Georgia Southern University - History

History

Georgia Southern University began as First District Agricultural & Mechanical School'; its inaugural academic year began in 1908 with four faculty members and 15 students.

Founded as a school for teaching modern agricultural production techniques and homemaking skills to rural school children, First District A&M began within two decades to shift its emphasis to meet the growing need for teachers within the state. Its name and mission were changed in 1924 to Georgia Normal School as a training ground for educators. Five years later in 1929, full-fledged senior college status was granted and the school was renamed South Georgia Teachers College.

Ensuing decades found more name and mission changes: to Georgia Teachers College in 1939 and Georgia Southern College in 1959. The university continued program and physical expansion. The institution would experience probably its biggest change in identity in 1990 when it became known as Georgia Southern University.

Since then, the University has embarked on a massive upgrade of facilities, adding more than $300 million in new construction. Georgia Southern was named a Doctoral/Research University by Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching in 2006. The University is recognized in publications including U.S. News & World Reports "America's Best Colleges" and "Best Graduate Schools", Forbes "America’s Best Colleges" and most recently by Kiplinger for being one of the Top 100 Best Values among Public Colleges and Universities. Additionally, Georgia Southern’s MBA program was named one of the Best 301 in the country by The Princeton Review.

Since 1999, two new colleges have been established: the College of Information Technology in 2001, and the Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health in 2004. Additional undergraduate and graduate programs were formed including doctorate degrees in psychology, public health and nursing. In 2011, the University established the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Information Technology, which combines the previous College of IT with its engineering programs. In addition, it at the same time created the College of Science and Mathematics which was previously known as the Allen E. Paulson College of Science and Technology.

Online bachelor’s degrees are available in nursing, general studies, and information technology. Master’s programs are offered in kinesiology, instructional technology, accomplished teaching, instructional improvement, higher education administration, reading education, middle grades education, secondary education, special education, and educational leadership. Additionally, the University offers master's degrees in business administration, applied economics, accounting, computer science and sport management. Georgia Southern also offers online endorsements in online teaching and learning, K-5 math, and reading.

The past 13 years have represented the most significant period of growth in the University’s more than 100-year history. Not only has the University grown in enrollment, but it has also grown in physical size. With a Campus Master Plan in place, the University has continued to expand most recently with the addition of the 1,001-bed residence hall–Centennial Place. In addition, the University completely renovated and significantly expanded the Zach S. Henderson Library. The institution also recently completed the construction of the Eugene M. Bishop Alumni Center that will serve as a gathering place for alumni and friends of the University. The Center for Wildlife Education and the Botanical Garden have also been expanded. Today Georgia Southern has more than 20,000 students, more than 2,000 faculty and staff, and 117 programs of study at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels.