# Charleston Southern University

Charleston Southern University (CSU) is a private university in North Charleston, South Carolina, United States. It is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention).

## History

Charleston Southern University was chartered in 1960 and became the Baptist College of Charleston, where it offered its first classes in the education building of the First Baptist Church of North Charleston.
The university offered the first instruction at a post secondary level in 1965 and awarded its first degree in 1967. In 1990, the South Carolina Baptist Convention voted to change the university's name from Baptist College at Charleston to Charleston Southern University.
In 2001, the university was placed on a censure list issued by the American Association of University Professors.

## Academics

The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award bachelor's and master's degrees. CSU students can choose from more than 50 undergraduate majors and graduate programs such as business, education, criminal justice, computer science, cyber security, Christian studies, graphic design, nursing, physical therapy, physician assistant, etc. Each degree program is combined with a comprehensive liberal arts foundation which is designed to develop problem-solving and communication skills.

## Accreditation

Charleston Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master's, and doctorate degrees. It is affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention (Southern Baptist Convention).

## Campus

Charleston Southern is located off Exit 205B on I-26 in North Charleston, South Carolina. It is situated on 300 acres (121 ha), formerly the site of a rice and indigo plantation.

## Leadership
### President

B. Keith Faulkner is the fourth and current president of Charleston Southern University. He is the first alumnus of the school to serve as president.
* John A. Hamrick (1964–1984)
* Jairy C. Hunter Jr. (1984–2018)
* Dondi E. Costin (2018–2023)
* B. Keith Faulkner (2023–present)

## Student activities

Beyond the classroom, students can participate in a variety of campus activities including academic clubs, service organizations, intramural athletics and campus ministries. Intramural athletic activities include flag football, basketball, volleyball, ultimate frisbee, and more. Campus ministries include Cru, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Outreach, and Elevate.

### Student life

Single students under 21 years of age are encouraged to live on campus. There are at least four dining facilities on campus; one is the dining hall located in the Student Center, another is Java City located near the library, Chick-fil-A and, the newest addition, The Buc Stop in the Student Center.

### Athletics

The university offers intercollegiate athletics for both men and women, competing in the NCAA Division I Big South Conference. Charleston Southern fields teams in the following sports:
* Basketball
* Baseball
* Softball
* Football (Division I FCS (I-AA))
* Women's soccer
* Cross country
* Track and field
* Golf
* Women's tennis
* Volleyball

## Notable alumni

* Michelle D. Commander – Associate Director and Curator of the Lapidus Center at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
* Charles James – Professional football player and star of HBO's Hard Knocks
* Sam Gandy – Alzheimer's researcher
* Bobby Parnell – Professional baseball player
* Tim Scott – United States Senator
* Charlie Simpkins – Track and field athlete; 1992 Olympic Games silver medalist in the triple jump
* R. J. Swindle – Professional baseball player
* Tyler Thornburg – Professional baseball player