 Kennesaw
State University (KSU), the third-largest university in the
University System of Georgia, is a comprehensive university with
expanding undergraduate and graduate programs in Kennesaw, Georgia,
one of metropolitan Atlanta's burgeoning northwest suburban
communities.Founded in 1963, Kennesaw State is located in Cobb County on a beautifully landscaped and pedestrian-friendly campus of 240 acres within easy access of Interstate 75 and the northwest quadrant of Georgia. Kennesaw State has seen tremendous growth in its facilities in the last decade and now boasts more than one million square feet of space for administration, instruction and student support facilities. Some of the newest facilities include the more than 160,000-square-foot Social Sciences Building, the largest building on campus, and a 4,800-seat Convocation Center - the largest venue of its kind in northwest Georgia. The university's dedication to fostering excellence in public service brought it recognition from the American Association of State Colleges and Universities as one of the nation's top publicly engaged universities in its study "Stepping Forward as Stewards of Place." In addition, the American Council on Education selected KSU as one of eight institutions in the country for a study called "Global Learning for All," which will focus on good practices in promoting international student success. KSU was also named one of 12 founding institutions in a project called "Foundations of Excellence in the First Year of College" by Dr. John Gardner and the Policy Center on the First-Year College Experience. For this study, KSU is conducting a comprehensive analysis of its own policies and programs related to the freshman experience. In addition, KSU's First-Year Experience has been named a "Program to Look For" by U.S.News & World Report three years in a row. The university is committing itself to expanding the global experience of students, faculty and staff through its Quality Enhancement Plan, known as the "Get Global" initiative. The QEP is part of KSU's continuing efforts to reaffirm its accreditation for the next 10 years with the Southern Association's Commission on Colleges (SACS). The plan will focus on increasing opportunities for international learning experiences, and future plans also include implementing a global learning certification program and increasing financial support for those who study abroad. Nearly 20,000 commuter and residential students, including more than 1,700 from 136 countries, pursue their undergraduate and graduate studies at Kennesaw State. The student body is a mix of traditional and nontraditional students with an average age of 26. Approximately 20 percent of students are members of ethnic minorities. Kennesaw State students can choose majors from more than 60 bachelor's and master's degree programs, including undergraduate degrees in education, health, business, the humanities, the arts, science and math. Graduate degree programs are offered in professional concentrations including nursing, business, information systems, conflict management, education and professional writing. KSU has continued to expand its graduate programs by adding a new Doctorate of Education in Leadership for Learning in 2006 - the first doctorate in the university's history. Nursing students from Kennesaw State have one of the highest passing rates on the statewide licensing exam and are highly sought-after in the medical community, while the College of Education is the second-largest preparer of teachers in the state. The Executive MBA program, housed in the Coles College of Business, is the second-largest program in the country and has been recognized by BusinessWeek with top 10 ratings in e-business and teamwork. Students have a myriad of opportunities to experience campus life by participating in more than 150 student groups and organizations, including student government, sororities and fraternities, social and special-interest organizations, student publications and honor societies. The Kennesaw State Owls compete in the Atlantic Sun Conference in NCAA Division I intercollegiate athletics, enjoying the first full season as a Division I member in 2005-06. KSU has won more than five team championships since joining the NCAA during the 1994-95 school year, with numerous appearances at national championships dating back to KSU's days as a member of the NAIA. Most recently, KSU won NCAA titles in men's basketball (2004) and women's soccer (2003). The former was the first NCAA basketball crown ever won by a Georgia college or university. In 1963, the University System of Georgia established Kennesaw Junior College, which opened its doors to 1,000 students in 1967. The college became a four-year institution in 1976 and was named Kennesaw College in 1977. In 1988, on its 25th anniversary, it was named Kennesaw State College, and it became Kennesaw State University in 1996.
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