Northwestern State University of Louisiana School Images
History
The university known today as Northwestern State was founded in 1884 as Louisiana State Normal School for the purpose of training the State’s teachers. It was the first institution in Louisiana to offer degrees in nursing and in business education.
Northwestern State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. Its mission statement characterizes NSU as “a responsive, student-oriented institution that is committed to the creation, dissemination, and acquisition of knowledge through teaching, research, and service.” It is classed as a Master’s College and University I by the Carnegie Institute.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Academics
NSU offers more than 50 degree programs, which are all completely accredited. The academic programs are offered through five main Colleges: Business, Education, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Science & Technology. The University College provides general studies curriculum for students who need additional support in working through their undergraduate career. NSU also houses the Louisiana Scholar’s College, described as “Louisiana’s designated four-year, selective admissions honors college.” The Scholar’s College enrolls the absolute best students in the state providing an interdisciplinary learning experience second to none.
Northwestern State University has academic programs at both the undergraduate and graduate level. There are 9 colleges: the College of Business, the College of Education, the College of Liberal Arts, the College of Nursing, the College of Science and Technology, the College of Electronic & Continuing Education, the Graduate School, the University College, and the Louisiana Scholars’ College.
Bachelor’s degrees are offered in a variety of fields within the various academic colleges. Degrees at the bachelor’s level can be received in such areas as anthropology, business administration, history, home economics, journalism, mathematics, nursing, music, education, radiologic technology, social work, and theatre. There are pre-professional program in agriculture, engineering, forestry, and medical fields. Associate degrees can be earned in business administration, electronics technology, general studies, nursing, office administration, and veterinary technology.
Graduate programs are offered in 4 colleges. These include master’s level programs in education, nursing, English, art, heritage resources, music, and health & human performance. The emphasis is on education; no programs are offered in the physical sciences or technology, any social sciences other than psychology, or in liberal arts other than the ones listed above. There are no doctoral degrees. The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is offered through the College of Education in educational leadership & instruction with several different concentrations.
Most Popular Fields of Study
The top 5 fields of study completed at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.
The Aviation Science Program educates airplane pilots who wish to fly professionally. The program is approved by the FAA and provides courses to obtain certification and ratings for Private Pilot, Commercial Pilot, Instrument Rating, Flight Instructor Airplane, Flight Instructor-Instrument, and Rotor Craft Helicopter to Fixed Wing Transition. Graduates earn the Bachelor of General Studies degree and a concentration in Aviation Science.
Northwestern is one of the campus homes of the JOVE program, which is a competitive scholarship for students in the College of Science and Technology who major in biology, chemistry, mathematics, or physics. JOVE is supported in part by NASA, and gives students the opportunity to conduct research projects in their respective field. Participating students receive a $500 stipend each year and often earn internships at such institutions as Mississippi State University, University of Arkansas, and the University of California Riverside.
Northwestern State University is home to the Louisiana Scholars’ College, the state’s designated undergraduate Honors program in the liberal arts and sciences. Students who seek admission to the Honors Program need to meet the following requirements: ACT scores of 25 or SAT of 1130, and a GPA of 3.0. Once admitted to the Honors Program, students will take seminar style classes, live in an Honors dorm, and write a senior thesis. Students can receive scholarships and out of state fee waivers.
Centers at Northwestern State University include the Creole Heritage Center, the Louisiana Folklife Center, and the Louisiana Regional Folklife Center.
NSU’s Space Science Group has programs for elementary and secondary school students to learn more about basic science and space science. NSU is affiliated with NASA through the JOVE space science research program, in which NSU students participate in research analysis of NASA data.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Admissions
Northwestern State University requires that applicants complete what they call the Regents’ High School core curriculum of TOPS (Tuition Opportunity Program for Students). This curriculum includes four units of English, two units of foreign language, and one unit each of Algebra I, Algebra II, advanced math (geometry, calculus, etc.), biology, chemistry, earth science (or advanced physical science), American history, world history, civics, fine arts, and a half-unit of computer science. Upon completion of that curriculum, students may qualify for admissions to Northwestern provided they require no more than one remedial course and have either a cumulative high school grade point average of 2.00 or better, a minimum ACT score of 20 (SAT equivalent of 950), or rank in the top 50% of their high school graduating class. Students who do not meet these admission criteria may be admitted under conditional criteria. In fact, in compliance with what is called the “Settlement Agreement,” Northwestern must commit to a freshman enrollment with at least 15 percent of its students under conditional enrollment. Applicants who are re-entering the University, are senior citizens, or who do not plan on graduating may be admitted under other criteria and should contact the University’s admissions office for further information.
Northwestern State University has no stated application deadline, but the priority deadline for scholarships is December 1 for the following fall. The application fee is $25. Applications can be submitted on-line. Students who are enrolled in high school at the time of application will need to have their official final high school transcripts sent after graduation to the Admissions Office.
As part of their application, students should submit high school transcripts and ACT or SAT test scores. Students should have completed high school courses as follows: 4 units of English, 3 units of mathematics, 3 units of history and social studies, 3 units of science, 2 units of a foreign language, 1 unit of fine arts, and ½ unit of computer science. Students must generally meet the following minimum requirements: high school GPA of 2.0 or ACT score of 20 (950 SAT) or class rank in the top 50%.
Transfer students and international students will have varying requirements depending upon their prior educational background.
Students applying to the graduate programs at Northwestern State University should consult the individual department and/or school to which they are applying. Applications can be submitted on-line, and the application fee is $20, plus a $5 service fee from CollegeNet. General requirements for a master’s program include the GRE (minimum total of 800) or other appropriate test scores (such as the GMAT), two letters of recommendation, and a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 2.5.
Financial Aid
Northwestern supports the federal Pell, SEOG, and LEAP grants, as well as federal loan programs. There are more than a dozen scholarship opportunities for excellence in scholarship, service, or particular disciplines. Students must submit both an application for admission and a scholarship application to be considered for scholarship aid. The financial aid office at Northwester also coordinates the appointment of students to University employment. Employment includes general employment or scholarship employment. Students employed under the “general” category must be enrolled for at least 6 hours of coursework, while students under scholarship employment must meet scholarship award criteria.
Northwestern State University estimates the costs of attendance, including room and board, is $6,000 annually for the 2005-2006 academic year for in-state, undergraduate students attending full-time. Students applying from out of state and graduate students have higher costs.
Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, and loans. Work-study programs are also available for students with financial need, and other on-campus jobs are available as well. Students who seek financial aid will need to fill out the Federal Student Financial Aid Form, available on-line. Fee exemptions are available for people in some special categories (such as senior citizen or fire fighter dependent). Out-of-state tuition waivers are also available for some students who participate in spirit groups, athletics, band, or music.
Graduate students may also receive financial aid in the form of teaching or research assistantships, including a stipend and a waiver of some or all of the tuition and other fees. Graduate students should consult with their individual department about what sort of assistantships or fellowships are available and about the details of the application process.
Student Financial Aid Details
How many students use Financial Aid, and how much do they use?
Northwestern State University of Louisiana 3668th for the average student loan amount.
Secrets to getting the best Louisiana scholarships and financial aid
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Students
NSU is home to numerous student organizations related to business, research, the arts, honors, and general social life. The NSU campus is home to a vibrant student media group, including the student-run newspaper, Current Sauce, the student radio station, and a faculty-administered television station. NSU always hosts the Miss Northwestern-Lady of the Bracelet, a leg of the Miss America pageant.
Student life at Northwestern State University includes opportunities in a diverse range of activities and organizations. There are fraternities and sororities, academic and professional groups, service groups, political groups, and special interest groups such as Lifted Voices (a choir), the African American caucus, and the Diamond Dolls (baseball fan group). Intramural sports include flag football, swimming, volleyball, and softball, and there is a club rowing team. Concerts, recitals, and exhibits are sponsored through the Department of Creative and Performing arts, and there is an NSU Theatre which puts on student plays. There is a Distinguished Lecture Series.
Student Enrollment Demographics
How many students are enrolled at Northwestern State University of Louisiana?
The Northwestern State University Demons compete in the NCAA’s Division I and in the Southland Conference. The NSU athletic program was recently ranked 35th by U.S. News & World Report out of 321 Division I institutions in winning percentage. Sports include baseball, football, hockey, rowing, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball, and men’s and women’s basketball. Five of the University’s fourteen athletic teams (football, women’s soccer, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and softball) have gone on to postseason competition in the past three years. NSU athletes have competed in the Olympic Games, and some have gone on to great success in professional sports, including San Diego Padres pitcher Brian Lawrence and five other student-athlete alumni who now play in the NFL. NSU led the Southland Conference on the Fall 2004 SLC Academic Honor Roll with 61 student-athletes named to the honor. In 2004 the Demon football team won the 2004 Southland Conference championship and their defense ranked number 1 nationally for the entire season. The men’s basketball team won the 2004-2005 Southland Conference championship. The Lady Demon softball team won its ninth-straight Conference championship appearance in 2005.
Northwestern State University is an NCAA Division I School; the football team is Division I-AA. Teams compete in the Southland Conference. Men’s sports include football, cross country, track & field, basketball, baseball, and golf. Women’s sports include basketball, softball, soccer, cross country, track & field, and tennis. The sports teams are supported by a spirit squad, which includes a marching band, a dance team, a co-educational cheerleading squad, and a pom pon line. The team nick-name is the Demons.
Athletic facilities at Northwestern State University include a football stadium, a coliseum, a pool, an intramural building, a track field, a field house, and a baseball diamond.
Among the championships and awards that Northwestern State University has received are NCAA postseason competition in several sports, conference championships in football, baseball, and men’s basketball, and individual academic awards. NSU athletes have gone on to compete in professional sports and the Olympics.
Northwestern State University of Louisiana
Traditions
Since 1962, Chief Caddo, an eight-foot-tall likeness of a Caddo Indian tribal leader, has stood on the NSU campus. The material for the statue, a one-ton piece of gum tree, was presented as a gift from Stephen F. Austin College of Nacagdoches, Texas, symbolizing the two University’s and two town’s bond with their Native American ancestors. The statue took over 200 man-hours to carve from hand, and remains a point of pride today.
Legend has it that the NSU campus and several of its buildings are haunted by a ghost named Isabella. Supposedly Isabella once lived in a building now part of the NSU campus, but committed suicide in her grief over a lost love. There are many stories documenting her appearance in numerous NSU buildings over the years. Supposedly she now resides in the Old Women’s Gym.
Local Community
Northwestern State University is located in Natchitoches, Louisiana, which has a population of approximately 18,000. The surrounding environment is rural. Near-by attractions include museums, parks, historical areas, and an aquarium. There is an annual jazz festival, a zydeco festival, a trail ride, and an American Indian crafts festival, among many other activities.
Natchitoches proudly proclaims itself “the oldest permanent settlement in the Louisiana Purchase territory.” As such, it has a wealth of historical sight seeing and museums to partake in. Tours include cemeteries, historic houses, galleries, and trolley rides. The people of Natchitoches have also established a children’s tour for younger history buffs. One of the most prestigious is the Cane River Plantations tour, 35 miles of beautiful southern riverside homes. Natchitoches also encourages outdoor adventure and is a paradise for fishing, hunting, and watching wildlife.
Feel free to add comments or additional information regarding Northwestern State University of Louisiana, or discuss this school in the University Discussion Forum
almost 5 years agoDanyelle Simmons lilmonet10 ((at)) yahoo dot com
Do you offer a program for a Political Science major? And what would it cost for out of state fees? (reside in Texas)
about 5 years agoAndrea amaley001 ((at)) student dot nsula dot edu
My best advice would be to apply early to possibly be an exception.
about 5 years agoelaine elaine ((at)) la-law dot org
I have a 16 yr old interested in NSU. Unfortunately, she has not taken a foreign language. Instead she has taken courses in law studies, psychology, publication and two computer courses. Any exceptions?
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lilmonet10 ((at)) yahoo dot com
Do you offer a program for a Political Science major? And what would it cost for out of state fees? (reside in Texas)