College Highlight

Dickinson college

From the Fiske Guide

With traditions dating to the 18th century, Dickinson occupies a historic setting in the foothills of central Pennsylvania. Curriculum blends traditional liberal arts values with attention to international studies, foreign languages, study abroad, and sustainable development. With underrepresented minorities, international students, and hippies now more numerous, Dickinson is shedding its image as a preppy haven. Competes head to head with nearby Gettysburg.

Dickinson College won its charter just six days after the Treaty of Paris recognized the United States as a sovereign nation in 1783, and this small liberal arts school has been blazing trails ever since. The moving force behind it was Dr. Benjamin Rush, the famous physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence who convinced John Dickinson, the then governor of Pennsylvania, to lend his name to the new school. Now, administrators are focused on diversity, global education, and attracting the best and brightest academic talent. "Dickinson is such a perfect school for students who are looking to find their passion," offers one junior.

Almost all of Dickinson's Georgian buildings are crafted from gray limestone from the college's own quarry, which lends a certain architectural consistency. The campus is part of the historic district of Carlisle, an economically prosperous central Pennsylvania county seat nestled in a fertile valley. The newest addition to campus is a 129-bed, energy-efficient residence hall.

Dickinson is best known for its workshop approach to science education, for its outstanding and comprehensive international education program, and for the depth of its foreign language program, with more than a dozen languages offered, including Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew, Italian, and Portuguese. International business and management, one of Dickinson's most popular majors, includes coursework in economics, history, and financial analysis, as well as internships and overseas education. Other popular majors include economics, biology, and psychology.

Consistent with its "Engaging the World" approach, Dickinson has begun offering certificates in food studies as well as in social innovation and entrepreneurship. Other certificates on emerging issues include security studies and health studies. The education program has been upgraded to a major in educational studies, and women's, gender, and sexuality studies is now a major too. Students can gain a hands-on understanding of human culture and behavior by studying archaeology in locations such as Mycenae, Greece. Interdisciplinary programs such as neuroscience and workshop physics offer chances to carry out research with faculty members. A 3-3 program with the Dickinson School of Law at Penn State allows students to obtain undergraduate and J.D. degrees in six years.

Carlisle is 20 miles from the Pennsylvania state capital of Harrisburg, and has plenty of "cool little shops that you wouldn't find in big cities," says a student. "It's a fun place to be," adds a senior. Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Alpha Phi Omega community service fraternity, and other programs help bring the school and community together. In the spring and early fall, Maryland and Delaware beaches beckon; they're just a two- to three-hour drive. Come winter, good skiing is half an hour away. Nature lovers will enjoy hiking the nearby Appalachian Trail. For those craving urban stimulation, the best road trips are to Philadelphia, New York, and Washington, D.C. All are accessible by bus or train—a good thing, since first-years can't
have cars.

Dickinson students get riled up for any Red Devils match against top rival Franklin & Marshall, and two annual football battles—the Conestoga Wagon game against Franklin, Marshall and the Little Brown Bucket match against Gettysburg—are favorite traditions. Men's basketball recently won the Division III Centennial Conference championship. About 16 percent of students take part in intramurals, where floor
hockey, basketball, and soccer are most popular. Students may also organize club teams to compete with other schools in sports like ice hockey and ultimate Frisbee. 

Although Dickinson was founded more than two centuries ago, some things remain the same. Seniors still share a champagne toast before graduation. And the steps of Old West, the first college building, are still used only twice a year—in the fall, at the convocation ceremony that welcomes new students, and in the spring, for commencement. Dickinson continues to honor Rush's global vision, with its wealth of study abroad options and its demand that students cross the traditional borders of academic disciplines to grasp the interrelated nature of knowledge.