Morehouse College (MC)

The development of leaders is the ultimate goal of Morehouse College, an all-male school in Atlanta that seeks to send “Morehouse Men� into the world as strong, critical thinkers. Mentorship is the bedrock of a Morehouse education, and the school’s 15-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio helps create a close-knit culture where professors act as both teachers and guides. Students can choose from thirty-three majors spread across seven academic divisions, ranging from Software Engineering to Journalism in Sports, Culture, and Justice. Students work toward specific learning outcomes such as the practice of global citizenship or the demonstration of integrative learning of Black life, history, and culture. The college’s general education curriculum grants a groundwork in African and African diasporic heritage using texts, examples, perspectives, and principles of Black people across time, and a breadth requirement ensures that all students receive a balanced liberal arts education that touches upon the thematic areas of arts, literature, and ideas.

Eight different centers and institutes support classroom instruction while also providing opportunities for research and service. The Morehouse College Honors Program is a four-year comprehensive program providing unique learning opportunities for outstanding students. Attendees are encouraged to take an active interest in social outreach, and to participate in global studies and study abroad.

Morehouse attracts undergraduates from across the country and from a wide variety of backgrounds. Students tell us, “Even though the school is predominantly black, great diversity is apparent within the school body.� “There are quite a few different types of people, and plenty of different social groups in which one might find himself,� yet the campus is linked by a “sincere “brotherhood� feeling� and most students “fit in pretty well.� “The typical student is ambitious and goal-oriented,� and most are highly invested in their education. At Morehouse, “It is not unusual to see a crowd of students leave the campus and continue a conversation on the street about social injustice, history, politics, or any scandal currently in the news.� Described by their classmates as “outgoing and well-rounded,� Morehouse undergraduates generally strike “a balance between school, community service, and social life.�

To many undergrads, “The sense of unity among the students, faculty, and administration is Morehouse College’s greatest strength.� In this collegial atmosphere, “It’s not hard to have a good time if you’re willing.� In their downtime, most Morehouse undergrads “hang out with close friends, go to parties, or attend events going on on campus.� “People have a sense of unity not only within Morehouse College but also with neighboring schools,� and many spend their weekends with friends from sister school, Spelman College, as well as Clark, Georgia State, and Emory. In addition to college parties, students relax with friends in the dorms, or go out to eat, see movies, or otherwise take advantage of Atlanta, “where there’s always something to do.� It sounds like fun, but Morehouse students aren’t only concerned with having a good time. A student shares, “Aside from the typical college student behavior, most activities involve either community service or personal development. For example, this past weekend the entire campus was involved in a clean-up of the surrounding area, the West End.� Plus, Morehouse students know when it’s time to buckle down and study: “Some weekends are spent at the library catching up on school work.�