Kent State University

Overview

Kent State University (KSU) is a public research university in Kent, Ohio, USA. Founded in 1910 as a training school for teachers, it gained university status in 1935. KSU comprises several regional campuses in Northern Ohio, including satellite facilities in the US and overseas.

With around 36,000 students, Kent State is the third-largest university in Ohio by enrollment. It is the top-rated public university in Northern Ohio known for its courses such as library science, journalism, aeronautics, fashion design, and nursing. Likewise, it has an "R2: Doctoral Universities – High research activity" classification.

Regional campuses are located in various parts of Ohio such as Warren, Salem, and Burton, with additional facilities in New York City and Cleveland, as well as in Florence, Italy.

Kent State University comprises 11 colleges that offer more than 340 programs, which include associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate programs. The university also offers over 200 study-abroad programs in more than 60 countries.

Its College of Arts and Sciences is composed of various departments that provide undergraduate and postgraduate programs integrating history, evolution, and culture across its curricula. For instance, the Department of Anthropology has both Bachelor of Arts (BA) and Bachelor of Science (BS) programs. The BA in Anthropology program involves liberal arts studies, while the BS in Anthropology focuses on either Biological Anthropology or Archeology. The department also offers Master’s programs in Archeology, Biological Anthropology, and Cultural Anthropology. Meanwhile, the School of Biomedical Sciences confers a PhD in Biological Anthropology.

KSU’s strategy on collaborative research and innovation are administered through its various research centers, institutes, and initiatives. These units include the Advanced Materials and Liquid Crystal Institute (AMLCI), the Global Understanding Research Initiative, and the Brain Health Research Institute.

The AMLCI, for instance, is composed of a multidisciplinary team of researchers and experts in liquid crystal, nanoscience, and other related technologies who work on various projects on materials advancements. One of these projects involves the College of Aeronautics and Engineering faculty researchers who are developing new types of fuel cells.

Another research unit, the Center for Ecology and Natural Resource Sustainability, focuses on innovative means to help ensure the restoration and preservation of the natural environment of Northeast Ohio.

Notable alumni include Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist J. Ross Baughman, former Hewlett-Packard President/CEO Michael Capellas, talk show host Arsenio Hall, and TV personality Steve Harvey.