Creating Incredible Futures
I am proud to be the president of a dynamic, nationally recognized college committed to higher education for women. Virginia Alice Cottey founded Cottey College in 1884 in an effort to ensure women could receive a quality educational experience. She stated in the first catalog that “We have endeavored to make our course of study thoroughly practical and adapted to the needs of young women of the present day.” Cottey College continues to meet the educational needs of women in the twenty-first century by maintaining high academic standards and offering a rigorous liberal arts and sciences curriculum, enriched by opportunities for personal growth through cultural, residential, and international experiences.
This catalog outlines courses of study in the arts and sciences designed to prepare students for baccalaureate degrees and for leadership roles as responsible, engaged citizens of a complex global society. A Cottey education focuses on enhancing intellectual ability, the development of leadership skills, and preparation for personal and professional accomplishment.
The academic program is reviewed and revised regularly by the College’s faculty to ensure that it meets the needs of our students. The baccalaureate programs include a solid grounding in the liberal arts coupled with in-depth study of the degree-specific subject matter. Students work side-by-side with classmates and professors, are engaged in research from the first year forward, and have plentiful opportunities for internships, community service, and study abroad experiences. Upon completing a baccalaureate degree, students are ready for either the workforce or for graduate school. Students who earn a degree at Cottey report that they arrive at graduate institutions well prepared to face rigorous intellectual challenges.
I am honored to lead an institution with a distinguished history and a commitment to creating incredible futures for Cottey students. The merging of past and present on a historic campus that prepares students for the demands of a technological world, the supportive campus community that recognizes and equips students to face the challenges of a global society, the devotion of the Cottey community to mutual support and learning—these are the features that distinguish this College. I invite you to be a part of this amazing institution as you work toward creating your own incredible future.
Dr. Stefanie D. Niles
President