Auburn University

What is the history of Auburn University?

Auburn University began in 1856 as East Alabama Male College. Its present identity reflects a transition from a small college to a public land-grant research university with programs ranging from agriculture and engineering to veterinary medicine and the arts.

The institution became the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama in 1872, when it took on the state's land-grant mission. It was renamed Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1899 and Auburn University in 1960. Auburn began admitting women in the 1890s. Those changes help explain why the university combines a broad undergraduate curriculum with applied research and public-service work.

What are the faculties and departments at Auburn University?

Auburn organizes its academic programs across colleges and schools rather than a single undergraduate faculty. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees, graduate degrees and professional credentials, with the available options depending on their field.

Its academic units include the colleges of Agriculture, Education, Human Sciences, Liberal Arts, Nursing, and Sciences and Mathematics; the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering; the Harbert College of Business; the College of Architecture, Design and Construction; the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment; the Harrison College of Pharmacy; and the College of Veterinary Medicine. The Graduate School coordinates graduate study across disciplines.

That structure allows for substantially different academic paths: a student might study aerospace engineering, accounting, architecture, forestry, journalism or nursing. Some majors have admission, progression, studio, clinical or licensure requirements beyond general university admission. Applicants should check the requirements for their intended program, especially if they hope to change majors or transfer into a capacity-limited field.

What is the location of Auburn University?

Auburn University's main campus is in Auburn, Alabama, a college city in the eastern part of the state near the Alabama-Georgia border. The campus and surrounding city are closely connected, but where a student lives can make a practical difference to daily transportation.

Students who live off campus can use university transit routes where available and should compare their hours and coverage with class, work and evening schedules. First-year students may register a car, subject to parking rules and permit availability; permission to have a vehicle does not mean parking will be convenient to every building. Auburn has additional educational and research facilities beyond its main campus, so students in specialized programs should confirm where required classes or placements take place.

What is the mission and vision of Auburn University?

Auburn describes its mission in terms of instruction, research and outreach. That combination reflects its role as a public land-grant university: it educates students while conducting research and extending expertise to communities beyond campus.

The university's stated priorities include student learning, discovery and public service. Its historical Auburn Creed emphasizes work, honesty and responsibility, but the creed is an expression of institutional values, not an academic requirement or a measure of every student's experience. Prospective students can assess how the mission applies to their interests by looking at opportunities within a particular department, such as undergraduate research, extension activities or community-engaged courses.