The world is changing at a breathtaking pace. To be successful, students need a different kind of education. At Pennsylvania's Juniata College students are encouraged to break the mold of conformity, to seek their own truth and to think for themselves. Juniata students expect the uncommon in their educational experience, realizing early on that what really matters is the preparation they receive to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

From the time the college was founded in 1876 by members of the Church of the Brethren, one of the traditional peace churches, being uncommon has always been considered a good thing. That's because at this liberal arts college students find their education as personal as it is challenging. Juniata offers a flexible curriculum that empowers students to be in charge of their education. Most Juniata students design their own majors through a tailored Program of Emphasis. That means students pursue their own talents, while gaining the in-depth knowledge that employers and graduate schools value.

A rigorous academic program that involves students in the issues and trends shaping our society distinguishes Juniata's education program. Students study the impact of our actions on the environment through coursework in environmental science. They can put their coursework into action at the 365-acre field station on nearby Raystown Lake. The College’s new “Sense of Place” semester provides an opportunity for students to live at the lake for an entire semester.

As a student, you explore new approaches to resolving differences at home and abroad through the college's program in Peace and Conflict Studies - a program that has brought the United Nations to the campus; led to the creation of the college's Peace Chapel designed by Maya Lin, who also designed The Wall (The Vietnam Veterans' Memorial in Washington) and serves as a national model for other institutions.

Juniata students ponder and probe cultural issues through the academic program's cultural analysis component - a course sequence designed to teach you how to think, not what to think. You take two cultural analysis courses, chosen from a selection of approved courses, designed to develop the necessary skills to identify, understand and analyze culture.

Juniata backs up its commitment to students who make a difference through the unique Nomination Scholarship Program. Through this program, the college awards eight students who make a difference as a result of involvement in school, community and beyond. Four of the awards are full tuition, room and board, the other four are full tuition scholarships. Scholarships are offered in The Arts to students who have participated in and who have shown commitment to the arts; in Environmental Responsibility to students who demonstrate personal interest and involvement in environmental issues; in Leadership to students who have demonstrated leadership in school, community or church activities; and in Service and Peace Making to students who have proven involvement in organizations that promote community service, conflict resolution, or mediation.