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One of the universities in the highly praised UNC system, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte offers numerous opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students seeking a higher education. UNCC enrolls about 20,000 students, a number that is growing by about 4 percent each year. Located in the northeast section of Charlotte, UNCC also offers classes at its Uptown campus in the Mint Museum of Craft + Design, mostly to appeal to M.B.A. students working in the Center City. Plans are in place to construct a five-story classroom building in Uptown’s First Ward within the next few years. The 100,000-square-foot facility will offer classes in business, social services, architecture and the humanities. Founded in 1857 as the Charlotte Female Institute in downtown Charlotte, Queens University moved to the scenic Myers Park area in 1912 and adopted its name in honor of the British Queen, Charlotte of Mecklenburg. A private, Presbyterian institution, Queens University has an internship program that is ranked as one of the top ten in the country by U.S. News and World Report, and over 90 percent of Queens students study abroad. The McColl School of Business was established in 1993 to strengthen degree programs in accounting and business administration. Queens attained university status in 2002. Johnson C. Smith University was founded in 1867 and has maintained its reputation as an institution focused on morals and ethics, due to its Presbyterian roots. Historically African-American, J.C. Smith encourages self-confidence and diversity in its students as well as an awareness of their heritage. The university is also sponsored by the IBM Laptop Initiative as the first historically black college to offer laptops for each of its 1,500 students. Black Issues in High Education ranked JCSU 37th in the nation for awarded computer science degrees to African-American students and 45th in the nation for English degrees – higher than any other private college in the Carolinas. The highly selective and nationally recognized Davidson College is located about 20 minutes north of Charlotte. Offering a small-town atmosphere near beautiful Lake Norman, Davidson is able to provide its 1,600 students with a student/faculty ratio of 11 to 1. Located about 20 minutes south of Charlotte in Rock Hill, S.C., is Winthrop University. In 2005, the school was ranked as the ninth-best public college in the South by U.S. News and World Report. With around 6,400 students, Winthrop offers 37 undergraduate and 25 graduate programs in more than 100 courses of study. As the largest community college in North Carolina, Central Piedmont Community College serves about 70,000 students through its multi-campus system. In addition to numerous associate’s degrees, CPCC offers educational opportunities for those who intend to transfer to a four-year school as well as those who seek knowledge for their own personal fulfillment. One of the 32 art institutes associated with The Art Institutes International, Inc., The Art Institute of Charlotte offers associate’s degrees and certificate programs in Interior Design, Culinary Arts, Fashion Marketing, Graphic Design, and Multimedia and Web Design. Additionally, The Art Institute offers some evening classes to appeal to its working students. In 2004, Johnson & Wales University opened in Charlotte as a consolidation of its Norfolk and Charleston campuses. Calling itself “America’s Career University,” Johnson & Wales offers 51 degree programs in business, hospitality, culinary arts and technology. About 2,100 students are enrolled in its third year with an anticipated enrollment of 3,000 within the next couple years. Johnson & Wales offers a four-day school week and the opportunity to earn both associate’s and baccalaureate degrees in four years. Johnson & Wales’ academic center and residence hall are located in the heart of Gateway Village in Uptown’s Third Ward. The Charlotte School of Law opened in 2006 on Morehead Street in Dilworth. The school seeks to provide a student-centered learning environment. In its first year, Charlotte School of Law currently enrolls about 100 students. Area Colleges and Universities The Art Institute of Charlotte Three LakePointe Plaza 2110 Water Ridge Parkway Charlotte, NC 28217 704-357-8020 www.aich.artinstitutes.edu 2-year private art institute Barber-Scotia College Belmont Abbey College Carolinas College of Health Sciences Central Piedmont Community College Charlotte School of Law Davidson College Gardner-Webb University Gaston College Johnson C. Smith University Johnson & Wales University King’s College McColl School of Business Pfeiffer University at Charlotte South Piedmont Community College UNC Charlotte USC Lancaster Wingate University Winthrop University |
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