Tran­syl­va­nia University

Academic Programs

Transylvania University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, Commission on Colleges and offers Bachelor’s Degrees in over 35 majors. While noted for the Teacher Education program, the largest programs on campus are in Business, Social Sciences and Biology/BioMedical fields. Transy (as it is called) recommends study abroad programs and has a 4-week “May Term” for participation. Per the Mission statement, “Career Development engages current and former students by helping them seamlessly translate their liberal arts experience into a fulfilling vocation. By educating our students, we endeavor to move them toward high levels of personal responsibility and self-efficacy, which can sustain them throughout the course of their professional lives.” To meet this goal, Transy seeks to provide methods to assist students in acquiring self-knowledge; teach relevant skills; offer in experiential education; Connect students to people in the professional world; and be leaders to the campus community on issues and information related to the world of work and serve as a clearinghouse for the acquisition and distribution of this information.

Student Life

There are over 1000 undergraduate students enrolled at Transylvania University. Most live on campus in housing options ranging from traditional dormitories to suites and apartments. There is a strong Greek presence on campus as well. Transy offers over 70 clubs and organizations including club sports and intramurals. For the varsity athlete, the crimson and white Pioneers field teams in 11 sports and participate in NCAA Division III competition. Among the favorite campus traditions is a week-long celebration of Halloween by students known as “Rafinesque Week” in honor of the 19th-century botanist, inventor, and Transylvania professor Constantine Rafinesque. The university ends October with a unique combination of activities including a lottery for four students to win the chance to spend the night in Rafinesque’s tomb. While in school, students are trained under Transylvania’s vision, “Preparing students for a life of personal fulfillment and global citizenship, Transylvania University is committed to integrating religious life and the liberal arts by cultivating a campus community that thinks critically while acting with conviction, compassion, and respect for religious diversity.”