Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

What is the history of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University?

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly called FAMU, was founded in Tallahassee in 1887 as the State Normal College for Colored Students. Its original purpose was to prepare Black teachers at a time when segregation restricted educational opportunities.

The institution became a land-grant college under the 1890 Morrill Act, expanding its work in agriculture and other practical fields. It later took the name Florida Agricultural and Mechanical College for Negroes and became Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University in 1953. Today, FAMU is a public, historically Black university whose programs extend well beyond its original teacher-training mission.

What are the faculties and departments at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University?

FAMU offers undergraduate, graduate and professional study across the arts and sciences, business, education, health professions, agriculture, engineering and other fields. Applicants should look at the requirements for their intended program, not just university-wide admission rules.

Its academic units include the College of Agriculture and Food Sciences; College of Education; College of Science and Technology; College of Social Sciences, Arts and Humanities; School of Business and Industry; School of Journalism and Graphic Communication; School of Nursing; School of Allied Health Sciences; and College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Public Health. The FAMU-FSU College of Engineering is a joint college with Florida State University. FAMU's College of Law is in Orlando rather than on the Tallahassee campus.

Representative areas of study include architecture, accounting, biology, criminal justice, journalism, nursing, pharmacy and social work. Professional programs may have separate prerequisites, progression standards or applications after initial university admission.

What is the location of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University?

FAMU's main campus is in Tallahassee, Florida's capital. Its location gives students access to state-government offices and a regional employment market, although the usefulness of those connections depends on a student's field and the positions available.

Not every FAMU program is based in Tallahassee: the College of Law is in Orlando, and engineering students participate in the joint FAMU-FSU college. Students comparing programs should confirm where their required classes and clinical or laboratory work take place. Tallahassee International Airport serves the city; students without a car should also consider how they will travel between housing, classes and off-campus commitments.

What is the mission and vision of Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University?

FAMU describes its mission as providing access to a high-quality education while developing graduates who can contribute to their communities and professions. Its stated priorities connect teaching, research and public service with its identity as a historically Black, land-grant university.

That mission helps explain the university's combination of liberal arts, professional education and applied research. It is a statement of institutional purpose, however, rather than a measure of what any individual student will experience. Prospective students can assess how it translates into practice by examining their program's curriculum, advising and opportunities for hands-on work.