Award-winning online degree program
WSU Online stands among the nation’s top four online degree programs according to the 2012 Smart Choice rankings by SuperScholar, which cites the University's outstanding academic reputation. U.S. News & World Report ranks the University's online bachelor’s degree programs in the nation's top six for student services and technology. WSU Online also ranks among the nation's top six distance learning programs for its military-friendliness, according to the 2012 Guide to Online Schools.

Veteran-friendly environment
For two consecutive years, WSU has ranked among the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools in the nation that are doing the most to embrace America’s veterans as students, according to the magazine G.I. Jobs.

Research that advances Washington agricultural industries
Thanks in part to WSU research and support, Washington growers lead the nation in apple production. Washington provides more than half of the fresh apples eaten in America. WSU researchers are world leaders in small grain genetics and breeding and have helped to make Washington one of the world's most productive wheat growing regions. In addition, the University's partnership with grape growers helped create a $3 billion a year premium wine grape industry.

Among the nation's top schools for organic agriculture
The Organic Farming Research Foundation named WSU among the top six schools in the U.S. for educational and research programs in organic agriculture. The organic agriculture systems program conducts pioneering research and offers a four-year, bachelor of science degree program as well as an online certificate in organic agriculture.

Top-ranked programs in interior design
The bachelor’s degree program is the state's only four-year program accredited by the Council for Interior Design Accreditation. The graduate program ranks in the Top Ten Best Programs in the U.S. according to Design Intelligence, a bimonthly journal for architecture and design professionals.

Among the nation’s top three online agricultural degree programs
Offered through the University’s Center for Distance and Professional Education, the program is cited among the best by degreedirectory.org.

Plant scientists and zoologists who lead the nation in scholarly productivity
Faculty researchers in the plant sciences rank among the top 2 in the nation for scholarly productivity, while zoology researchers rank among the top 7, according to the 2007 Faculty Scholarly Productivity Index, developed by Academic Analytics and released by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

At the forefront in shock physics
Many of the nation’s top shock physicists have been trained in the University’s Institute for Shock Physics, which serves as a national resource in shock wave and static high-pressure science and related areas through scientific innovations and rigorous education.

One of the best schools in the nation to study jazz
DownBeat magazine features WSU in its 2011 edition of “Where to Study Jazz.” Jazziz magazine features WSU in its list of the best educational institutions for studying jazz: “The ‘A’ List: 2011 Education Guide.”

Physics research recognized worldwide
The Department of Physics is home to internationally recognized research groups in astrophysics, materials and optical physics, matter under extreme conditions, and novel states of matter.

World-renowned sociology faculty
Faculty in the Department of Sociology are recognized worldwide in the areas of environmental sociology and social psychology. The reputation of the department is confirmed by the fact that it has served, in recent years, as the editorial home for several major sociological journals, including American Sociological Review, Criminology, and the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion.

Outstanding research and laboratory experiences for undergraduates
Undergraduates are afforded opportunities to learn to use the latest research equipment in the labs of top scientists and often work on independent research projects. In their first jobs, many WSU science graduates report that their laboratory skills more than matched those of other new employees with degrees from other top institutions.

Distinguished scholars in the humanities
The College’s faculty have distinguished themselves in scholarship focused on cultural understanding, securing major grants and fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities. For example, a $476,000 grant awarded to Professor Kim Christen enables her to continue the development and dissemination of Mukurtu, a digital archive tool aimed at the specific needs of indigenous libraries, museums, and communities globally.

Social and behavioral research that contributes significantly to human health
Social and behavioral scientists in the college conduct funded research combating substance abuse, dementia, fatigue-related accidents, and other major threats to health and safety.

Fine arts faculty whose work is exhibited in top galleries worldwide
The practicing artists who comprise the Fine Arts studio faculty exhibit their work in leading galleries around the world. The Department of Fine Arts’ visiting artist program brings students face to face with artists from the Northwest and beyond.

World-renowned philosophy conference
The annual Inland Northwest Philosophy Conference attracts leading philosophers from all over the world.

Chemistry degrees certified by the American Chemical Society
Undergraduate degrees in chemistry carry the added value and stature that come with being ACS certified.

Hospitality program recognized worldwide
The School of Hospitality Business Management ranks ninth in the world for articles contributed to scholarly journals—a measure of faculty research productivity. (Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 2011). A unique aspect of the program is its engagement of executives from major senior care services companies to train students in managing the burgeoning number of senior living communities nationwide. The University's chapter of Eta Sigma Delta (ESD), an international honor society for hospitality management students, conducted so many successful activities that it was selected from more than 60 chapters worldwide to receive the 2012 ESD Chapter of Distinction Award, the organization’s highest honor.

Outstanding international business program
The nationally recognized International Business Institute sponsors faculty-led global learning programs in China, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, and Thailand. The international business program for undergraduates ranks among the nation's top 20 and stands 13th among public national universities (US News & World Report, 2013). WSU offers students worldwide the rare opportunity to earn two bachelors' degrees simultaneously from institutions on different continents: a degree in international business from César Ritz Colleges in Switzerland along with a WSU degree in hospitality business management.

Annual Business Plan Competition that spawns entrepreneurial ventures
Student teams from three continents vie for $150,000 in awards. But the impact of the competition far outlasts the awards ceremony. Many contestants turn their plans into reality by launching their new ventures.

One of the nation's top 25 journalism schools
The Murrow College stands among the top 25 journalism schools in the country according to a survey by NewsPro Magazine, a national magazine for news professionals.

Faculty who have won regional and national teaching awards
Murrow College faculty members have been honored for instructional excellence in journalism, broadcasting, and public relations.

Students who consistently win top honors in national competitions
Recent awards were bestowed by Associated Collegiate Press, Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (the Gracie Award), the Society of Professional Journalists, and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Northwest Chapter (Emmy awards).

The backbone of Northwest Public Radio, a statewide service
Northwest Public Radio, a service of The Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, now serves listeners across Washington State, bringing NPR news and classical music to audiences from the Puget Sound area to the Palouse.

Most comprehensive undergraduate communication program in the Northwest
The Murrow College offers programs in advertising, broadcasting, communication studies, journalism, and public relations. It offers the only comprehensive broadcasting program in the state of Washington.  

Opportunities for hands-on, multimedia learning
The Murrow College is noted for combining professional skill building and theory and is one of only a few programs in the nation that airs a daily, student-produced television newscast.  The Murrow College internship program includes opportunities for students to hone their skills with professional public television and public radio staff.

One of the nation’s top 25 doctoral programs
The Murrow College’s doctoral studies program stands among America’s best, according to the National Research Council (2010).

1. The University increasingly engages in research related to science, technology engineering and mathematics (STEM) education, fostering collaboration among education faculty, K-12 schools and other universities in Washington and across the country. College of Education faculty take leading roles in the WSU STEM Education Partnership and Project Lead the Way, and research efforts such as the National Science Foundation-funded TEACH Math and Making Mathematics Reasoning Explicit projects.
2. The Pacific Northwest Center for Mestizo and Indigenous Research and Outreach illuminates social, economic, educational, and political conditions of Latino/Mestizo and Native/Indigenous communities. It addresses issues related to educational achievement gaps, poverty, health, and discrimination on individual and institutional levels.

Accredited academic programs

1. The doctoral program in counseling psychology is one of approximately 75 such programs to be accredited by the American Psychology Association.
2. The program in athletic training education is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Athletic Training Education (CAATE).
   
3. The graduate and undergraduate programs in teacher preparation, administrator preparation, and school counselor preparation are approved by the Washington State Board of Education.
   

WSU’s educational leadership program certifies 70 percent of the state’s school district superintendents, so it plays a significant role in shaping management of the state’s public schools.  An increasing number of superintendents go on to earn a doctoral degree in educational leadership (Ed.D.) from WSU, which enables them to specialize in K-12 leadership, higher education leadership, or teacher leadership.

National and international leaders in the field
Many College of Education faculty scholars hold national and international leadership positions in their professional organizations.

Each year students nationwide vie for admission to WSU's highly competitive undergraduate program in sport management. Directing the program is Professor (and former athletic coach) Cathryn Claussen, an international authority in gender issues and sport law who co-authored the textbook Sport Law: A Managerial Approach.

Outstanding preparation for National Board teaching certification exams
Teachers who complete WSU’s National Board support program regularly outperform their peers across the state and nation when seeking certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Partnerships with universities worldwide
The College embraces and promotes international education. Through a longtime partnership with the Board of Education in Nishinomiya, Japan, the University brings Japanese faculty members to Pullman and sends WSU educators to teach English in Nishinomiya schools. In addition, students and faculty collaborate with nine universities in Thailand to modernize and privatize those university systems. Every year a select group of WSU teacher education students get their field experience at U.S. Department of Defense schools overseas.

An annual conference that attracts an international audience
The WSU College of Education hosts the annual Globalization, Diversity & Education Conference, which focuses on the issues of education and social justice in a global society. It draws scholars from around the country and overseas. The conference is organized by the Cultural Studies and Social Thought program, which offers a rigorous and individually tailored course of Ph.D. study that focuses on the problems of culture and power in education.

1. WSU’s Institute for Sustainable Design bridges disciplines to design and construct holistic, sustainable communities.
   
2. A partnership between WSU and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the Bioproducts, Sciences and Engineering Laboratory (BSEL) aims to develop and deploy sustainable biomass-based technologies that reduce dependence on petroleum imports and improve energy security, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
3. WSU ranks among the nation’s top 10 clean-tech universities (The Cleantech Group, 2010). The expertise of our faculty scholars and alumni in agriculture, plant science, power, and applied engineering fuel clean-tech industries throughout the Pacific Northwest.
   
4. Faculty and alumna have launched successful engineering-based companies, such as Schweitzer Engineering and Decagon Devices.

Strong undergraduate research opportunities
The College offers four Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs, sponsored by the National Science Foundation. Across all colleges, the University offers six REU programs, providing more opportunities for undergraduates to get involved in research than any other university in the Northwest and more than approximately 90 percent of universities nationwide.

Top training ground for high-tech leaders
WSU stands among 22 colleges in the nation doing the best job educating technology leaders, according to news website “The Daily Beast.” The site’s editors examined biographies of technology executives from the nation’s biggest companies and most promising startups to identify “which colleges have turned out the most undergraduates destined for high-tech greatness.”

The University’s excellence in educating future leaders was also recognized with a prestigious Kauffman Award for Excellence in Engineering or Technology Entrepreneurship Education, which in 2008 honored WSU’s Harold Frank Engineering Entrepreneurship Institute. The award recognizes leadership and innovation in engineering/technology entrepreneurship education. In addition, WSU students consistently stand among the top 3 winners of the University’s annual business plan competition.

Graduate program in architecture among the top 6 in the West
Washington State University's School of Architecture and Construction Managementearns top rankings. (Design Intelligence, 2012)

Internationally recognized student outreach activities in materials science and engineering
The WSU chapter of Material Advantage, a national materials science and engineering organization for students, was one of only five worldwide recognized as a 2011 Chapter of Excellence for its outreach efforts and participation in professional society meetings.

Multidisciplinary doctoral programs with research opportunities in the fields of environment and health
Through the National Science Foundation's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Training (IGERT) program, faculty members have received two prestigious awards totaling $6 million to support graduate student education.

Faculty recognized nationally for their scholarly achievements
Among the faculty are members of the National Academy of Engineering, the most prestigious honor in the engineering field, as well as fellows of prominent scientific societies: the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the Institute of Physics, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), and the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE), among others. A quarter of tenure-seeking faculty members are recipients of the prestigious National Science Foundation Career Award. The faculty also includes a recipient of NASA achievement awards, recipients of the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, Fulbright Scholars, and more.

Graduates who are work-ready on day one
Academic programs emphasize hands-on, problem-solving experience, which is reinforced in student club activities. For example, the WSU Electric Vehicle Team works to build an electric car while developing hands-on skills and preliminary engineering design experience.

A rigorous thesis requirement
Honors students complete a thesis project, researching an academic question of importance to them, documenting their analysis and conclusions, and orally presenting their work to faculty evaluators. The thesis project develops research and communication skills; showcases academic achievements, interests, and talents; and requires students to work closely with a faculty member. Many alumni report that their Honors thesis project was one of their most valuable undergraduate experiences.

Accelerated track to a DVM degree
For more than two decades, the Honors College Pre-Admitted Veterinary Program enables selected undergraduates to enroll in a rigorous Honors curriculum that dovetails with veterinary medicine prerequisites. Honors students with 3.5+ GPAs can interview as sophomores for pre-admittance to the world-renowned WSU College of Veterinary Medicine. This Honors program helps students in the combined baccalaureate/DVM program to complete their undergraduate and professional education in a total of seven years instead of eight.

Academic involvement and civic engagement
Students in the Honors College frequently make presentations at industry conferences and at the Western Regional Honors Conference. They lead and serve in many community projects each year. Not surprisingly, Honors College students comprise a large share of participants in WSU’s annual Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA) competition.

Expanding faculty research
In seven years, the number of faculty research grants has more than doubled, from 66 in 2006 to 140 in June, 2012. During that same period, faculty researchers were awarded $27.5 million in grant dollars for studies on a wide range of topics, among them diabetes, obesity, substance abuse, rural and community health, and underserved populations and health disparities.

At the forefront in clinical simulation
WSU stands among ten schools chosen to participate in a national study evaluating the ideal mix of simulation and live clinical training in nursing education. Simulation is a method of teaching future health professionals how to provide safe patient care using actors, manikins, and fellow students in realistic health care settings. Clinical practice and simulation labs are located at the three sites where Bachelor of Science in Nursing courses are taught, and students practice 72 fundamental skills during their first three semesters. Faculty members and doctoral students are simulation experts.

National leader in distance delivery of nursing education
The College’s more than 1,000 nursing students span five locations: Spokane, Yakima, the Tri-Cities, Vancouver, and Walla Walla. Through distance learning technologies, students at all locations benefit from instruction and resources not otherwise available at their home sites. Online courses give much-needed flexibility to students balancing careers and families. Depending on the program, students can participate in coursework and lectures at their own convenience.

Students who win top awards
WSU students are consistent award winners and finalists in American Pharmacists Association competitions for business plans, patient outreach activities and patient counseling skills, as well as volunteer service in pharmacy.

A commitment to provide health care to the community
WSU pharmacy students provide 300 hours each of health care to people in Pullman and Spokane during their hands-on training.  In addition, the College of Pharmacy provides skilled responders for public health emergencies in any of the seven eastern Washington counties when called upon by the Spokane Regional Health District. Pharmacy faculty members also provide direct patient care at their practice sites at hospitals, pharmacies, nonprofit community service organizations and others.

Geriatric pharmacy experts who teach, conduct research, and provide care
Several faculty are Certified Geriatric Pharmacists who mentor pharmacy students and fellows while providing direct patient care for an elderly population in Spokane and conducting research into medication issues in elderly populations.

Faculty recognized for their scholarly achievements
Faculty members include fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists, the American College of Clinical Pharmacy, the American Association of Diabetes Educators and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists.

Statewide mentoring network of pharmacy professionals
The College has an active and well-trained network of 350 pharmacists in Washington state serving as mentors to pharmacy students for six-week clerkships in their private practices.

Drug Information Center (DIC)—a resource for professionals statewide
Health care professionals from across Washington state call the College’s DIC for prescription drug information. The center’s director, Dr. Danial E. Baker, is a respected author of new drug reviews for Facts & Comparisons, a publication providing drug information to pharmacists.

Special first-year experience programs that foster academic success
A welcoming environment makes freshmen from widely varying backgrounds feel connected, succeed academically, and want to stay in college. Four examples:

1. The Freshman Focus living-learning community places students from the same residence hall in one or more classes together so group learning happens within and outside of the classroom.
2. The Common Reading Program selects one book each year that all freshmen use. Professors draw on its topics in classes across many disciplines, the authors visit campus, and faculty and other experts present special lectures and events to showcase research, knowledge, and experiences tied to the book's topics.
3. Professional academic and career advisors meet individually with pre-majors to plan course schedules and discuss student interests and strengths.
4. A specially designed course (UColl 104, Pathways to Academic Student Success) helps students develop skills for academic success and make the transition to the rigorous intellectual expectations of college.
   

Robust focus on undergraduates researching with faculty mentors
About 25 percent of WSU students engage in research, scholarship, and creative activities under the mentorship of faculty members, making original intellectual or creative contributions to their disciplines. WSU supports undergraduate research in many ways, among them:

1. The Cougar Undergraduate Research Experience, a one-week summer session following the freshman year, introduces students to research possibilities available on campus.
2. University College scholarships fund research by undergraduates.
3. The summer Research Experience for Undergraduates (REUs), funded by the National Science Foundation, engages WSU students in research here and at universities across America.
4. A Research Skills Short Course helps transfer students quickly find faculty-mentored research opportunities.
5. The annual Showcase for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities (SURCA), invites students university-wide to present their findings and compete for awards.
6. Many student researchers represent WSU at conferences in their field, and many are co-authors in published journal articles.

National recognition for outstanding undergraduate advising
Many faculty members and staff who serve as academic advisors have been recognized with top awards from the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA).

Professional mentoring of future health-care professionals
Professionals in the Pre-Health Advising and STEM Education (PHASE) office offer guidance to more than 3,000 students annually who aspire to become physicians, dentists, physical therapists, veterinarians, nurses, or other health care professionals. “Medicine” is one of the top interests of entering WSU freshmen across many disciplines. The PHASE staff keep students on track academically while exploring requirements to enter the professional school of their choice.

Mentoring of students seeking prestigious scholarships
The Distinguished Scholarships office provides one-to-one guidance for students aspiring to receive prestigious national scholarships such as the Fulbrights, Marshalls, Goldwaters, and Rhodes. Building the kind of resume needed to qualify for such awards begins early in a student’s academic career. The Distinguished Scholarships staff provides information in individual and group settings.

Research center that works to control emerging disease worldwide
From Avian influenza to West Nile virus, nearly all new diseases in humans come from animals. Through its School for Global Animal Health, WSU pursues innovative solutions for the prevention of zoonotic diseases, or infections transmitted from animals to humans. Researchers explore vaccination and other strategic interventions in animal populations and the environment that will reduce pathogen levels below thresholds required for transmission.

One of the best-equipped veterinary teaching hospitals in the nation
The hospital is outfitted with sophisticated diagnostic and treatment technologies, including MRI and computerized tomography (CT scan) for both large and small animals, ultrasound, endoscopy, arthroscopy, digital fluoroscopy, nuclear scintigraphy for both large and small animals, a linear accelerator for producing high energy x-ray radiation and focused electron beams for treatment of cancer, x-ray capability for large and small animals, and complete digital image transmittal capability to send images instantaneously from the hospital to the classroom and around the world.

Diagnostic laboratory that safeguards public health
The Washington Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (WADDL) is a founding member of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, a network of 12 regional laboratories responsible for surveillance of and response to exotic disease outbreaks affecting livestock—among them Foot and Mouth Disease, Classical Swine Fever, Exotic Newcastle Disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and others. As a part of the network, the WADDL works closely with USDA to provide diagnostic services, consultation, disease surveillance, and outreach in order to safeguard animal health, the food supply, and public health. In addition, the WADDL contributes to Washington State University and the College of Veterinary Medicine through discovery, scholarly activity, and education.

Only program in the Northwest that is fully accredited and exceeds federal standards for animal care and use and for veterinary medical education
The College of Veterinary Medicine is accredited by four key national accrediting agencies: the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA-COE), the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC), the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD), and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).