Bethune-Cookman University

What is the history of Bethune-Cookman University?

Bethune-Cookman University is a historically Black university in Daytona Beach, Florida, founded by educator and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune. Its origins date to 1904, when Bethune opened a school for Black girls at a time when educational opportunities for them were severely restricted.

The school expanded beyond its original mission and merged with the Cookman Institute of Jacksonville in 1923. It later became Bethune-Cookman College and adopted the name Bethune-Cookman University in 2007. Those changes reflect its development from a small school into an institution offering undergraduate and graduate study. Bethune's emphasis on education, service and opportunity remains central to how the university describes its purpose.

What are the faculties and departments at Bethune-Cookman University?

Bethune-Cookman University offers undergraduate programs across the arts and humanities, business, education, health, science and technology, and social sciences, as well as selected graduate programs. Its academic offerings are broader than the university's original teacher-training mission.

Examples of fields represented in its program offerings include biology, business administration, computer science, criminal justice, education, hospitality, music, nursing and psychology. Students comparing majors should check the current academic catalog for the exact degree title, required courses and whether a program has a separate admission process. In fields such as nursing and teacher education, admission to the university and eligibility to enter or complete a professional program may involve different requirements.

The reported student-to-faculty ratio is 17 to 1. That institution-wide measure does not indicate the size of a particular course or the availability of classes needed for an individual major.

What is the location of Bethune-Cookman University?

Bethune-Cookman University's main campus is in Daytona Beach on Florida's Atlantic coast. It is an urban campus within the city, rather than an isolated residential setting.

Daytona Beach offers access to local employers, community organizations and coastal amenities. Students planning internships or off-campus work should consider travel time and whether they will have a car or use local transportation. Daytona Beach International Airport serves the area; students traveling farther may also consider other central Florida airports. The university's location is relevant to housing decisions because commuting costs and arrangements vary substantially by where a student lives.

What is the mission and vision of Bethune-Cookman University?

Bethune-Cookman University describes its mission in terms of education, service and the development of students prepared to contribute to their communities. Its identity is rooted in Mary McLeod Bethune's work expanding educational access for Black students.

The university is historically Black and has an affiliation with the United Methodist Church. Those are institutional characteristics, not assumptions about an individual student's beliefs. Prospective students interested in how the university puts its stated values into practice can look at its curriculum, service opportunities and campus programming alongside the mission statement.