Oakwood University
Oakwood University was founded in 1896 as Oakwood Industrial School in Huntsville, Alabama. Since then, it has undergone several name changes, shifting from Oakwood College to Oakwood University most recently in 2008. Oakwood is a private institution that is owned by the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The University owns a large area of some 1,185 acres, though only about 105 of these are used for the University itself. Currently, 1,750 students are enrolled at Oakwood and the faculty consists of 103 members. Oakwood is a religious institution and is therefore exempt from certain regulations regarding admissions and/or employment.
Bachelor’s and associate’s degrees are available to students at Oakwood in a number of different subjects. Some examples would be biological sciences, chemistry, education, math & computer sciences, languages, psychology and theology, though there are many, many more. A single graduate program in pastoral studies is also offered. While most of the programs at Oakwood University provide students with bachelor’s degrees, associate’s degrees are available in several programs within the University’s departments. Some examples would be accounting, computer sciences, pre-occupational therapy, pre-physician assistant training, pre-speech language pathology and photography.
Oakwood University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), a regional accreditation agency recognized by the United States Department of Education. SACS provides accreditation to institutions within an eleven-state area, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. Some accreditation is also extended to parts of Latin America. (SACSCOC, 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033 – (404)679-4500 – Fax: (404)679-4558).
