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Francis Marion University, located in Florence, South Carolina, is one of the several four-year, state assisted universities in South Carolina. Established in 1970, the university was named for South Carolina’s Revolutionary War hero, General Francis Marion, who was nicknamed “The Swamp Fox” for his guile and his use of the terrain to outwit his Loyalist adversaries. Francis Marion University is classified as a master’s level university by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and offers a strong comprehensive, liberal arts education across a broad range of majors and is enhanced by three schools of professional study – namely, the School of Business, School of Education, and School of Health Studies.
Academic Programs
Francis Marion University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 1972. The college’s mission is “to provide students with skills and knowledge needed for personal and professional success.” Francis Marion University offers a wide range of undergraduate majors in the areas of biology, business, chemistry, education, English, history, mass communication, mathematics, modern languages, music industry, nursing, physics, political sciences, psychology, sociology, theatre arts, and the visual arts.All of Francis Marion University’s undergraduates are required to take General Education for the purpose of providing students with an “introduction to the broad areas of knowledge essential to a successful life and career.” Program choices included in the General Education are the humanities, social sciences, laboratory sciences, and basic communications. Francis Marion University also offers a number of graduate programs which are available in the areas of Business, Education, Psychology and Nursing, and as of Fall 2016, Physician Assistant Studies
Student Life
Approximately 4,000 students are currently enrolled at Francis Marion University, more than 3,000 of whom are undergraduates. Roughly 95% of students are from South Carolina, though representatives from more than 35 States and over a dozen foreign nations also make up Francis Marion University’s student body. A variety of student organizations exist on campus as does a Greek life presence. Francis Marion University boasts several varsity teams and the athletics program is a member of the NCAA Division II Peach Belt Conference, which consists of more than a dozen member schools across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina.Francis Marion University sits on a beautiful 500 wooded acre campus, filled with lovely foliage and mature landscaping. The campus offers a safe and comfortable learning environment with facilities that include modern classroom buildings, laboratories and residence halls. Francis Marion University also has a presence in downtown Florence, SC, where The Luther F. Carter Center for Health Sciences is located. The Center is fully equipped with the latest educational technology. Francis Marion University’s Performing Arts Center is also located downtown – a 68,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art performance and educational venue.