2012–2013 Undergraduate Catalog

General Information

• Accounting
• Art
• Biology*
• Business Administration
• Chemistry*
• Communication Studies
• Criminal Justice
• Dance
• Early Childhood**
• English**
• English Language Arts**
• English Literature
• English Writing
• Environmental Studies
• Gerontology
• Health Care Management
• History*
• Integrated Technology
• Interpreting Studies
• Latin American Studies
• Legal Studies
• Management
• Marketing
• Mathematics*
• Ministry
• Music
• Music Theatre
• Philosophy
• Physics
• Psychology
• Religious Studies
• Sacred Music
• Science**
• Servant Leadership
• Sociology
• Spanish*
• Sport Leadership
• Substance Abuse Counseling
• Theatre*
• Women’s Studies
   

Pre-And Post Professional Programs 

• Pre-Chiropractic, Dentistry, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Podiatry, Veterinary
• AODA Certificate
• Community Interpreting Certificate
• Dietetics Internship
• Post-baccalaureate teacher licensure program.
   

Accelerated Degree Programs 

• Bachelor of Business Administration to Master of Business Administration (five years)
• Biology (three years)
   

Graduate Programs 

Viterbo University offers the following graduate degrees:

• Master of Arts in Education (tracks for the classroom teacher and for the administrator)
• Master of Arts in Servant Leadership
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
• Master of Science in Nursing
   

For further information on these programs and policies, students may refer to the university graduate catalog.
 

History

Viterbo University was founded in 1890 in La Crosse, Wisconsin by the Franscican Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (FSPA). The university is named Viterbo for the 13^th century Franciscan, St. Rose of Viterbo, Italy.
 

The university has evolved from a normal school to a four-year liberal arts university with master’s programs in education, nursing, business administration, and servant leadership. Collegiate courses were introduced in 1923 and steps were taken toward the development of a regular four-year college program. By 1931-32, St. Rose Junior College had been formally established and approved by the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Further development followed, and by 1939, the college was approved as a four-year, degree-granting institution for the preparation of teachers for elementary schools.
 

In 1937, as plans were being made for the construction of a college building, located across the street from the convent, the name was changed from St. Rose College to Viterbo College (one final name change was to occur in 2001 when Viterbo changed its status from college to university.) Lay women were admitted in 1943; in 1970 men were admitted.
 

In the 1950s, Viterbo University expanded its program in the liberal arts and in the preparation of teachers for secondary schools. In 1952, this program received the approval of the University of Wisconsin Committee on College Accreditation.
 

With its status as a four-year liberal arts college achieved, Viterbo University sought accreditation by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and by the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education.
 

Both were granted in 1954. Accreditation by both associations has regularly been re-confirmed.
 

In 1987, Viterbo University introduced its first graduate degree, a Master of Arts in Education. A Master of Science in Nursing program was introduced at Viterbo in 1998. In fall 2001, a Master of Arts in Servant Leadership program was approved for Viterbo University. A Master of Business Administration program was introduced in fall 2003. In 2011, a Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling was approved.
 

Viterbo University has also added numerous licensure and certificate programs during the course of its most recent history.
 

During this first decade of the new millennium, Viterbo University continues to grow and develop to meet the needs of its students and community. Currently, the university is carrying out a transformational strategic plan entitled, University of Opportunity: Hope and Help, which provides a blueprint for the future. Much will change but all that emerges will be solidly grounded in Viterbo University’s mission and identity.
 

Viterbo University has balanced continuity and change with consistent ability. As the university met the challenges and opportunities which have defined its past, so it will continue to do in the 21^st century. The heritage and continuing support of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, combined with the dedication of its current stewards, assures Viterbo University a viable future in meeting the intellectual, spiritual, and developmental needs of its students.
 

Core Values

In keeping with the tradition of our Franciscan founders, the university holds the following core values:

• contemplation, reflecting upon the presence of God in our lives and work
• hospitality, welcoming everyone we encounter as an honored guest
• integrity, striving for honesty in everything we say and do
• stewardship, practicing responsible use of all resources in our trust
• service, working for the common good in the spirit of humility and joy 

Campus Facilities and Grounds

• Murphy Center, 815 Viterbo Court (1941), a five story building, provides classrooms, offices for the administration and faculty, and services for students. It also houses the library, the academic center, computer laboratories, and career services.
• Marian Hall, 704 Franciscan Way (1957) and Bonaventure North, 700 Franciscan Way (1965), offer residence, recreational, and dining facilities (1966) for students. Five apartment complexes, McDonald Terrace, 715 8th Street South (1975), Treacy House, 825 Market Street (1975), Rose Terrace, 801 V-Hawk Court (1997), Canticle House, 814 and 820 8^th Street South, (2010), and Clare Apartments, 710 8^th Street South (2012) offer apartment-style living for students. There are also theme houses and apartments located on campus for students.
• The Fine Arts Center, 929 Jackson Street (1971, renovated in 1998), is an outstanding liberal arts facility for the creative activity of art, music, and theatre arts departments. The academic wing contains classrooms, studios, practice rooms, laboratories, and faculty offices as well as a fine arts library, a music recital hall, a dance studio, an audio-visual room, a choral and orchestra rehearsal room, an art gallery, and professional artist exhibits. The theatre wing contains the La Croix Black Box Theatre, an experimental studio theatre, and the Main Theatre, a performing theatre unique to the Midwest which can accommodate drama, concerts, and opera by adjustment of size and sound.
• The San Damiano Chapel, 940 Franciscan Way (1979), is the center of worship at Viterbo.
• The Brophy Center, 816 10th Street South (1983), houses the School of Business, lecture halls, demonstration and seminar rooms, and faculty offices.
• Dedicated in 1984, Assisi Courtyard is a large beautifully landscaped space which is a favorite congregating space for students. Assisi Courtyard is also home to the famous sculpture, “Dancing Francis” (of Assisi) which symbolizes Viterbo’s commitment to the environment and Franciscan ideals. The sculpture of “St. Clare” (of Assisi) is also on display in the courtyard.
• The Varsity Athletics Center, 814 Viterbo Court (1987), is a multi-use facility which houses basketball and volleyball courts, training and fitness rooms, and racquetball courts. The R.W. Beggs Sr. Gymnasium is used for V-Hawk practices and regular games.
• The Student Union (1989), provides a place for socializing and studying. It contains a large screen TV, lounge, and eating areas. The cafeteria, remodeled in 2006, Crossroads Snack Bar, and the university bookstore are located in the Student Union.
• The Todd Wehr Memorial Library (1991, renovated in 2006), located on the first and second floors of Murphy Center, provides a central place for study and research. Library staff members provide individualized services to students, faculty, and staff. The library’s collection of over 90,000 print and 77,000 electronic titles consists of books for general circulation, scores, reference works, DVDs, videos, and CDs. The library has access to over 35,000 online periodicals and newspapers through its various databases, and continues to subscribe to over 200 periodicals and newspapers in paper format. E-Reserves and interlibrary loan complement these information resources. Special collections include the university archives, and an art collection consisting of over 350 pieces. Students have access to 100 computer stations throughout the library, and there are wireless laptops, video cameras, iPads and more available for checkout at the main desk. Spaces include Franny’s, a 24/7 study and computer lab with coffee service, a library classroom designed to accommodate group work, and quiet study areas on the second floor.
• The Student Development Center, 936 Franciscan Way (1996), is home to Viterbo University’s housing, counseling, and health services.
• The Outdoor Athletics Complex, N3175 State Road 16 (1999), is home to a variety of V-Hawk sports including men’s and women’s soccer, men’s baseball, women’s softball, and a large practice area.
• Viterbo Court (1999) which is located between the Varsity Athletics Center and Murphy Center, is beautifully landscaped and features a large Viterbo University seal.
• V-Hawk Court (2000) is located between the Amie L. Mathy Center and Marian Hall/Rose Terrace and features walkways, park benches, tables wired for Internet access, and an ornate clock tower. Bricks donated by employees, friends, and alumni, which are engraved with names or Viterbo memories, surround the clock tower.
• The Physical Plant Building, 727 Winnebago Street (2002), houses the Physical Plant offices, including custodial services, maintenance personnel and equipment, and campus security. Additional services include employee and student ID photos/programming, building/room key distribution, work order system support, fleet vehicle management, and facilities administration.
• D.B. Reinhart Center for Ethics, Science, and Technology, 900 Viterbo Drive (2003), is a state-of-the-art facility, home to Viterbo sciences, the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership, the copy, mail and media center, and other administrative offices including the Office of the President. The showcase of the center is a tiered conference auditorium to host Webcasts and down-linked national video conferences as well as live and distance presentations on leadership and ethics. A large board room on the first floor provides a state of the art environment for meetings and events. The second and third floors house science labs, classrooms, offices, and computer labs.
• The Amie L. Mathy Center for Recreation and Education, 811 8th Street South (2005), is adjacent to the Varsity Athletics Center. It is a “first of its kind” facility serving the recreational needs and physical education programs for Viterbo University students, faculty and staff, and members of the Boys and Girls Club of Greater La Crosse. This collaborative facility includes a three-court gymnasium, 1/8 mile indoor track, multi-purpose room, a large strength and conditioning room, general locker rooms, two conference rooms, and administrative/coaches’ offices.
• The Nursing Center, 916 South 10^th Street (2011), is Viterbo’s newest campus facility. This outstanding 68,700 square foot, state-of-the-art facility is home to Viterbo’s signature nursing and dietetics programs, and also provides opportunities for the university’s allied health programs. The cornerstone of the facility features four cutting edge simulation labs dedicated to critical care, medical/surgical care, maternal/newborn care, and child health care. Three lecture halls, 11 multi-purpose classrooms/labs, a community health lab and a premier dietetics lab round out the building. Viterbo graduates more BSN nurses than any other private college in Wisconsin and this showcase facility provides numerous opportunities to provide the most modern of training, enhancing the already strong reputation of the program.
• The Academic Computing Labs/Classrooms serve the campus: 1) as a resource for the integration of technology into the curriculum, 2) as a tool for academic research, and 3) in the application of technology for the completion of class assignments. More than 280 IBM-compatible and Macintosh computers are available for use throughout 14 main labs in Murphy Center, the Reinhart Center, Brophy Center, the Nursing Center, and the Fine Arts Center as well as numerous computers located in the Todd Wehr Memorial Library. All student accessible computers are connected to the internal campus network and provide high-speed access to the external resources of the Internet. The campus is standardized on the Microsoft Office Professional Suite to facilitate the sharing of electronic documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and databases with professors and with other students. Additional discipline-specific software is available based on the requirements of the various academic departments. All students are issued Web-based electronic mail accounts for the duration of their enrollment at the university. These accounts are accessible from all networked computers on campus and from any computer in the world that has Web-based access to the Internet.
• Viterbo University Off-campus Center, Wisconsin, 2323 S 109^th Street, Suite 375, West Allis, WI, is the off-campus office for the coordination of graduate education courses offered throughout the state of Wisconsin. The center also serves as classroom space. Viterbo rents other permanent space in Green Bay and contracts space for course offerings in other areas of the state.
• Viterbo University Off-campus Center, Iowa, 4949 Westown Parkway, Suite 195, West Des Moines, IA, is the off-campus office for the coordination of graduate education courses offered throughout the state of Iowa. The center also serves as classroom space. Viterbo contracts space for course offerings in other areas of the state.