Salem State University

One of nine universities in the Massachusetts state university system, Salem State offers students a liberal arts education centered on the critical thinking and communication skills that make them career ready and prepared for life and work in a global environment upon graduation. The university is situated on 115 acres approximately one mile from historic downtown Salem, and comprises five campuses.

Salem State graduates provide the region and the commonwealth with a well prepared and highly skilled work force and its students, faculty and staff give countless hours to area nonprofits each year. through their gift of time and their participation in service learning projects, Salem State students bring to future employers a deep understading of civic engagement.

The university's small student/faculty ratio provides both undergraduates and graduate students the opportunity to learn in a highly personal and collaborative environment with professors who actively publish and conduct research. Salem State University boasts 11 recipients of prestigious Fulbrights fellowships, leading the Chronicle of Education in October 2011 to cite it as one of the top thirty Fulbright institutions in the nation among master's degree granting institutions.

Students enjoy a rich and varied on-campus life that lets them choose from over 65 students groups and organizations, 17 varsity teams, intramural sports, and hundreds of student activities throughout the year. Salem State has a nationally recognized residence life program, and with the recent addition of two contemporary residence halls it is well on its way to achieving a 50-percent residential campus. The expected 2013 opening of a state-of-the-art library and learning commmons and a modern fitness center will provide students with still more academic and athletic opportunities.

One of the unique majors offered at Salem State is theatre and speech communication, which is the only public college program in New England accredited by the National Association of Schools of Theatre. A "hands-on" theatre program, it provides students personal interaction with professionally trained faculty and staff. Alumni place well in graduate schools, conservatories, regional theaters, and in professional theater.

The department has won numerous national and regional honors, and is a consistent award winner in the Kennedy Center American college Theatre Festival. In the past 18 years, nine Salem State theater majors have represent New England at the festival, with three taking home the prestigious national Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship. This has elevated Salem State to one of only two colleges or universities in the country to have had three winners.

Salem State's digital geography laboratory is a unique facility dedicated to geo-spatial computing research and education, and has helped geography and geo-information science graduates secure important jobs in a variety of industries, including homeland security, criminal justice, natural resouce management, and urban and transportation planning.