Clayton State University’s core mission is to prepare  students to succeed in the workplace in the 21st Century.  This is accomplished by providing "career-oriented education with a solid liberal arts foundation."

During more than 30 years of service to south metropolitan Atlanta, Clayton State University (Clayton State University) has effectively responded to the needs of its community.  In the fall of 2002 the University enrolled over 5,200 students in credit programs.  Thousands more attended non-credit classes through the Continuing Educa­tion Center.  In all cases, the University is dedicated to helping students develop into capable, productive citizens through its baccalaureate degree, associate degree, certificate, and continuing education programs.

The foundation for all degree programs is a strong general education curriculum designed to enable students to develop communication and critical thinking skills and to acquire the broad and varied perspectives essential for understanding today’s world.  Central to the general education program and to major programs is an emphasis on the assessment of each student’s progress toward the desired learning outcomes.

        Clayton State is committed to using up-to-date information technology to enhance student learning.  Accordingly, in 1998 Clayton State University became one of the first universities in the nation to require that all of its students be equipped with notebook computers.  This "Information Technology Project" continues in modified form as the University enters the 21^st Century.

The University offers baccalaureate degrees in the following areas:

·          History (B.A.)  Clayton State’s newest program provides graduates with opportunities to work in the new state and national archives next to campus.

·          Communication and Media Studies (B.A.) This program provides students with a theoretical understanding of communication and with practical skills in professional writing and speaking.

·          Psychology and Human Services (B.S.) This program prepares graduates for employment in public, non-profit, and private agencies. 

·          Business (B.B.A.)  Majors include Accounting, Management, Marketing, and General Business.  Tracks are available in Finance and Logistics.

·          Nursing, Dental Hygiene, and Health Care Management/ Administration (B.S.N., B.S.D.H., B.S., or B.A.S.)

Each of these has two approaches:

>> option for new students who are not yet R.N.'s or hygienists or

administrators

>> option for R.N.'s or dental hygienists or allied health specialists

who already hold a career associate degree.

·          Biology (B.S.) The Biology major covers several biology careers and also provides pre-professional preparation in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, and physical therapy.

·          Integrative Studies (B.A. or B.S.) This degree includes pre-law, general liberal arts, and various interdisciplinary options.

·          Information Technology (B.I.T.) Students start with a certificate and cover such topics as programming languages, software development, web page production, database management, and e-commerce security.

·          Managerial options for those who hold technical associate degrees (B.A.S.) The B.A.S. majors in Administrative Management and Technology Management for advancement-minded professionals holding associate degrees in such technical fields as office administration, electronics, paralegal, computer technology, and many others.

·          Teacher Education (B.A.)  Clayton State University prepares graduates for certification in the middle grades (4 – 8). 

·          Music (B.A. and B.M.)  Clayton State offers a B.A. in music for more general musical interests and a B.M. with major programs in performance and composition. 

·          Other fields (A.A. and A.S.)  Students can start at Clayton State and take the first two years of many other baccalaureate programs including teacher education other than middle grades, liberal arts disciplines such as English, and science- and math-related disciplines such as chemistry and engineering.

These baccalaureate degree programs are designed to develop graduates who have the abilities and knowledge essential to successful career performance.  The University provides career guidance services and strongly encourages students to acquire work experiences before graduation.

Clayton State University also offers its students a variety of  career associate degree and certificate programs. 

Students admitted to the University are eligible to accelerate their studies through examination and by experience.  Advanced high school students are encouraged to begin their first year of college work while completing high school through the Freshman Scholar Program.

In addition, the University offers a Learning Support Program for students whose academic records indicate that they are not yet prepared to do college-level work and for students returning to an academic atmosphere who require a review of basic academic skills.

Clayton State University has a demonstrated commitment of service to its community and region—particularly the Southern Crescent of metropolitan Atlanta.  Bringing educational opportunities to the citizens and businesses of the Southern Crescent to contribute to the region’s future development is central to the University’s mission and aspirations.

As Georgia’s only university that also houses a regional technical institute, Clayton State is a unique institution.  This status enables the University to serve as a practical bridge between Georgia’s two systems of post-secondary education and between the liberal arts and specialized career/vocational education.

Clayton State University’s core mission is to provide superior career-oriented studies that will prepare students to succeed in the world of work in the 21st Century and to provide services and continuing education that will assist the Southern Crescent and the state in improving the quality of life for residents.  In approaching this mission, the University incorporates five common elements in all of its programs and services:

·          developing effective communication including broad and technologically sophisticated access to information

·          recognizing and responding to the increasingly global context of contemporary life

·          promoting community-based, experiential learning to create durable and meaningful connections between education and all other aspects of life

·          focusing on continuous education and growth as a result of ongoing assessment of learning

·          understanding and developing a facility with the power and limitations of modern technology.

As a senior institution of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State shares characteristics with all of its sister institutions and with the state universities in particular.  The portions of the mission common to all Board of Regents institutions in the state university sector are indicated in the italicized portion of each bullet.  Clayton State University's unique characteristics and its five common thematic elements are reflected below in the regular print portion of each bullet:

·             A supportive campus climate, necessary services, and leadership and development opportunities, all to educate the whole person and meet the needs of students, faculty and staff.

          As a metropolitan institution, Clayton State provides an array of student services designed to meet the varied needs of students of differing ages and interests.  Opportunities for leadership development are provided through an honors program, a wide range of student organizations, and an active Student Gov­ernment Association.  Cultural and educational enhancements are offered to students and the community through the widely recognized Lyceum and Spivey Hall programming.

·             Cultural, ethnic, racial, and gender diversity in the faculty, staff, and student body, supported by practices and programs that embody the ideals of an open, democratic, and global society.

          Clayton State particularly values ethnic and racial diversity.  The University has the highest percentage of minority enrollment of any institution in the University System of Georgia except for the historically black universities and is experiencing growth in its international student population.  Clayton State University is committed to highlighting global contexts throughout its pro­grams and services.

·                Technology to advance educational purposes, including instructional technology, student support services, and distance education.

          Clayton State is dedicated to placing a major emphasis on technologically advanced access to information and to ensur­ing that all students acquire a working familiarity with the uses, limitations, and ethical implications of modern informational technology.

·             Collaborative relationships with other University System institutions, state agencies, local schools and technical institutes, and business and industry, sharing physical, human, information, and other re