Syracuse University

What is the history of Syracuse University?

Syracuse University is a private research university founded in 1870 in Syracuse, New York. Its early ties were to the Methodist Episcopal Church, but it operates today as a nonsectarian institution.

The university initially held classes downtown. Its move to the hill overlooking the city began with the Hall of Languages, completed in the 1870s; that building remains a recognizable part of the main campus. Syracuse subsequently developed professional schools alongside its liberal arts programs, helping explain its present mix of architecture, communications, business, public affairs, engineering and other fields.

A defining event in the university's history was the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, which killed 35 Syracuse students returning from study abroad. The university's annual Remembrance activities honor them and connect that history to continuing discussions of loss, service and responsibility.

What are the faculties and departments at Syracuse University?

Syracuse organizes its academic programs through undergraduate colleges, professional schools and graduate divisions. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees as well as graduate and professional credentials; the appropriate school depends on the subject and degree level.

The College of Arts and Sciences covers fields such as biology, mathematics, languages and the humanities. Other academic units include the College of Engineering and Computer Science; School of Information Studies; School of Education; College of Visual and Performing Arts; School of Architecture; S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; Martin J. Whitman School of Management; Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs; and Falk College of Sport. The College of Law awards professional law degrees, while the College of Professional Studies serves students seeking flexible and continuing-education options.

Programs range from journalism and public relations to computer engineering, social sciences, design and sport-related studies. Some majors have sequenced courses, portfolios, auditions or admission procedures beyond the university-wide application. Applicants should check the requirements of the specific school and intended major rather than assume that admission to one program provides access to every other program.

What is the location of Syracuse University?

Syracuse University's main campus is in Syracuse, a city in central New York. Its hilltop location places students near downtown while giving the campus its own concentration of classrooms, libraries, residence halls and gathering spaces.

Students also use facilities beyond the main campus, including South Campus housing and recreation areas. Getting between sites, reaching an internship or commuting from off campus may require planning around university transportation, local transit or a car. Syracuse Hancock International Airport provides regional air service. Prospective students considering a winter visit should account for central New York's cold, snowy weather when evaluating transportation and daily routines.

What is the mission and vision of Syracuse University?

Syracuse describes its educational purpose in terms of learning, research, creative work and engagement with communities beyond the university. Its stated priorities also include access, inclusion and preparing students to apply knowledge in public and professional life; these are institutional goals, not measures of every student's experience.

That purpose is reflected in the range of liberal arts, professional and graduate programs, as well as opportunities for research and community-engaged work. Although Syracuse has Methodist roots, it is not a denominational college today. Applicants can evaluate how its stated priorities operate in practice by examining the curriculum, advising and support available in their intended program.