Exploring Degree Programs at the University of Vermont
The University of Vermont (UVM), officially known as the University of Vermont and State Agricultural College, stands as a public land-grant research university with a rich history dating back to 1791. Located in Burlington, Vermont, it holds the distinction of being the oldest university in the state and the fifth-oldest in New England. Comprising ten colleges and schools, including the Robert Larner College of Medicine, UVM offers a diverse array of academic programs, with over 100 undergraduate majors in addition to graduate and professional programs.
A Broad Spectrum of Academic Disciplines
UVM's academic structure is organized into several colleges and schools, each specializing in specific fields of study:
College of Arts and Sciences: As the largest college within UVM, the College of Arts and Sciences provides foundational courses for students across the university. It is a hub for students with diverse academic passions, offering opportunities to pursue single or double majors, and multiple minors, including minors in other undergraduate schools and colleges at UVM. Many students are already certain of their major when they come to the College of Arts and Sciences and they pursue it through to graduation. Many more discover a new academic passion along the way, refocusing their studies in unexpected areas.
College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences (CEMS): CEMS offers ABET-accredited engineering programs in Biomedical, Civil, Environmental, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering. It also houses the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. Furthermore, CEMS is home to three research centers: the Transportation Research Center, the Complex Systems Center, and the Vermont Advanced Computing Center.
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS): CALS provides programs in a wide range of fields, including animal science (with an early admission option to the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University), biochemistry, biological science, community entrepreneurship, community and international development, dietetics, nutrition and food sciences, ecological agriculture, environmental science, environmental studies, microbiology, molecular genetics, plant biology, public communication, and sustainable landscape horticulture. The college also collaborates with the College of Arts and Sciences on select programs.
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College of Education and Social Services (CESS): CESS offers degrees in teacher education, human development & family science, and social work. Minors are also available in American Sign Language, special education, and education for cultural and linguistic diversity. The college comprises the Department of Leadership and Developmental Sciences, Department of Education, Department of Social Work, and the Center on Disability and Community Inclusion.
Robert Larner College of Medicine: In 1804, John Pomeroy began teaching students in his house in Burlington, as the first medical department at a state college or university. UVM enrolls approximately 100 medical students in each class; there are approximately 400 medical students. The Academic Health Center is composed of the faculty, staff and students at UVM's College of Medicine and the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, as well as the physicians, and other health care providers at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
College of Nursing and Health Sciences: The College of Nursing and Health Sciences comprises four departments: Biomedical and Health Sciences, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Nursing, and Rehabilitation and Movement Science. It also includes the Institute of Integrative Health, a shared program with the Robert Larner College of Medicine. Some of these undergraduate degrees prepare students to enter graduate degree programs for Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology, or a doctorate of physical therapy program.
Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR): From its origins in the School of Natural Resources (originally established in 1973), the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources (RSENR) was created in 2003. The Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources seeks to cultivate an appreciation and understanding of ecological and social processes as well as values that are aimed at maintaining the integrity of natural systems and achieving a sustainable human community in harmony with the natural environment. The Rubenstein School targets three general areas of emphasis for scholarly pursuit: 1. Applied Ecology; 2. Environment & Society; and 3. Development & Use of Innovative Tools (e.g. remote sensing, GIS, ecological modeling). The main building hosting RSENR is located at the George D.
Popular Majors and Academic Exploration
The University of Vermont boasts a diverse range of popular majors, reflecting the evolving interests and career aspirations of its student body. These include:
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- Natural Resources and Conservation
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences
- Social Sciences
- Health Professions and Related Programs
- Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
- Psychology
- Engineering
- Education
- Visual and Performing Arts
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
UVM recognizes that many students may be unsure of their academic path upon entering the university. To support these students, UVM offers an "undeclared" major option, allowing students to explore different fields before committing to a specific area of study. In most cases, a student will not have to select a major until the end of the first or second year at the university. Major/minor combinations, double majors, and individually designed majors are all options. The curriculum in all undergraduate programs is designed to encourage exploration and to provide exposure to a variety of disciplines during the first two years of study. Particular interests are often discovered during this period. Students in the process of choosing a major also are encouraged to take advantage of the excellent guidance and support provided by experienced counselors in UVM's Career Center. First semester of the first year is not too early to begin talking to the Career Center about academic interests, major selection, and related careers. Faculty advisors are another valuable resource to consult in this process. It is not at all uncommon for students to change majors at the end of their first or second year at the university. Selecting a different major sometimes involves changing from one undergraduate school or college within the university to another.
Admissions and Student Life
UVM's admissions process is competitive. For the class of 2026, UVM received 28,236 applications, accepting 16,947 (60.0%). Of those accepted, 2,896 enrolled, a yield rate of 17.1%. The middle 50% composite SAT scores were 1270-1410. The middle 50% composite ACT scores were between 29 and 32. The policy of the Graduate College is that admission decisions must be finalized prior to the start of a semester (first day of classes in fall, spring, or summer session), and late admission decisions will not be approved retroactively. Applicants must submit all required materials well in advance of the semester in which they wish to matriculate, so that program faculty and chairs have suitable time to review materials and make admission recommendations to the Graduate College before the semester begins. Admission decisions made after the first day of classes in any semester will be for subsequent semesters. Some programs accept applications even after the usual application deadline, or on a rolling admissions basis, assuming sufficient program capacity. Admission decisions for these programs are subject to the same policy stated above.
The university maintains a student-faculty ratio of 17:1, fostering a learning environment with smaller class sizes. The school has 41.2% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 89%.
Beyond academics, UVM offers a vibrant student life with numerous opportunities for involvement. Student clubs and organizations, totaling more than 250, span student interests and receive sponsorship from the Student Government Association. Clubs with longstanding history and the largest memberships include: Volunteers in Action, the UVM Outing Club, Ski & Snowboard Club. The UVM Outing Club was established in 1913 and is the largest outing club in the country. UVM Program Board (UPB) is responsible for bringing campus events and activities to the UVM community. In recent years, UPB has organized events like the annual SpringFest featuring comedian Michelle Wolf, Two Door Cinema Club and Laverne Cox. In addition to campus events, UPB organizes live musical entertainment event featuring acts from across the country as well as local bands. UPB is composed of four committees, one of which is a concerts committee. The concerts committee learns about various aspects of the music industry by putting on shows and working with local sound and production professionals. Since 2001, the annual SpringFest is held in April. Headliners have included Vida Blue, The Roots, Cake, Keller Williams, Gov't Mule, co-headliners Robert Randolph & the Family Band, Ziggy Marley, and Talib Kweli. The University of Vermont Greek community is one of the oldest in the nation, with the first fraternal organization starting in 1836. 5% of male students and 5% of female students join Greek life.
Athletics and Arts
The athletic teams at UVM are known as the Catamounts. The university offers 18 varsity sports. Women's teams include basketball, cross country, field hockey, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, swimming and diving, and track and field (indoor and outdoor). Men's teams include basketball, cross country, ice hockey, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, and track and field (indoor and outdoor). All teams compete at the NCAA Division I level. Most teams compete in the America East Conference. Men's and women's hockey teams compete in the Hockey East Association. UVM's athletic teams won seven straight America East Academic Cups (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011) for the best overall combined GPA among its student-athletes. Highlights of recent varsity athletic seasons include the men's hockey teams trip to the Frozen Four in 2009; the women's and men's basketball teams advancing to the 2010 NCAA Tournament following America East Tournament titles; the ski team winning its sixth NCAA National Championship in 2012 in Bozeman, Montana; in 2014, the men's hockey team earned its third trip to the NCAA Tournament since 2009 and the men's basketball team won the America East Regular Season title for the sixth time. The university has discontinued several major sports programs in its history, including football, softball and baseball.
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UVM sponsors many club sports teams. The UVM sailing team was competitively ranked 8th in the nation as of November 15, 2009. UVM crew competes in the Head of the Charles Regatta and Dad Vail Regatta, winning bronze for the men's coxed four in the 2015 ACRA national club rowing championship.
UVM's School of the Arts sponsors instrumental and choral performances throughout the year. The Royall Tyler Theatre presents theatre productions on its mainstage. Notable mainstage shows in recent years have included Straight White Men and Bat Boy: The Musical (2022/2023); It's a Wonderful Life and She Kills Monsters (2021/2022); An Enemy of the People (2020/2021); The Wolves and The Normal Heart (2019/2020); Pippin (2018/2019); Sense and Sensibility and Peter and The Starcatcher (2017/2018); Spring Awakening (2016/2017); The 39 Steps and Noises Off (2015/2016); Much Ado About Nothing (2014/2015); The Mousetrap and Urinetown (2013/2014). The Lane Series, the university's public performing arts program, began in 1955. Presenting nationally and internationally-known artists, the series offers twenty-five events per academic year, including performances in classical, jazz, folk, chamber, and choral music, as well as theater, film, and dance. The Fleming Museum of Art is the university's museum. Its permanent collection of 24,000 objects includes works of art as well as anthropological and ethnographic artifacts.
Graduate Education and Career Development
Graduate education at UVM focuses on the aspirations of our students as well as the needs of society and our planet. Our 100+ programs combine the academic excellence of a premier research university with a student-centric and collaborative spirit and deep commitment to interdisciplinary study. At UVM, career development is central to the graduate experience. We provide guidance, resources, and connections to help you thrive in your studies and advance, pivot, or expand your professional path. Graduate student life at UVM offers rich opportunities to get involved â from the Graduate Student Senate and student associations to wellness programs, community engagement, and service. The Three Minute Thesis (3MT), an internationally recognized research communication competition, happens each spring. 3MT challenges Ph.D. UVMâs most distinguished faculty share groundbreaking research and insights across disciplines annually. Each spring, we celebrate UVMâs graduate and professional students during a week of recognition and connection.
Sustainability Initiatives
The University of Vermont has demonstrated a commitment to environmental sustainability through various initiatives. In 1995, the Environmental Council at UVM was established to fill a gap regarding a bridge between operations and academics on campus greening issues. The council's first project was to hear presentations from the various environmental programs on campus to provide a baseline scan of campus operation environmental impact. Greening UVM was published in 1998 by the council to establish a baseline on the environmental impact of the campus' operations. During the same year, a recycled paper policy was created and was implemented in 1999. As a community stakeholder in the Lab-XL project, the Environmental Council received an EPA grant to support the Tracking UVM project and publication to assess the relative environmental impact and community interest in laboratory chemical waste. Tracking UVM, a follow-up to the Greening UVM report, was published in 2002 and reported on the environmental progress of the university from 1990 to 2000. The University of Vermont's commitment to tracking its environmental performance was recognized in 2004 with Vermont's Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for this 2002 environmental report card. In 2005, UVM's President Daniel M. In 2011, UVM released its Climate Action Plan to the American College & University President's Climate Commitment. The Climate Action Plan focuses on the direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions from the institution's operations. In 2012, UVM became one of the first institutions nationwide to end the sale of bottled water on campus and mandate that one third of drinks offered in vending machines.
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