Kean University

What is the history of Kean University?

Kean University began in 1855 as the Newark Normal School, established to prepare teachers. Its history as a teacher-training institution remains relevant to applicants considering education programs, but Kean now offers degrees across a much wider range of fields.

The institution later became New Jersey State Teachers College at Newark and then Newark State College. It moved from Newark to Union in the late 1950s, became Kean College of New Jersey in 1973, and gained university status in 1997. The move to Union established the main campus that serves students today.

What are the faculties and departments at Kean University?

Kean University offers undergraduate and graduate study in education, business, the liberal arts, sciences, health-related fields, and design. Its academic organization includes the College of Education, College of Business and Public Management, College of Liberal Arts, College of Natural, Applied and Health Sciences, and Michael Graves College.

Representative areas of study include teacher preparation, accounting, computer science, biology, psychology, public administration, nursing, architecture, and design. A prospective student should examine the requirements of the particular degree, not just the university's general admissions rules: clinical placements, portfolios, professional accreditation, and entry into a major can matter substantially in some fields. Kean also offers graduate and doctoral study, so the credentials and campus locations available depend on the program.

What is the location of Kean University?

Kean University's main campus is in Union, New Jersey, in the New York metropolitan area. Its suburban setting gives students access to regional employers and cultural institutions while making commuting a central part of campus life.

Public transportation is a practical consideration: Union Station, on NJ Transit's Raritan Valley Line, is near the campus, but schedules and the distance from a student's home can affect how useful rail travel is. Students driving should account for parking rules and travel during peak hours. Newark Liberty International Airport is the nearest major airport. Kean also offers instruction at locations beyond its Union campus, including Kean Ocean; applicants should check where their specific program's classes and services are delivered.

What is the mission and vision of Kean University?

Kean University describes its mission in terms of access to higher education, academic and professional preparation, research, and service to its communities. Its public-university identity and history in teacher education help explain that emphasis.

Its stated priorities include serving a diverse student body and connecting learning with work and civic life. These are institutional aims rather than measured outcomes for every student. Applicants can assess how they are put into practice by examining a program's curriculum, advising arrangements, experiential-learning requirements, and available support services. Kean is a public institution, not a religiously affiliated university.