The Graduate School of the University of Memphis is the center of advanced study and research within the University. The basic objectives of the Graduate School are:

• To preserve and disseminate knowledge;
• To extend knowledge through research; and
• To prepare men and women to assume responsible and useful roles in a changing society.

Masters programs are offered in forty-five major areas through six colleges and one school. The degrees include Master of Science, Master of Arts, Master of Fine Arts, Master of Arts in Liberal Studies, Master of Arts in Teaching, Master of Business Administration, International Master of Business Administration, Master of City and Regional Planning, Master of Music, Master of Health Administration, and Master of Public Administration.

Mission of the University

The University of Memphis is a doctoral degree-granting urban research university committed to excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and professional education; in the discovery and dissemination of knowledge; in service to the metropolitan community, state, and nation; and in the preparation of a diverse student population for successful careers and meaningful participation in a global society. The University of Memphis remains committed to the education of a non-racially identifiable student body and promotes diversity and access without regard to race, gender, religion, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status.

Statement of Values

The University of Memphis is committed to representing and teaching the highest academic values. Specifically, we:

• seek excellence in every activity and apply the highest feasible standards to the endeavors of faculty, staff, and students;
• protect academic freedom, insist on tolerance of diverse views, and encourage the rigorous pursuit of truth in an open forum;
• are committed to honesty, openness, and integrity in all of our processes and practices; serve the public interest and recognize responsibility for seeking ways to use our resources to meet public needs;
• provide equal opportunity for all qualified individuals, without regard to race, ethnicity, gender, or lifestyle choice and recognize an obligation to provide the appropriate environment to accommodate diversity;
• adhere to the principles of shared governance and shared responsibility, meaning that those who are responsible for and affected by the various functions of the University should have a voice in the policies that govern those actions and share responsibility for them; and
• advance the well-being of those in our University community, including students, staff, faculty, alumni, and supporters.

The roots of The University date back to September 12, 1912, with the establishment and beginning of classes at West Tennessee State Normal School, which trained primary and secondary education teachers. However, the seeds for the normal schools creation were sown three years earlier, in 1909, when the Tennessee General Assembly passed a General Education law calling for the establishment and maintenance of three normal schools, one school located in each of the three grand divisions of the state.

The eastern edge of Memphis became the site for West Tennessee State Normal School, which in 1929 became West Tennessee State Teachers College. In 1941, the college expanded its curriculum in liberal arts, and the name was changed to Memphis State College, an institution serving three to four thousand students. The undergraduate program was reorganized into three schools and a graduate school was added in 1951.

Memphis State achieved university status in 1957. On July 1, 1994, the name was officially changed to The University of Memphis.

Governing Body

The governance and control of The University of Memphis is vested in the Tennessee Board of Regents. The composition and powers of the Board are set forth in Tennessee Code Annotated 49-8-201 through 49-8-203.The Board consists of eighteen members: twelve lay citizens appointed for six-year terms by the Governor from each congressional district and grand division of the state; one faculty member appointed for a one-year term; one student appointed for a one-year term by the Governor from among the system institutions; and four ex officio members the Governor, the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and the Executive Director of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.

Accreditation

Organization

The schools and colleges that make up The University are the Graduate School, the Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law, the University College, the Loewenberg School of Nursing, the School of Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, and five colleges offering graduate and undergraduate programs: the College of Arts and Sciences, the Fogelman College of Business and Economics, the College of Communication and Fine Arts, the College of Education, and the Herff College of Engineering.

The Memphis Community

Memphis is one of the South’s largest and most attractive cities. As a medical, educational, communication, distribution, and transportation center, Memphis offers a rich and full range of research opportunities and cultural experiences. The city, known worldwide for its musical heritage as home of the blues and the birthplace of rock and roll, has many fine restaurants, museums, and theaters, as well as one of the nations largest urban park systems. Annual events include the St. Jude/Liberty Bowl Football Classic, Memphis in May International Festival, Kroger/St. Jude Tennis Tournament, Africa in April Cultural Awareness Carnival, Federal Express/St. Jude Memphis Golf Classic, Carnival Memphis, and Mid-South Fair. Tourist attractions include the Beale Street Historic District, the National Civil Rights Museum, the Center for Southern Folklore, and Elvis Presley’s home, Graceland. The medical complex in Memphis is the South’s largest and one of the nations foremost centers of medical research. A public transortation system connects the University and many other parts of the city.

The University's modern and beautifully landscaped campus is centrally located centrally located in an attractive residential area of Memphis, with shopping, recreation, and entertainment centers nearby. In addition to the Main Campus facilities, the University has research and athletic training facilities and married student housing on the South Campus, as well as teaching sites throughout West Tennessee.