Since its founding by The Wesleyan Church in 1906, Southern Wesleyan University has been a Christian community of learners that recognizes God as the source of all truth and wisdom. The university seeks to create an atmosphere in which members of the community work together toward wholeness by seeking to integrate faith, learning, and daily life.
Located in Central, South Carolina, the university is a half-way point between Charlotte, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia. The Town of Central was once an important mid-way stop when the railroad was the primary means of transportation between those historic cities. The University is thirty minutes from the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and ten minutes from Clemson University, with whom it shares some cooperative programs.
The university evolved from a small Bible institute first chartered as Wesleyan Methodist College in 1909. It is now a four-year, private, liberal arts college that was first regionally accredited in 1973. Historically, the founders of the college understood linguistic, quantitative, and analytical skills to be the foundation of a liberal arts education. Further, they believed that the cultivation of this curriculum within the context of faith, worship, studies in religion, and service to others created a fertile soil for intellectual and spiritual growth. Thus, the college ensured that every student would be well grounded in these areas by developing a general education curriculum of liberal arts studies. That tradition is alive today. All undergraduate programs, on-campus and online, contain a core curriculum in the liberal arts.
As a ministry of The Wesleyan Church and in service to the global Church, Southern Wesleyan prepares students for leadership in religion, education, music, business, medicine, law, science, and a variety of civic and social service professions. Graduate programs are offered in the fields of education and business. In 2018, the University moved to a level-five institution with the introduction of its first doctoral program in the School of Education and Music Studies.
Although the university serves the Southeast, the student population blends cultural, ethnic, and regional diversity drawn from both the United States and the international community; thus, encouraging a broad cross-cultural sharing of Christian values. Ideal graduates of Southern Wesleyan have a healthy respect for themselves and others as bearers of God’s image and are prepared to confront a rapidly changing world with skills in communication, information processing, analysis, synthesis, and problem-solving.
Mission and Values
University Mission
Southern Wesleyan University is a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant leaders who impact the world for Christ.
University Core Values
Biblically Faithful
Southern Wesleyan University strives to see our students transformed by the presence of God in their lives. As an unapologetically Christian institution of higher learning, we recognize Scripture teaches that Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD, truth is objective, and all ideas are not equal. Regardless of the blowing winds of cultural trends and secular philosophies, faithfulness to God’s Word must be our foundation, our center, and our goal.
Through allegiance to the Trinity, submission to the authority of Scripture, and zealous pursuit of Biblical orthodoxy, SWU students develop a confident sense of identity and success before an audience of One. This transformation of our students - intellectually and spiritually - is the core of our mission. Southern Wesleyan serves as a refuge and an oasis for students, their families, and their communities of faith where traditions are strong and the resources are present to train young men and women not only for their careers but for their whole lives ahead.
Financially Affordable
The Scriptures tell us to “count the cost” before launching into a major endeavor. At Southern Wesleyan University, we are committed to making education a valuable and affordable investment.
Too many students are burdened by insurmountable college debt after graduation. At Southern Wesleyan, we maintain one of the lowest tuition rates in private higher education while also investing greatly in individualized financial aid offers. Our personalized approach to financial aid awards enables us to tailor packages to fit our students’ needs through institutional scholarships, grants, and federal and state assistance. We want students and parents to be confident that a SWU education is worth the cost, vocationally as well as spiritually.
Academically Rigorous
At Southern Wesleyan University, we embrace our inheritance of the Western theological and philosophical traditions that began in Athens and Jerusalem, led to the original Christian liberal arts universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and continue to this day. We believe students should learn to think critically, while also thinking Christianly, through a challenging education that leads to transformation of the whole person.
Our faculty and staff come alongside students to meet them where they are and walk with them in our shared calling to worship the Lord with the mind, as well as the heart, soul, and strength. We believe education should be accessible to every student from every background, and our catalogue of over forty on campus majors and minors provides for a wide variety of interests and giftings. In all things, we seek to be continuously transformed into the image of Christ and prepared to think critically while engaging responsibly with the most salient issues of our day.
Vocationally Effective
We are committed to graduating students who are well prepared to succeed in the workplace and graduate school. From 1906 through to today, SWU graduates have become servant-leaders, transforming the world for Christ in their jobs and communities. Our hands-on training in the classroom, on- and off-campus experiences, mentoring, and internships equip SWU graduates for success in the workforce and graduate school.
SWU professors understand that their work is not solely about transferring knowledge but rather is about mentoring, apprenticing, and being incarnationally invested in the lives of their students. We take joy in helping students discover their vocational goals and create a plan to achieve them. As in the parable of the talents, we have a duty to ensure students see a good return on their investment of time and treasure in pursuit of an education.
Doctrinal Statement
As a university owned and organized for the purposes of The Wesleyan Church, Southern Wesleyan University shares a common understanding of doctrine and God’s revealed will as described in the Church’s “Articles of Religion,” “Membership Commitments,” and “Elementary Principles.” The following is a summary of the doctrine set forth in the Articles of Religion, but the statement is not intended to replace or in any way supersede the more explicit affirmations found in the most current version of The Discipline of the Wesleyan Church.
We believe in God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son, suffered in our place on the cross, that He died but rose again, that He now sits at the Father’s right hand until He returns to judge all humanity at the last day.
We believe in the Holy Scriptures as the inspired and inerrant Word of God.
We believe that by the grace of God every person has the ability and responsibility to choose between right and wrong, and that those who repent of their sin and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are justified by faith.
We believe that God not only counts the believer as righteous, but that He makes believers righteous, freeing them of sin’s dominion at conversion, purifying their heart by faith and perfecting them in love at entire sanctification, and providing for their growth in grace in every stage of his spiritual life, enabling them through the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to live victorious lives.
Programs and Formats
SWU Global seeks to meet the educational needs of diverse student populations through both traditional and innovative approaches. For those students who seek an excellent residential campus experience in the context of a strong Christian environment, the university provides on-campus programs at its facility in Central, South Carolina. There the rich traditions of academia are coupled with residence hall communities, sports, chapel and artistic performances.
SWU’s On-Campus program offers a wide variety of undergraduate majors in areas such as business, digital marketing, recreation, teacher education, music, English, communication, religion & ministry, biology, chemistry, exercise science, environmental science, math, computer science, forensics, pre-medicine, history, psychology, social science, criminal justice, and human services. Southern Wesleyan University offers online programs in an innovative framework that provide opportunities to conveniently complete undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate programs. SWU Online continues year-round, and students enter the program at several times during the year.
Undergraduate programs offered through SWU Global include an associate degree in general studies. Also offered are bachelor of science programs in business administration, human services and early childhood and family studies.
Campus Facilities
Central
Southern Wesleyan University occupies a three-hundred-acre campus near the town of Central (the central point on a railway line running between Charlotte and Atlanta). Instructional facilities on campus include Folger Fine Arts Building (1964), Brower Classroom Building (1966), Gibson Science Building (1966), Ellenburg Lecture Hall (1966), Nicholson-Mitchell Christian Ministry Center (1940, addition 1996), John M. Newby Education Center (2003) and the Newton-Hobson Chapel & Fine Arts Center (2008). Claude R. Rickman Library (1975) is conveniently located at the center of the campus. Offering individual and group study areas, the library provides access to over 300,000 print and electronic volumes, including the Wesleyana Collection. The library subscribes to multiple online databases with nearly 27,000 journals in full text.
Student residence halls include Stuart-Bennett Hall (1963, addition 1967), apartments (2000), Mullinax Hall (2005) and Joiner Hilson Complex (2017). The Lowell E. Jennings Campus Life Center (1991) houses a snack shop, campus store, mailroom and student services; and J. Walden Tysinger Gymnasium (1969) contains locker rooms, shower rooms, official-size hard maple basketball floor, fitness center, recreation areas and offices for athletic personnel. The University Dining Commons (2005) houses conference services and student food services.
Most administrative offices are located in Correll Hall (1947). SWU Global offices are located in the lower level of the Stuart-Bennett building. Online programs academic services offices for students are located in the Claude R. Rickman Library. Admissions is located in the Clayton Welcome Center (renovated 2009). In 1997, the university acquired Eagles Rest, which is used as a retreat and conference center. Bryant Lodge (2001) serves as a gathering place for university and community events.
Welcome to SWU Global: Southern Wesleyan University’s Graduate and Online Programs! It is my privilege to greet you on behalf of our faculty, staff, and administration as you embark on this transformative academic journey. Whether you are advancing your career, deepening your expertise, or seeking personal and spiritual growth, you are now part of a vibrant learning community grounded in faith, excellence, and service.
At Southern Wesleyan University, our mission is to be a Christ-centered, student-focused learning community devoted to transforming lives by challenging students to be dedicated scholars and servant leaders who impact the world for Christ. This mission shapes every aspect of our graduate and online education, guiding our commitment to academic rigor, innovative learning, and holistic development.
Our vision is to be a premier Christian university that equips students to live out their faith with integrity and purpose in a rapidly changing world. We strive to foster an environment where intellectual curiosity is nurtured, diverse perspectives are valued, and Christ-like character is cultivated.
The core values that define SWU-Christlikeness, scholarship, integrity, and servant leadership-are woven into the fabric of our graduate programs. We believe in the integration of faith and learning, encouraging you to explore your calling, develop your gifts, and engage your community through the lens of Christian principles. Our faculty and staff are dedicated to supporting your academic, professional, and spiritual growth, ensuring that your experience is both challenging and deeply rewarding.
Our strategic priorities focus on delivering high-quality, accessible, and flexible educational opportunities. Through innovative online platforms and engaging course design, we strive to meet the needs of today’s graduate learners-balancing academic excellence with real-world application. We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment where you can thrive, collaborate, and make a meaningful impact.
As you progress through your studies, I encourage you to embrace the challenges and opportunities ahead with courage, curiosity, and compassion. Remember that your journey at SWU is not just about acquiring knowledge, but about becoming a leader who serves with humility, acts with integrity, and lives out the love of Christ in every sphere of influence. Thank you for choosing Southern Wesleyan University for your graduate education. We are honored to walk alongside you as you pursue your goals and answer God’s call on your life.
Blessings,
Nathan Street, Ed.D.
Dean of Online Learning and Graduate Education
Southern Wesleyan University
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