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Pacific Lutheran University




Pacific Lutheran University is located in the Parkland suburb of Tacoma, Washington . As of October 2005, PLU had a student population of 3,680 and approximately 250 full-time teachers on its faculty. It currently consists of the College of Arts and Sciences (consisting of the Division of Humanities, the Division of Natural Sciences, and the Division of Social Sciences), the School of the Arts, School of Business, the School of Education, the School of Nursing, and the School of Physical Education.

Founded in 1890 by Scandinavian immigrants to further Lutheran higher education in the Pacific Northwest, PLU is an institution of the Evangelical Lutheran Church In America . The school merged with Everett's Columbia College in 1920, became a two-year school, and resumed operations as Pacific Lutheran College. Spokane College merged with Pacific Lutheran College nine years later. PLC resumed awarding four-year degrees in 1939.
Pacific Lutheran regained university status in 1960. PLU retains strong ties with its Scandinavian heritage, having been visited multiple times by Norwegian and Swedish monarchs and the Norwegian Parliament, the Stortinget.

The university is particularly known for its music department and touring ensembles, including the Choir of the West, and the Christmas concerts held each December.

PLU's sports teams are called the Lutes.

PLU offers the following degrees:

  • ''Bachelor's:'' Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts in Education, Bachelor of Arts in Physical Education, Bachelor of Arts in Recreation, Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, Bachelor of Musical Arts, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Bachelor of Science in Physical Education.


  • ''Master's:'' Master of Arts in Education, Master of Arts in Education with Initial Certification, Master of Arts in Social Sciences, Marriage and Family Therapy, Master of Business Administration, Master of Science in Nursing.

  • CAMPUS

The campus of PLU is unofficially divided into two sections, Upper Campus and Lower Campus, with a hill dividing them. Upper Campus is home to:

  • Harstad Hall, the oldest building on campus, which once housed the whole university but is now used as a residence hall. It is an all female hall, the only single sex hall on campus.

  • the Hauge Administration Building

  • the University Center

  • Eastvold Chapel

  • Mortvedt Library

  • Xavier Hall

  • Ramstad Hall

  • Ingram Hall

  • the Mary Baker Russell Music Center and Lagerquist Concert Hall

  • Stuen, Ordal, Kreidler, and Hinderlie Residence Halls and the Hong International Hall


Lower Campus includes:
  • Rieke Science Center

  • Olson Auditorium

  • Memorial Gymnasium

  • Names Fitness Center

  • the Morken Center for Learning and Technology

  • Foss, Pflueger, Tingelstad and South Residence Halls

  • University Golf Course

  • Keck Observatory


Additional buildings off campus are also used for University purposes, including offices, the Wang Center for International Studies, East Campus, and Trinity Lutheran Church.

The rose window, located in Eastvold Chapel, has long been a symbol of PLU since its dedication in 1952. The stained-glass window is eight feet in diameter and contains many elements of Christian theology.


NOTABLE ALUMNI

  • Edna Goodrich '41, '65: National leader in women's correction work.

  • coach when retired at end of 40-year career.

  • to eradicate Smallpox , former director of U.S. Centers For Disease Control and the Carter Center .

  • , 22nd Congressional District, California .

  • .

  • Peter Wang '60: Came to PLU from Taiwan and went on to become a university professor and businessman who last year donated $4 million to endow the Wang Center for International Programs.

  • .

  • to Namibia .

  • .

  • -winning journalist.

  • Rick Larsen '87: United States Representative, 2nd Congressional District, Washington.

  • ''

  • , conducting AIDS research in Africa .

  • state's youngest state senator, now Pierce County Council member.



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