New Mexico Highlands University

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

New Mexico Highlands University (NMHU) is a university located in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

NMHU is notable for enrolling a majority Hispanic student body.

1 History
2 Accreditation
3 Educational Opportunities
4 Athletics
5 Branch Campuses
6 Miscellany
7 External links

[edit] History

First established as New Mexico Normal School in 1893, the institution became New Mexico Highlands University in 1941, as it expanded its role beyond teacher education. Today, NMHU offers graduate and undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, education, and social work.

Located in the heart of Las Vegas, a city with a population of about 18,000, Highlands’ main campus is close to recreational and wilderness areas, and within an hour's drive of Santa Fe and 2 hours from Albuquerque.

The majority of the school's approximately 3,500 students are from New Mexico and are Hispanic. Highlands’ programs focus on its multi-ethnic student body, especially the Hispanic and Native American cultures distinctive of New Mexico.

[edit] Accreditation

Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. NMHU also has specialty accreditations. The School of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). The School of Business is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). The School of Social Work is accredited by the Council on Social Work Education (CSWE).

[edit] Educational Opportunities

Undergraduate Degrees

Anthropology
Art
Art Pre-Professional
Biology
Business Administration
Chemistry
Computer Science
Criminal Justice Studies
Design Studies
Early Childhood Education
Elementary Education
English
Environmental Geology
Exercise and Sport Science
Forestry
General Science for Secondary School Teachers
Health
History
Indo-Hispano Cultural Studies
Mass Communications
Math and Computer Science for Elementary School Teachers
Math and Computer Science for Secondary School Teachers
Mathematics
Music
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Social Studies
Social Work
Sociology
Software Development
Spanish Heritage
Special Education
Visual Communication Design
Watershed Management

Graduate Degrees

Applied Chemistry
Business Administration
Education
English
Human Performance and Sport
Life Science
Media Arts and Computer Science
Psychology
Public Affairs
Social Work
Southwest Studies

[edit] Athletics

NMHU's athletic teams are nicknamed the Cowboys and compete in the NCAA's Division II's Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Ten varsity athletics programs are offered included track, volleyball, basketball, and college football. Former WWE Champion Eddie Guerrero wrestled there on a athletic scholarship.

[edit] Branch Campuses

In the 1997-1998 academic year New Mexico Highlands University established an extended learning center in Rio Rancho which began offering upper division undergraduate and graduate courses in business, accounting, education, and social work, Nate Bryant attends this campus. The center continues with classes in those areas and has added studies in criminal justice, public affairs administration, computer science and general and school counseling.

There are also many other branch campuses, including in Santa Fe, Farmington, Taos, Raton and Espanola.

[edit] Miscellany

The campus can be seen in the movie Red Dawn as the town of Las Vegas substituted for the fictional community of Calumet, Colorado. Also can be seen in the John Carpenter film "Vampires (film)".

[edit] External links

Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
Adams State • Chadron State • Colorado Christian^‡ • Colorado–Colorado Springs^‡ • Colorado Mines • Colorado State–Pueblo^‡ • Fort Lewis • Mesa State • Metro State^‡ • Nebraska–Kearney • New Mexico Highlands • Regis^‡ • San Francisco State^† • Western State • Western New Mexico ^† wrestling-only member • ^‡ non-football member