History and Characteristics

Please note: Information related to policies, procedures, and handbooks contained in the following sections were current as of the date that the reports were written and may have been changed or updated after 2010.  For the most current information, please access the appropriate area on the Clayton State website. 

The Clayton State University’s origin can be traced to 1965 when the Board of Regents authorized three new junior colleges for the University System of Georgia, one of which was designated for south metropolitan Atlanta. The Board considered several locations in the region and chose the present site in Clayton County because of the unique combination of natural beauty and easy access (take a campus tour) to the then recently completed Interstate 75. The citizens of Clayton County subsidized the initial construction of the state institution by passing a bond issue for nearly five million dollars. Construction of the new campus began in fall 1968, and the doors opened to 942 students less than a year later on September 30, 1969. The Board of Regents elevated the institution to baccalaureate status in 1986, established the present name in 2004, and approved the University to offer graduate degrees in 2005. The current president, Thomas J. Hynes Jr., was appointed as Interim President in 2009 to replace Thomas K. Harden. Dr. Hynes was appointed permanent president in February 2010.

In 1986, CSU began its baccalaureate mission with programs in business administration and nursing. The institution has continued to add majors at the bachelor’s level. In 2005, CSU was approved by the Board of Regents to offer its first master’s level program, the MA in Liberal Studies. President Thomas Harden’s (2000) principle initiatives expanded development efforts, enrollment growth, increased selectivity and retention, and, most important, the addition of more baccalaureate programs. In December 2005, the university was awarded membership by the Commission on Colleges at Level III, to offer the Master of Arts degree in Liberal Studies. Since 2000 the Board of Regents has authorized Clayton State to add over 30 new undergraduate degrees and seven graduate degrees. The University also has a large continuing education program.

Clayton State University’s mission is to provide an intellectually challenging, culturally rich learning environment, encouraging all students to take advantage of the outstanding educational and career opportunities provided for residential and commuter students from a diverse range of ethnic, socioeconomic, experiential and geographical backgrounds. University programs and services are informed and guided by the following essential considerations:

• recognizing and responding to the increasingly complex global context of contemporary life;
• promoting community-based, experiential learning to create enduring and meaningful connections between education and other aspects of life;
• encouraging and providing opportunities for continuous education and growth; and
• developing an understanding of advanced applications of modern technology.

The University promotes excellence in teaching, research, and service to the people and the State of Georgia, the nation, and the international community. University graduates communicate effectively, think critically, learn and work collaboratively, demonstrate competence in their chosen field, and possess the capability of adapting to changing circumstances and new challenges. Clayton State University students are encouraged to develop an individually compelling sense of social and civic responsibility, community leadership and service to society.

The availability of new programs combined with population growth in Atlanta’s south suburban region, known as the “Southern Crescent,” has led to record-breaking enrollments since 2004. Clayton State now enrolls over 6,500 students in degree credit programs. Reflecting the changing demographics of the service area, Clayton State has become one of the most ethnically and racially diverse higher education institutions in the South.

List of Degrees

M.A.	Master of Arts in Liberal Studies
M.B.A.	Master of Business Administration
M.H.A.	Master of Health Administration
M.S.N.	Master of Science in Nursing
M.A.S.	Master of Archival Studies
M.A.T.	Master of Applied Teaching English Mathematics
B.A.	Bachelor of Arts Communication and Media Studies English History Liberal Studies Middle Level Education Music Theatre
B.A.S.	Bachelor of Applied Science Administrative Management Allied Health Administration Dental Hygiene Practice and Administration Technology Management Homeland Security/Emergency Management
B.B.A.	Bachelor of Business Administration Accounting General Business Management Marketing
B.I.T.	Bachelor of Information Technology Information Technology Information Design and Production
B.M.	Bachelor of Music
B.S.	Bachelor of Science Biology Computer Science Criminal Justice Health Care Management Health and Fitness Management Integrative Studies Legal Studies Mathematics Political Science Psychology and Human Services Information Technology
B.S.I.T.	Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (WebBSIT)
B.S.D.H.	Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene
B.S.N.	Bachelor of Science in Nursing Nursing RN to BSN RN to MSN
B.S.P.S.	Bachelor of Science in Paralegal Studies
A.A.S.	Associate of Applied Science Computer Networking Technology Information Technology Paralegal Studies
Certificates	Computer Networking Paralegal Studies

Locations and Distance Education

1. List all new off-campus sites established since your previous reaffirmation where a student can be awarded a degree, certificate, or diploma at the site or where a student can obtain 50 percent or more of credits toward the educational program.

Not applicable

1. List all locations (country, state, and city) where coursework toward a degree, diploma, or certificate can be obtained primarily through traditional classroom instruction. For each site, indicate the partial or complete degree offered and, for each degree, certificate, or diploma, whether a student can obtain 50 percent of credits toward any of the educational programs.

Country	State	City	Location	% of instruction toward completion	Degree, Diploma or Certificates
US	Georgia	Morrow	Main Campus	100%	Certificates (see above), AS/AA, BA/BS/BAS, MA/MS/MSN//MBA
US	Georgia	Peachtree City	Fayette County	< 50%	BS/BAS/MBA
US	Georgia	Jonesboro	Jonesboro Site	< 20%	BS/BA
US	Georgia	McDonough	Henry County	< 20%	NA

1. Provide a brief description of distance education credit offerings that can be obtained primarily through electronic means and indicate where the students are located. Indicate any degree or certificate programs that can be completed primarily through electronic means. Please limit this brief description to one-half page.

Clayton State University offers approximately 130 course sections per semester through Blackboard Vista. These course sections are generally less than 100% online with approximately one-half of them offered as "hybrids" with greater than 50% seated time and less than 50% online. The University participates in a consortium of University System of Georgia institutions that offer the Bachelors of Information Technology degree (BSIT) 100% online for the upper-division major courses. The general education core curriculum (lower division) is offered through traditional methods. Students enrolled in these courses are predominately located in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area -- Southern Crescent.

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