cipl inary ▁studies , ▁Bach elor ▁of ▁Social ▁Work , ▁Master ▁of ▁Social ▁Work , ▁and ▁b ach elor ' s ▁degrees ▁in ▁criminal ▁justice , ▁n urs ing ▁and ▁re h abil itation ▁services . ▁ ▁The ▁university ▁has ▁received ▁numerous ▁awards ▁for ▁excell ence . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁W N M U ▁was ▁the ▁first ▁ 4 - year ▁university ▁in ▁the ▁state ▁to ▁be ▁recognized ▁by ▁Qu ality ▁New ▁Mexico ▁with ▁its ▁highest ▁honor , ▁the ▁Z ia ▁Award . ▁The ▁Best ▁Pract ice ▁Award ▁was ▁received ▁by ▁W N M U ' s ▁School ▁of ▁Education ▁in ▁ 2 0 0 5 . ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁the ▁Silver ▁City ▁Chamber ▁of ▁Com merce ▁awarded ▁W N M U ▁its ▁Lar ge ▁Business ▁of ▁the ▁Year ▁Award . ▁ ▁Two ▁years ▁later , ▁W N M U ▁received ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁Pin on ▁Rec ogn ition , ▁and ▁the ▁ 2 0 0 8 ▁Comp an ero ▁Award . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 9 , ▁the ▁Department ▁of ▁Institution al ▁Ad van cement ▁received ▁the ▁Pin on ▁Rec ogn ition ▁from ▁Qu ality ▁New ▁Mexico . ▁ ▁Western ▁New ▁Mexico ▁University ▁is ▁acc red ited ▁by ▁the ▁High er ▁Learning ▁Commission . ▁ ▁Athletics ▁ ▁Athletics ▁teams ▁are ▁nick named ▁the ▁Must angs ▁and ▁comp ete ▁in ▁several ▁sports ▁such ▁as ▁football , ▁vol ley ball , ▁tennis , ▁soft ball , ▁basketball , ▁cross ▁country , ▁and