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California University of Pennsylvania

California University of Pennsylvania

Brittany Kusniar

Uniontown, Pa.
Earth sciences with a concentration in meteorology
Junior

I came to campus and basically jumped right in. I was selected to go to a conference my first year, and that had a snowball effect. Once you get involved, you can’t stop.

For Brittany Kusniar, Cal U feels like family. She recalls first coming to California for a campus tour when she spied faculty member Dr. Mario Majcen, who teaches several meteorology courses.

"He said, 'Let's go back to the Eberly Science and Technology Center,' " Kusniar says. "He showed me the classrooms, the studio and the weather lab. I job-shadowed him twice and was able to meet other meteorology students."

Kusniar, a member of the Honors Program at Cal U, has taken advantage of a variety of educational opportunities as well as extracurricular activities. She has presented research at the Pennsylvania Geographical Society Conference and at the second annual PASSHE Honors Student Development Conference. She was the planning committee chair for the 2013 Intersections Undergraduate Research Conference at Cal U.

She is assisting Dr. Chad Kauffman on research about students’ perceptions of climate change. "I can’t say enough about how lucky I am to be in such a program and work so closely with my professors."

She serves as president of the Student Honors Advisory Board, which provides input to the Honors Program director and assistant director and provides programming for honors students; is secretary of the Meteorology Club; and is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta , an honor society for first-year students, among other activities.

She acknowledges the challenges of a busy schedule.

"I definitely had to learn time management and organizational skills very quickly. And I did struggle for a while, even though I was an honors student in high school. But I surrounded myself with upperclassmen at Cal U, and that really helped a lot. We are all very supportive of each other."

CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY PROFILE

Community

California University of Pennsylvania’s 294-acre campus lies along the Monongahela River in the Borough of California, just 35 miles south of Pittsburgh in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. Founded during the Gold Rush era of the mid-1800s, the town has about 6,800 residents and a comfortable “hometown” atmosphere. The university is the borough’s largest employer, and many of our students live in the community. Students who enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, skiing and hunting can find plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation nearby. For those who prefer cultural activities, California is less than an hour’s drive from downtown Pittsburgh’s museums, theaters, concert venues, sports arenas, nightlife and shopping.

Profile

More than 6,600undergraduates and nearly 2,000 graduate students are enrolled at Cal U, where they can choose from 120 undergraduate majors/concentrations and 35 graduate programs.
Although nine out of 10 are Pennsylvania residents, Cal U students come from all 50 states and 36 different countries. About 54 percent of Cal U’s undergraduates are women and 46 percent are men.
Most of our 8,608 students attend face-to-face classes, but about 1,750 are enrolled in Global Online, Cal U’s 100 percent Internet-based programs. Nearly 1,500 students live “the suite life” in our six co-ed residence halls on the main campus. Another 768 students live about a mile away at Vulcan Village, a garden-style apartment complex on our south campus.

Most Popular Programs

Education, business, applied engineering and technology, criminal justice, athletic training, sport management, psychology and general studies.

Highlighted Programs

Mechatronics Engineering Technology blends mechanical, electrical and computing technology with automated control and information systems. The only four-year program of its kind in Pennsylvania, Cal U’s new interdisciplinary program prepares students to work with mechanical devices that incorporate mechanical, electrical, computer and software components, such as robots, automated guided systems, computer-integrated manufacturing or other “smart” devices. Many courses include laboratory-based activities that allow students to work with components, systems and technology to reinforce concepts covered in class lectures. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry calls mechatronics a “high-priority occupation” and projects a growing need for these skilled workers. Program graduates will be prepared for careers in fields such as biotechnology, aerospace, green energy, telecommunications, information services and advanced manufacturing.

Commercial Music Technology prepares students for careers in the $10.4 billion recorded music industry. This innovative, interdisciplinary program — the only one of its kind in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education — blends musical training with courses that develop performance, multimedia and entrepreneurial skills. In addition to studying music theory, history and techniques, students learn the basics of acoustics, recording and mixed-media production, utilizing both conventional and emerging technologies. Auditions are required for this highly selective program, which can lead to careers in fields such as audio production, broadcast engineering, multimedia soundtrack composition and videogame development.

Autism Spectrum Disorders certification, available through an innovative online graduate program, directly addresses the needs of educators and other professionals who work with individuals on the autism spectrum. The 12 credit-hour graduate program provides an endorsement in ASD that will be added to a student's current special education certification. With the prevalence of ASD nationwide, many school districts recognize the importance of having a special education teacher focused on ASD. With this certification, educators will be highly qualified to teach children with autism. Program applicants who do not currently hold special education certification, such as parents and service providers, also may apply; they will be eligible for a Certificate of Advanced Study rather than certification in ASD.

Intercollegiate Athletics

Men's - Baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field and soccer.

Women's - Basketball, cross country, golf, indoor and outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball.