Cedar Crest College is a small private, liberal arts institution primarily for women in Allentown, PA, that prepares students for life and work in an everchanging world.
Cedar Crest has educated the next generation of leaders and learners since its founding in 1867. Immersed in its mission, the College delivers a powerful educational experience through strong scholarship, real-world training and holistic support. Cedar Crest empowers its diverse student body—young women, adult undergraduate students and graduate students—to hone their skills, realize their potential and boldly reach for their professional goals.
At the forefront of education, Cedar Crest College is uniquely able to look beyond the urgencies of the moment to meet the needs of the future. Cedar Crest’s transformative mindset drives the College to continually evaluate and expand its academics and experiences. Graduates are prepared for careers in new and emerging fields. The diverse academic offerings include over 40 majors, nine graduate programs, pre-professional programs and high-demand certificates.
Students in the traditional undergraduate women’s college enjoy a personalized academic experience that prepares them to succeed and lead in an evolving job market. A 10:1 student to faculty ratio and an average class size of 15 offer individual attention and support. A flexible liberal arts curriculum allows students to combine areas of study like art and psychology or forensic science and dance — an interdisciplinary education that provides the skills and thinking students need to flourish in their careers. The unique women’s college experience prepares students to hold their own in male-dominated professions and sets up female leaders for continued success in the workforce and in life.
The School of Adult and Graduate Education (SAGE) extends Cedar Crest’s core mission and vision to women and men who may take a non-traditional path to a degree, and to those whose thirst for continued knowledge leads them to seek advanced degrees. Cedar Crest offers flexibility for busy adult learners with an array of online, accelerated and hybrid programs. Home to some of the most forward-thinking programs at the College, the adult and graduate programs ready students to advance in their current professions or thrive in new careers.
Over the past several years, the College has added new and innovative programs including master’s and doctoral nursing programs, a doctorate in occupational therapy, a master’s degree in integrative exercise science, a master’s degree in crime science, a modular master’s in the business department built upon stackable certificates and will soon be launching a certificate in sports performance.
The distinctive new Modular Master of Science degree is a fully online graduate degree program where learners create customized curriculums relevant to today’s market, their interests and career goals. Learners select two graduate certificates in high-demand fields like Human Resources Management, Strategic Leadership and Analytics and Management Information Systems. The innovative program offers a more convenient, flexible and specialized alternative to a traditional MBA program.
The addition of the Occupational Therapy Doctorate (OTD) supports a growing need, both regionally and nationally, for professionals in the field. The full-time program can be completed in 33 months and is the first entry-level OTD in the Lehigh Valley. Courses utilize several newly renovated spaces including a state-of-the-art technology lab, the Occupational Therapy Life Skills Lab and the Pediatric Lab. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in occupational therapy will increase by 24 percent by 2026. Currently, the Lehigh Valley, where Cedar Crest is located, is the third-largest employer of occupational therapists in Pennsylvania.
Cedar Crest College is a leading institution in its region for nursing and health sciences. In the prestigious School of Nursing, students with a passion for providing exceptional patient care are empowered at every step in their nursing career. Cedar Crest’s expansive portfolio of nursing programs includes an Accelerated BSN, RN-BSN, MSN Nurse Educator, Nurse Administrator and Nurse Practitioner and Doctor of Nursing Practice Nurse Practitioner and Nurse Anesthesia programs. Nursing students hone their skills in state-of-the-art simulation facilities and at clinical instruction sites at nearby nationally-recognized health care networks. Cedar Crest’s School of Nursing is a pipeline to health care employment across the region.
Cedar Crest’s traditional, adult and graduate students build their skills and explore future careers through real-world experiences. Internships, health sciences simulations, research opportunities, volunteering, student teaching, fieldwork, study abroad and more all help students determine their career paths, make connections and gain valuable practical experience.
The Carmen Twillie Ambar Sophomore Expedition, for example, is a guaranteed short-term study abroad opportunity for all sophomores funded almost entirely by the college. During the week-long trip, students perform service-learning activities related to their fields of study and areas of interest. Previous Expedition locations include Greece, England and Brazil.
The Career Planning Center at Cedar Crest College works to assist students in their professional development journey from the moment they arrive on campus and beyond graduation. The Center helps students with choosing a major, finding an internship and seeking mentors and supports them as they navigate work experiences, graduate school and career transitions. The Center collaborates with faculty, staff, parents, employers, alumnae and community partners to connect students to opportunities that will enhance their career development.
Using a student-centered, strengths-based approach, the Center recognizes that career development is unique for each student. The Career Planning Center has the tools and knowledge to support the needs of the College’s diverse student population and help every student pursue their professional goals. Overall, 98% of Cedar Crest’s class of 2016 are employed, attending graduate school or pursuing other options related to their career development.
Through its innovative academic programs, opportunities for real-world experiences and unparalleled support, Cedar Crest College inspires students to passionately pursue their goals and creates confident leaders in their fields.
Learn more about Cedar Crest College at www.cedarcrest.edu