Gettysburg College: A Consequential Education in a Historic Setting
Gettysburg College, a private liberal arts institution steeped in history and committed to innovation, is located in the iconic town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1832, the college offers a vibrant community where students are encouraged to excel, discover their passions, and make a meaningful impact on the world. The 225-acre campus, adjacent to the Gettysburg National Military Park, serves as a dynamic hub for academic exploration, personal growth, and career readiness.
A Place to Call Home: The Gettysburg Campus
Located in historic Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the campus offers a unique blend of rich history and modern opportunities. Students experience an inspiring and intellectually engaging environment with access to career-building experiences in major cities just a short drive away. The campus offers a sense of belonging and purpose that defines the Gettysburg experience.
The college's main campus has over 90 buildings, many of which are historically relevant, and is roughly divided in half by Pennsylvania Hall (administration). The northern half contains Eddie Plank Gym, Masters Hall (physics and astronomy), Musselman Library, the College Union Building, the College Dining Center, Briedenbaugh Hall (English and Asian Studies), Weidensall Hall (History and Education), and several first-year residence halls and fraternities. The southern half of the main campus includes McKnight Hall (languages), Glatfelter Hall (computer science, management, political science, mathematics, and others), Schmucker Hall (art and music), Brua Hall, and several fraternities.
Over the last half-century, the campus has expanded considerably to include land to the east of North Washington Street and to the west of the traditional campus. Since approximately 96% of students live on campus, most of this additional land is dedicated to housing. It also includes the college chapel, the admissions building, a large gymnasium and field house complex, and several athletics fields.
Pennsylvania Hall: A Witness to History
Pennsylvania Hall, also known as Old Dorm, holds a significant place in the history of Gettysburg College. During the Battle of Gettysburg, it served as both a signal corps station and a field hospital. In 1863, classes were cancelled at the college and students and faculty walked with the parade to the cemetery to hear the now famous Gettysburg Address. Pennsylvania Hall, located in the center of campus, was occupied by both Union and Confederate forces during the battle.
Read also: Best Hair Salons near Rice University
Musselman Library: A Hub for Knowledge and Resources
Musselman Library provides access to a vast collection of resources, including books, journals, videos, sound recordings, rare books, and manuscripts, many in online format. The online catalog is freely available and provides a description of the books, DVDs, and CDs in the collection. Special Collections and College Archives, located on the fourth floor of the library, collects primary sources including rare books, manuscripts, maps, art works, sound recordings, photographs, and other materials which support the curriculum. Special Collections is also home to the College Archives, which preserves records that document college activities, policies, and programs. The building was designed by architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, who intended the building to complement Glatfelter Hall (1889).
Glatfelter Hall: An Iconic Landmark
Glatfelter Hall is one of the most iconic buildings on campus. Built in 1889 as the New Recitation Building, the deep red brick and gray stone building was rededicated in 1912 to honor Philip H. Glatfelter, a trustee and generous benefactor of the college. Currently, the building features four stories and a basement, with a grandiose main staircase traversing all but the top floor. The building houses the Anthropology, Computer Science, Mathematics, Political Science, Management, and Sociology departments, along with campus management resources.
Brua Hall: From Chapel to Theater
Brua Hall, formerly known as Brua Chapel, was originally designed as the college's new Lutheran chapel in 1890, a role it served until the dedication of the new Christ Chapel in 1953. Brua Hall is now the home of the college's theater department. Kline Theatre is the building's main attraction, seating 234 people with a thrust stage and an advanced sound and lighting system, including computer lighting memory control.
Christ Chapel: The Heart of Spiritual Life
Christ Chapel is the center of Gettysburg College's religious and spiritual life. It was dedicated in 1953 to serve as the new college chapel after the college had outgrown Brua Chapel.
Science Center and Masters Hall: Exploring the Universe
The Science Center is part of a complex of two buildings. The Science Center is the newest building on campus being built in 2002. Masters Hall is home to the physics department, and houses several specialized labs, the largest classroom on campus (Mara Auditorium), a machine shop, and a Physics student lounge. In addition, the building also includes an indoor planetarium, Hatter Planetarium which gives students glimpses of what the night sky will look like each month. The building houses astronomy classes and uses the campus' observatory, which is used for undergraduate astronomical research and includes a 16-inch f/11 Ealing Cassegrain reflector, computer controlled.
Read also: US Education System Performance
Briedenbaugh Hall and Weidensall Hall
Breidenbaugh Hall and Weidensall Hall are two adjacent buildings that house the English, Asian Studies, Civil War Era Studies, Classics, Education, Globalization Studies, History, Interdisciplinary Studies, Philosophy, and Religion departments.
John F. Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation and Fitness
The college broke ground on the new $25 million athletic center, named the John F. Jaeger Center for Athletics, Recreation and Fitness, on May 30, 2008. The 55,000-square-foot center is an upgrade from the former athletic facility, known as the Bream/Wright/Hauser Complex. The center was created in order to provide more opportunities for the high percentage of students who like to maintain their fitness regimens and engage in intramural, club sports programs, and exercise classes.
Majestic Theater: A Cultural Gem
The Majestic Theater opened in 1925 as a vaudeville and silent movie theater. In 2005, a $16 million restoration recreated the original Colonial Revival features of this historic landmark. The Majestic Theater seats 816 and is one of the primary performance space at Gettysburg College. The space would make a perfect unique venue to host a lecture, reception or expo shows. The theater is the location for the college's Sunderman Conservatory of Music performances, as well as musical theater performances and outside guests.
Academics and Opportunities
At Gettysburg College, students can immerse themselves in a Consequential Education, where hands-on research opportunities with dedicated faculty mentors are readily available. The institution prides itself on fostering a dynamic learning environment that prepares students for success in a rapidly evolving world. Whether through groundbreaking research projects, engaging campus events, or community service initiatives, Gettysburg College cultivates a spirit of excellence and collaboration among its diverse student body.
The college offers 65+ academic programs in all areas of study. High-impact programming affords students the opportunity to apply their academic studies beyond the classroom and sharpen their worldview. Students engage in interdisciplinary learning, advanced scholarship, and global leadership through distinctive programs, semester-long study abroad opportunities, faculty-mentored research, and Experiential Education programs.
Read also: Waterville's Colby College
Sunderman Conservatory of Music
For students passionate about music, the Sunderman Conservatory of Music offers an exceptional education rooted in performance, scholarship, and creativity. Whether you aspire to perform professionally, teach, or integrate music into another career path, the Conservatory provides the resources, faculty, and experiences to help you achieve your goals.
Schmucker Hall, the home of the Arts and Music departments, houses four main classrooms, a 225-seat recital hall, a 10 station technology/piano lab, and 16 practice rooms. Choral assemblies usually perform in Christ Chapel, the campus' nondenominational structure that houses a variety of different ceremonies and seats 1,100 individuals.
Accelerated Degree Pathways
Innovative dual-degree programs and partnerships with prestigious institutions allow students to earn multiple degrees in less time and at a lower cost. Whether pursuing engineering, education, or business, these pathways provide a streamlined approach to achieving your career aspirations.
Bullets Abroad: A Global Perspective
Gettysburg College believes that seeing the world transforms your understanding of it. The college's globally-ranked global studies program offers both academic and personal growth, equipping students with a global perspective that enhances their future career. Beyond broadening horizons, international experiences help students build meaningful relationships and develop a deeper understanding of the world. Gettysburg offers dozens of study abroad opportunities on nearly every continent, ensuring that every Gettysburg student has the opportunity to explore, learn, and grow beyond the campus. The college is currently ranked #1 in Pennsylvania and #2 in the United States for study abroad opportunities.
Civil War Institute
In 1982, professor and historian Gabor Boritt founded the Civil War Institute, which hosts annual seminars and tours on Civil War themes. Gettysburg College students can elect to pursue a unique interdisciplinary minor in Civil War Era Studies. Starting in 2005, the Michael Shaara Prize has been awarded for excellence in Civil War fiction.
Campus Life and Student Engagement
Students at Gettysburg College find plenty of ways to get involved, find their niche, and take ownership of their co-curricular experience on campus within 120+ student clubs and organizations and robust Division III athletics and campus recreation programs.
Engage with over 10 student organizations. Find lifelong friendships in residence halls. Savor diverse dining options in award-winning dining facilities. Compete at the highest level with NCAA Division III athletic teams and club sports. Become a proud Bullet and a part of a supportive community that values your voice and ambitions.
Dining Services
Gettysburg Collegeâs award-winning Dining Services is constantly working to provide delicious, nutritious meals at the Dining Center, the Dive â the snack bar that serves primarily healthy options, the Bullet Hole, a snack bar featuring a Gettysburg sports feel, the Commons Café for the coffee-lover, and Specialty Dining room. The Department of Catering can handle events from banquets to box lunches.. receptions to pizza parties. No event is too large or too small.
Career Readiness and Professional Development
A Gettysburg education prepares students not just for their first job, but for a lifetime of success. Through hands-on learning, internships, research opportunities, and alumni connections, students gain real-world experience that sets them apart. Within one year of graduation, 98% of recent graduates are employed or in graduate school.
Technology and Support
Full network capabilities are available in all campus buildings and each residence hall room. Students have access to more than 1,300 computers and a complex system of workstations and laboratories. The school provides a large network of technological assistance, known as G-Tech, which is student staffed and IT supported.
A Welcoming Venue for Events
Gettysburg College is an exceptional location for hosting company retreats, conference programs, or meetings. The campus contains the historical and iconic setting that witnessed integral parts of American history, such as the Battle of Gettysburg and Lincolnâs Gettysburg Address. Gettysburg College boasts a full range of services that work to make planning an event at the venue both simple and affordable. With over 60 meeting facilities, open green spaces, intuitive technology and multimedia systems, the venue ensures it can prime any event planned at the venue for success.
tags: #Gettysburg #College #location
