Bridgewater State College

Bridgewater State University has high expectations – of our students, our region and the institution itself. Our goal is to provide outstanding growth opportunities and learning experiences that will transform lives.

Since its founding in 1840, Bridgewater State has remained steadfast in its commitment to empower individuals and instill in its community an abiding desire to advance the public good. Our rigorous and dynamic academic environment encourages students and faculty to develop their strengths and become leaders in their fields. At the same time, we strive to lead by example. As the university continues to build momentum, we continuously reinvest in the success of our students and our region.

As the comprehensive teaching university of Southeastern Massachusetts, Bridgewater State University has a responsibility to educate the residents of Southeastern Massachusetts and the commonwealth, and to use its intellectual, scientific and technological resources to support and advance the economic and cultural life of the region and the state.

While maintaining its historic focus on the preparation of teachers, Bridgewater State University provides a broad range of baccalaureate degree programs through its Louis M. Ricciardi College of Business, College of Education and Allied Studies, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Bartlett College of Science and Mathematics. At the graduate level, the College of Graduate Studies offers Master of Arts and Master of Science in select disciplines, as well as Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Education, Master of Public Administration and Master of Social Work. In addition, Bridgewater State University prepares educators for postbaccalaureate and postmaster’s licensure.

Through the extensive information technology and distance education resources available at Bridgewater State University, including the John Joseph Moakley Center for Technological Applications, the university has made technology an integral component of teaching and learning on campus, and is a regional center for the enhancement of teaching through technology for PreK-12 teachers and university faculty.

The university’s growing number of innovative academic programs helps to ensure that Bridgewater State University students are prepared to think critically, communicate effectively and act responsibly within a context of personal and professional ethics. For example, the Academic Achievement Center, and particularly its first-year advising program, is often cited as a model for other institutions to follow. At the same time, the Adrian Tinsley Program for Undergraduate Research represents an unparalleled opportunity for students to work closely with faculty mentors and to present research and creative work at regional and national conferences.

Bridgewater State University benefits from Connect, its regional partnership with other public higher education institutions in the region – the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Massasoit Community College, Bristol Community College and Cape Cod Community College. Connect coordinates the academic, administrative and development activities of public higher education in Southeastern Massachusetts, and introduces shared activities and programs among member institutions.

The Leading for Change Higher Education Diversity Consortium is a voluntary collaboration of higher education institutions in Massachusetts and New England committed to identifying student and employee diversity best practices through uniform and transparent use of data, institutional benchmarks and reflective practice. Experts from Bridgewater State University, Emerson College, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Bristol Community College and Harvard University have worked together to identify student and employee benchmarks for success in higher education. The consortium’s benchmarks were unveiled at the June 11, 2014 Leading for Change Conference at Bridgewater State University. Public and private institutions are invited to join the consortium.We invite you to review Bridgewater’s wide-ranging options, find the program that works for you and begin the process of becoming a Bridgewater State University student.

With a broad range of high-caliber undergraduate and graduate programs, Bridgewater offers outstanding educational opportunities and tremendous flexibility for all of its students – day, evening, residents and commuters – full time or part time. As a state-supported university, we maintain a firm commitment to providing greater access to higher education in the region. Our faculty and facilities are second to none.

Bridgewater’s Financial Aid Office is dedicated to helping students cover the costs of a college education. We’ll explore your options with you – including grants/waivers, loans and work programs – and provide you with the personal counseling and support you need as you assemble the necessary funding.

Bridgewater has developed a diverse array of innovative academic programs that foster critical thinking, effective communication, creative problem-solving and civic engagement. With more than 90 areas of study to choose from, you can explore your interests and pursue your dreams.

Bridgewater State University believes that if we make a top-quality education accessible, we can change lives – and change the world. Our students have proven us right. Year after year, BSU students astonish us with their hopes and ideas, their aspirations and their achievements. Our outstanding faculty is committed to continuing this tradition of excellence by providing opportunities and forums that engage students’ imaginations, inspire personal growth and enrich intellectual explorations.

Bridgewater State University strives to ensure that each of our students has access to the services they need and the activities that will inspire them. The departments within the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management are here to get students connected in ways that matter most to them.

Less than 30 miles from Boston and 35 from Providence, Bridgewater’s campus provides a safe, supportive culture for undergraduate and graduate students alike. We offer a wide range of services to help with housing, academic support, internships and career planning. Diverse and engaged, our community keeps the campus lively with a variety of events, activities, clubs and organizations.