A senior year spring is unlike any other season, students prepare to say goodbye to childhood friends and families for the opportunity to commence a new beginning in college. But before they can begin their new journey they need to ask themselves “Where am I going to college?” 

There are thousands of options for higher education across the nation, but there’s only one mid-sized school that can make a big difference, Bradley University. Bradley is located at 1501 West Bradley Avenue in Peoria, Illinois.  

Bradley University is unique because of its breakdown into five colleges, with more than 185 programs. 

Among these five colleges is the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS). This college is made up of four academic programs, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and computational sciences.

In an email testimonial, religious studies Professor Daniel Getz shows the impact of selecting a major within the LAS humanities academic program by saying, 

“In making a bucket list for your university education, gaining a deeper appreciation of your own humanity, as well as that of others, should be placed near the top. That worthy goal inevitably will bring you to the great questions posed by religion and philosophy.”

The LAS college offers the engaged learning and mentorship of a small classroom with the outside resources and opportunities of a big university. The courses within the LAS college work to prep students for a new beginning at graduate school or the workforce. 

As all colleges in the current climate, changes have been made to accommodate Covid regulations. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, as of March 19th, 2021, schools must abide by the universal and correct use of masks, physical distancing to the greatest possible extent, handwashing and respiratory etiquette, the cleaning and maintenance of healthy facilities, and contact tracing in combination with isolation and quarantine if exposures occur.

For this reason, the present-day majority of the courses in the LAS college take place virtually. Though staff and students miss seeing each other greatly, virtual class meetings provide them all with the opportunity to prioritize the safety of the Bradley University family.

Students have also seen an increase in flexibility in their schedule and improvement in their computer skills, allowing them to gain opportunities and build connections not available to them previously. 

In an interview in Bradley Hall on April 11th, senior within the LAS psychology program Robert Spencer states “ During my time here at Bradley, I have learned so many things about the brain, and have studied several different fields of psychology”. 

As Spencer mentioned, the LAS college works to build experience in several different fields within students inside and outside the classroom. 

Science equipment and gear are given to biology and physics students, while political science and sociology students are given access to actual courthouses and social work projects. 

These outside opportunities are part of the reason why social work Professor Patricia Saleeby chose the LAS college, as she states in an email testimonial 

“The collegial atmosphere and positive interaction within our College truly enhance the student and faculty experience through increased collaboration, mentorship, and opportunities… an attractive aspect that led me to Bradley for the Social Work Director position.”

Staff and students alike can all agree the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Bradley University is the right fit for anyone.

But if for some reason, you’re still not completely sold, check out this two-minute introduction video to help you decide “where should I go to college?”. Let me know in the replies below why Bradley is the right fit for you.