Basic Information

Name: Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU)

Institutional Nature: Private, coeducational, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.

Founded: 1867, as Biddle Memorial Institute.

Location: Located in Charlotte, North Carolina.

History: On April 7, 1867, at a meeting of the Catawba Presbyterian Church at the Old Charlotte Presbyterian Church, the school was established as Biddle Memorial Institute. Mary D. Biddle donated $1,400 and the school was named after her late husband Henry Jonathan Biddle.

In 1876, the North Carolina Legislature changed the charter and the school was renamed Biddle University, a name used until 1923.

From 1921 to 1922, Jane Berry Smith donated money to build theological dormitories, science halls and other buildings and endowment funds. In memory of her late husband Johnson C. Smith, the board of directors voted to rename the school Johnson C. Smith University.

In 1932, the school charter was revised to admit women, and in 1942 it became a fully coeducational institution.

In 1944, the school joined the United Negro College Fund as a founding member.

Educational philosophy: Adhering to Christian roots, attaching importance to the support of moral and ethical values ​​for intellectual development; firmly believing in the unremitting pursuit of knowledge and focusing on cultivating the mind; attaching importance to cultivating students' self-confidence, understanding their own cultural heritage and the culture of others, exploring the various forces that influence people, and clarifying the role of individuals in society; committed to providing quality education for students from different backgrounds, cultivating graduates who can communicate effectively, think critically, learn independently and collaboratively, and have the ability in their chosen fields, while allowing students to meet multiple needs on campus and cultivate a sense of social and civic responsibility.

School Strength:

Complete accreditation: accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, recognized by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, recognized by the University Business School, and recognized by the Council of Social Work.

Teaching Resources: About 159 academic staff provide educational services to about 1,312 students.

Professional Courses: Bachelor's degrees in 27 different majors are offered, as well as master's degree programs, such as the Master of Social Work. Students are provided with IBM laptops equipped with the latest software and wireless functions, and the library, dormitories and multimedia classrooms have electronic data ports to provide network access.

Practical Opportunities: Through cooperative projects and internships with more than 90 companies, students are provided with abundant career development opportunities.

Key Subjects: From the perspective of professional fields, business and public leadership, biology, chemistry, computer engineering, computer science information systems, criminal justice, cultural studies, music, political science, public health and other majors have certain characteristics.

Ranking: It has been repeatedly rated as one of the best comprehensive universities in the South by U.S. News & World Report. According to the information on Chensheng Study Abroad Home, the school ranks 748th in the United States.

Cost: Taking undergraduate English, economics and master's social work as examples, the tuition fee is $13,500 per year.

Campus environment: The campus covers an area of ​​105 acres (42 hectares) and is an urban campus. The Biddle Memorial Hall on campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.