Southern Polytechnic State University

Institution Overview

Southern Polytechnic State University is a residential university located in Marietta. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs that represent its historical orientation towards the sciences and technology, but also cover today's fastest-growing fields. Southern Polytechnic continues its leadership in the education of professionals in technology-related fields, contributing greatly to the needs of business and industry in an increasingly technological society.

The students at Southern Polytechnic are a diverse group in characteristics and in educational goals. Of the nearly 4,000 students enrolled, 17 percent come from 95 foreign countries. Both traditional and non-traditional students attend Southern Polytechnic; about one-third of the student population is composed of working professionals.

The historic city of Marietta is home to this suburban campus, which sits on 232 acres in Cobb County, the fourth-largest county in Georgia and one of the fastest-growing in the nation.

The university offers 23 undergraduate majors through four bachelor's degree programs, including the only nationally accredited bachelor of architecture degree in the University System of Georgia. Eight graduate-degree programs are offered in fields including computer science, construction, engineering technology, management, quality assurance, technical and professional communication, information technology, and software engineering. One associate's degree program is offered in general studies. Southern Polytechnic was the first institution in Georgia to offer an entire master's degree via the Internet, the Master of Science in Quality Assurance.

Outside of class, Southern Polytechnic students enjoy an array of activities for social, recreational and academic development and enjoyment. Professional student organizations heighten academic skills. Intensive student competitions, Greek organizations, honor societies, student government, intramural programs, the radio station and newspaper offer meaningful opportunities for personal and professional growth. Southern Polytechnic State University is the site of Georgia's only NASA Teacher Resource Center, the state headquarters of Georgia Youth Science & Technology Centers (GYSTC) throughout the state, and the Center for Quality Excellence.

The Runnin' Hornets of Southern Polytechnic compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics and have recently gained prominence in basketball as GACC champions.

Southern Poly was founded in 1948 as the Technical Institute, offering two-year associate degree programs. The school became the Southern College of Technology in 1986, a four-year school offering bachelor's and master's degrees, and one of the first in the nation to offer the Bachelor of Engineering Technology Degree. The school was recognized as a university and re-named Southern Polytechnic State University in 1996.