Kennesaw State University: History, Marietta Campus, and Academic Programs

Kennesaw State University (KSU) is a dynamic institution with a rich history and a commitment to providing diverse educational opportunities. This article delves into the university's origins, its Marietta campus, and the various academic programs it offers, with a particular focus on the History program.

A History of Growth and Transformation

Kennesaw State University's journey began in 1963, a period of significant expansion in Georgia's higher education system. On October 9, 1963, the Board of Regents chartered KSU. The Georgia Board of Regents approved the establishment of a junior college tentatively to be named Cobb County Junior College. Horace Sturgis was designated as the future college's first president in December 1964.

Initially named Kennesaw Junior College, the institution transitioned into a four-year college in 1976 and was redesignated Kennesaw College. The university experienced rapid growth in the mid-1980s, launching its first graduate programs in business and education and constructing residential housing. Kennesaw State finally achieved University status in 1996.

Kennesaw State's baseball and softball teams won the NCAA Division II national championships in 1996. The winning Owls continued excelling in athletics, including the Lady Owls 2003 win of the NCAA Women's Division II Soccer Championship and the men's basketball team win of the 2004 NCAA Men's Division II Basketball Championship.

In 2004, KSU gained recognition as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Information Assurance Education by the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Agency. In the summer of 2006, Daniel S. Papp became president.

A significant development occurred on November 1, 2013, when the University System of Georgia announced the merger of Kennesaw State University with Southern Polytechnic State University in 2015, with Kennesaw State as the surviving institution under President Papp's leadership. Southern Polytechnic was started by the president of the Georgia Institute of Technology, Blake R. Van Leer who was known for making Atlanta the "MIT of the South." The Georgia Board of Regents approved the consolidation on January 6, 2015.

In the Fall of 2016, students and faculty protested the suspected appointment of Georgia's Republican attorney general, Sam Olens, as the next Kennesaw president. He took office on November 1, 2016, resigning as attorney general. He left office in February of 2018. Pamela Whitten was KSU's next president, serving until 2021.

The Marietta Campus

Kennesaw State University is located on two campuses with a combined 581 acres (235 ha) of land, of which about 251 acres is in Kennesaw and the remainder in Marietta. The Marietta campus is the former home of Southern Polytechnic State University. Dormitory facilities were provided at Southern Tech's first location in Chamblee, Georgia. They were created from former bachelor officers' quarters in facilities leased from the Atlanta Naval Air Station. When the campus moved to Marietta, student accommodation was located in former employee housing at the United States Air Force Plant 6. Construction for the Marietta campus' first dormitory began in 1964. At the time of its merger with Kennesaw State University, Southern Polytechnic State University had five on-campus housing facilities for its students.

Academic Programs: A Broad Spectrum of Disciplines

Kennesaw State University offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines. These programs are designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary for success in their chosen fields.

The Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences

In 2020, after the donation of a $9 million gift to the school by Norman and Lindy Radow, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences was renamed the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. The Social Sciences building is located on the west section of campus on Campus Loop Road adjacent to the original campus historical district. The 163,000-square-foot (15,100 m2) building features a 302-seat auditorium, a 100+ seat cinema classroom, a digital media lab, and 40 classrooms with advanced technology. The lobby features a Starbucks and study area. The Social Sciences building also meets Silver Rating LEED Green Building requirements and is the first building in the University System of Georgia to meet these specifications. Located adjacent to the Social Sciences Building was a 350,000-pound (160,000 kg) sculpture entitled "Spaceship Earth", created by Finnish American artist Eino. The sculpture was commissioned by the Maxwell Family Foundation in memory of the late environmentalist David Brower. In late 2006, only three months after its installation, the structure collapsed. Reconstruction was completed on October 26, 2010.

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Featured program: Bachelor of Arts in History

For students with a passion for the past and a desire to understand the forces that have shaped the world, Kennesaw State University offers a Bachelor of Arts degree in History. This program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of historical events, trends, and interpretations.

Core Skills and Knowledge

The History program emphasizes the development of critical thinking, research, and communication skills. Students learn to analyze historical sources, construct well-supported arguments, and articulate their ideas effectively in both written and oral formats.

Curriculum Overview

All majors complete several “major requirements” which provide needed background in research and writing, in the theory of the discipline, and in the various fields of history. Students must also complete a capstone experience including two research seminars. The curriculum covers a broad range of historical periods and regions, including:

American Revolution from the start of the colonists’ disputes with Britain through the ratification of the Constitution.
Georgia’s political, economic, social, and cultural development from the colonial period to the present.
World history as a field of study, including important debates and controversies in the tradition, along with best practices in teaching world history.
The transition from antiquity to the early Middle Ages (c. 200 - 600 AD).
The rise of the Mughal Empire.

Hands-On Experience

You will receive hands-on training through classroom work. Students needing a writing sample or other credential for career advancement or graduate study can complete a Senior Thesis.

Career Opportunities

A degree in history is useful to students interested in careers involving critical thinking, research and oral and written communication. It serves as a prerequisite for graduate study in a number of fields, including history and many other social science disciplines, education, law, and theology. A History major can lead to careers in historic preservation and numerous other areas (visit American Historical Association and American Philosophical Association for more information). The History and Philosophy Department prepares students for adaptable, fulfilling careers by teaching a core set of transferable knowledge and skills through research, analyzing and assessing evidence, and articulating sound conclusions both orally and in writing.

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Admission

Admission to this program is open to all students who meet Kennesaw State University’s general admission standards.

Other Academic Resources and Opportunities

Kennesaw State is home to the state's largest Educational Technology Training Center (ETTC). The ETTC is one of 13 such centers around the state.

Student Life and Activities

KSU has approximately 300 registered student groups and organizations for student participation. Many of these groups may apply for funding from the Student Activities and Budget Advisory Committee (SABAC), which is a student-run advisory committee to the vice president of student affairs. The Sentinel (KSU) is the official newspaper for KSU. Owl Radio is the student-run online radio station for KSU.

Demographics

In fall 2023, Kennesaw State was 49% male and 51% female. The ethnic diversity was as follows: 42.5% White, 26.4% Black/African-American, 14.6% Hispanic/Latino, 5.8% Asian, 4.6% multi-racial, and 2.5% undeclared.

Athletics

Kennesaw State University's athletic teams are called the Owls. The Owls participate in Division I of the NCAA and as a member of Conference USA. Athletics began in the 1981-82 academic year, with KSU joining both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the Georgia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GIAC). The school won its initial National title in 1994, as coach Mike Sansing's baseball team won the NAIA championship. The Owls dominated the conference for the next 11-years, including DII National crowns in softball (1995 and 1996, coach Scott Whitlock), baseball (1996, coach Sansing), women's soccer (2003, coach Rob King) and men's basketball (2004, coach Tony Ingle). Kennesaw State is one of two Division II schools to win a national championship in four different team sports, Grand Valley State University being the other.

In 2005, the Owls began the four-year transition to Division I of the NCAA. Vaughn Williams was hired in April 2011 as the university's third director of athletics. The Owls announced on November 14, 2013 that they would start a Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) football team. Their first game was against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in Johnson City, Tennessee, on September 3, 2015. The Owls initially competed as a part of the Big South Conference because the ASUN did not sponsor football. The Owls play home games at Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw. Kennesaw State University also has a live mascot, Sturgis the Owl, named after Dr. Horace T.

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