Find your passion

The Alvernia Advantage

For more than 50 years, Alvernia has been

making its mark, first as a small college serving

the local community, now as a successful and

growing comprehensive university attracting

interest from across the nation as one of just

22 Franciscan schools in the country. It’s a

mark that can be recognized in our graduates,

our students and our faculty members.

Alvernia enables your potential through real-

world learning while preparing you for a lifetime

of leadership and positive impact in the lives of

others. We help you discover your passion and

develop what you love into a lifetime of profes-

sional success and personal fulfillment.

www.alvernia.edu/getreal

follow your

heart

REAL-WORLD LEARNING

Deven Samson ’15Alvernia’s Marketing and Communication Association is a student-run

agency called Professional Edge where students gain real-world experience in the field today.

Out-of-the-Classroom, Hands-On Experience for Life

Discovering the real world has never been easier thanks to Alvernia’s popular approach

to out-of-the-classroom experiential learning that offers students hands-on educational

opportunities in nearly every area of study through internships, field experiences,

co-ops, clinical assignments, research projects, community service and study/service

abroad programs. It’s an approach that delivers the practical know-how prized by

employers while allowing students to develop the essential skills needed to succeed

in that all-important first job.

www.alvernia.edu/getreal

Eric Schweitzer and Ashley Bauscher developed valuable skills while making a positive impact in the

community by helping citizens prepare tax forms.

Get the Edge

We have the academic power to help you reach your goals. With a College of Arts

and Science and College of Professional Studies, Alvernia offers more than 50

undergraduate majors and minors including pre-professional tracks in medicine,

dentistry and pharmacological studies.

Faculty members understand that students learn best when lessons come alive

through out-of-the-classroom experiences and that real-world learning helps students

develop capabilities that enable them to thrive in the uncertain circumstances of life.

Dr. Christopher Wise, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, MTC, ATC

DPT Program Director & Associate Professor of Physical Therapy

Daniel Kwasniewski ’13Biochemistry/chemistry major

Students get hands-on experience and connections

for internships and jobs. Community partners get the

help they need. It’s a win/win.

Jodi Radosh, Ph.D.

Associate Professor, English

and Communication &

Associate Director, HCCE

Capture the Spirit

Alvernia isn’t like everywhere else. Service learn-

ing fosters a deeper understanding of subject

matter than classroom learning alone and aligns

with our Franciscan tradition of “knowledge

joined with love.” Teamed with our community

partners — more than 50 in all — students use

what they learn in real workplaces while serving

their neighbors.

Going Beyond the Classroom

Each year, more than 1,300 students participate

in some type of experiential-learning initiative.

From presenting at national conferences and

leading student organizations to using state-of-

the-art laser equipment and treating patients,

students roll up their sleeves to engage in

hands-on learning programs. These experiences

will provide them with skills that are tested, and

proven, in actual work environments.Kate Roesch ’12Primary Teachers Trainer Peace Corps VolunteerMbale, Uganda

www.alvernia.edu/student-life

College is the time for you to really find out who you are as an individual, and the best way to do

that is to get involved around campus.

Jonathan Lozoskie ’13

Occupational Therapy

a place you’ll call home

Find Your Fit

Students feel at home at Alvernia! From our small class sizes and caring professors to our

multitude of student organizations and on-campus activities, our community is one that

fosters lifelong friendships, celebrates student success and encourages fun.

When it comes to on-campus housing, Alvernia makes you feel right at home. We are

committed to keeping Alvernia’s campus beautiful and safe for our community. Our public

safety department provides 24/7 security, and our campus has emergency call boxes and

ID card entrances for residence halls.

2

8

19

V

V

A 20

1. Angelica Park 2. Anthony Hall 3. Art Studio 4. Assisi Hall 5. Track & Schlager Memorial Field 6. Baseball &

Softball Fields 7. Bernardine Hall 8. Business &

Communication Building

9. Campus Commons10. Clare Hall11. Dr. Frank A. Franco

Library Learning Center

12. Francis Hall13. Francis Hall

Residence14. Judge Hall

15. Nursing Resource Center

16. O’Pake Science Center

17. Physical Education Center

18. Sacred Heart Chapel & McGlinn Conference Center

19. Siena Hall20. Student Center21. Upland Center22. Veronica Hall23. Zygmunta Hall-

Founders Village 24. Pacelli Hall-

Founders Village25. Apartment #3-

Founders Village26. Apartment #4-

Founders Village

Campus Map

Take a virtual tour of our beautiful campus and get a feel for student life at Alvernia by visiting us at www.alvernia.edu/virtualtour.

around the vernGreenway Terrace

Commonwealth Blvd.

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3

9

4

10

12

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1

6

1315

16

17

18

21

22

23

5

V Visitor Parking

A Office of Admissions

Key

Campus Entrance

26

2524

Upland Ave.

St. Bernardine Street St. Bern

ardine

Stre

et

a thriving crusader

nation

Athletics, Fitness and Fun

Alvernia is known for our winning athletic teams and fired-up school spirit.

Whether you’re looking to play varsity basketball or disc golf after class, we

have plenty of ways to stay fit and have fun. You’ll find opportunities to achieve

athletic and personal goals through NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics,

club sports and intramural programs. Students say intramural sports are a fun

way to meet new friends, take a break from studying and stay healthy.

Our students love to play sports and stay fit, so we offer a variety of intramural

programs and specialized fitness classes such as Pilates, yoga, kickboxing,

Tai Chi and aerobics. Or you can grab a workout with friends in the two-story

fitness center in the Campus Commons.

athletics.alvernia.edu

Men’s Teams

Baseball

Basketball

Cross Country

Golf

Ice Hockey*

Lacrosse

Soccer

Tennis

Track & Field

Women’s Teams

Basketball

Cheerleading*

Cross Country

Dance Team*

Field Hockey

Golf

Lacrosse

Soccer

Softball

Tennis

Track & Field

Volleyball

Varsity Athletics Aerobics

Cardio Fitness Room

Fitness Assessments

Kickboxing

Open Gym

Pilates

Self-Defense

Tai Chi

Trail Running

Weight Room

Yoga

*Club Sport

Fitness3-on-3 Basketball

3-on-3 Soccer

5-on-5 Basketball

Disc Golf

Flag Football

Fun Run

Inner Tube

Water Polo

Table Tennis

Ultimate Frisbee

Volleyball

Wiffleball

Intramurals

Graduating with Confidence

Real-world learning allows students to test their knowledge and know-how in real-life

situations. They apply the fundamentals and techniques learned in the classroom to

help solve the critical challenges facing today’s organizations.

Alvernia provides many opportunities for students to venture into the real world and

develop important capabilities like team-building skills, leadership, strategic planning,

project management and many others.

Our Career Development Office works with students to find avenues for employment,

internships, career exploration, resume development and graduate school options. Center

staff helps our students assess their options and identify their own “brand” to complement

their life after Alvernia.

Michael Heimbach ’88Senior Director of Global Security at ESPN

Amanda Fenkner ’08Manager, Ticket Office Business Operations at Washington Redskins

yourfuture starts here

Information Sessions:

2013 September 20 October 14 November 15

2014 January 20 February 17 March 21 May 2

Open Houses:

2013 October 12 November 9

2014 February 8 April 12

We invite you to visit Alvernia in person. Spending time on campus is the best way to know if we are the right school for you.

Call us today to schedule your visit!

n Individual Campus Visit: Personalize

your visit to Alvernia! Call to plan an

individual visit that includes a campus

tour and a meeting with a member

of the admissions staff. We will

schedule your visit based on the length

of time you can stay on campus and

what you would like to do and see

while you’re here. Let us know if you

are interested in a particular academic

or athletic program, so we can help

you connect with the professors

or coaches.

n Shadow Visit: Experience Alvernia

firsthand as you attend classes and

have lunch with a current student. See

how our small class sizes and dynamic,

energetic professors make a difference

in how our students learn.

n Overnight Visit: Attend classes, tour

campus, try out the food and stay with

a student host. See what campus life

is really like during the day and after

hours. Join the cheering crowd at a

Crusader athletic event, see a movie or

attend a class at the Fitness Center.

n Information Sessions: Held mostly

on Fridays about once a month, these

sessions with faculty and admis-

sions counselors offer a chance to

ask questions about our programs of

study, campus activities and where our

graduates end up after Alvernia.

n Open Houses: Held on Saturdays

throughout the year, Open Houses

offer opportunities to meet with our

friendly, accessible faculty, tour our

beautiful campus, learn about admis-

sions and financial aid or chat with a

coach about our athletic programs.

visit us

Visit Options to Meet Your Needs

your visit, your way

To register for any of our events or to schedule an individual campus visit, please visit www.alvernia.edu/visit or call 1.888.ALVERNIA.

see for yourself

ready to apply?Our friendly Alvernia attitude

extends to the ease of applying

for admission. Once you have

decided to apply, our supportive

admissions staff will help

along the way.

www.alvernia.edu

From Drive Time

Philadelphia 1 hour

Harrisburg, PA 1 hour

Wilmington, DE 1 hour, 15 minutes

Baltimore, MD 1 hour, 45 minutes

Scranton, PA 2 hours

Newark, NJ 2 hours

New York, NY 2 hours, 30 minutes

Washington, DC 2 hours, 45 minutes

New Haven, CT 4 hours

Springfield, MA 5 hours

Harrisburg

York

New York CityNewark

Allentown

Scranton

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Md.

Virginia

Del.

New York

Ohio

Conn.

N.J.

WestVirginia

Wilmington

Dover

Washington, D.C.

Baltimore

Allentow

Philadelph

Driving Distances Our beautiful 121-acre campus in historic

Berks County is three miles from the heart

of Reading, Pennsylvania, and just a short

drive away from Philadelphia, New York,

Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

We invite you to visit in person and have

many options to meet your needs — from

individual, shadow or overnight visits to

information sessions and open houses.

www.alvernia.edu/visit

Faculty: Our professors are actively

engaged in their fields of study through

scholarly research and direct professional

experience. Students will benefit from a

breadth of opportunities that put

classroom learning into action through

real-world applications. This approach is

a hallmark of an Alvernia education.

Academics: We offer more than 50 majors

and minors in nearly every field to ensure

that an Alvernia education will prepare you

for the career you want.

Size: With about 3,000 students, a 12:1

student-to-faculty ratio and average class

size of less than 20, Alvernia is the perfect

place for you to develop and thrive.

Financial Aid: An Alvernia education is

affordable, and about 99 percent of

undergraduates receive some type of aid.

Location: Our beautiful 121-acre

campus in historic Berks County is three

miles from the heart of Reading, Pa., and

just a short drive away from Philadelphia,

New York, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

Franciscan: Alvernia embraces the

universal appeal of the Franciscan core

values of service, humility, collegiality,

contemplation and peacemaking.

Motto: Our motto “To Learn, To Love,

To Serve” is as relevant today as it was in

1958 when the school was founded.

Activities: We have something for

everyone! More than 55 student groups

and organizations, including intramural

and intercollegiate sports, honor societies,

student government and environmental

and service clubs, deliver an out-of-the-

classroom approach to hands-on learning.

alvernia at a glance

Office of Admissions400 Saint Bernardine St.Reading, PA 19607

1.888.ALVERNIA admissions@alvernia.edu

www.alvernia.edu

Athletic TrainingBehavioral HealthB

*Addiction Studies *Child Welfare *Mental Health BiochemistryBiologyB#

Biology-Medical TechnologyBusinessB

Accounting Human Resource

ManagementB Management Marketing Sport ManagementB ChemistryB

Chemistry-Medical Technology

CommunicationB

*Corporate *Film, Culture and

Creative Arts *Journalism *Media Design

and Production *Public Relations

and Advertising *Theatre StudiesCriminal Justice

AdministrationB

*concentration Bminor available

Education Early Childhood (PreK-4) Early Childhood (PreK-4)

& Special Education (PreK-8)

Middle School (4-8) * English/Lang/

Reading *Math *Math & Science *Social Studies Secondary (7-12) *Biology *Chemistry *English *Math *Social StudiesEnglishB

Forensic ScienceB

General ScienceB

Healthcare Science#

HistoryB

Liberal StudiesMathematicsB

Nursing Occupational Therapy

(5-year Master’s Degree)PhilosophyB

Political ScienceB

# may be used to track towards application for Doctor of Physical Therapy Graduate Program (cur-rently in pre-candidacy stage).

PsychologyB#

*Counseling/Rehabilitation *Forensic Psychology *General *Sports PsychologySocial WorkTheatreB

TheologyB

Undecided Additional MinorsArtComputer and

Information StudiesDigital MediaEconomicsGerontologyInformation StudiesMusicPhysicsSociologySpanishWomen’s & Gender Studies Pre-Professional ProgramsPre-DentalPre-LawPre-MedicalPre-PharmacyPre-Veterinary

programs ofstudy