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Western Kentucky University

Bowling Green, KY

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About This Campus

Western Kentucky University is a comprehensive research-based university. WKU's mission is to prepare students to be productive, engaged leaders in a global society. WKU aspires to be the university of choice for students who are dedicated to academic excellence. The university offers an inviting, nurturing, and challenging environment, responsive to the intellectual, social, and cultural needs of a diverse learning community. The Spirit on WKU's campus is dynamic and upbeat, with Bowling Green being a quintessential college town and campus at its center. WKU offers countless ways for students to be involved on campus, from over 350 student organizations and leadership/volunteerism opportunities to a robust intramural sports program and outdoor recreation activities center. WKU also presents a series of cultural advancement programs each year, including musical performances and presentations by artists, activists, and authors. We are always excited to welcome NSE students to campus

Location Information

The Hill commands an impressive view of Bowling Green, an attractive city of 60,000, approximately 75 miles from Nashville. The region features great outdoor recreation and cultural attractions usually only found in larger cities. From the many city parks to the Southern Kentucky Performing Arts Center and the Bowling Green Ballpark, home to the Bowling Green Hot Rods, the community offers your choice of activities. We are also within 30 minutes of Mammoth Cave National Park.

Helpful Information

The cost of off-campus housing, food and other life necessities is lower than many larger U.S. cities. While we recommend that students live on campus, there are several off-campus options within walking distance to campus. WKU offers an excellent bus system travelling to the historical downtown square and main shopping centers. Once you experience being a Hilltopper, you will remain one for life. Go Tops!

Chance of Placement

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Host Payment (A)
Excellent
Home Payment (B)
Limited
Learn more about Chance of Placement
and choosing back-up options.

Campus Links

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Campus Homepage
Outgoing Student Info
Incoming Student Info

Fast Facts

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Location | Bowling Green
Population | 114,000
Enrollment | 20,277
Language | English
Calendar | Semester
Canada | Both (A/B)
Term Dates
Fall | 08/27-12/14
Spring | 01/22-5/10

Campus Diversity

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White | 77%
Black | 9%
Hispanic/Latino | 3%
Asian | 2%
Native/1st Nation | 1%
Hawaiian/P.I. | 0%
Two or more | 3%
Other | 5%

Academics

-- Campus Catalog --

Registration Priority
  • According to class standing
Closed Programs
Chinese Flagship, Nursing

Limitations
Courses in the following majors may be difficult to access because of prerequisites, auditions, priorities for majors and other conditions. Engineering, Honors College, Health and Human Services (Public Health, Speech and Communication Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Environmental health Science, Health Care Administration, Exercise Science), College of Business (all departments), Journalism and Broadcasting, Teacher Education, Computer Information Systems, Systems Management, Music, Dance.

Notable Academic Programs

  • Economics
  • Recreation
  • Broadcasting
  • Biology/Life Science
  • Water Management

Unique Academic Programs

  • Anthropology
  • Chinese (some courses)
  • Manufacturing Engineering Technology
  • Criminology
  • Viticulture

Options
Honors Access: Yes

Undergraduate Majors Open to NSE Students

Agriculture: Agricultural Education, Animal Sciences, Crop Science/Management, Dairy Science/Management, Golf Course Management, Horse Management, Horticulture, Livestock Production, Vitaculture, Viticulture, Water Management

Anthropology: Anthropology

Architecture: Architectural Technologies

Area Studies: Afro-American Studies, American Studies, Black Studies, Cinema and Cultural Studies, East Asian Literature/Studies, Gender, Ethnicity and Multicultural Studies, International Studies

Art/Design/Fine Art: Art, Art Education, Art History, Ceramic Art/Ceramics, Digital Storytelling, Drawing, Fine Art, Graphic Design, Interior Design, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Studio Art, Theater Art, Visual Arts

Athletics: Coaching, Exercise Science, Fitness and Sports Science, Physical Education, Sports Communication, Sports Management/Administration

Biological Sciences: Applied Biology, Biology/Life Science, Biotechnology, Botany/Plant Sciences, Cell Biology, Field Biology, Molecular Biology, Physiology, Wildlife Biology

Business: Accounting, Advertising, Business Administration, Business Information Systems, Entrepreneurship, Finance/Banking, International Business, Local Public Management, Management, Marketing, Public Administration, Public Relations, Small Business Management, Systems Management

Chemistry: Biochemistry, Chemistry

Communications: Broadcasting, Communication, Electronic Media, Electronic Media News, Film, Journalism, Mass Communication, Multimedia, Newspapers, Organizational Communication, Photo Journalism, Print Media, Television, Visual Design/Web Media

Consumer and Family Studies: Child Consumer and Family Studies, Consumer Sciences/Services, Family Science/Services, Family Studies

Criminal Justice: Crime and Society, Criminal Justice, Criminology, Legal Studies, Paralegal Studies

Earth Sciences: Astronomy, Astrophysics, Broadcast Meteorology, Earth Science, Geohydrology, Geology, Geosciences, Hydro-Meteorology, Meteorology, Planetary and Space Sciences

Economics: Applied Economics, Economics, International Economics

Education: Business and Marketing Education, Child Development, Early Childhood, Elementary Education, English, Exceptional Children, Junior High/Middle School, Junior High/Middle School Mathematics, Mathematics, Music, Physical Education, Science, Secondary Education, Special Education, Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)

Engineering: Civil and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

English: Comparative Literature, Creative Writing, English, Film Studies, Literature, Poetry, Rhetoric, Writing

Environmental Studies: Ecology, Natural Resources, Resource Recreation Management, Sustainability Studies, Wildlife Biology/Science, Wildlife Management, Wildlife Recreation Management

Fashion: Apparel/Fashion Design, Apparel/Fashion Merchandising, Textile Arts, Textile Design, Textiles and Clothing

Food Science: Culinary Arts, Nutrition

Foreign Language: Arabic (some courses), Chinese, Chinese (some courses), Classical Languages, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese (some courses), Korean, Spanish

General Studies: Gender Studies, Interdisciplinary Studies, Leadership Studies

Geography and Urban Studies: Environmental Planning, Geographic Information Sciences & Emergency Management, Geography, Human Geography, Planning, Rural Community Development, Spatial Geographic Information Science, Urban Studies

Geology: Geology

Health and Safety Sciences: Communication Disorders, Dental Hygiene, Dietetics, Environmental Health, Exercise Science, Health Science, Health Services Administration, Medical Technology, Public Health

History: Historic Preservation, History

Hospitality and Tourism: Hospitality Management

Industrial Studies: Construction Management, Industrial Distribution, Industrial Technology, Industrial Technology Management

Information Studies: Computer Science, Information Technology, Systems Programming

Interdisciplinary Studies: Popular Culture

International Studies: International Relations

Mathematics: Applied Mathematics, Mathematical Economics, Mathematics

Military Sciences: Army ROTC, Military Sciences

Museum Studies: Museum Studies

Performing Arts: Dance, Music, Music Education, Music Performance, Music Theory and Composition, Performance, Technical Theater, Theater Arts/Drama

Philosophy/Religious Studies: Asian Religions and Culture, Philosophy, Religious Studies

Physics: Astrophysics, Geophysics, Physics

Political Science: Government, International Affairs/Relations, Political Science, Public Administration/Affairs

Psychology: Behavioral Science, Psychology

Recreation: Leisure Studies, Non-Profit Programs Management, Outdoor Education, Outdoor Recreation Management, Recreation, Recreation Leadership, Recreation Resources, Sports Administration, Sports Management

Sociology/Social Work: Rural Sociology, Social Work, Sociology, Women and Gender Studies

Speech Pathology and Audiology: Communication Disorders

Technology: Information Systems Technology, Manufacturing Technology

Theater:

Conditions

Quick Links GPA and Other Academic Requirements
  • None.
Exchange Preferences
  • Full-year exchange Accepted
  • Single term exchange Accepted
Mid-Year Exchange (Exchange that begins with the Spring/Winter Term)
  • Available
Non-Native English Speakers
  • TOEFL: must have a score of N/A paper, 197 computer or 71 Internet
  • IELTS: must have a score of 6
Summer Exchange
  • Not available
International Students (Visa Students)
  • Will accept on Plan A/B

Tuition / Fees

-- Campus Budget --
  • Fees are subject to change without notice.
  • Two semesters = one academic year
  • Three quarters = one academic year
Tuition and Fees Per Semester - Host Payment (Plan A) Students
  • Figures are current as of 07/16/18.
  • Estimated cost: $6500.
  • Expect 5-15% increase for the subsequent academic year.
  • Figures are based on 15 hours. Actual costs may be greater or less depending upon your actual enrollment.
  • Figures do not include costs you will incur for course specific enrollment (e.g., laboratory courses, student teaching, studio art)
  • See below for credit hour restrictions and/or miscellaneous fees applicable to Host Payment (Plan A) students.
Tuition and Fees - Home Payment (Plan B) Students
  • No tuition/fees are paid to the host campus.
  • Figures do not include costs you will incur for course specific enrollment (e.g., laboratory courses, student teaching, studio art)
  • See below for credit hour restrictions and/or miscellaneous fees applicable to Home Payment (Plan B) students.
Maximum Credit Hours Per Semester
  • Host Payment (Plan A): 18 ($530 per additional hour)
  • Home Payment (Plan B): 18 ($530 per additional hour)
Miscellaneous Fees - Per Semester
Figures are current as of 07/16/18.

Purpose Amount Period Plan Status
Housing Deposit $150 Year Plan A & B Mandatory
Parking Fee $120 Year Plan A & B Optional

Important Notes: The housing damage deposit is refundable based on check out status.

Exchange with Canada - Health Insurance
Students must purchase campus health insurance at $1,000 per semester.

Financial Aid

Host Payment (Plan A)
For Plan A U.S. students, aid is awarded by and disbursed from your host campus. Students apply for federally funded financial aid by using the FAFSA code of their host campus. Host campuses award aid to eligible incoming Plan A students on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funds are available. Ask your home campus NSE coordinator if your campus awards aid to their own outgoing students. If so, do not apply for aid from your host campus.

For eligible Plan A applicants U.S. federal financial aid may be available in the following programs:

  • Pell
  • CWS
  • Perkins
  • SEOG
  • DL
  • Plus
Use FAFSA CODE: 002002

Home Payment (Plan B)
For eligible Plan B students, aid is awarded by and disbursed from your home campus.

Canada
Regardless of Payment Plan, students exchanging to or from Canada, apply for financial aid at their home campus.

Room / Meals

Figures are current as of 07/16/18

On-Campus Housing Per Semester
  • 23% living on campus
  • Double: $2099
  • Full-year contract required for a full-year exchange
  • On campus living encouraged
Off-Campus Housing
  • Appoximate monthly cost: $390
  • Proximity to campus: .5
Notes About Housing
Local transportation includes a campus shuttle system, limited public transportation, and shuttles offered by some apartment complexes near campus.

Meal Plans Per Semester

  • Meal purchase is required for on campus living.
  • $100 declining balance plan.
  • $1945 per semester for 21 meals per week.
  • $1780 per semester for 15 meals per week.
  • $1526 per semester for 10 meals per week.
Notes About Meal Plans
WKU offers a variety of meal plans. The prices above reflect the cost of the # of meals per week plus meal plan dollars. See WKU website for more information. There are also pay-as-you-go options.

All data in this document is the responsibility of the campus and has been provided by the campus NSE coordinator.
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