You’re in the right place to find your passion
We welcome students from all backgrounds with the spirit of friendship and a dedication to service. Our goal is to help each member of our community connect with their purpose through the dynamic learning experiences offered by our life-changing online degree programs.
About Jacksonville State University
Here at Jax State, we focus on the holistic development of our students. Our caring faculty are committed to your future success as well as your development as an individual. Our unique and diverse campus community is as friendly as any you’ll find, and our online programs are designed to equip you with the relevant knowledge and experience to elevate your career to exciting new heights.
Mission:
Jacksonville State University, a learning-centered community, provides distinctive educational, cultural and social experiences to prepare students to be competent, ethical professionals and engaged, responsible, global citizens.
Jacksonville State University is committed to:
- Student-centered culture
- Excellence
- Transformation
- Innovation
- Engagement
- Stewardship
- Integrity
- Inclusivity
History of Jacksonville State University
From modest beginnings, Jacksonville State University has evolved into the educational center of northeast Alabama. The Alabama Legislature, in the 1882-83 session, created a state normal school when Governor Edward O’Neal signed into law a bill creating the school on Feb. 22, 1883. Jacksonville State Normal School acquired the facilities and equipment of Calhoun College, consisting of 12 acres of land and a two-story brick building. The Board of Directors elected James C. Ryals, Jr. as the first president. The school opened with three instructors: W. J. Borden, mathematics; Eliza A. Bowen, English; and Ida J. Woodward, primary department.
The Normal School remained in operation until 1930 when it became Jacksonville State Teachers College, reflecting an increasingly higher education role for the institution. Five years later, the College earned regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In 1957, the name again changed to Jacksonville State College when the first graduate program—the master’s degree in elementary education—was created.
On Aug. 2, 1966, the State Board of Education was authorized to elevate the College to university status. On Aug. 17, 1967, the Legislature established an independent Board of Trustees for the University and divested jurisdiction from the State Board of Education.
In December 2010, JSU attained Level 5 accreditation status when the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges gave approval for the University to begin offering its first doctoral degree, the Doctor of Science in Emergency Management, beginning in Fall 2011. JSU was approved to begin offering its second doctoral degree, the Doctor of Nursing Practice, effective Fall 2017.
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