Methodist University is a private university that is affiliated with the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church and located in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
The university offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including doctoral-level options, on campus and online. It offers 22 fully online degrees and certificate programs. Methodist University also features more than 80 student clubs and organizations, along with 20 NCAA intercollegiate sports. It has graduated more than 12,000 students since its first graduating class in 1964.
History
Originally known as Methodist College, the state of North Carolina chartered the school on November 1, 1956. On its 50th anniversary, the board of trustees voted unanimously to change the name from Methodist College to Methodist University. The university has had five presidents in its history:
L. Stacy Weaver (1957–1973) Richard Pearce (1973–1983) M. Elton Hendricks (1983–2010) Ben E. Hancock, Jr. (2011–2018) Stanley T. Wearden (2019–Current)
Relationship to the United Methodist Church
Current president Stanley T. Wearden says, “While Methodist University values its affiliation with The United Methodist Church, the Church does not set the policies of the University.” The university also states it provides access and inclusion to all students regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, or creed.
Academics
Methodist University’s more than 80 academic programs live under three different colleges: College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences, College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies, and College of Health Sciences & Human Services.
College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences
The College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences carries six different divisions, each hosting a variety of majors, minors, and certificates:
Communication, Composition & Rhetoric Division: Communication & Media and Writing Fine & Performing Arts Division: Art, Art Education, Graphic Design, Music, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Performance, and Theatre Humanities Division: English, Global Studies, History, History with Social Studies Licensure, Spanish, Professional Leadership & Ethics, Religion, Ethics, Global History, Philosophy, Women’s Studies, American Studies, European Studies, and Teaching English as a Second Language Justice & Military Science Division: Clandestine Labs, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science (CSI), Digital Forensics, Legal Studies, Military Science, Air Force ROTC, and Army ROTC Natural Sciences Division: Biology, Chemistry, General Science Education (9-12), and Science Social Sciences Division: Leadership & Management, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Psychology, Sociology, Church Leadership, Cognitive Behavioral Neuropsychology, Leadership Studies, and Public Health
College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies
The College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies offers five separate divisions that offer a variety of majors, minors, and certificates:
Reeves School of Business: Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Financial Economics, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, Health Care Administration, PGA Golf Management, Professional Tennis Management, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, Entrepreneurship and Master of Business Administration (MBA) Computer Science & Computer Information Technology: Computer Information Technology and Computer Science Engineering & Environmental Studies Division: Engineering, Environmental & Occupational Management, and Environmental Sustainability Teacher Education Program: Art Education (K-12), Elementary Education (K-6), English Education (9-12), General Science Education (9-12), History with Social Studies Licensure (9-12), Middle Grades Education (6-9), Music Education (K-12), Physical Education & Health Education (K-12), School Social Work, Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12), Academically & Intellectually Gifted (K-12), Teaching English as a Second Language (K-12), Educational Studies, and Education Mathematics & Data Science
College of Health Sciences & Human Services
Set up a differently than the other two colleges, seven departments (Health Care Administration, Kinesiology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Social Work) live within the College of Health Sciences & Human Services: