Prescott College

What is the history of Prescott College?

Prescott College was founded in 1966 in Prescott, Arizona, and opened to students in 1967. It developed around an educational approach that gives students substantial responsibility for shaping their studies and uses learning outside the classroom alongside academic coursework.

Experiential education remains central to the college's identity. Fieldwork, independent projects and community-based learning help explain why Prescott may feel different from a college organized primarily around lectures and fixed major requirements. Applicants should nevertheless compare the requirements of a specific degree program, particularly if they plan to enter a licensed profession or pursue further study.

What are the faculties and departments at Prescott College?

Prescott College offers undergraduate and graduate study with an emphasis on interdisciplinary, experiential learning. Rather than assuming it has the same departmental structure as a large university, prospective students should examine the curriculum and advising arrangements for the particular degree they want.

Undergraduate areas associated with the college include environmental studies, sustainability, outdoor education, psychology, writing and interdisciplinary studies. Its graduate offerings include education and counseling-related study. The way a program is delivered matters: a field-based course, a campus course and a low-residency program can place very different demands on a student's schedule and travel budget.

Prescott reports an eight-to-one student-to-faculty ratio. That institution-wide measure suggests a small academic setting, but it does not establish the size or availability of any particular course. Students considering a self-designed or interdisciplinary path should ask how advisers approve a study plan and which required courses are offered in their intended terms.

What is the location of Prescott College?

Prescott College is in Prescott, a city in central Arizona. Its location gives students access to a smaller-city setting and nearby landscapes that can be relevant to outdoor, environmental and community-based coursework.

Prescott is not part of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Students arranging field placements, employment or frequent travel should account for transportation time and the availability of a car. Prescott Regional Airport serves the area, while Phoenix offers a wider range of flights at a greater distance. The college's campus is only one consideration: students in online, low-residency or field-based programs should check where their required in-person activities take place.

What is the mission and vision of Prescott College?

Prescott College states an educational mission centered on helping students understand and contribute to their communities and the environment. Its academic approach emphasizes inquiry, experiential learning and attention to social and ecological questions.

That mission is most useful to applicants when translated into program requirements. A prospective student can look for the balance of fieldwork, independent study, conventional courses and assessed projects in a degree plan. The college's stated values describe its priorities; they should not be mistaken for evidence that every course or student experience will be the same.