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The Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education at Elon University is a national authority on the preparation of equity-minded leaders in the fields of education, physical activity and wellness who enhance the learning and lives of children and adults. Accomplished teacher-scholars with decades of collective professional experience instruct nearly 300 undergraduates majoring in early childhood education, elementary education, middle grades education, outdoor leadership & education, physical education & health, science education or special education. The school also offers programs for earning a Master of Education or Master of Arts in Higher Education.

Named for a distinguished Elon University alumna and former public school teacher, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education hosts the Elon Teaching Fellows Program, a model for the preparation of teaching leaders and scholars who contribute significantly to the quality of birth-12 education and who are influential in decision-making on the local, state, national and international levels. Through an increasingly complex four-year undergraduate experience, the Fellows program challenges future teachers to think critically and embrace diversity, lead within and beyond the classroom, and participate meaningfully in a global society.

In addition to traditional study abroad offerings led by Elon faculty, the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education runs a center at the University of Otago in New Zealand, allowing for a partnership with the College of Education at the University of Otago and Arcadia University for a semester-long study abroad program tailored for teacher education majors.

Initial licensure programs in the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education are accredited under the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation.

Long Version

Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, provides the foundation for the study of the liberal arts and sciences at Elon University. The College is composed of 21 departments and 35 interdisciplinary programs across three branches: the arts and humanities; natural, mathematical and computational sciences; and social and behavioral sciences. It hosts Elon’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest honor society celebrating excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.

Committed to the growth of students’ intellectual curiosity, intercultural competence and critical thinking, the College champions disciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary applications to reflect upon, respond to and offer solutions to complex problems in an interconnected and changing world.

With more than 45 majors and 65 minors, including a new neuroscience major, the College is Elon University’s largest academic division. Two-thirds of the nearly 1,600 students who graduate from Elon annually do so with at least one major or minor in the College. Within a year, over 90% of graduates from the College report employment in their chosen field or enrollment in top post-graduate programs.

Undergraduates take courses in state-of-the-art facilities (including 60,000 square feet of engineering and physics spaces in Founders and Innovation halls), perform and train in our nationally ranked music theatre program and engage with emerging issues by conducting the Elon University Poll.

Students receive mentorship in research, internships and community-based learning from expert faculty, regularly leading them to publish and present their work. Dozens are selected annually to present at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research, and they are often recognized with highly competitive awards from the Fulbright Scholars Program, the Goldwater Scholarship and the U.S. State Department’s Critical Language Program. The College’s seven fellows and scholars programs foster excellence in academic inquiry, provide close mentorship and lead to high achievement.

College faculty are prolific and preeminent scholars and creators in their fields, recognized for expertise at national and international levels. Each year, its more than 300 full-time faculty publish hundreds of articles, chapters and books, and present at scores of conferences and events. Their scholarship results in grants and fellowships from the National Science Foundation, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Institutes of Health and other prominent centers of research.

Short Version

Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, provides the foundation for the study of the liberal arts and sciences at Elon University. The College is composed of 21 departments and 35 interdisciplinary programs across three branches: the arts and humanities; natural, mathematical and computational sciences; and social and behavioral sciences — offering more than 45 majors and 65 minors. Inspired by intellectual curiosity, passion and integrity, the College champions disciplinary knowledge and interdisciplinary applications to reflect upon, respond to and offer solutions to critical problems in a complex and changing world.

Established in 1985, the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business has developed a national reputation for its rigorous program of study that prepares graduates to serve as principled leaders in the global community. Over 70 full-time faculty teach nearly 2,000 students each year in the Ernest A. Koury, Sr. Business Center and Richard W. Sankey Hall, two buildings that comprise more than 90,000 square feet of classrooms, computer labs, finance centers, design thinking spaces, faculty offices and collaborative study rooms that foster student teamwork and professional networking.

The Love School of Business offers 12 undergraduate majors across five departments – accounting, economics, finance, management & entrepreneurship, and marketing & international business – with graduate programs in business administration, business analytics and accounting. It also features accelerated 3+1 dual-degree programs in accounting and business analytics, as well as an international business dual-degree program in partnership with universities in Germany, France, Italy and Spain.

The school is home to six interdisciplinary centers:

• The Chandler Family Professional Sales Center
• The Doherty Center for Creativity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship
• The Porter Family Professional Development Center
• The William Garrard Reed Finance Center
• The Center for Organizational Analytics
• The Center for Financial Literacy

More than 97% of students in the Love School of Business secure employment, enroll in graduate school or do both within nine months of graduation. Students routinely are employed by some of the nation’s most recognizable companies. Faculty regularly earn awards for excellence in teaching and mentoring, with scholarly contributions to their disciplines through publications in major journals and presentations at leading national conferences.

Named for the founder of Burlington Industries – which would grow from its origins in Burlington, North Carolina, to be the world’s largest textile company – and his wife, the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business is accredited by AACSB International, an honor achieved by fewer than 5% of business schools in the world. Elon earned its initial AACSB accreditation in 2004 and achieved re-accreditation in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024. The school’s undergraduate business degree program is nationally ranked by Poets & Quants, most recently No. 38 in the United States and No. 24 among private universities.

Established in 2000, Elon University’s School of Communications inspires graduates to be thought leaders committed to the public good in today’s rapidly evolving landscape of digital communications. Teacher-scholars with decades of collective professional experience educate students across seven majors: cinema & television arts, communication design, digital content management, journalism, media analytics, sport management and strategic communications.

The School of Communications is home to approximately 1,300 students and nearly 80 faculty and staff, all centered around a 105,000-square-foot quad that functions as a dynamic learning laboratory. Facilities feature state-of-the-art television studios, video editing suites, classrooms and faculty offices, a movie theater, and a virtual studio with a green hard-wall cyclorama.

Nationally recognized by organizations such as the Broadcast Education Association, PRNEWS and the Society for American Baseball Research, the school has been touted for preparing industry-ready professionals who grasp the changing nature of communication, entertainment, news and sport. Alumni work worldwide at organizations such as Amazon, CBS Sports, Coca-Cola, CNN, ESPN, Golin, NASCAR, Nike, The New York Times, “The Tonight Show” and numerous other employers.

Since 2007, the School of Communications has housed the Sunshine Center, the educational arm of the N.C. Open Government Coalition, which promotes transparency in government through outreach and education.

Elon University’s School of Communications is among 18 private colleges and universities accredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications (ACEJMC). Additionally, its Department of Sport Management is accredited by the Commission on Sport Management Accreditation (COSMA).

Established in 2011, the School of Health Sciences is a vibrant learning community dedicated to creating innovative and engaging learning opportunities for more than 300 graduate and undergraduate students in the Departments of Nursing, Physician Assistant Studies and Physical Therapy Education. The school is based in the university’s Gerald L. Francis Center and features over 50,000 square feet of classrooms, research spaces and skills labs, including an anatomical donor laboratory.

Interprofessional learning opportunities for students are embedded into the curriculum and afford future health care providers the opportunity to articulate their unique role on health care teams, understand the roles of other health care professionals and collaborate to provide optimal patient care. School of Health Sciences students work together in co-curricular pursuits, including community outreach through the Health Outreach Program at Elon (H.O.P.E. Clinic) and the Open Door Clinic of Alamance County, global learning opportunities, inclusive excellence initiatives and social events with graduate students from across the university.

Students accepted into the School of Health Sciences’ Accelerated Pathways Program are mentored during their first 3.5 years at Elon and, upon successful completion of all requirements, matriculate directly into the PA or PT program in January of their senior year. The school also features two tracks for aspiring nurses: a four-year program for newly matriculated undergraduates, and an accelerated program for students who previously completed a bachelor’s degree in any field who complete prerequisite coursework prior to admission.

Elon Law is the preeminent school for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.

Elon Law has graduated more than 1,700 alumni since opening its doors in 2006. Its annual enrollment now tops 500 students. The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, maintaining an A+ rating and Top 10 placement annually since 2023. Elon Law was also among schools highlighted by Bloomberg Law in 2023 for its innovative approach to student development.

The Elon Law campus spans several buildings within a two-block radius in downtown Greensboro, which serves as the hub of the judicial system in central North Carolina. Courts a short walk from the law school include the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of North Carolina. In addition, several branches of the North Carolina General Court of Justice, including the Superior, District, Drug Treatment, Mental Health and Small Claims Courts, are within walking distance. Dozens of large, medium and small law firms, as well as municipal offices, are likewise located nearby.

Elon Law is one of only a handful of law schools in the nation to house a working court with the North Carolina Business Court hearing cases in the Robert E. Long Courtroom. The Long Courtroom annually hosts oral arguments of the North Carolina Court of Appeals and has twice welcomed the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched at Elon University’s Charlotte campus in 2024. Tailored to students whose work or other obligations make Charlotte the ideal place to earn their law degree, the program enrolled its second cohort in fall 2025.

The Elon fight song is played at all Elon sporting events. At football games, the song is played by the Fire of the Carolinas, Elon’s marching band. At basketball games, the song is played by the university Pep Band. The fight song is played to the tune of F.E. Bigelow’s march, “Our Director.”

So here’s to dear old Elon
faithful and bold.
Here’s to her banner
of maroon and gold.

Fight! Fight! Fight!

And here’s to men and women
who’ve come and gone.
Singing the victor’s song of old Elon.
Go Elon! Go Elon! E! U!

From the symbolic acorn students receive at New Student Convocation to mark the beginning of their Elon journey to College Coffee every Tuesday morning, Elon’s traditions create a sense of belonging. They connect generations of students, faculty, staff and alumni through the lasting memories they make. Elon’s traditions include:

The Alma Mater

The Alma Mater harkens back to the strengths of this educational community as it celebrates our foundation as a co-educational institution, our location among the oak trees on an elevated portion of land under beautiful blue skies, and our calling to strive for a better or nobler future. For more information and lyrics, see the Traditions website.

The Acorn

Elon (Hebrew for oak) was founded in a grove of oaks in 1889. New Student Convocation is held Under the Oaks, a canopy of trees in historic campus where students receive an acorn to signify the beginning of their Elon journey and a sapling nearly four years later at the Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection ceremony to mark their growth during their time at Elon.

College Coffee

Held every Tuesday morning during the academic year, College Coffee brings students, faculty and staff together for conversation over coffee and pastries on Phi Beta Kappa Commons.

Elon Day

Elon Day is a 24-hour annual fundraising event held every March that gives students, alumni, families and friends around the world a chance to showcase their Elon pride. All members of the community can use #ElonDay on social media to share and follow the annual celebration.

Festival of Lights and Luminaries

The Festival of Lights and Luminaries, held following Thanksgiving break, celebrates the winter season with thousands of lights and luminaries illuminating the brick paths on campus. The Elon community gathers for live music and hot chocolate to have fun and learn more about the shared imagery of light found in religious, spiritual, ethical and cultural traditions.

Main Bell

The Main Building bell, which survived the 1923 fire that destroyed the building, is on display in Alamance Building. Incoming students pass by the bell and touch it at the start of New Student Convocation each year.

Numen Lumen

Numen Lumen, which means “spiritual light” and “intellectual light,” is a gathering for reflection and fellowship held every Thursday during the academic year. It is a time to take a break from the busyness of the week and refresh the spirit and includes a speaker and a musical or artistic performance provided by students, faculty, staff or special guests.

Oak Sapling

At the Numen Lumen: Senior Baccalaureate Reflection ceremony held during the week of Commencement, all graduates are presented with an oak sapling as a symbol of the growth they experienced during their time at Elon.

Phoenix

Elon’s mascot is the Phoenix. Just like the mythical creature that rises from its own ashes with new life and vigor, Elon is known for its spirit of resilience.

The Phoenix Walk

The Phoenix Walk, featuring the Fire of the Carolinas Marching Band and the Elon Spirit Squads, takes place two hours and 20 minutes before home football games on Bank of America Drive. Fans are encouraged to line the route, rallying behind the football team as they march towards the stadium.

Elon, a member of the Coastal Athletic Association, fields 17 teams in NCAA Division I (FCS football). Elon’s mascot is the Phoenix, symbolizing the university’s triumphant recovery from the 1923 fire — much like the legendary Phoenix rises from its own ashes — as well as a fighting spirit.

Men’s sports include baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, football, soccer and tennis. Women’s sports include basketball, cross country, golf, indoor track, lacrosse, outdoor track and field, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Elon student-athletes prioritize their studies as much as their sports, excelling in the classroom and on the field or court. Elon routinely leads the CAA in the graduation success rate of student-athletes, and the conference consistently honors Phoenix athletes for academic excellence.

The university also ensures student-athletes can participate in its transformational study abroad opportunities by organizing and funding global study courses specifically for its athletics teams, combining learning experiences with competition in countries around the world.

Elon’s residential campus is a hallmark of the student experience, integrating academic, community and social experiences, fostering a deepened intellectual climate and an inclusive learning community. Approximately 70% of Elon students live in eight Residential Neighborhoods that each have their own themes and programming and are led by a team of faculty, staff and student peer mentors.

More than 20 living-learning communities connect students with the same passion, interest or academic focus who live in the same residential area and share meaningful intellectual and social experiences. Residentially linked courses in the first-year Core Curriculum help students integrate their in-class and out-of-class experiences and enable students to study together more easily, perform group work and have a class-based cohort in their own neighborhood.

Elon’s Residential Neighborhoods

Elon’s residence halls and on-campus apartments are grouped into eight Residential Neighborhoods, each with residences and common spaces that form intimate communities of students connected by a common set of themes and shared interactions. Each neighborhood is led by a leadership team of faculty, staff and student peer mentors and governed by a neighborhood association made up of student resident representatives and faculty and staff from across the university.

• Colonnades Neighborhood includes Story Hall, Moffitt Hall, Kivette Hall, Staley Hall, Allen Hall and the EcoVillage at Loy Farm. Students from all four academic classes live in communities surrounding the geothermal field adjacent to the Koury Business Center or the new EcoVillage houses at Loy Farm (open to sophomores, juniors and seniors only) and participate in programs and experiences that support Elon’s commitment to sustainability and innovation.
• Danieley Center Neighborhood includes eight flat buildings and eight apartment buildings around Lake Verona primarily occupied by sophomores, juniors and seniors. Named after the late President Emeritus J. Earl Danieley, this neighborhood highlights his legacy by emphasizing aspects of leadership.
• East Neighborhood includes three residence halls and the Isabella Cannon Pavilion and Kenan Honors Pavilion in the Lambert Academic Village. Primarily occupied by first-year students, this neighborhood is a hub of civic engagement and social innovation where students learn to be global citizens and change agents in society.
• Global Neighborhood includes Building A, Russel B. Gill Hall, G. Smith Jackson Hall, Nan P. Perkins Hall, Building E and the International House in Trollinger House. Students from all four years live adjacent to Lake Mary Nell (with only sophomores, juniors and seniors in Trollinger House) and participate in programming focused on world languages and cultures.
• Historic Neighborhood includes Carolina; Hook, Brannock & Barney (HBB); Sloan; Smith; Virginia; and West halls. History and tradition are the theme of this neighborhood, which primarily houses first-year students and is located in the historic heart of Elon’s original campus.
• Loy Center Neighborhood includes 19 houses that serve as the residential headquarters for fraternities and sororities, with a leadership and service theme.
• The Oaks Neighborhood includes Williams Hall, Council Hall, Brumbaugh Hall, Building D, Brown Hall, Sullivan Hall and Park Place. The neighborhood houses sophomores, juniors and seniors and focuses on emerging adulthood and the Elon Experiences.
• The Station at Mill Point Neighborhood, which also includes Crest Apartments, is primarily occupied by juniors and seniors in a self-governed community as they complete capstone courses, prepare to engage in careers and related experiences, and prepare to be Elon alumni.

Elon hosts several notable lectures and series that bring dynamic speakers to campus every year:

Elon University Speaker Series

The Elon University Speaker Series welcomes distinguished thought leaders and change-makers who are actively taking on society’s most pressing issues. Their bold ideas inspire our own intellectual curiosity and challenge us to make a difference in the world.

Baird Lecture Series

The Baird Lecture Series was endowed in 2002 by a generous gift from James H. Baird and his late wife, Jane M. Baird, of Burlington, North Carolina. The Bairds were the first presidents of the Elon Parents Council, and their involvement with the university has spanned more than 35 years.

James P. Elder Lecture Series

The James P. Elder Lecture is Elon University’s only endowed lecture series devoted to the exploration of critical scholarship and its impact on the public forum. Elder founded Elon’s Liberal Arts Forum and served as its adviser during his tenure on the history faculty. Thirty years after he left Elon for the Folger Library in Washington, D.C., a group of forum alumni established an endowed lectureship in Elder’s honor.

Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Address

Part of the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration, the MLK Commemorative Address honors the civil rights leader’s legacy and work.

Voices of Discovery Science Speaker Series

The Voices of Discovery Science Speaker Series brings to campus preeminent scientists and mathematicians who have left an indelible mark on the way we view the world. They share their remarkable experiences and perspectives with Elon students and the community. This series plays a fundamental role in the university’s commitment to create a science-conscious community and to help students be informed citizens.

Carol Ann Walker International Lectureship

Elon’s newest endowed lecture series aims to ensure that all Elon students develop a better understanding of the scope of the world and the place of the United States in that world, specifically from a military and geopolitical perspective.

Long Version

Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The Elon curriculum is grounded in the traditional liberal arts and sciences with an emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care.

Elon is ranked among the best national universities by U.S. News & World Report, with a No. 1 ranking for excellence in undergraduate teaching for five consecutive years. In addition, Elon is the only university recognized in the Top 10 of all eight categories of programs that enhance the student experience, including internships, learning communities and first-year experiences.

As a pioneer and leader in engaged learning, Elon has refined a scholarly model built upon collaboration, mentorship and innovation. Central to this model are five signature programs that comprise the Elon Experiences — study abroad, internships, undergraduate research, service and leadership. The university’s academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Elon’s historic 700-acre campus in central North Carolina is designated as a botanical garden and includes the 56-acre Elon University Forest, a land preserve and natural area for scientific research, and Loy Farm, a center for environmental research and sustainability.

Elon is a member of the Coastal Athletic Association. The Phoenix athletics program includes 17 intercollegiate men’s and women’s sports in NCAA Division I.

Always evolving, Elon is an academic community that challenges, encourages and empowers students to explore their passions, achieve their goals and change their communities for the better.

Medium Version

Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture.

At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff whose priorities are teaching and mentoring. The curriculum is grounded in the liberal arts and sciences with emphasis on global experiences and career development. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business, education and health care. Elon is ranked No. 1 for excellence in undergraduate teaching by U.S. News & World Report.

Elon’s academic divisions include Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences; the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business; the School of Communications; the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education; the School of Health Sciences; and the School of Law, with programs in Greensboro and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Short Version

Elon University is a nationally recognized leader in engaged, experiential learning that prepares graduates to be creative, resilient, ambitious and ethical citizens of our global culture. At Elon, more than 7,000 students learn through hands-on experiences and close working relationships with faculty and staff. More than 70 undergraduate majors are complemented by professional and graduate programs in law, business administration, business analytics, accounting, education, higher education, physician assistant studies and physical therapy.

The exact origins of the name Elon University are not specifically documented in the historical record, however it is known that Elon is the Hebrew word for oak and Elon College was founded in a grove of stately oak trees. On March 11, 1889, the North Carolina General Assembly issued a charter for Elon College, a four-year coeducational institution, located at Mill Point and founded by the Christian Church. William S. Long was the founding president. A 1939 article in The Christian Sun, on the 50th anniversary of the founding of Elon College, quotes from a speech given by President Long that states “…we have named the college ELON from a Hebrew village in Palestine noted for its massive oaks…”.

As part of Elon University’s strategic plan for 2030, Boldly Elon, the university has identified key areas for deepening and expanding its national footprint to areas that include Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York, Washington, D.C., and other strategic locations. National Campus Programs aspire to be an extension of Elon’s main campus by bringing the same quality, energy, engagement and service to our constituents around the country. These campuses benefit the greater university by offering unique professional and cultural experiences to undergraduate and graduate students that they can only experience in these select locations and provide engagement for external members of the Elon community.

Elon’s National Campuses each host robust activity centered around engaged, place-based, academic programs offering new opportunities for current students through internships and Elon’s Study USA programs. Each campus supports multiple Elon partners (alumni, admissions, advancement, career services, athletics, professional and continuing education, and more) by collaboratively working with these departments to host distinctive events, programs and workshops that support their respective constituents to advance Elon’s national footprint.

HealthEU is Elon’s wellness and well-being initiative for students, faculty and staff. Using a holistic approach, HealthEU aims to empower every individual in the Elon community to actively implement and integrate wellness values in their daily lives, with their peers and in their greater purpose by providing access to resources, educational tools and support through the six dimensions of well-being: social, purpose, emotional, financial, community and physical. Elon supports students’ active pursuit of wellness and well-being across all six dimensions through a variety of campus resources and activities, from fitness classes and personal counseling to personal finance classes and community gatherings such as College Coffee. A three-story HealthEU Center is slated to open in 2026 and will feature academic spaces, counseling services, fitness facilities, a climbing wall, competition pool, an indoor track, recreation courts, a demonstration kitchen and more.

Elon University values and celebrates the backgrounds, cultures, experiences and perspectives of all our community members. Learn more at the Inclusive Excellence site.

Elon University sits on land that has a rich and storied history stretching back to American Indian tribes that became the first stewards of this area of central North Carolina. The roots of these people who were the first to call this land home and their long-standing and meaningful connection to this area are still visible today and essential to acknowledge.

Elon University strives to honor the legacy of the Siouan-speaking American Indian tribes who first lived in this area and the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation (OBSN), which became the most prevalent by 1650. Members of the OBSN continue to live in this area today and carry forward their ancestors’ history, traditions and love for this land.

The Occaneechi Tribe Land Acknowledgement, created by the OBSN Tribal Council, should be used to recognize the enduring relationship that exists between Indigenous Peoples and their traditional territories. Please use this land acknowledgement at your meetings and events, etc., to give respect to the indigenous people and their culture in the present, past and future.

Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Land Acknowledgement

We would like to acknowledge that we are on the land of the Eno, Tutelo, Saponi, Occaneechi and Shakori Native people.

We are gathered today on land that was traditionally part of the territory of the Saponi people, in the Piedmont of what is now the state of North Carolina. This area is not far from the “Great Trading Path,” used by both the native people of this area and non-native peoples during the early years of contact. The Saponi people, whose descendants include the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation Indian Tribe, still thrive and live in this region, officially recognized by the state government of North Carolina.

We pay respect to their elders past and present. The Occaneechi People (The Ye’sah), ask that you will keep these thoughts in mind, while here on their ancestral lands and treat it with the respect, love and care that their Ancestors did, and as the Occaneechi Saponi people do so today.

U.S. News Undergraduate Teaching

For four consecutive years, from 2021-2024, U.S. News & World Report has named Elon University No. 1 in the nation for excellence in undergraduate teaching, a ranking focused on national universities whose faculty and staff are committed to excellence in teaching undergraduate students.

U.S. News “Programs to Look For”

Elon University, the leader in U.S. News & World Report’s “Programs to Look For” feature, is one of only two colleges or universities ranked in the top 15 of all eight categories of academic programs linked to student success and positive learning outcomes. The categories are: learning communities, first-year experiences, service learning, study abroad, co-ops/internships, senior capstone, undergraduate research/creative projects and writing in the disciplines.

Global Engagement

Global engagement is central to Elon’s student experience. The university is consistently ranked among the top programs in the nation in the Institute of International Education’s annual Open Doors Report for its study abroad participation rate. Seventy-seven percent of students have at least one global study experience, often combined with internships, research or service. Elon’s Study USA program includes opportunities to study in Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Charlotte, and the university offers short-term domestic study away programs in other locations across the country.

The university’s motto is Numen Lumen, which means spiritual and intellectual light and signifies the highest purpose of an Elon education. Elon is home to the Numen Lumen Pavilion, which houses the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life, and which during the academic year hosts the weekly Numen Lumen gathering featuring speakers and musical performances.

Elon’s Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), offered through the School of Health Sciences, is founded on solid principles of science and research while integrating a hands-on clinical practicum to reinforce academic theory within the didactic classroom experience. The three-year, full-time program focuses on critical thinking, equitable health practices and community engagement. With an emphasis on holistic patient care and acknowledgement of the interconnectedness between physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being, Elon graduates leave the program as informed leaders in health care and compassionate, reflective global citizens.

Elon’s Health Care Analytics Certificate (HCA) is a partnership between the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business and the School of Health Sciences. This program trains health care professionals and data analytics experts to enhance and transform health care through cutting-edge information and analytics technologies with a concise 10-month duration at a significantly lower cost than degree programs. Students benefit from the career-focused, practice-oriented curriculum to be equipped with the necessary health care terminology, knowledge and strong practical skills in data analytics.

The Juris Doctor degree, offered through the School of Law, is the preeminent program for engaged and experiential learning in law. With a focus on learning by doing, it integrates traditional classroom instruction with a required residency-in-practice field placement for all full-time students during the winter or spring of their second year. The law school’s distinctive full-time curriculum provides a logically sequenced program of professional preparation and is accomplished in 2.5 years, which offers exceptional value by lowering tuition and permitting graduates early entry into their careers.The law school is regularly featured in PreLaw Magazine’s “Best Schools for Practical Training” rankings, maintaining an A+ rating and Top 10 placement annually since 2023. The Elon Law Flex Program, a part-time, in-person program of legal study, launched at Elon University’s Charlotte campus in 2024. Tailored to students whose work or other obligations make Charlotte the ideal place to earn their law degree, the program enrolled its second cohort in fall 2025.

The Master of Arts in Higher Education (MHE), offered through the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, builds on the strength of Elon as a national leader in active and engaged learning. Students are immersed in the study of higher education in a student-centered environment rooted in hands-on experiential learning with a global perspective. Enrollment is full-time in this two-year, 36-hour program that incorporates study away, two internships, a paid apprenticeship and a capstone project.

Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business prepares you for a dynamic career unlike anywhere else. The innovative Master of Business Administration (MBA) curriculum develops your functional and leadership skills, empowering you to inspire and achieve lifelong success. You benefit from one-on-one mentorship with our faculty and staff, who guide you in defining your career path. Collaborate and engage with peers who help you expand your horizons. The flexible MBA program offers both full-time and part-time options, accommodating your personal and professional commitments.

Elon’s Master of Education in Innovation (M.Ed.), offered through the Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education, is intentionally designed to disrupt practitioners’ traditional concept of education to motivate teachers toward more progressive visions and praxis. Candidates are asked to reimagine education and allow for more equitable learning opportunities. Students are introduced to a range of progressive student-centered pedagogies such as project-based learning and place-based education and encouraged to experiment with their own innovative pedagogies.

The Master of Science in Accounting (MSA), offered through the Martha and Spencer Love School of Business, prepares graduates to sit for the CPA exam and enter the job market with skills and knowledge necessary to achieve professional goals and gain a competitive edge in a growing and evolving field.

Elon’s Martha and Spencer Love School of Business prepares you for a dynamic career unlike anywhere else. The innovative Master of Business Administration (MBA) curriculum develops your functional and leadership skills, empowering you to inspire and achieve lifelong success. You benefit from one-on-one mentorship with our faculty and staff, who guide you in defining your career path. Collaborate and engage with peers who help you expand your horizons. The flexible MBA program offers both full-time and part-time options, accommodating your personal and professional commitments.

Elon’s Physician Assistant Studies program (PA), offered through the School of Health Sciences, prepares graduates to think critically and act skillfully to meet expanding health care needs in local and global communities. Students are immersed in a curriculum structured around active learning strategies through collaborative work with faculty, scholars and practitioners in the field. The 24-month program prepares graduates to employ the most current knowledge to care for patients’ physical, emotional and spiritual needs and advance health care equity. A new Physician Assistant Studies program located at the Elon National Campus in Charlotte, North Carolina, will enroll for January 2027.

In today’s rapidly evolving economic environment, businesses across industries are facing increased complexity, supply chain disruptions, and the growing need for data-driven decision making to increase profit margins and optimize resources to respond to changing market dynamics. Elon University’s Graduate Business Certificate in Operations Excellence provides a focused and comprehensive curriculum that integrates critical disciplines – business analytics, supply chain management, AI applications, and strategic decision-making into a focused and coherent program.

The hallmark of an Elon education is the Core Curriculum, a set of courses and experiences shared by every undergraduate. The curriculum complements every major, providing a liberal arts and sciences foundation that helps students cultivate the intellectual curiosity, abilities and knowledge required for lifelong learning as global citizens. The Core Curriculum enables all students to study across disciplines, develop critical thinking skills, become effective communicators and engage in transformative learning experiences.

Elon students apply what they are learning by putting ideas into action through firsthand experiences. They are engaged learners who work alone, with peers and alongside faculty mentors to solve problems and master difficult material. They take fewer, more intensive courses that are designed for experiential learning and meet for four hours each week instead of the traditional three. Elon’s four-credit courses allow faculty more time to incorporate active learning strategies into their courses in addition to lectures, including group work, presentations, discussions, simulations, discovery-based research, case studies and field experiences outside the classroom. In classrooms, labs and studios, in the local community and abroad, and in internships and leadership roles, learning happens everywhere at Elon.

Honors and Fellows programs are for highly motivated students with similar interests. These students have access to learning opportunities with their cohort, including special courses, faculty mentorship, living-learning communities, research, internships, global study grants and scholarships. Programs include:

• The Honors Program for exceptionally motivated students in any major seeking a premier program with academic challenges.
• Business Fellows for majors in accounting, business analytics, economic consulting, economics, innovation and entrepreneurship, finance, human resource management, international business, marketing, project management or supply chain management.
• Communications Fellows for majors in journalism, strategic communications, cinema & television arts, communication design, digital content management, media analytics and sport management.
• Elon College Fellows for majors in the arts and humanities, social sciences, and natural and mathematical sciences.
• Engineering Fellows for students majoring in engineering.
• Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows for students in any major who want to maximize their leadership potential.
• Nursing Fellows for students majoring in nursing.
• Teaching Fellows for majors in education and teacher licensure programs.

The Odyssey Program, which is part of the Center for Access and Success, is a highly selective, merit-based program consisting of talented individuals who are academically strong, civically engaged, action-oriented leaders in their communities, who will benefit from an Elon education and demonstrate high financial need.

Students in the Odyssey Program take advantage of intellectually demanding and dynamic courses while furthering their personal and professional development. Throughout the four-year program, participants have many networking opportunities with fellow scholars and Odyssey alumni. Odyssey students also participate in a first-year summer orientation, have annual retreats, attend monthly class meetings, are involved in one-on-one academic and career planning meetings, and maintain an academic and leadership portfolio. The program includes a stipend for books and supplies, and a one-time $4,000 Global Study grant to be used for an approved study abroad or Study USA program.

Previous students in the Odyssey Program have included students who:

• Are the first members of their family to attend college (neither parent/legal guardian has completed a four-year college degree).
• Have not had the opportunity for enriching educational experiences due to personal circumstances or the socioeconomic climate of their community.
• Have achieved success despite hardship or challenge.
• Will bring cultural or socioeconomic diversity to Elon.
• Were eligible for the Federal Pell Grant.

At Elon, it’s not just what you read in a textbook or learn about in the classroom. It’s what you experience for yourself. As a signature component of academics and student life, the five Elon Experiences — study abroad, internships, service learning, undergraduate research and leadership — provide a natural extension to the work students do in the classroom and ensure that Elon graduates are prepared for both graduate school and careers. The five experiences are:

Study Abroad

When students study abroad, their perspectives change forever. From studying in South Africa for a semester, to learning about business in Vietnam during Winter Term, to exploring liberal arts, music and performing arts in Italy during the summer, the 150+ international programs offered through the Isabella Cannon Global Education Center prepare students for a lifetime of global understanding and exploration. As part of its commitment to provide all students with an opportunity to study in other locations, Elon also has a Study USA program that allows students to explore cultures, industries, geography and communities across the United States.

Internships

Elon’s nationally recognized Student Professional Development Center counselors work with undergraduates from their first year to create personal development plans, résumés and strong networking skills. Through internships, students earn academic credit, gain firsthand knowledge of the workplace and obtain professional skills that put them ahead of other college graduates. Elon partners with an expansive network of employers across the country who actively recruit students for internships and full-time positions.

Research

Working alongside faculty mentors, many Elon students undertake sophisticated research that is usually reserved for graduate students at other universities. This intensive undergraduate research experience challenges students to formulate complex questions, review the work of other scholars and conduct serious inquiry to uncover new knowledge and understanding. Elon students and faculty showcase their in-depth research across a broad range of disciplines annually at Elon’s Spring Undergraduate Research Forum, Summer Undergraduate Research Experience and at national research conferences and symposia.

Leadership

At Elon, students work collaboratively within diverse communities, gaining the confidence and competence to put innovative ideas into action for positive change. Elon’s Center for Leadership offers initiatives to all students, such as the LeaderShop workshop series for individual leadership development and student organization development programs. The center helps students advance their leadership knowledge and skills and learn how social identities and lived experiences inform and shape their ideas around leadership. Incoming students with a deep interest in leadership can apply for the Isabella Cannon Leadership Fellows, a four-year cohort experience designed to strengthen each student’s leadership skills and ability to impact themselves, their communities and their worlds.

Service

Students participate in academic service-learning that connects classroom work with needs in the community. They immerse themselves in service through alternative breaks, address food insecurity through Campus Kitchen initiatives and participate in Elon Volunteers!, the student-run hub for volunteerism at Elon. The Kernodle Center for Civic Life partners with local and global communities to advance student learning, leadership and citizenship, connecting students with volunteer opportunities at nonprofit, education and government agencies.

Elon operates on a 4-1-4 academic calendar, with two four-month semesters in the fall and spring separated by a one-month Winter Term in January. During Winter Term, students can engage in one intensive course (including core courses or special topics designed for Winter Term), complete a short-term study abroad experience, pursue an internship or conduct a research project.