Auburn University: A Comprehensive Overview of Academic Degrees and Opportunities

Auburn University, a public land-grant research university located in Auburn, Alabama, offers a wide array of academic programs and opportunities for students. With a rich history and a commitment to research, instruction, and extension, Auburn stands as one of the state's two flagship public universities. This article delves into the various degree programs, academic colleges, student life aspects, and historical milestones that define Auburn University.

A Legacy of Education and Innovation

Auburn University's journey began in 1856 as the East Alabama Male College, affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1872, it transitioned into Alabama's first land-grant university under the Morrill Act and was renamed the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama. This marked a shift towards a curriculum focused on engineering and agriculture. Over the years, the institution evolved, becoming the Alabama Polytechnic Institute in 1899 and finally Auburn University in 1960. This evolution reflects Auburn's adaptability and commitment to meeting the changing needs of society.

Academic Colleges and Diverse Degree Programs

Auburn University comprises 12 colleges, offering over 150 majors that span a wide spectrum of disciplines. These colleges include:

College of Agriculture: Prepares future leaders in agricultural and environmental sciences. Programs include Agricultural Education, Agronomy and Soils, Animal Sciences, and more.
College of Architecture, Design and Construction: Auburn's College of Architecture pioneered the nation's first interior architecture degree program; its dual degree Architecture & Interior Architecture degree was the first in the nation.
College of Liberal Arts: Constitutes the intellectual heart of the university, encouraging creative expression in the fine arts, humanities, and social and behavioral sciences.
Samuel Ginn College of Engineering: Has a 134-year tradition of engineering education, consistently ranking in the nation's largest 20 engineering programs in terms of numbers of engineers graduating annually. The college has a combined enrollment of close to 4,000.

Some of the most popular majors at Auburn University include Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services; Engineering; Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs; Education; Psychology; Family and Consumer Sciences/Human Sciences; Agricultural / Animal / Plant / Veterinary Science and Related Fields; Visual and Performing Arts; and Social Sciences.

Auburn University was the first university in the Southeast to offer the bachelor of software engineering degree and the master of software engineering degree. Auburn was also the only school to offer a degree in the 2000s for Polymer & Fiber Engineering, combining medical research, advanced composites, sustainability and recycling and other disciplines into an advanced material science offering for undergraduates through doctorate degrees.

Graduate Programs

Auburn University offers a multitude of graduate programs, catering to diverse academic and professional aspirations. These programs include:

Accelerated Bachelor's/Master's (ABM) Programs: Allow outstanding students to earn both a bachelor's and master's degree in five years at a lower cost.
Master of Accountancy (MAcc): Offered both online and on-campus, this program provides the same instruction, faculty, assignments, and exams.
Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Education Specialist (Ed.S.) Programs: Cater to educators seeking advanced knowledge and skills in areas such as Administration of Elementary and Secondary Education, Adult Education, Business/Marketing Education, Early Childhood Education, English as a Second Language (ESOL), Foreign Language Education, Reading Education, School Counseling, Science Education, Social Science Education, and Special Education.
Master of Science (M.S.) Programs: Cover a broad range of disciplines, including Aerospace Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Artificial Intelligence Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Computer Science and Software Engineering, Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences, Cybersecurity Engineering, Data Science and Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Finance, Hospitality Management, Industrial/Organizational Psychology, Industrial and Systems Engineering, Information Systems, Kinesiology, Mathematics, Nutrition, Polymer and Fiber Engineering.
Master of Engineering Management: A coursework-only program designed for professionals in engineering-related fields.
Master of Engineering: A non-thesis, interdisciplinary program tailored to individual student needs.
Master of Natural Resources (M.N.R.): Focuses on the management and conservation of natural resources.
Master of Public Administration (MPA): A NASPAA-accredited program that prepares leaders for careers in public service.
Master of Social Work (MSW): An online program designed for working professionals seeking a career in social work.
Executive MBA: A blend of online and on-campus learning structured to accommodate mid-to-late career business professionals.
Physicians Executive MBA: Inspires physicians to manage the business of healthcare.
Doctoral Programs: Auburn offers Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) programs in various fields, including Nursing. The Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program offers pathways for both BSN and MSN holders.

Auburn Global

Auburn Global has three tracks specifically designed to set international students up for success. Our admissions team will place you in the appropriate track for your needs. With Auburn Global, then successfully progress to your ideal program for personal and career success. Pursue your dream degree in Auburn, Alabama - from Architecture to Software Engineering to Supply Chain Management.

Campus Life and Student Experience

Auburn University provides a vibrant campus life with numerous activities and events. Campus activities and events begin with orientation and training sessions for new Auburn students. Auburn offers two orientation programs, Camp War Eagle and Successfully Orienting Students. Camp War Eagle is offered to incoming freshmen and their guests, helping familiarize students with the orientation to college life and Auburn. Successfully Orienting Students is designed for college students transferring into Auburn from another academic institution. Other prominent campus events and activities include the First 56 and Hey Day.

Student Housing

Auburn's on-campus student housing consists of 30 residence halls in nine residential neighborhoods, housing a total of 4,800 residents. The Quad is the oldest of the five housing complexes, dating to the Great Depression projects begun by the Works Progress Administration and located in Central Campus. Comprising ten buildings split into the Upper and Lower Quads, the Quad houses undergraduate students. Eight of the buildings are coed by floor, the remaining two are female-only. The Hill currently consists of six and houses mostly undergraduates. There are two high-rise, 6-story dormitories (Boyd and Sasnett), and all dorms are coed with gender-separated floors. The Village was constructed in 2009 and consists eight four-story buildings.

Student-Faculty Ratio and Retention Rate

The student-faculty ratio at Auburn University is 21:1, and the school has 33.9% of its classes with fewer than 20 students. The average freshman retention rate, an indicator of student satisfaction, is 93%.

Read also: Auburn Student Statistics

Campus Development and Facilities

Auburn's campus has seen significant development over the years. The current period of ongoing construction began around the year 2000. All recently constructed buildings have used a more traditional architectural style that is similar to the style of Samford Hall, Mary Martin Hall, and the Quad dorms. The Science Center complex was completed in 2005. Completed in August 2017, the Mell Classroom Building was attached to the Ralph Brown Draughon Library, offering a new flexible learning space. A brand-new building for the school of nursing was also finished in 2017; it features active learning classrooms, skill and simulation labs, and public gathering areas. In 2019, two significant projects were finished: the Brown Kopel Engineering Student Achievement Center, which includes classrooms, student study spaces, a wind-tunnel laboratory, meeting spaces, and departmental spaces for professional development and labor relations; and the opening of a new Graduate Business Building, which includes flexible classrooms and lecture halls, student study pods, team areas, and offices for the college's MBA program. Most recent developments include an academic classroom and laboratory complex with a seating capacity of 2,000 students in adaptable classrooms and laboratories, six EASL classrooms, and five lecture halls. The new $200 million STEM+Ag Complex will replace older STEM-related and agricultural science facilities and is scheduled to open in 2026.

Auburn University owns and operates the 423-acre (1.71 km2) Auburn University Regional Airport, providing flight education and fuel, maintenance, and airplane storage. The Auburn University Aviation Department is fully certified by the FAA as an Air Agency with examining authority for private, commercial, instrument, and multiengine courses. The Old Rotation on campus is the oldest continuous agricultural experiment in the Southeast, and third oldest in the United States, dating from 1896.

Rankings and Recognition

Auburn University consistently receives recognition for its academic programs and overall quality. News & World Report. Auburn's Economics Department (formerly in the College of Business, now in the College of Liberal Arts) was ranked 123rd in the world in 1999 by the Journal of Applied Econometrics. Modern Healthcare ranked Auburn University's Physicians Executive M.B.A. (PEMBA) program in the College of Business ninth in the nation among all degree programs for physician executives, according to the journal's May 2006 issue.

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