Georgia Southwestern State University

In 1906, the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution establishing one agricultural and mechanical school in each of the state's eleven congressional districts. Signed by Governor Joseph M. Terrell , the bill left the location of the schools up to the local communities that offered the most financial support. Oversight of the schools came from the Georgia State College of Agriculture and a local board consisting of one member from each county in the school's congressional district. Funding for the schools came from taxes and fees associated with fertilizer and oil inspections. [ 6 ] Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School (1906–1926) From the 15 counties that made up Georgia's Third Congressional District, Sumter County pledged the most support for a new school: 300 acres of land along the Seaboard Airline Railroad, $40,000, and water supply. [ 7 ] From 1907 to 1926, the Third District Agricultural and Mechanical School prepared students for farm work. The minimum age for admission was thirteen years old for girls and fourteen years old for boys. The curriculum for boys included plants, soils, animals, fertilizers, construction, concrete, and other physical skills. The curriculum for girls included many of the same subjects as boys as well as courses on household skills from cooking and sewing to sanitation and first aid. [ 6 ]

Georgia Southwestern's academic degrees are offered through four colleges, which include the following: The College of Arts and Sciences The College of Arts and Sciences at GSW offers undergraduate degrees and a Master of Arts degree. It is the only university in the USG with an undergraduate art program that has a concentration in glassblowing . [ 9 ]

The College of Business and Computing offers the Bachelor of Business Administration , Master of Business Administration , Bachelor of Science degrees, and the Master of Science in computer science . [ 9 ] The college is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business .

The College of Education is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE). All initial teacher preparation programs are approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). The school offers bachelors, masters, and specialist degrees. [ 9 ]