Methodist University is a

private university Private universities and private colleges are institutions of higher education, not operated, owned, or institutionally funded by governments. They may (and often do) receive from governments tax breaks, public student loans, and grant (money ...

that is historically related to the North Carolina Annual Conference of the

United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church (UMC) is a worldwide mainline Protestant denomination based in the United States, and a major part of Methodism. In the 19th century, its main predecessor, the Methodist Episcopal Church, was a leader in evangelica ...

and located in

Fayetteville, North Carolina Fayetteville () is a city in and the county seat of Cumberland County, North Carolina, United States. It is best known as the home of Fort Bragg, a major U.S. Army installation northwest of the city. Fayetteville has received the All-America ...

. It is accredited by the

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is an educational accreditor recognized by the United States Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. This agency accredits over 13,000 public and priva ...

. The university offers more than 80 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, including doctoral-level options, on campus and online. It offers 24 fully online degrees and certificate programs. Methodist University also features more than 150 student clubs and organizations, along with 20 NCAA intercollegiate sports. It has graduated more than 12,000 students since its first graduating class in 1964.

Brief History

Originally known as Methodist College, the state of North Carolina chartered the school on November 1, 1956. On its 50th anniversary, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to change the name from Methodist College to Methodist University. The University has had five presidents in its history: * L. Stacy Weaver (1957-1973) * Dr. Richard Pearce (1973-1983) * Dr. M. Elton Hendricks (1983-2010) * Dr. Ben E. Hancock, Jr. (2011-2018) * Dr. Stanley T. Wearden (2019-Current)

Relationship to the United Methodist Church

Current President Stanley T. Wearden says, “While Methodist University values its affiliation with The United Methodist Church, the Church does not set the policies of the University.” The University also states it provides access and inclusion to all students regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, origin, ethnicity, or creed.

Academics

Methodist University’s more than 80 academic programs live under three different colleges: College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences, College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies, and College of Health Sciences & Human Services.

College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences

The College of Arts, Humanities & Sciences carries six different divisions, each hosting a variety of majors, minors, and certificates: * ''Communication, Composition & Rhetoric Division:'' Applied Communication, Health Communication, Public Affairs Communication, Organizational Communication & Leadership, Leadership Communication, Mass Communication, Journalism, Radio, TV/Multimedia/Video, and Sports Media * ''Fine & Performing Arts Division:'' Art, Painting, Art Education, Graphic Design, Music, Arts Management, Music Composition, Music Education, Music Performance, and Theatre * ''Humanities Division:'' English, Global Studies, History, History with Social Studies Licensure, Spanish, Professional Leadership & Ethics, Religion, Ethics, Global History, Philosophy, Women’s Studies, American Studies, European Studies, and Teaching English as a Second Language * ''Justice & Military Science Division:'' Clandestine Labs, Criminal Justice, Forensic Science (CSI), Digital Forensics, Legal Studies, Military Science, Air Force ROTC, and Army ROTC * ''Natural Sciences Division:'' Biology, Cell & Molecular Biology, Health Care Biology, Integrative Biology, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Forensic Science, General Science Education (9-12), and Science * ''Social Sciences Division:'' Leadership & Management, Political Science, International Relations, Public Administration, Psychology, Counseling/Clinical Psychology, Human Performance, Sociology, Church Leadership, Cognitive Behavioral Neuropsychology, Leadership Studies, and Public Health

College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies

The College of Business, Technology & Professional Studies offers five separate divisions that offer a variety of majors, minors, and certificates: * ''Reeves School of Business:'' Accounting, Business Administration, Business Analytics, Entrepreneurship, Financial Economics, Management, Marketing, Sport Management, Health Care Administration, PGA Golf Management, Professional Tennis Management, Resort, Club & Hospitality Management, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, International Business, and Master of Business Administration (MBA) * ''Computer Science & Computer Information Technology:'' Business Information Systems, Cybersecurity & Information Assurance, Interactive Multimedia Application Development, Computer Information Technology, and Computer Science * ''Engineering & Environmental Studies Division:'' Engineering concentrating in Industrial Engineering, Environmental & Occupational Management concentrating in Regulatory Compliance, and Environmental & Occupational Management concentrating in Regulatory Compliance & Management of Natural Resources * ''Teacher Education Program:'' Art Education (K-12), Elementary Education (K-6), English Education (9-12), General Science Education (9-12), History with Social Studies Licensure (9-12), Middle Grades Education (6-9), Music Education (K-12), Physical Education & Health Education (K-12), School Social Work, Special Education: General Curriculum (K-12), Academically & Intellectually Gifted (K-12), Teaching English as a Second Language (K-12), Educational Studies, and Education * ''Mathematics''

College of Health Sciences & Human Services

Set up a differently than the other two colleges, seven departments (Health Care Administration, Kinesiology, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, and Social Work) live within the College of Health Sciences & Human Services: * ''Undergraduate majors:'' Exercise & Sport Science, Fitness, Wellness & Coaching, Health Care Administration, Kinesiology, Nursing, RN-to-BSN, Occupational Therapy, Physical Education & Health Education, Social Work, Social Work with licensure in School Work * ''Undergraduate minors:'' Community Health Education, Exercise & Sport Science, Gerontology, Health Care Administration, Health Care Information Management, Psychosocial Aspects of Sport & Coaching, and Social Work * ''Undergraduate Certificate Programs:'' Community Health Education, Health Care Administration, and Psychosocial Aspects of Sport & Coaching * ''Graduate degree programs:'' Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Master of Health Administration, Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Master of Nursing * ''Graduate Certificate Programs:'' Health Care Administration and Nursing Education

Online Programs

Methodist University began offering online programs in the 2020-21 school year. Primarily designed to help adult learners, active-duty soldiers and their family members, veterans, and untraditional students, MU offers 24 different programs and certificates: * ''Associate degree:'' General Studies * ''Bachelor’s degree:'' Professional Leadership and Ethics, Accounting, Health Care Administration (Accounting), Business Administration, Health Care Administration (Business Administration), Computer Information Technology, Business Information Systems, Cybersecurity and Information Assurance, Criminal Justice, Health Care Administration, Marketing, Health Care Administration (Marketing), Psychology, Counseling/Clinical Psychology, Human Performance Psychology, Social Work, and RN-to-BSN * ''Certificate:'' Graduate Certificate in Nursing Education, Health Care Administration Certificate, and Post-Baccalaureate Teacher Residency Licensure Certificate * ''Master’s degree:'' Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Health Administration (MHA), and Master of Science in Nursing: Administrative Leadership * ''Minors:'' Accounting, Business Administration, Marketing

Athletics

Methodist University teams participate as a member of the

National Collegiate Athletic Association The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. It also organizes the athletic programs of colleges ...

's Division III. The Monarchs are a member of the

USA South Athletic Conference The USA South Athletic Conference (formerly the Dixie Intercollegiate Athletic Conference or the Dixie Conference) is an athletic conference which competes in the NCAA's Division III. Member schools are located in North Carolina and Virginia ...

(USA South). Men's sports include baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, football, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis and indoor/outdoor track and field. Women's sports include basketball, cheer, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, indoor/outdoor track and field, and volleyball. Methodist University's teams have won 83 team and individual national championships along with 183 conference championships. To date, Methodist University has also produced 375 NCAA Division III All-Americans and 65 Academic All-Americans. Golf is one of the most popular sports at Methodist. The women's golf team has won 26 national titles, winning every national title from 1986 to 2012 except 1990 and 1997, when they finished as the national runner-up both years. They later won again in 2021. The men's team also has 13

NCAA Division III NCAA Division III (D-III) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States. D-III consists of athletic programs at colleges and universities that choose not to offer athletic scholarships to their ...

national golf championships (1990–1992, 1994–1999, 2010, 2015, 2018, 2022) and were runners-up three times (1984, 1989, 2000). The school also holds multiple conference championships in other sports. The baseball team is coached by coach Tom Austin, currently sixth overall among all-time NCAA Division III head coaches and fourth among active Division III head coaches in victories. Tom Austin has been the coach of Methodist University's baseball team since 1980 and is one of 64

college baseball College baseball is baseball that is played on the intercollegiate level at institutions of higher education. In comparison to football and basketball, college competition in the United States plays a smaller role in developing professional pl ...

coaches ever to reach a thousand career wins. The Monarch baseball team has reached the NCAA National Tournament 22 times and the Division III College World Series six times, finishing fifth or better each time, including national runners-up in 1995.

Notable Awards and Rankings

* No. 1 Most Diverse College in North Carolina (2022 and 2023) * Top 16% nationally for social mobility of graduates * 2022 Military Times’ “Best for Vets” College * 2022-23 Gold Military Friendly School * 2021-22 Military Friendly Spouse School

Notable alumni

Becky Burleigh Rebecca Lund Burleigh (born October 13, 1967) is an American soccer coach. Formerly also a college soccer player, she is best known for her 26-year tenure as the first head coach of the Florida Gators women's soccer team at the University of Flo ...

, University of Florida women's soccer coach *

Chad Collins Chad Steven Collins (born September 20, 1978) is an American professional golfer. Collins was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Methodist College in 2001 with a degree in Business Administration. While at Methodist, he won the ...

, professional golfer *

Christopher Daniels Daniel Christopher Covell (born March 24, 1970), better known by the ring name Christopher Daniels, is an American semi-retired professional wrestler. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and is the Head of Talent Relations. He is best kn ...

, professional wrestler *

Ruth Carter Stapleton Ruth Carter Stapleton (''née'' Carter; August 7, 1929 – September 26, 1983) was an American Christian Evangelism, evangelist. She was the youngest sister of United States President Jimmy Carter. Early life and family Ruth Carter was born Aug ...

, evangelist, Christian psychologist * Chip Dicks, lawyer and former Virginia delegate * General John W. Handy, USAF (retired) * William C. Harrison, superintendent * TJR, American DJ and music producer * Wyatt Worthington II, professional golfer

References

External links

*
Methodist University athletics
{{authority control Private universities and colleges in North Carolina Education in Fayetteville, North Carolina Educational institutions established in 1956 Universities and colleges accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Universities and colleges in Cumberland County, North Carolina Buildings and structures in Fayetteville, North Carolina 1956 establishments in North Carolina