Kennesaw State University – Football, Athletics and School Ranking

Kennesaw State University, often referred to as KSU, is a public coeducational university located in Kennesaw, Georgia. In addition to the classes available on the main campus, the school also offers classes at the Cobb Galleria Centre (located in Cobb County), Dalton State College (located in Dalton, Georgia), at a satellite campus located in Dallas, Georgia and through online courses for distance learners.

Kennesaw State University has ranked:

#11 in Best Online Colleges in Georgia,
#68 in Best Online Colleges in America; and
#43 in Top 50 Online Schools with the Best Websites

Kennesaw State University, which was originally founded in 1963 and had an initial student enrollment of 1,014 students, has had a few name changes over the years. From the time of its origin to the year 1976, the school was known as Kennesaw Junior College. In 1976 the name was changed to Kennesaw College when it achieved a four-year institute designation.

In 1988 the school was renamed again, this time to Kennesaw State College and, during the same period, Associate degrees were no longer offered, except for an Associate’s degree program in nursing. Finally, in 1996, the school became known as Kennesaw State University.

Kennesaw State University is located on 240-acres of land that is adjacent to I-75, much of the campus is visible from this busy highway. Located on the campus are the following buildings: the Social Sciences Building, the A. L. Burruss Building, the Kennesaw Hall, the Convocation Center, the Bentley Rare Book Gallery, the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center and various other buildings. In addition to these buildings, the campus also has a designated area called the Campus Green where students can relax, play games or study outdoors in a park setting.

The surroundings of the school have many attractions available for students to entertain themselves. Some of these attractions include:

• Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive HistoryThe Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History houses a collection of various artifacts and historical relics from the American Civil War, as well as from the railroads of the state of Georgia and the surrounding regions. The museum’s centerpiece is the General, a steam locomotive that was used in the Great Locomotive Chase–an American Civil War military raid–in April of 1862.
• Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield ParkKennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park preserves an American Civil War battleground of the Atlanta Campaign. Much of the battle did not take place Kennesaw Mountain itself, but on a spur of Little Kennesaw Mountain which is now known as Pigeon Hill, and the area to the south around Cheatham Hill. A total of 5,350 soldiers died during this battle, and the battle resulted in a victory for the Confederate army.And the following attractions in Atlanta, a short drive away from Kennesaw State University:
• The Varsity“What’ll Ya Have?” Originally known as “The Yellow Jacket,” The Varsity is one of Atlanta’s most well-known diner / fast-food joints. Originally established in 1928, The Varsity’s Atlanta location is currently responsible for more retail sales of Coca-Cola on an annual basis than any other single place in the entire world and has been for numerous years. The plating may be messy, the ordering line always full and the dining areas crowded, but The Varsity’s hotdogs and Frosted Orange drinks are totally worth it.
• The Georgia AquariumThe Georgia Aquarium was the largest aquarium in the world from the time of its opening in 2005 through 2012. Having lost this designation, it is still the biggest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere. Housing thousands of marine and saltwater animals that represent several thousand species, the Georgia Aquarium is always an enjoyable experience. In addition to the many exhibits, the aquarium also puts on musicals starring dolphins, which is pleasant and entertaining for children and adults alike.
• The World of Coca-ColaThe World of Coca-Cola showcases the extensive history of the South’s favorite soda. The museum features many exhibits, such as taste-testing Coca-Cola products sold around the world to displays of classic Coca-Cola memorabilia. There is also a Coca-Cola Freestyle self-service machine which can dispense over 100 carbonated and non-carbonated beverages which are produced by the company. One of the more popular attractions is the Pop Culture Gallery, which provides visitors with information on how Coca-Cola has had an impact on pop culture over the years.
• Underground AtlantaUnderground Atlanta houses numerous restaurants, boutiques, and plays host to a lot of street performers, such as jugglers, musicians, mimes, and magicians. The area, which was lost for roughly 40 years, is unique insofar that all of the storefronts’ original entrances are underground, and the ground level entries are actually the buildings’ second floors. Underground Atlanta is a great showcase of the area’s nightlife.

KSU Online Degrees and Programs

Kennesaw State University offers more than 70 fully online degree-granting programs, certificate-granting programs, hybrid on-campus / online programs and more than 400 courses that are available in an online and mixed-model format. The degree-granting programs available online include both undergraduate and graduate programs. Some of the available online undergraduate academics include:

• Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security & Assurance;
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Management;
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing;
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Information Technology;
• Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Security & Assurance;
• Bachelor of Science in Information Technology;
• Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering Technology;
• Bachelor of Science in Integrative Studies;
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Manufacturing Operations;
• Bachelor of Applied Science in Supply Chain Logistics;
• Bachelor of Arts in Geography; and
• Bachelor of Science in Sociology

KSU also offers the following graduate degree programs:

• Master of Science in Information Technology;
• Master of Science in Software Engineering;
• Master of Education in Early Childhood Education;
• Master of Education in Educational Leadership;
• Master of Education in Instructional Technology;
• Master of Education in Middle Grades Education;
• Master of Education in Secondary Education;
• Master of Education in Special Education – General Curriculum;
• Master of Education in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL);
• Master of Education in Teacher Leadership;
• Master of Science in Civil Engineering;
• Master of Science in Systems Engineering;
• Master of Science in Quality Assurance;
• Master of Science In Nursing; and
• Master of Science in International Policy Management

and, finally, the school offers the following certificate programs online:

• Certificate in Applied Statistics Using SAS;
• Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder;
• Certificate in Curriculum & Instruction;
• Certificate in Digital & Social Media; and
• Certificate in Health Information Technology

What Makes KSU Unique: A Young, Rising Football Team

Kennesaw State University played its first football game on September 3rd, 2015, against the East Tennessee State Buccaneers in Tennessee. The football team, which is known as the Kennesaw State University Owls, is a Division I Football Championship Subdivision football team. Despite being a relatively new football team, they are showing a lot of promise and are striving to promote a winning culture within the team. Kennesaw State University’s Owls, which have already shown great skill in other athletics programs such as soccer and basketball, have an active athletics program which is providing the football team with a lot of interdepartmental support.

Other School Facts:

Located adjacent to Kennesaw State University’s Social Science Building is a Brazilian blue quartzite sculpture, which weighs 350,000 pounds, that was created by Finnish-American artist Eino and is entitled Spaceship Earth. The sculpture was originally commissioned by Brian Maxwell of Powerbar company and the Maxwell Family Foundation in remembrance of the late environmentalist David Brower. The sculptor’s name was often used by David Brower in reference to mankind traveling through life in a common vehicle, Spaceship Earth. The sculpture took six years to complete and was unveiled on October 20, 2006.

Kennesaw State University’s Website: https://kennesaw.edu/

School’s Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)

KSU’s Values and Mission Statement: https://www.kennesaw.edu/about.php

KSU’s Mascot: Scrappy the Owl and Sturgis the Owl

Kennesaw State University’s Colors: Black and Gold