Colleges Clark University

Clark University www.clarku.edu

Clark University is a private institution that was founded in 1887. It’s set on a 50-acre campus in the city of Worcester, Massachusetts, less than an hour away from Boston. Clark is a small liberal arts institution in the midst of 11 other colleges and universities. Together, the schools make up the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts. All Clark students can get a WOO card: a pass that grants discounts at area attractions, baseball games, and the local ski slope, Wachusett Mountain. On campus, Clark students can choose from around 130 clubs and organizations. A self-designed major gives students the flexibility to combine several disciplines to create an integrated, coherent program of study that still meets rigorous academic standards. Students can explore more than 50 study abroad options after declaring a major. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus, and all students are allowed to bring cars.

Academics

Clark is classified among R2 Doctoral Universities: High Research Activities. It was a founding member of the Association of American Universities. The university offers 46 majors, minors, and concentrations in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering, and allows students to design specialized majors and engage in pre-professional programs. It is a member of the Higher Education Consortium of Central Massachusetts, which enables students to cross-register at other Worcester institutions including the Worcester Polytechnic Institute and the College of the Holy Cross. The student-faculty ratio at Clark University is 9:1, and the school has 64% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. Popular majors include Social Sciences, Business, and Psychology.

Special Highlights

Campus Profile. The campus is located on Main Street in the Main South neighborhood about two miles west of downtown Worcester and 40 miles west of Boston. The campus is compact, with most of the major buildings located within the space of a single city block. The center of campus is known as the Green. The Green is a hub for student activity, and is where most “Clarkies” spend their time during the warm months. It is the location of Spree Day, the welcome back BBQ, several clubs’ events and graduation. The buildings surrounding The Green include Atwood Hall, Jefferson Academic Center, Higgins University Center, Jonas Clark Hall, and the Goddard Library. Administrative offices are housed in small buildings along Woodland Street, as is the president’s house. The Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center is across Main Street and houses meeting spaces and offices.

Clark Navigator. Clark Navigator introduces you to Clark and Worcester. Through weekly activities, you and your Navigator group will explore a full array of campus facilities, academic resources, social and co-curricular life, and events and opportunities in the broader community. Begin the program during Orientation and continue meeting with your assigned group throughout the semester. The First Year Pathways Program supports your journey at Clark. In parallel with the Navigator, students will participate in at least 10 experiences as part of the First Year Pathways Program. While some of these experiences will be completed as a group during the scheduled Navigator time, others will be more individualized where students can choose their own experience.

School Mission & Unique Qualities

Clark is known for its liberal arts education, research, and innovation. The university prepares students for a complex society through traditional disciplines and interdisciplinary approaches, emphasizing free inquiry and idea exchange. Offering programs for undergraduates, graduates, and lifelong learners, Clark promotes intellectual and personal growth with diverse educational activities and extracurriculars that develop values and responsible independence. Research is a particular focus for students at Clark. Undergraduates are encouraged to get involved, and students showcase their work each semester during Fall Fest and Academic Spree Day. The school’s research expertise is a century-long tradition; on campus in 1909, Sigmund Freud gave his famous Clark Lectures about psychoanalysis, and university researchers have been responsible for discoveries that led to the birth control pill and the formula for wind-chill factor.

Student Reviews…

“Clark University has a very active campus, with different club and school-sponsored events happening every week. Most of my classes are on the smaller side and you can actually get to know your professors who are usually very helpful and supportive. I would say that overall, academics and professors at Clark are great, but quality of life can be hit-or-miss.”