Emory & Henry (A College That Changes Lives) was founded in 1836 and first opened its doors in 1838 to students. Named for a prominent Methodist minister, John Emory, and famous American revolutionary, Patrick Henry (the "Give me liberty or give me death" guy), the school has a twofold mission: faith and learning united with freedom and civic virtues.
With just over 1,000 undergrads and a couple dozen graduate students, Emory & Henry is nestled into southwest Virginia west of Blacksburg and not too far from the Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee borders. They are proud to be a liberal arts institution and encourage you to consider a liberal arts education.
What makes E&H's education really unique is their Core Curriculum. Unlike some of the usual core curriculums out there, Emory & Henry's isn't the typical 2 semesters of calculus, 2 of English, 3 of foreign language, 3 of science. It's much more tailored to becoming a human. The classes are as follows:
Emory has some really unusual programs as well including its Equine Science program (for you horse folks). And it has a 5 year program in Community Organizing and Leadership (you leave with a BA and an MA). It also has a pretty popular program in athletic training, and Environmental Studies are also popular there given its amazing environs.
They have a pretty great honors program which comes with a hefty $21,000 scholarship, enough to make its private tuition competitive with in-state prices, plus there are great perks to the honors program including studying abroad and in New York.
Is Emory & Henry for you? It's really isolated, so the school community has to be ok with you. If you love the outdoors it will help. People here are hikers and trekkers. Kayaking, canoeing, climbing, rowing, skiing, this place has folks who spend time outdoors. Football is a thing here, and students enjoy their sports. There's a healthy Greek Life community at Emory & Henry. And it's not hard to find either a club or a spiritual group to join either. Everything should be pretty much right there for you.
Pros
With just over 1,000 undergrads and a couple dozen graduate students, Emory & Henry is nestled into southwest Virginia west of Blacksburg and not too far from the Kentucky, North Carolina, and Tennessee borders. They are proud to be a liberal arts institution and encourage you to consider a liberal arts education.
What makes E&H's education really unique is their Core Curriculum. Unlike some of the usual core curriculums out there, Emory & Henry's isn't the typical 2 semesters of calculus, 2 of English, 3 of foreign language, 3 of science. It's much more tailored to becoming a human. The classes are as follows:
- Know thyself: Critically examine one’s own beliefs; strive for consistency in personal ethics; be aware of the consequences of political and ethical positions.
- Connect: Understand and appreciate diversity in cultures, politics, and belief systems; comprehend and analyze the meaning of the local, national, and global; develop proficiency in a foreign language; broaden one's perspective through regional, national, and international travel.
- Serve: Appreciate the role of service in the community; be a responsible citizen of the state and nation; be cognizant of the impact of one’s actions on others.
- Explore: Be able to engage in a variety of disciplines as well as understand their purposes, interrelationships, and contributions to human knowledge; analyze and interpret significant literary texts as they represent the variety of individual, social, and cultural contexts of human experience.
- Experiment: Develop knowledge about natural science and the experimental process; learn and apply the scientific method.
- Create: Value visual and performing arts as forms of human expression; understand and interpret art through creation or analysis.
- Quantify: Interpret and use numbers and mathematics confidently, ethically, and appropriately; apply numbers to real-life experience; appreciate quantitative reasoning as a tool of intellectual inquiry and communication.
- Communicate: Generate original ideas and apply the methods of analysis, synthesis, and reason; create clear and persuasive oral and written arguments; communicate effectively in individual and group settings.
- Apply: Use applied learning experiences such as laboratories, internships, formal presentations, and critical thinking exercises to further knowledge; realize the continuity between past and present events; use information and technologies proficiently and appropriately.
- Be strong: Value and pursue the benefits of lifelong physical fitness, balance in work and recreation, and psychological well-being.
Emory has some really unusual programs as well including its Equine Science program (for you horse folks). And it has a 5 year program in Community Organizing and Leadership (you leave with a BA and an MA). It also has a pretty popular program in athletic training, and Environmental Studies are also popular there given its amazing environs.
They have a pretty great honors program which comes with a hefty $21,000 scholarship, enough to make its private tuition competitive with in-state prices, plus there are great perks to the honors program including studying abroad and in New York.
Is Emory & Henry for you? It's really isolated, so the school community has to be ok with you. If you love the outdoors it will help. People here are hikers and trekkers. Kayaking, canoeing, climbing, rowing, skiing, this place has folks who spend time outdoors. Football is a thing here, and students enjoy their sports. There's a healthy Greek Life community at Emory & Henry. And it's not hard to find either a club or a spiritual group to join either. Everything should be pretty much right there for you.
Pros
- Cool "core curriculum"
- Great location here in VA
- Super supportive community
- Great liberal arts education
- Very small
- Hard work
- Nowhere to hide here!