School of Arts and Sciences Centers 

The Copernican Planetarium and Observatory (Copernicus Hall) includes a full-function, optical planetarium which seats 108 people and is used for classes and programs for the community. The observatory, located on the roof of Copernicus Hall, is used for astronomical instruction for Physics/Earth Sciences classes. It also supports student research in astronomical photography and observation using a modern 16-inch Cassegrain reflector and other telescopes.

The Institute for Science Education, coordinated by the Department of Biological Sciences, offers summer courses for elementary, middle, junior high and high school science teachers. Hands-on activities that can be transferred to the classroom are emphasized. Topics have included the environment, the aquatic world, coastal ecology, science and the citizen, field biology and plants in the laboratory.

The Polish Studies Center (DiLoreto 208-23) was established to foster within both the Polish-American and the American communities an awareness of Poland’s culture, history and civilization. In 1997 Connecticut’s first, and New England’s second, Endowed Chair in Polish and Polish-American Studies was established at CCSU. The Center offers courses in Polish history, politics, culture and civilization, language and the Polish community in America. The Center’s other resources include the Polish Heritage Book Collection, the Connecticut Polish American Archive, the Annual Fiedorczyk Lecture in Polish American Studies, the Milewski Polish Studies lecture, the Golewski Evening of Polish Culture, educational materials for teachers, movies, exhibits, scholarship aid for Polish-American students and for students pursuing Polish Studies, and the Martin and Sophie Grzyb Prize for Excellence in Polish Studies.

The Weather Center (Copernicus 538) is a fully-functional weather forecasting facility, including a satellite downlink to the National Weather Service, computer data retrieval capability, color weather radar and satellite access.  It supports forecasting for the University community as well as faculty and student research in the atmospheric sciences.

Cooperative Programs

Community-Technical College Transfer Minors

By agreement between the School of Arts and Sciences and the Connecticut Community-Technical College system, students who complete an associate’s degree in a professional or technical program at a Connecticut community-technical college will receive transfer credit for the courses and may apply 18–24 credits of the specialization to a minor in a B.A. or B.S. (non-teaching) degree program offered by the School of Arts and Sciences. No residency credits at Central will be required for such a minor. Students are expected to complete a major (non-teaching) in the School of Arts and Sciences and to fulfill all other university requirements. The agreement includes, but is not limited to, programs in Corrections and in Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation. For information, contact the office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences, DiLoreto Hall 112.

Engineering Transfer Program

This program provides the first-year and sophomore core courses needed for a wide variety of engineering fields. Constructed in consultation with the School of Engineering at the University of Connecticut, it enables a limited number of students to transfer to that school after the sophomore year to complete the Bachelor of Science degree in either Chemical, Civil, Electrical or Mechanical Engineering in approximately two additional years.

The program at Central Connecticut State University includes laboratory courses in Chemistry and Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science, CAD, freshman English and various electives in Social Sciences and Humanities.

The Engineering Advisory Committee will assist students with transfer procedures to the School of Engineering at the University of Connecticut and to other schools of engineering.

Students planning to enroll should consult with the committee chair at the earliest opportunity. Inquiries should be addressed to the Engineering Transfer Program, Department of Physics and Earth Sciences, Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT  06050 (832-2932; 832-2930).

UConn/CCSU Joint Program in Public Affairs

There is a cooperative program between Central Connecticut State University and the University of Connecticut for the Master of Public Administration degree. An undergraduate student may enroll in up to four approved graduate-level courses and later apply these courses toward the MPA. Approved Central Connecticut State University courses (PS 445, 446, 447 and 448) may be credited toward the MPA. Non-matriculated students, who have completed the B.A., may take up to three CCSU courses in the MPA program before applying for admission. Students may register from their home institution. Detailed information may be obtained from the chair of the Political Science Department, or from the director of the UConn Master of Public Affairs program.