Academics
300-seat lecture halls? Nah, we prefer to keep things close. Our 13:1 student-to-faculty ratio means you’ll know your professors, and they’ll know you. It’s a personalized learning environment that connects you not only with your professors and your fellow students, but also with experts in your field for networking, internships, and research opportunities.
These mentoring relationships set us apart in the realm of academics, and they’re the reason we’re consistently rated as one of the best universities in the Southeast and the nation. With classes averaging about 18 students, you will not just have a seat at the table. Your contribution will be expected, and your voice will be heard.
Because when it comes to big impact, small is huge.
The Undergraduate Experience
Whether you already have a career in mind or are just exploring your passions, CBU offers academics that will inspire you to make your mark. Choose from more than 60 majors and concentrations — ranging from Psychology to Engineering, from Business to Education, from Computer Science to Creative Writing. Or dive deep into the professional world through our pre-professional tracks, such as Nursing or Construction Management, or one of our Pre-Health Pathways that prepare you for careers in various healthcare fields.
Students with a broad range of interests can pair their major with a minor or concentration. Or, if you plan to pursue a career that covers multiple disciplines, you can work with your professors to develop an individual course of study. Whatever your passion, your CBU education will help you develop the knowledge, skills, and experiences you’ll need to assure future success.
Boundless Graduate Programs
The same emphases that define our undergraduate program — critical thinking, hands-on experience, and ethical context — carry through in our master’s-level programs. CBU currently offers graduate degrees in fields that range from Mental Health Counseling to Cybersecurity, from Accounting to Educational Leadership, from Business Administration to Data Science. We also offer graduate certificates in specific business and engineering topics, as well as licensure in educational fields. Our graduate programs provide you with a practical, real-world education that will improve the quality of life for you and your family. We believe that when we help you transform your professional life, we empower you to build a better community and a better society.
Professional Health Programs
Not only is our rate of acceptance into medical, pharmacy, veterinary and other programs pretty amazing, but we also offer undergraduate and graduate professional health degrees right here on campus.
These programs include bachelor’s degrees in Biochemistry, Biology, Biomedical Science, Health Science, and Chemistry that are designed to meet the entrance requirements of all health-related professional schools. We also offer a Pre-Health Pathways program to assist students in preparing for and then applying to a variety of professional- and/or graduate-level clinical healthcare programs.
EXPLORE PROFESSIONAL HEALTH PROGRAMSCBUnique
What makes us special goes well beyond our classroom walls, from study abroad opportunities, experiential learning, and undergraduate research to internal academic centers, external partnerships, and internships that strengthen our deeply embedded connections with the local community. At CBU, you’ll take what you learn in the classroom and apply it to real-world problems with numerous hands-on learning opportunities. You’ll work alongside practitioners in your field, building valuable knowledge and skills — as well as your resume.
Dedicated to Student Success
The Office of Academic Support coordinates the University’s advising program, provides training to academic advisors, advises students who are undecided about their majors and incoming transfer students and creates individualized Academic Success Plans for students.
VISIT THE OFFICE OF ACADEMIC SUPPORTReal Outcomes
Rigorous academics and a service-oriented mindset may be the cornerstones of our existence. But none of it would mean anything if a CBU degree didn’t translate to real-world success. Spoiler alert: It does.
CBU graduates have gone on to careers at Fortune 500 companies such as Amazon, Apple, AutoZone, Cigna, FedEx, and CBRE — as well as major local employers such as Buckman, First Horizon, Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and Smith & Nephew. In fact, CBU alumni enjoy a 92% employment rate within nine months of graduation and a 97% placement rate in graduate programs nationwide.
READ CBU SUCCESS STORIESFour Schools United as One CBU
Community Learning Opportunities
We offer numerous opportunities for community members to learn with us, whether you’re a local STEM teacher looking to hone your classroom skills or a K–12 student looking for something fun and educational to do during summer break!
LEARN MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY LEARNINGAcademic Resources
Earn a Meaningful Education at CBU
Attending college is an extraordinary experience where you can make friends, learn, and grow. Our graduates emerge with the skill, vision, and confidence to pursue rewarding careers, live with purpose, and build a better future — for themselves, their families, and the rest of the world. Your CBU education will push you to thrive beyond the classroom, beyond our campus, and beyond your expectations.
Learning here is rooted in a legacy of forward-looking education that’s been available at CBU since 1871. You’ll benefit from the reputation of thousands of CBU alumni making their mark in the world. You’ll find practical courses like Graphic Design Lab and Introduction to Sustainability that let you make an immediate impact. And you’ll learn that college isn’t the end of your learning — it’s part of a journey of improving our world together.
Whatever your passion, whatever your interests, you’ll have every opportunity to pursue them at CBU.