Florida Atlantic University

What is the history of Florida Atlantic University?

Florida Atlantic University is a public university founded in 1961 that opened in Boca Raton in 1964. It began as an upper-division institution for students who had completed their first two years elsewhere, a history that helps explain its continuing emphasis on transfer pathways.

FAU later expanded to serve first-year students and developed campuses and instructional sites across South Florida. Its academic scope also grew beyond its original undergraduate programs to include graduate research and professional education, including medicine. Today, its Boca Raton campus is the university's main campus, but a student's program may be based elsewhere.

What are the faculties and departments at Florida Atlantic University?

FAU offers bachelor's, master's, doctoral, and professional study through colleges spanning the arts, sciences, business, education, engineering, health, and public service. Applicants should check the location and admission rules of the particular program they want, rather than assuming every major operates on the Boca Raton campus.

Its academic organization includes the Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, College of Business, College of Education, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, College of Social Work and Criminal Justice, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, and Graduate College. Examples of fields of study include architecture, accounting, biology, computer science, ocean engineering, psychology, social work, and nursing.

The Wilkes Honors College is based in Jupiter and has a distinct liberal-arts setting. Other programs, particularly clinical and professional programs, may involve separate applications, prerequisites, or placement requirements. Admission to FAU therefore does not necessarily mean admission to a selective major.

What is the location of Florida Atlantic University?

FAU's main campus is in Boca Raton, Florida, in southern Palm Beach County. It has a suburban setting within the broader South Florida metropolitan area, where commuting, employment, and clinical or internship placements can extend well beyond the campus.

FAU also has locations elsewhere in the region, including Jupiter and Davie. Applicants comparing programs should confirm where required classes meet; traveling between locations can materially affect a schedule. A car can be useful for some commutes, although students should assess parking costs and available transit against their own route. Palm Beach International and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International are regional airport options.

What is the mission and vision of Florida Atlantic University?

FAU describes its mission as providing accessible undergraduate and graduate education while advancing research, scholarship, creative work, and service. Its stated priorities connect academic opportunity with the needs of South Florida and broader communities.

The university's vision emphasizes research, student achievement, and public impact. These are institutional aims, not evidence that every student will have the same experience. Prospective students can assess how those aims appear in a specific program - for example, through undergraduate research access, advising, clinical placements, or community-based projects. FAU is a public, nonsectarian institution.