirements as incoming freshmen. 30 credits of 124 must be completed at Washburn.