Shaw University

What is the history of Shaw University?

Shaw University was founded in Raleigh in 1865 to provide educational opportunities for newly emancipated Black Americans. It is a private, historically Black university whose origins remain central to its identity.

The institution began as the Raleigh Institute and later took the Shaw name in recognition of benefactor Elijah Shaw. Estey Hall, built in the 1870s, is an important surviving landmark associated with the education of Black women. Shaw also established Leonard Medical School, which operated from the late nineteenth century until 1918. Those developments illustrate the university's early role in expanding access to education and professional training after the Civil War.

What are the faculties and departments at Shaw University?

Shaw University offers undergraduate study across the liberal arts, sciences, education, business, and professional fields, as well as graduate theological education. Its School of Divinity is a distinctive part of the university's academic identity.

Programs represented in Shaw's academic offerings include biology, psychology, social work, criminal justice, business administration, computer-related fields, communication, and education. Applicants should check the current academic catalog for a program's exact degree title, delivery format, and course sequence: a field appearing in historical outcomes data is not, by itself, confirmation that the same major is accepting students in a particular term. Students considering teaching, social work, or another regulated profession should also confirm the program-specific steps toward licensure in the state where they intend to work.

What is the location of Shaw University?

Shaw University's main campus is in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Its urban location puts students near state government offices, other colleges, employers, and public transportation rather than on an isolated residential campus.

That setting may be useful for students seeking internships or commuting from elsewhere in the Raleigh area, although travel time and parking costs depend on where a student lives and studies. Raleigh-Durham International Airport serves the region; students should plan ground transportation between the airport and campus. Applicants interested in a particular program should confirm where its classes meet, especially if comparing in-person and other delivery options.

What is the mission and vision of Shaw University?

Shaw University describes its educational purpose in terms of learning, leadership, and service. Its historically Black and Baptist heritage informs the institution's identity, while its academic programs serve students pursuing a range of professional and personal goals.

These are statements of institutional purpose, not measures of an individual student's likely outcome. Prospective students can assess how the stated priorities translate into their intended program by examining its curriculum, advising arrangements, experiential requirements, and opportunities for community engagement.