Charleston Southern University was chartered in 1960 and became the Baptist College of Charleston, where it offered its first classes in the education building of the First Baptist Church of North Charleston. The university offered the first instruction at a post secondary level in 1965 and awarded its first degree in 1967. In 1990, the South Carolina Baptist Convention voted to change the university's name from Baptist College at Charleston to Charleston Southern University.
Academics
The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's and master's degrees. CSU students can choose from more than 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, criminal justice, computer science, Christian studies, graphic design, education and nursing. Each degree program is combined with a comprehensive liberal arts foundation which is designed to develop problem-solving and communication skills. The College of Nursing offers a three-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing program that works closely with area hospitals and a Master of Science in Nursing. In 2010, the program was expanded to offer a 2–1 Associate degree in Nursing to BSN program with Trident Technical College. The School of Business maintains one of the larger MBA programs in the state of South Carolina. While the GMAT is not required for admission, the administration has maintained a flexible yet rigorous MBA program where students can attend face-to-face classes, take online courses, or a combination of both.
Campus
Charleston Southern is located off Exit 205B on I-26 in North Charleston, South Carolina. It is situated on, formerly the site of a rice and indigo plantation.
Student activities
Beyond the classroom, students can participate in a variety of campus activities including academic clubs, service organizations, intramural athletics and campus ministries. Intramural athletic activities include flag football, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and more. Campus ministries include Campus Crusade for Christ, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Outreach, and Elevate.
Student life
Single students under 21 years of age are encouraged to live on campus. There are at least three dining facilities on campus; one is the cafeteria located in the Strom Thurmond Student Center, another is Java City located near the library, and the most recent addition is a Chick-fil-A on campus.
