T o further stimulate scholarship and to enrich the cultural life of the student body, in 1962 Bridgewater became a charter member of Brethren Colleges Abroad. B ridgewater has a student body of approximately 1100 men and women from 17 states, and 10 foreign countries who represent many races and creeds. The College offers the Bachelor of Arts Degree in 30 major fields and the Bachelor of Science Degree in 20 major fields. Bridgewater also offers the Bachelor of General Studies Degree, an individually prescribed degree program for mature adults. B ridgewater insists that its teachers be not only proficient and inspiring disseminators of knowledge, but that they also be creators of it.
Faculty members do research, read papers before learned societies, and publish books and articles.
This emphasis on the search for knowledge has encouraged student-faculty research. These generalizations are supported by academic facts. Each year a significant number of the graduating class enter graduate and professional schools. Since this percentile ranking is on the basis of numbers without regard to size of institution, it is obvious that in proportion to its size Bridgewater ranks very high among undergraduate institutions. The Bridgewater characteristic of being an outstanding undergraduate source of persons who later earn advanced degrees is not a new one but rather a long-standing one.