UNION UNIVERSITY
Jackson, Tennessee
The University
Union University is committed to equipping persons to think Christianly and serve faithfully in ways consistent with its core values of being excellence-driven, Christ-centered, people-focused, and future-directed. These values shape its identity as a learner-centered institution that prioritizes liberal artsbased undergraduate education enhanced by professional and graduate programs. The academic community is composed of highly qualified faculty members, staff members, and students working together in a caring, grace-filled environment conducive to the development of character, servant leadership, and cultural engagement.
Founded in 1823, Union University holds the distinction of being the oldest Southern Baptistrelated college or university. For more than 180 years, Union has prepared students for the future. Union has consistently received national recognition for academic excellence and value. U.S. News & World Report ranked Union in the top tier of Best UniversitiesMaster's. Time and The Princeton Review recognized Union as one of only five highly selective private universities in Tennessee.
More than 2,900 students enjoy a rigorous educational experience that nurtures both the heart and mind. Students are challenged by an academic community committed to scholarly pursuit shaped by a biblical worldview. The average high school GPA is 3.52. The average ACT score is 25 and the average SAT score is 1160. Forty-four states and forty countries are represented in the student body. Twenty national merit finalists currently attend Union. The University offers more than 100 majors and programs of study in the arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences, business, education, and nursing.
Union University graduates have established an impressive track record through graduate school acceptance and employment opportunities. With more than 100 majors and programs of study, Union graduates impact nearly every sector of society. Examples of success stories range from being placed in internships in the White House, State Department, and England's Parliament to being employed with Fortune 500 companies or starting successful businesses. Union graduates have studied at Princeton, Yale, Duke, SMU, and many other top graduate programs. One of many examples of excellence is the 95 percent acceptance rate to graduate programs in the health sciences. These programs choose the best of their applicants and Union graduates rise to the top. Union provides an excellence-driven education that prepares students for life.
College is more than just classes. At Union, students have the opportunity to enjoy a lively and active social life in addition to academic pursuits. Campus organizations offer opportunities to get involved in a host of possibilities, from drama and music to journalism and ministry. The campus also hosts six Greek fraternal organizationsthree for men and three for women. Intramural sports involve a large number of students each year. Union athletic teams compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), which classifies Union as a Champions of Character Institution. Union won the 1998 NAIA national championship in women's basketball. Men's and women's programs often achieve national rankings.
On its residential campus, the University provides housing in apartment suites. More than 95 percent of freshmen live on campus. Each resident has a private bedroom with an Internet port. Each suite has four or five bedrooms sharing a common living room and bathroom. Some units have kitchens. Each complex includes a commons building with gathering areas, laundry facilities, and other services. A full-time Residence Director and student Resident Assistants serve each complex.
In addition to residential facilities, Union has excellent academic and student service facilities. At one end of the campus is Penick Academic Complex, with a 1,200-seat chapel, a theater, and administrative center. At the other end is the recreation center, complete with two gyms, a wellness center, racquetball courts, and an indoor pool. In between are classrooms, faculty offices, high-tech computer and natural science labs, and the Emma Waters Summar Library. The Student Union Building houses the cafeteria, snack bar, post office, the student lounge with a game room, and student life offices. The Blasingame Academic Complex features microcomputer and education labs and state-of-the-art lecture rooms. Hammons Hall is home to the University bookstore, classrooms, and offices. Newly built Jennings Hall features the biblical studies library and language lab, digital media labs, a broadcast studio, music practice labs and the performance hall, as well as classrooms and faculty offices. Union has broken ground for a three-story state-of-the-art science building.
Location
The 290-acre campus is located in suburban Jackson, Tennessee. Jackson is a growing community of 92,000 located just 80 miles east of Memphis and 120 miles west of Nashville along the I-40 corridor. Students find convenient access to entertainment, shopping, and many other services. Jackson has something to offer everyone through many cultural, recreational, or sports events. The city is served by McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport, which features daily flights via AmericanConnection. Memphis and Nashville airports provide worldwide service via most major airlines.
Majors and Degrees
The Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, and graduate degrees are offered. Union has more than 100 majors and programs of study. Majors offered in the College of Arts and Sciences include actuarial science, art (ceramics/sculpture, drawing/painting, and graphic design), biblical studies, biblical studies/languages, biology, broadcasting, chemical physics, chemistry, Christian ethics, Christian studies, church history, church music, computer information systems, computer science, digital media studies (art, communication arts, and computer science), engineering (electrical and mechanical), engineering physics, English (literature and writing), film studies, French (languages and culture or literature), Greek, history, honors studies, intercultural studies, journalism, mathematics, medical technology, music, music education, music management, music marketing, music performance, music theory and literature, philosophy and Christian theology, physical science, physics, political science, public relations/advertising, Spanish (languages and culture or literature), teaching English as a second language, theater/speech, and youth ministry. Majors offered in the McAfee School of Business Administration include accounting, business administration, economics/finance, international business, management, management information, and marketing. The McAfee School also offers a Bachelor of Science in organizational leadership. Majors offered in the School of Education and Human Studies include athletic coaching, athletic training, Christian ministry/recreation, family studies, health education/teacher licensure, human studies, learning foundations (K8 or early childhood), liberal studies (middle grades 58), physical education/teacher licensure, psychology, secondary education (712), social work, sociology, special education (K12), sport management/communication, sport management/marketing, sports medicine/exercise wellness, and sport ministry. The School of Nursing offers a Bachelor of Science in nursing, the accelerated B.S.N. program, and the RNB.S.N. completion program.
Preprofessional programs include chiropractic, cytotechnology, dental hygiene, dentistry, health information management, medicine, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatry, and veterinary medicine.
Academic Programs
Union University offers a unique opportunity to study in a context of both academic excellence and deep Christian commitment. Union offers seven traditional undergraduate degrees and ten graduate degrees. The requirements of each undergraduate degree include one major and one minor unless otherwise specified in the Union University Academic Catalogue. A student may have two baccalaureate degrees conferred when the requirements of both have been met.
The requirements of each bachelor's degree awarded by Union University include 46 hours of general core curriculum, 18 to 21 hours of specific core curriculum, a minimum of 30 hours in the major academic program, and 18 hours in the minor academic program. The completion of the required 128 hours usually requires four years with 32 hours per year.
For each undergraduate degree granted by Union University, at least 25 percent of the semester hours required for the degree must be earned through instruction at Union University. The last 56 semester hours of credit for a bachelor's degree must be earned at an accredited senior college.
The Dean's List recognizes students enrolled for 12 or more hours and that attain an average grade point of 3.5 or above each semester. The President's List recognizes students with a semester average of 4.0. Students making an average grade point of 3.5 or above in courses taken at Union can graduate with cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude honors.
The academic calendar is divided into fall semester from August to December, winter term during January, spring semester from February to May, and three summer terms. In addition, evening accelerated courses are available each term.
Off-Campus Programs
The University offers several opportunities to study off campus and abroad. Students should refer to the online catalog at the Web site listed below for updated information. Union also participates with four Southern Baptist seminaries in a program designed to allow qualified Christian studies majors to enter a Master of Divinity degree track with advanced studies.
Academic Facilities
Keeping pace with technological demands, Union provides more than 300 computers for student use with full access to e-mail and the Internet. In addition, each residential student has a port for the campus network and Internet access in the private bedroom.
The Emma Waters Summar Library provides resources for students. The library has entered several formal agreements with other libraries and library organizations to further extend its service base. These services enhance students' access to materials through a full range of resources.
Other academic facilities include top-quality lecture facilities, laboratories, and fine and performing arts theaters and practice rooms.
Costs
The cost for a typical student for the 200405 academic year (two semesters) was $14,850 in tuition (15 hours), $3230 for housing in an apartment-style residence hall, $1910 for meals (twelve per week), and $520 for a student services fee. The total cost, excluding books, was $20,510 per academic year.
Financial Aid
More than 73 percent of Union students receive some financial aid based on need or merit. Union commits very competitive scholarships and grants to qualified students. In addition, the University helps connect students with other financial resources such as loans, student work programs, privately funded scholarships, and a host of state and federal assistance programs.
For best consideration, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be filed with the Federal Processing Center before February15 using Union's federal code. In addition, applicants must complete the Union University traditional undergraduate application for financial assistance by February15. Students who have been accepted for admission and have completed the financial aid process are mailed an award letter on March15. Students who apply after February15 are awarded on a rolling basis as funds are available.
Faculty
Union's faculty members are selected based on their academic qualifications. The faculty is teaching focused, with more than 81 percent holding doctorates or the highest degree offered in their field of study from many of the world's premier graduate programs. Classes at Union are small, with a student-faculty ratio of 12:1.
Faculty members also serve as student advisers. Advisers are assigned within the department of the student's major. Faculty advisers assist students in planning schedules and defining educational and career goals. The student and adviser meet at least once each semester.
Student Government
Union's Student Government Association (SGA), composed of all students enrolled in Union University, functions through its executive, legislative, and judicial branches. Its elected officers and representatives serve as the official voice of the students in institutional affairs. The SGA seeks to foster University unity, promote student welfare, and provide students with programs, activities, and services designed to meet the needs and interests of students.
Admission Requirements
Union University accepts students on a rolling admission basis, but since a limited number of spaces may be available for a class, early applicationU by December 1 is strongly recommended. Applicants must graduate from an accredited high school with at least 20 units in the areas of English, foreign language, mathematics, social and natural sciences, and approved electives. A state high school equivalency diploma is accepted in lieu of a high school diploma. In addition, students must meet or exceed two of the three following qualifiers: a 2.50 core GPA, a score of 22 ACT composite/1030 SAT combined, or ranking in the top 50 percent of their high school class. Union also actively admits home-schooled students.
A transfer student must have completed at least 24 semester hours of transferable credit at an accredited college in order to enter Union under the college transfer student category; otherwise, the applicants must meet freshman admission requirements.
Applicants must complete and return the Union University application for undergraduate admission along with the $25 application fee. All official transcripts must be requested and mailed directly to the Office of Enrollment Services. Results of either the ACT or SAT must also be sent. For detailed admission requirements, students should call the Office of Enrollment Services at the telephone number listed below.
Application and Information
For more information or to request an application, students should contact:
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