Bucknell University Athletics

Bucknell rises on a hill overlooking the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania, a site chosen by the Pennsylvania Baptists who founded the university in 1846. First called the University at Lewisburg, Bucknell was renamed for its benefactor, William Bucknell, a Philadelphian whose generosity bolstered the university during the post-Civil War depression. Like other colleges of that period, Bucknell began as a liberal arts school, but before the century was out, the University was listing engineering and business courses in our curriculum. Today, Bucknell's students have their choice of 53 majors and 64 minors, including such wide-ranging fields as animal behavior, cell biology, and East Asian studies, along with professional programs in accounting and management, education, engineering, and music. Equally important, professors provide the informed advice students need to make the most of their options. Bucknell students work closely with faculty, and many assist professors with special undergraduate research projects. Primarily an undergraduate institution, Bucknell enrolls about 3,550 highly selected scholars (3,350 undergraduates and 200 graduate students), who benefit from the special offerings of a college-like university and the personal attention they receive from more than 280 faculty members committed to teaching.

Bucknell offers majors in the following areas: Accounting, Animal Behavior, Anthropology, Art & Art History, Astronomy, Biology, Business Administration, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Chemsitry, Classics, Comparative Humanities, Computer Science, East Asian Studies, Economics, Education Engineering (Biomedical), Engineering (Chemical), Engineering (Civil & Environmental), Engineering (Computer Science), Engineering (Electrical), Engineering (General), Engineering (Mechanical), Englsih, Environmental Studies, French, Geography, German, History, International Programs, International Relations, Latin American Studies, Management, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Prelaw, Premed, Psychology, Religion, Russian, Sociology, Spanish, Theatre & Dance, and Women's and Gender Studies. In recent years, nearly 35% of each graduating class has studied off campus. With advance planning, eligible students in any academic program can study abroad. Bucknell students receive all financial aid, except work-study, while off campus on an approved program. The Office of International Education assists students during the sophomore year in defining both their academic and personal goals and selecting an appropriate semester or yearlong program. There are a variety of options are Bucknell for study abroad. Additionally, Bucknell offers an Honors Program. The Honors Program at Bucknell University is designed to encourage intellectual independence and to recognize academic excellence. Many academic departments and programs of the University offer programs of departmental honors for students majoring in those areas of study. Typical programs involve independent study under the supervision of an adviser, the completion of an honors thesis or a creative project, and an oral examination by a faculty committee. Some departments require participation in special honors seminars. Students who successfully complete the Honors Program will graduate with honors, a distinction noted at graduation and printed on their transcripts. Honors graduates have reported that completing an honors thesis was one of their most valuable learning experiences at Bucknell, especially so for those who subsequently undertook graduate studies.

The athletic teams at Bucknell University compete at the NCAA Division I level, and are members of the Patriot League. Football competes at Division I-AA.

Recent Highlights:

• Bison Baseball is currently ranked 14th in latest CollegeBaseballInsider.com Northeast Coaches Poll



• Bucknell Women's Tennis Opens Home Schedule with 7-0 Win Over Loyola



• Bucknell Men's Lax Routs Mount St. Mary's 16-4 in Home Opener



• On October 28, 2000, ground was broken for the new $31.5 million recreation and athletics center. The center houses a new 54-meter by 25-yard Olympic pool, a new 4,000 seat gymnasium, 15,000 square feet for a new student fitness facility and instructional strength and conditioning area, The Bucknell Athletic Hall of Fame and a display of Bucknell's Medal of Honor recipients, and modern offices for all coaches and athletic staff.



• In September 2002, Bucknell was again named highest among the nation in graduation rates.

Recent Championships:
Baseball: 2001
Women's Basketball: 2001-02
Men's Cross Country: 1997, 1998, 1999
Women's Cross Country: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Men's Lacrosse: 2000, 2001, 2002
Women's Soccer: 2001
Men's Swimming & Diving: 2002-03
Women's Swimming & Diving: 2002-03
Women's Indoor Track & Field: 1997-98, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2001-02, 2002-03
Women's Outdoor Track & Field: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
Volleyball: 1998, 2000

In addition, Bucknell has won the Patriot League Presidents' Cup (the league's all-sports trophy) in each of the last five years and nine times in the league's 12-year history.

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