YOUR PASSION
God ’s Purp ose VIEWBOOK 2027-2028
WELCOME
CHANGE STARTS
Here
A NEW ACADEMIC WORLD IS OPENING FOR YOU. Expect to make more friends. Tackle the next level of learning. Watch yourself grow into a professional.
Are you ready to be stretched into the best version of yourself while doing some global good?
This where Southern comes in! Get a head start on tomorrow by giving us a closer look today.
We can help prepare you for a career but also—and more importantly— for a
LIFE WITH MEANING.
On Southern’s campus, you can check out cutting-edge academics with peers who have similar interests. At the same time, you can explore who Jesus wants you to be. That’s what we offer and why we want YOU here. When you combine your passions with God’s purpose, you can’t help but change the world!
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21
44,800
75+ MAJORS TO STUDY
GRADS AND COUNTING
134
JESUS-
BIRTHDAYS
ENVIRONMENT
SOUTHERN
CENTERED
STUNNING
LOCATION
If you are still uncovering your passion, that’s okay, too! Southern is a great school to partner with because we have tools to help you discover, grow, refine, and eventually combine what excites you most with what God has designed you to accomplish.
Your unique strengths will be applauded, because everyone benefits from you being you.
ACADEMICS
MORE PATHS BEGIN
Here
Southern is the largest campus in the area, and we provide a robust selection of majors that offer outstanding career preparation. Compared to all the other Seventh-day Adventist schools in North America, we enroll the highest number of students earning associate and bachelor’s degrees, providing ample opportunities to establish career contacts and build lifelong friendships.
Of course, we’re proud … but it’s all for you .
30
ADVENTIST CHURCHES WITHIN A 20-MINUTE DRIVE FROM CAMPUS
1,300 GORGEOUS
ACRES
40
MILES
OF TRAILS
24
CONSECUTIVE YEARS
RECOGNIZED BY U.S. NEWS AND WORLD
REPORT’S “BEST COLLEGES” GUIDE
Right now, our incoming freshmen are beating the national averages in both grades and test scores. You’ll be among the best and brightest, including National Merit Scholars! Here’s more good news: We don’t just teach you what to think. We teach you how to think. The proof? Our students and graduates have strong reputations as curious, critical, outside-the-box thinkers. The relationships you build here will impact your future in a broad way—well beyond your college graduation. You will continue to carry Southern connections, opportunities, treasured memories, and other benefits of a college community with you. It’s called learning for a lifetime.
The best news is that many of your college classmates will turn into lifelong friends.
IF YOU DO WANT TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN MORE RIGOROUSLY AT SOUTHERN, YOU CAN: • Personalize your studies. (for example, do a counseling practicum at a local high school) • Choose accelerated study tracks. (you can finish a biology degree and meet medical school requirements in three years or earn both your bachelor’s and master’s degrees within five years) • Gain entrepreneurship skills. (possibly move a good idea from conception to reality, like mentoring teen girls in computer coding) • Join the Southern Scholars honors program. (maybe gain an extra scholarship and chances to travel)
TOPICS OF STUDENT RESEARCH • Correlation between canine serum and age of dogs
• Invasion of foreign spider species in Southeast
• Effectiveness of gaming in classroom settings
• Hydraulic fracturing
• Value of fraud awareness systems
• Impact of slave labor on prices of chocolate
APPLIED LEARNING HAPPENSHere Apply what you absorb in a classroom to real-world settings—while in college. Share fresh ideas as an intern in one of Chattanooga’s technology-hub industries. Build your résumé by working on campus and getting paid for positions like computer programmer, writer, or athletic trainer, to name a few. Connect with professionals through networking events on campus as well as road trips to career-related conferences. Gain inspiration from professors who lead archaeology digs in Israel, register ideas at the U.S. Patent Office, and provide free healthcare for the underserved when not teaching our students. Wait until you hear their stories!
#1 Associate of Science
NURSING Program
IN TENNESSEE
College Factual, 2025
OUR ENACTUS CHAPTER in the School of
Business competes —and wins!—
at the global level.
YOU WILL BE
making a difference out there, too, one day in the not-too-distant future.
It is the work of true education … to train the youth to be thinkers, and not mere reflectors of other men’s thought. Instead of confining their study to that which men have said or written, let students be directed to the sources of truth, to the vast fields opened for research in nature and revelation. –Ellen G. White, Education, p. 17
MAJOR DECISIONS MADEHere This campus is built on proven education traditions that span more than a century of Adventist history. Now you are on your own quest for truth. And, luckily, you don’t have to decide what you want to be right this minute. Advisers are available in every academic discipline to come alongside as you investigate and narrow down choices over the next few years. Who knows? You might even pick two equally interesting majors to pursue. In the meantime, Southern’s flexible general-education courses let you take classes in a variety of career fields without staying in college longer. There’s so much to be learned (and enjoyed!) on this journey. Don’t feel pressured to rush. We will help you find your place along with your calling.
Check out all the different areas you can choose to study at Southern: UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES Applied Technology Automotive Service, AT Automotive Service Management, BT Construction, AT Construction Management, BT Biology and Allied Health Biology, AS and BA Biology, Biomedical, BS Biology, Research, BS Biology, Teaching Licensure, BA Medical Laboratory Science, BS Pre-Dental Hygiene, AS Pre-Nutrition and Dietetics, AS Pre-Physical Therapy, AS Pre-Speech Language Pathology and Audiology, AS Rehabilitation Science, BS Business Accounting, AS and BBA Business Administration, AS and BS Business-Strategic Communication/PR, BS Cybersecurity, BBA Economics, BBA Finance, BBA Human Capital Management, BBA Marketing, BBA Chemistry Chemistry, AS, BA, and BS Chemistry, Biochemistry, BS Chemistry, Teaching Licensure, BA Computing Computer Science, BA and BS Computer Science, Security, BA and BS Computer Science, Web Development, BA and BS Information Technology, BS Information Technology, Security, BS Information Technology, Web Development, BS
Education, Psychology, and Counseling Elementary Education, BA Psychology, BA Psychology, Clinical, BS Psychology, Family Systems, BS Psychology, Industrial/Organizational, BS Psychology, Psychobiology, BS Engineering and Physics Biophysics, Pre-Professional, BS Biophysics, Research, BS Engineering, Computer, BSE Engineering, Electrical, BSE Engineering, Mechanical, BSE Physics, BA and BS Physics, Teaching Licensure, BA English English, Literature, BA English, Professional/Writing, BA English, Teaching Licensure, BA English, TESOL, BA Health and Kinesiology Health and Wellness, BS Health, Physical Education, and Recreation, Teaching Licensure, BS Health Science, BS Kinesiology, BS Outdoor Emergency Services, BS Outdoor Leadership, AS and BS Vegetarian Culinary Arts, AS History and Political Studies History, BA His tory, History/Government Teaching Licensure, BA International Development Studies, BA Political Science, BA
Journalism and Communication Communication, Communication Studies, BA Communication, Writing and Publishing, BA Digital Communication and Media, Media Production, BS Digital Communication and Media, Photography, BS Digital Communication and Media, Social Media, BS Journalism, BA Media Technology, AS Strategic Communication, Advertising, BS Strategic Communication, PR/Business, BS Strategic Communication, PR/Graphic Design, BS Strategic Communication, Public Relations, BS Mathematics Mathematics, BA and BS Mathematics, Teaching Licensure, BA Modern Languages International Studies, German, BA International Studies, Italian, BA International Studies, Spanish, BA Spanish, BA Spanish, Teaching Licensure, BA Music Music, BS Music, Performance, BS Music, Theory and Literature, BS Music, Worship Studies, BS Music Education, Instrumental, Teaching Licensure, BMus Music Education, Keyboard, Teaching Licensure, BMus Music Education, Voice, Teaching Licensure, BMus
Nursing Nursing, AS and BSN Nursing, RN-BSN, Campus and Online Physical Therapist Assistant Physical Therapist Assistant, AS Religion Archaeology, Classical Studies, BA Archaeology, Near Eastern Studies, BA Biblical Studies, BA Missions, BA Pastoral Care, BA Religion, Bible Instructor, AA Religion, Literature Evangelist, AA Religious Education, Teaching Licensure, BA Religious Studies, BA Theology, BA Social Work Social Work, AS and BSW Visual Art and Design Animation, Character Animation, BFA Animation, Effects Animation, BFA Animation, Motion Design, BFA Art, BA Art, Museum Studies, BA Film Production, BA and BFA Fine Arts, BFA Graphic Design, AS, BA, and BFA Interactive Design, BFA NOTE: The most up-to-date listing of degrees is found in the current online Undergraduate Catalog at southern.edu/catalog. For more information and a full list of graduate degrees, visit southern.edu/graduatestudies.
SPIRITUALITY
MEET JESUS
Here
Watch classrooms transform into chapels as Southern professors integrate faith and learning.
Live the benefits of being open and vulnerable about your Christianity, whether just starting your journey as a believer or maturing in your walk with God. Experience mentoring from faculty and staff. Bring your energy to worship through a music group. Share perspectives while co-leading a ministry. Take ownership of your own faith journey. Join one of nearly 100 LifeGroups for a weekly dose of prayer, study of scripture, and dynamic discipleship. Or start your own based on a special interest, whether biking or a book of the Bible. Find Sabbath services in more worship styles, languages, and start times than you can imagine. Remember, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded people who love Jesus. Southern’s close-knit campus prioritizes authenticity in daily walks, not just on Sabbaths. Your chapter in the story will be welcomed, too.
SHARE WHAT YOU FINDHere
EVEN SMALL ACTS OF KINDNESS CAN BE PROFOUND. To the outside world, those seem like admirable personal sacrifices. For Southern students, service more often is an expression of appreciation, a way to give back in response to the abundant gifts in their own lives.
PARTNER WITH OTHERS IN OUR COMMUNITY OF FAITH BY GIVING BACK GLOBALLY: • Feed and clothe the homeless, visit the elderly, or find other creative ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus to local communities. • Spend a spring break on a short-term mission trip or a year serving in another country. • Designate a summer to participate in an evangelistic series. • Partner with students and employees who volunteer on MLK Service Day each January to help meet needs throughout the greater Chattanooga area. Come be part of something impactful while discovering His purpose for your passion. We can’t wait to watch God work wonders in you and through you!
STUDENTS 60+ DEDICATE A SEMESTER OR TWO ABROAD as student missionaries each school year.
LOCATION
EXPLORE THE VALLEY
Here
SOUTHERN’S
Campus
Students come to our peaceful, small-town locale of Collegedale from all over the world. The result is a melting pot of cultures and colorful activities and events honoring the array of differences found within our collegiate family. • Chill—The Bietz Center for Student Life centers on the very reason Southern exists. Think “big living room” for a family of students. Besides a fireplace and multiple areas to relax, there’s a game room, eatery, prayer room, study rooms, student offices, chaplains, outreach coordinators, career advisers, and a two-story twisting slide! • Play—More than half of enrolled students participate in intramural sports, blending a bit of competition with a ton of camaraderie. • Move—Exercise plays a huge role in campus life, and Hulsey Wellness Center is a hub for swimming, weights, cardio, saunas, and more. • Balance—Power for Mind and Soul. The university’s tagline captures Southern’s commitment to knowledge and spirituality. Beyond those primary pillars, we are equally committed to physical and emotional wellness. All students take a religion class and a fitness class every year. On-site counselors are ready to talk whenever you need someone to listen. Not just our dream for you, wholeness is a reality on campus. The place. The population. Even the courses support the truth. Your time here will shape your life in a positive way.
Location is important, but “place” is more about community than geography.
SURROUNDING
Area
After graduation, more than 20% of our students stay in the premiere outdoor destination of Chattanooga and surrounding towns to begin careers, raise families, and find adventure. These are a few reasons why: • Nature—We are nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with countless parks, lakes, streams, waterfalls, stellar views, varied trails, rock walls, and more • Accessibility—Nationally known venues for road and mountain biking, horseback riding, rock climbing, white-water rafting, hang gliding, and paddleboarding, not to mention one of the world’s longest pedestrian bridges • Variety—Minor league baseball team, professional orchestra, aquarium, zoo, and skate park, to name just a few entertainment options • Central—Within two hours of metropolitan areas like Atlanta (Georgia) as well as Knoxville and Nashville (Tennessee)
50 states and 33 countries are represented by Southern’s diverse student body.
Cited as a “Best Mountain Town,” Chattanooga also has taken the top prize in Outside Magazine’s “Best Place to Live” contest—twice! In a word, editors cited “opportunity” unmatched by other cities.
Other bragging rights include “Best Adventure Town in the U.S. to Live + Play” by National Geographic Adventure and “Best in the U.S. Travel Destination” by Lonely Planet.
Downtown Chattanooga’s 16-mile walkway along the Tennessee River ranked #6 in America’s best places to stroll along the water by Fodor’s Travel.
Tennessee Aquarium was voted the nation’s “Best Aquarium,” according to a Newsweek Magazine readers’ choice poll.
CAMPUS INTRAMURALS &
TOURNAMENTS include badminton, basketball,
flag football, floor hockey, futsal, pickleball, soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
SOUTHERN EARNED A GOLD
WORKPLACE
WELL-BEING scorecard from the
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
AFFORDABILITY
INVEST
Here
VALUE is best defined by WORTH, NOT PRICE. The same is true with your education.
It’s wise to consider employability and other benchmarks for career success before deciding where to study. Southern graduates earn higher starting salaries after college, and alumni leave our campus with less student loan debt, based on comparable averages reported by U.S. News & World Report. Remember that nearly all of our students receive tuition assistance. Thousands of people—alumni, employees, and other friends of the university—have already shared generous financial gifts in anticipation of your need! You also can find suggestions for managing finances and reducing student debt at southern.edu/financialtipsvideo. Don’t let financial fears keep you from exploring a life-changing experience here on Southern’s campus.
Southern is 35% less than the national average cost of four-year private schools.
FINANCE FACTS • 96% of our undergraduate students receive financial aid. • Full-time students are awarded an average financial aid package of $23,000 each year at Southern. • More than $56 million in university and federal financial aid is dispersed annually. • Nearly half of Southern’s students are employed on campus, and many find work off campus.
SCHOLARSHIPS Our scholarships award you money for everything from high grades to roundoff back handsprings and selling books, among other things. And that’s not counting all the private funds given by companies, service groups, foundations, organizations, and individuals. Scholarship qualifiers include: H grade point average H test scores H school leadership H church leadership H musical talent H gymnastics skills H summer camp jobs H literature evangelism H honors requirements H serving abroad H and MORE!
AN ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR will be assigned to you and is ready to show you a personalized path to affordable Adventist education. Email admissions@southern.edu or call 1.800.SOUTHERN.
Reach out to us. We can’t wait to pass on the financial blessings already waiting for you here.
SEE FOR YOURSELF
VISIT
Here
The easiest way to get the clearest perspective is to come check out campus.
No description fully captures who you are. The same is true for Southern. The things you’ve heard or read about us are only part of the big picture. It’s never been more simple to see us for yourself. Expect a warm welcome and loads of information. Plan to make the most of any one-on-one time. Ask all the questions you want, even if a member of our campus is simply walking by or sitting in an area that you tour. Gather all the authentic answers you need. We will leave the observations and decisions up to you. Bottom line: Southern is the place to begin, learn, grow, connect, worship, explore, serve, and change the world in your own unique way. Your search for that blend of passion and purpose ends here. Explore southern.edu/admissions today!
PERSONAL VISIT Pick a day and time that suits you to get a firsthand look. • Go on a campus walk with a current student. • Try out various food options in the Dining Hall. • Sit down with a professor or two from an academic area. • Talk with an admissions counselor about how you can pay for college. Type in your details at southern.edu/visit, and we’ll set it up!
VIRTUAL VISIT Choose a guided tour, faculty conference, and admissions consultation from the convenient comfort of your home by scheduling through southern.edu/visit.
PREVIEWSOUTHERN These events on designated days are reserved for a group of prospective students—high school juniors and seniors, parents, transfer students—to experience what Southern has to offer. Participants tour campus together, meet with academic departments, find out more about scholarship options, and get a chance to visit downtown Chattanooga. Sign up at southern.edu/preview.
SMARTSTART Save more than $2,500, and discover what makes Southern so special. This summer session offers a free college course that starts in July. New students can take a three-credit-hour class over four weeks without paying a penny of tuition. At the end, we hope you’ll join so many others who decide to stay! Find more information at southern.edu/smartstart.
MAP
LIVE
Here
THREE STEPS.
ONE AMAZING EXPERIENCE! 1. APPLICATION Complete an application at southern.edu/apply. 2. TRANSCRIPT Submit your high school transcript. Unofficial copies can be used during the admissions process. Just remember to request a final version any time after graduation. 3. TEST SCORES Providing your ACT or SAT test scores is optional for general admission into Southern if you have a cumulative high school GPA of 2.75 or above. Keep in mind that acceptance into certain academic programs does require test scores along with registration for classes with test-score prerequisites. Visit southern.edu/admissions for more details.
MO
RNI
NGS
IDE
D R. W
1
COLLE
GE DR
E H IT
OA
R. K D COL
2
.E
4
6
COR D DR.
CAFETERIA DR.
5
3
LO TAY
LO TAY
1
Collegedale Church of Seventh-day Adventists (worship here)
2
Future Site of Hefferlin Hall (study math and computing here)
3
Hulsey Wellness Center (stay fit here)
4
Hickman Science Center (study science here)
RC
I R.
8
RC
I R.
W
7
E
Flem
in
5
Thatcher Hall (women live here)
8
McKee Library (study and do research here)
6
Bietz Center for Student Life (snack, get involved, and hang out here)
9
Wright Hall (eat and do business here)
7
Village Market (buy goodies here)
10 Summerour Hall (study education, psychology, and counseling here) 11 Talge Hall (men live here)
10 12
14 13
9
15 PRO
MEN
17 ADE
COL
11
COR
D DR
20 .
21
18 16 IT Y
DR
H
M AR
ON
YL
N.
HICKMAN DR.
PA R
KL
N.
UNIVERSIT Y DR.
VAT E
laza
ERS
19
PRI
UNIV
ng P
22
PRI
12 Hackman Hall (study religion and archaeology here) 13 Lynn Wood Hall (study engineering and languages here) 14 Ledford Hall (study applied technology here)
E VAT
15 Daniells Hall (study social work here)
19 Nursing Sim Lab (practice nursing here)
16 Ruth McKee School of Business (study business here)
20 Campus Safety (be safe here)
17 AdventHealth Hall (study nursing here) 18 Mabel Wood Hall (study music here)
21 Art Annex (do art here) 22 Brock Hall (study art, history, English, and journalism here)
JOIN USHere
@southernadventistuniversity @southernadventistuniversity @southernadventistuni
P.O. Box 370 • Collegedale, TN • 37315-0370 423.236.2000 • 1.800.SOUTHERN • southern.edu
02.557 | 08.2026
@southernadventistuniversity