ABILENE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
Abilene, Texas
The University
Abilene Christian University (ACU) offers an exceptional education in a distinctive Christian environment at an affordable price. ACU believes strongly in the dignity and worth of the individual and in academic integrity, achieving success, and enjoying life. Christian education at ACU integrates faith and hands-on learning, represented in every facet of campus life.
Founded in 1906, ACU is an independent comprehensive university with an enrollment of approximately 4,700 students and is one of the largest private universities in the Southwest. The school is affiliated with the Churches of Christ and is governed by its own Board of Trustees.
The University offers more than fifty bachelor's programs, twenty-five master's programs, and one doctoral program. Work completed at ACU is accepted by all colleges and universities in the United States. The University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, and the College of Business Administration is accredited by the Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP).
As a teaching institution, ACU emphasizes a dynamic personal relationship between professors and their students. Qualified faculty members, not graduate assistants, teach undergraduate students, and when professors do research, undergraduates work with them. Each year, some of the nation's top companies come to campus to interview because they hold ACU graduates in high regard for their blend of creativity, technical skills, thorough training, and moral integrity. ACU students have an acceptance rate of more than 80 percent to medical and other professional schools, well above the national average. The Optimist, the ACU student newspaper, has been rated All-American every year since 1975.
ACU supports an environment of honesty, Christian care, and relationships that start even before classes begin. Each fall during Welcome Week, upperclass students help freshmen adjust to the social side of college life through diverse activities, including heart-to-heart discussions and possibly the world's largest game of Twister. The student body is enriched by people from fifty states and about sixty countries. More than 175 international students are enrolled at ACU.
The University is a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Lone Star Conference. ACU competes in NCAA Division II athletics, including men's baseball, football, and golf; women's softball and volleyball; and basketball, cross-country, tennis, and outdoor and indoor track and field for both men and women. The University also offers an intramural sports program for its students, and the ACU soccer club competes against other college and university soccer clubs.
Active campus organizations, including men's and women's social clubs, offer students a variety of interests and opportunities for involvement. Movie nights, devotionals, big-name concerts, intercollegiate sports, and student music and theatre productions ensure that students can find great entertainment without leaving campus. There is also a medical clinic on campus.
Location
Abilene, Texas, has the reputation of being a friendly city and was named an All-America City. It is located 180 miles west of Dallas and has a population of about 115,000. Its climate is relatively warm, although it occasionally snows during the winter. Residents of Abilene are served by shopping malls, major restaurant chains, specialty shops, two hospitals, and a regional airport. The city is second only to Houston in cultural events per capita in Texas, and it has one of the lowest crime rates in the state.
Majors and Degrees
The Bachelor of Arts degree is awarded in art, art for all-level teacher certification, art history, art/marketing, biblical text, biochemistry, biology, chemistry, Christian ministry, communication sciences and disorders, computer science, English, graphic design/advertising, history, human communication, international studies, mathematics, missions, music, political science, sociology, Spanish, theater, and youth and family ministry.
The Bachelor of Science degree is available in agricultural business; animal science; biochemistry; biology; broadcast journalism; chemistry; Christian ministry; computer science; criminal justice; electronic media; engineering physics; environmental science; exercise science; food, nutrition, and dietetics; human development and family studies; industrial psychology; integrated marketing communication; interior design; journalism; mathematics; medical technology; microelectronics; missions; photojournalism; physics; predentistry; pre-engineering; premedicine; preoptometry; preveterinary medicine; psychology; range and agronomy; religious journalism; social work; sociology; and youth and family ministry. Also, the Bachelor of Science degree is offered in elementary and secondary education, with specialization in numerous areas. A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is also available.
The Bachelor of Business Administration degree is offered in accounting, financial management, management, and marketing. The Bachelor of Fine Arts degree is available in art and theater, and the Bachelor of Music degree (with teacher certification) is offered in instrumental, piano, and vocal (all levels).
The Bachelor of Applied Studies offers adults the opportunity to combine previous college experience, on-the-job training, and courses at ACU to complete their degrees. Areas of emphasis include biblical and related sciences, business, communication, family studies, general business, human services, liberal arts, psychology, sociology, and teacher preparation.
The preprofessional programs offered by ACU are of special interest. In general, students attend ACU for one to four years and then transfer to a professional school to complete their degree. During the past decade, more than 80 percent of ACU graduates who applied to medical and dental schools were accepted, putting ACU among the top preprofessional schools in the state.
Academic Program
A minimum of 128 semester hours is required for most baccalaureate degrees, with 30 of these hours in a major and a total of 33 hours in upper-division work. All degrees require 15 hours of Bible studies, and most require courses in communication/speech, English, exercise science, fine arts, mathematics, science, and social and behavioral science.
ACU serves a broad spectrum of students. To help challenge the exceptionally bright student, CLEP and a comprehensive honors program are available. For the underprepared, developmental programs are offered by the English and math departments. The University also offers various enriching seminars and lectures by internationally known guests such as Linda Chavez, Max Lucado, James Dobson, Marilyn Quayle, George W. Bush, William Bennett, John Wooden, and Ray Bradbury.
Off-Campus Programs
In the Study Abroad program, students may study in countries such as England, Mexico, and Uruguay. All courses completed during this cultural and educational experience are counted toward the student's degree.
Academic Facilities
Resources of the Abilene Christian University library include books, microforms, audiovisual materials, government documents, and periodicals that total more than 1.7 million items. Online research and access to a local library consortium greatly expand student access to worldwide resources. More than 700 computers across campus are available to students during days and evenings.
Exercise science and athletic activities are centered in the huge exercise science complex, which contains several gymnasiums, training rooms, racquetball courts, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a coliseum, and a state-of-the-art fitness center for student athletes. The Teague Special Events Center is used for a variety of special events that occur in both the ACU and Abilene communities. The four-story science facility contains laboratories, an outstanding collection of experimental equipment, an observatory, and computer labs. A three-story communications complex houses art studios and classrooms, newspaper and yearbook workshops, a low-power VHF TV station that broadcasts on a local station and on cable, and an FM National Public Radio station.
In addition to 100-acre and 400-acre farms, the University has access to 2,500 acres of land for observation, research, and study projects. Students enrolled in agriculture, environment, biology, and ecology courses are able to study basic and applied science in an integrated setting.
Classrooms in the Mabee Business Building and Biblical Studies Building are equipped with the latest in audiovisual and computer equipment. Business students work in a lab equipped with state-of-the-art Apple Power Macs and Pentium processors. The newest academic building is Williams Performing Arts Center, which houses the music and theater departments, and offices.
Costs
The typical expenses for 200506 for two semesters include tuition and fees (30 semester hours), $19,610; room, $2750; board, $2920; and books, $1195 for a total of $26,475. Personal expenses vary according to an individual's needs. All fees are subject to change.
Financial Aid
Eighty-eight percent of ACU students are assisted through loans, grants, scholarships, and/or employment. In 200405, more than $55 million in financial aid was awarded to ACU students. The number of students employed on campus was more than 1,300. Academic scholarships are awarded according to scores on standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT examinations, class rank, and leadership activities. Full tuition scholarships are offered to National Merit Finalists. All financial aid forms may be obtained through the ACU Student Financial Services Office. It is suggested, and even required for some financial aid programs, that applicants for aid complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).
Faculty
ACU has a faculty of outstanding teachers, scholars, and specialists. Seventy-seven percent of full-time faculty members hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their field. There are 216 full-time and 131 part-time faculty members committed to educating the whole student, academically, socially, and spiritually. A student-teacher ratio of 17:1 allows students ready access to their teachers for counseling on careers, academics, and personal issues.
Student Government
Abilene Christian University has an active, progressive Students' Association, of which every full-time student is a member. Officers of the association and the Student Senate carry out various social and community service programs. The Student Foundation promotes awareness of the purposes of ACU and maintains communication among the administration, students, and alumni.
Admission Requirements
To qualify for admission, a student must have graduated from high school and must submit information concerning SAT or ACT scores, high school class rank, and reference letters. Generally, transfer students are required to have a 2.0 grade point average or better. Abilene Christian University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, or national or ethnic origin in its admissions, employment opportunities, educational programs, or activities that it sponsors.
Application and Information
Prospective students should write or call the admissions office for application forms and financial aid information, indicating their academic and social areas of interest. Applicants should submit the necessary forms with a nonrefundable $25 processing fee ($45 for international applicants) and have their academic records (SAT or ACT scores, transcript, and class rank) sent to the University. Residence hall room reservations, accompanied by a $100 deposit, should be made early to ensure choice of a dorm. Students are encouraged to visit the campus at any time.
Baseball
