Coker College

Location

300 East College Avenue
Hartsville, SC 29550
United States
Phone: (843) 383-8050
See map: Google Maps

Why Coker?

Blueprint Summer Programs at Coker College offers an exceptional living and learning environment where YOU matter. Founded in 1908, Coker is ranked among the "Best Colleges" in the South by U.S. News & World Report as well as The Princeton Review. Coker readies undergraduates for personal and professional success through a distinctive four-year program that emphasizes a practical application of the liberal arts as well as hands-on and discussion-based learning within and beyond the classroom.

Located in beautiful Hartsville, South Carolina, Coker is within two hours of the cultural, financial and recreational resources of Charlotte, Columbia, Charleston and Myrtle Beach.

Coker's designated airport is Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in Columbia, SC. Students traveling to the program by plane may request Blueprint's Pick-Up/Drop-Off service during the online registration process for an additional fee.

Fast Facts

  • Reputation For Excellence
    U.S. News & World Report ranks Coker #17 in the Top Baccalaureate Colleges in the South for 2011. The magazine has named Coker a "Best College" for 15 consecutive years.
  • Award Winning Faculty
    Coker has 68 full-time faculty; 88 percent holding a doctorate of highest equivalent degree in their field.
  • Outstanding Majors
    Coker places an emphasis on excellence in the liberal and creative arts and sciences by offering 29 majors and 23 minors of study that prepare students for careers in any number of industries.
    • A sample of currently offered majors includes:
      Art, Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminology, Dance, Education, English, Graphic Design, History, Math, Medical Technology, Music Philosophy and Religion, Photography, Political Science, Pre-Law, Psychology, Sport Management, Theater
  • Coker At A Glance
    Founded: 1908 Enrollment: 1156 students from 27 states and 9 foreign countries Sports: NCAA Division II Mascot: The Cobras Average Class Size: 12 students

Where You'll Live

Blueprint Summer Programs at Coker College will change the way you live. Located in the heart of Hartsville, SC, Coker's close-knit and beautiful campus becomes a home base for exploring, getting involved and having fun. On campus activities and options abound. Athletics feature soccer, Frisbee golf, and more. Welcoming and walkable, the town of Hartsville offers great shopping, great food, and friendly people.

  • Where You'll Live | Belk Hall
    Mary Irwin Belk Residence Hall was originally called Central Hall. It was built onto Memorial Hall in 1915-16. In 2008 the first floor was renovated, adding new residential space. This residence hall offers suite-style rooms, hardwood flooring, venetian blinds, walk-in closets with space saver units, private restrooms with a shower, toilet, and two pedestal sinks, wireless internet access, and air-conditioning.
  • Coker's Beautiful Campus
    Pass through Coker College's campus entrance and you'll find 15-acres of paths, lawns, trees and Georgian-style buildings - some of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. A few blocks away from the campus is the Sory Boathouse and Clubhouse, which provides access to Prestwood Lake. Also nearby is the 30-acre Kalmia Gardens of Coker College, a unique botanical experience, which adjoins a 700-acre nature preserve (almost the size of New York's Central Park!).
  • A Perfect Location | Hartsville, South Carolina
    Coker is located in beautiful Hartsville, SC, 25 miles from air and rail service in Florence, SC, where I-95 and I-20 intersect. Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand are only 90 miles away; Columbia, the state capital, is 75 miles away; and Charlotte, NC, is 80 miles away.
  • Top-Notch Facilities
    Adjacent to the main campus is a 22-acre athletics complex with baseball, softball, soccer and tennis facilities. And on East Carolina Avenue, stands the Saleeby House, home to Coker's athletics program, and the Department of Education Building. In 1997, Coker opened the 40,000 square-foot, $6.5 million Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center, a state-of-the-art educational and cultural facility that houses the Department of Dance, Music and Theater and the communication program.

Staff

For each program, Blueprint hires a skilled crew of directors, teachers, resident advisers to work alongside college faculty and staff. Our directors oversee all aspects of program life and ensure that each student has the opportunity to become an active member of the community. Courses are taught by college faculty, gifted teachers and talented professionals. We recruit only the brightest and most passionate teachers to connect with our students. Our resident advisers act as big brothers and sisters to students while they're away from home. They help students acclimate to new settings and guide them through little challenges along the way.

Say hello to last summer's staff, many of whom will be returning in 2012!

Activities + Trips

Recreational activities are an important part of college life. From concerts and comedians to road trips, kayaking and intramural sports, student activities at Blueprint Summer Programs are opportunities to make great friends and make great memories.

  • Road Trip Week 1 | Charleston, South Carolina
    Full of incredible history, restaurants, and shops historic Charleston is the perfect destination for this year's program! Students can spend a day at the beach or explore beautiful downtown. And Charleston harbor offers tons of things to do. And don't forget to check out the RiverDogs, a Minor League affiliate of the New York Yankees (whose "Director of Fun" is Bill Murray). This trip is not to be missed!
  • Road Trip Week 2 | Charlotte, North Carolina
    It's on to Charlotte for week-2! Nicknamed the Queen City, Charlotte is one of the South's largest and fastest growing cities. Home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte will dazzle you with it's southern charm and grand attractions. Interested in checking out the Nascar Hall of Fame? How about the Mint Museum of Art with lunch at Bill Spoon's Barbeque? No Matter what you choose, you'll have the time of your life in Charlotte.
  • Signature Blueprint Summer Program Activities at Coker College
    • Sports and Gaming
      Frisbee Golf, Basketball, Soccer, Yoga, Cross Country, Kayaking, Canoeing, Swimming, Ultimate Frisbee, Kickball, Nintendo Wii, PS3, Ping Pong and much more.
    • Signature Coker Events
      Blueprint Curling, Hartsville Geocaching, Movies on the Quad, Open Mic Night, Blueprint Amazing Race, Coker Iron Chef, Blueprint Survivor
    • Explore Your World, You Will See…
      Downtown Hartsville, 22-Acre Athletics Complex with baseball, soccer and tennis facilities, 40,000 sq-ft, $6.5 million Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center

Courses

Blueprint Summer Programs at Coker College offers courses that are both fun and rewarding. Students have five outstanding majors to choose from and then wide variety of different minors to explore each week.

  • Our class sizes are carefully monitored, and small student-teacher ratios ensure that each student receives plenty of individual attention.
  • Our instructors are of the highest caliber. From Coker faculty to award winning teachers from across the country, instructors are handpicked for each program.
  • We don't test and there's no homework. Students reconnect with the fun of learning through top-notch instruction in a stress-free setting.

2012 Blueprint Summer Programs Courses at Coker College

  • Studio Arts and Photography
    Are you a fine arts enthusiast or perhaps a promising artist yourself? In Studio Arts and Photography you'll develop skills that are essential for expert self expression in a variety of different mediums. From the canvas to the darkroom, prepare yourself for an experience designed to explore the artist is everyone. This course includes scheduled studio time and students are required to own a digital camera.
  • Creative Writing
    Discovering your literary voice is an irrefutably rewarding experience. Students will spend their summer dissecting poetry, prose, essays, and short works by some of the great writers of our time, while diving headfirst into some substantial works of their own. The syllabus will focus on structure, narrative, theme, and character development, as well as brainstorming and peer workshops. It is our hope that the students in this course will truly embrace their love of writing and become part of that proud tradition.
  • Theatre and Performing Arts
    From novices to experienced actors, Acting and Production Design has something for everyone. Students will learn to act for the stage, participating in a series of improvised exercises and dramatic scenes. Students will also study the practical application of stage design including scenery, costumes and lighting. The backdrop to this amazing course is Coker's $6.5 million, 40,000-square foot Center Elizabeth Boatwright Coker Performing Arts Center. The performing arts center's houses the Watson Theater (466 seats) and also includes two dance studios, a music/choral rehearsal studio, a costume shop, a scene shop, a round table classroom, a green room, and dressing rooms.
  • Psychology
    Psychology is a favorite major among college students --- and for obvious reasons! Spend your summer learning the ins and outs of behavioral science. The syllabus will focus on the history of the field, the advances in mental health and practice, and new theories that are changing the way we look at the brain and each other. Students will participate in research, discussion, lectures, and enjoyable readings.
  • Business and Entrepreneurship
    Have you ever dreamed of starting your own company or running a business? Learn some tricks of the trade this summer at Coker College. Classes will be focused on conceiving adventurous ideas, planning and executing your goals, marketing and selling strategy, how to build strong business relationships and more! Students will be immersed in all that goes on in the fast-paced business world, and special attention will be given to maintaining market value in this rapidly changing economy. This is the perfect course for the student who wants to turn his or her lemonade stand into a lemonade corporation.

Testimonials

"This is a wonderful pre-college summer program. I enjoyed my friends and the trip to Charleston. I learned how to start a business and the process it takes to do it."

"I had a great time here. I made friends and learned a lot. I recommend this for any high school student who wants a glimpse of college life."

"Meaghan is very compassionate + dedicated to what she does. Sima is crazy fun. Sheida finds a great balance between authority figure + friend."

"Sima = best RA ever!!!"

"They are all great teachers and helpers and I had a wonderful time with them. All are off the chain!! Luv yall!!"

Coker's President Supports Blueprint!

"Coker is a very special place where we believe deeply in the individual student and the value of a liberal arts education for the real world. I think you will find that this summer program is a great way to get to know a college and get a taste of college life. I hope you enjoy your time with us this summer and wish you the best on your journey to find a school to call your own."

Dr. Robert Wyatt, President
Coker College