North Carolina Central University

What is the history of North Carolina Central University?

North Carolina Central University (NCCU) is a public historically Black university founded in Durham in 1910 by James E. Shepard. It began as the National Religious Training School and Chautauqua, an institution created to expand educational opportunities for Black students during segregation.

The school became a state-supported institution in the 1920s and was renamed North Carolina College for Negroes in 1925. It later became North Carolina College at Durham, adopted the North Carolina Central University name in 1969, and joined the University of North Carolina system in 1972. Its development from a training school into a university offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees remains central to its identity.

What are the faculties and departments at North Carolina Central University?

NCCU offers undergraduate and graduate study across the arts, sciences, health professions, business, education, law, and information studies. Its academic organization includes the College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities; the College of Health and Sciences; and schools of Business, Education, Law, and Library and Information Sciences.

Representative undergraduate fields include biology, business administration, criminal justice, education, nursing, psychology, and social work. The university also offers graduate and professional pathways, including a Juris Doctor through its School of Law. Students comparing majors should distinguish a department's undergraduate degree from a related graduate program: admission, prerequisites, clinical placements, and professional requirements can differ substantially.

NCCU's academic catalog is the appropriate place to check the current degree plan for a particular major. That matters especially for transfer applicants and students considering a licensed profession, because required course sequences may affect how long a degree takes.

What is the location of North Carolina Central University?

NCCU's main campus is in Durham, North Carolina, near the city's downtown area. Its urban setting gives students access to local employers, community organizations, health care institutions, and the wider Research Triangle region.

The campus is not the same as Duke University or another nearby institution; applicants should check the location of the specific NCCU program they plan to attend. Durham's local and regional bus networks offer alternatives to driving, although a commute may still depend on the student's schedule and housing location. Raleigh-Durham International Airport serves the region and is most relevant to students traveling from farther away.

What is the mission and vision of North Carolina Central University?

NCCU describes its mission in terms of access to higher education, teaching, research, and service. Its identity as a public historically Black university reflects its founding purpose of educating students who faced exclusion from many other institutions.

The university's stated priorities include academic preparation, community engagement, and opportunities for students from varied backgrounds. These are institutional goals, not guarantees about any individual student's experience or outcomes. NCCU is a public university rather than a religiously affiliated college, despite the religious language in its original name.