The match between Johnson C. Smith University and its Charlotte home is a good one; the former is well-known for integrating liberal arts with business and applied science while the latter is a hub for finance, banking, and technological development. Thanks to this proximity, JCSU is able to regularly partner with industry leaders like Apple and Red Ventures to provide an exceptionally rich backdrop for experiential learning and progressive curriculum.
Academic life at JCSU is defined by a culture of scholarship and rigorous investigation. The Smith Institute for Applied Research supports faculty-led and student-mentored research, and awards pilot funding grants that support faculty and paid student internships. The institute’s Centers of Excellence also promote cutting-edge research to facilitate workforce and small business development, homeland security through the lens of STEM, minority health and family wellness, and global education. For those seeking international opportunities, programs that provide academic credit are available during two-week summer programs in Italy, Egypt, Israel, the West Caribbean, and South Africa.
This innovative academic experience is also matched with a high level of student support. The Biddle Freshman Program facilitates opportunities for meaningful contact with faculty and staff for assistance and advising, and students also receive the benefit of personalized instruction with a low student-to-faculty ratio of 13 to 1.
