About Centenary

Centenary College of Louisiana is a private, four-year arts and sciences college affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Founded in 1825, it is the oldest chartered liberal arts college west of the Mississippi River and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS). Centenary is one of 16 colleges and universities constituting the Associated Colleges of the South (ACS) and is regularly rated as one of the top colleges in the South. Mentioned in the Templeton Guide's Colleges that encourage Character Development and in Peterson’s Top Colleges for Science, the College is also highly ranked in U.S. News & World Report. In 2008, the Princeton Review tagged Centenary College as one of the "Best 366 Colleges," and Newsweek named us the "Hottest Liberal Arts School You've Never Heard Of."

Quick Facts

Degrees Conferred: Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Music, Master of Business Administration, Master of Arts in Teaching

Student/Faculty Ratio: 12:1

78% of classes at Centenary are taught by individuals with the highest degrees possible in their fields. All classes, naturally, are taught by qualified professionals.

Enrollment 2007-08 Academic Year
938 total headcount, including
854 undergraduate students
84 graduate students

Academics

See the academics section for more information.

Majors: Accounting, Art, Biochemistry, Biology, Biophysics, Business, Chemistry, Communication, Dance, Economics, Education (Elementary, Health/Physical, Music, Science, Social Studies), English, Environmental, Sciences, Finance, Ancient & Modern Languages (French, German, Latin, Spanish), Geology, Health/Exercise Science, History, Liberal Arts, Mathematics, Music (Performance, Theory & Composition, Sacred), Neuroscience, Performing Arts, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Religious Studies, Sociology, Theatre

Pre-Professional Programs: Allied Health (Health Administration, Medical Technology, Nuclear Medicine, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy, Physician Assistant, Speech-Language/Pathology/Audiology 3/2), Church Careers, Computer Science, Dentistry, Engineering 3/2, Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine, Museum Management, Theology, Veterinary Medicine

Special Academic Programs

The Honor System

Students are bound by the Honor System, which is applicable to all academic work. The Honor Code is administered by an Honor Court of student Justices who are elected through nominations from both faculty and students. The Honor System assumes that honor is fostered and sustained only through the willing and earnest efforts of both faculty and students.

The Centenary Plan

The Centenary Plan offers every Centenary student a three-pronged program of experiential learning that includes Career Exploration, Service Learning and an Intercultural Experience.

Student Life

All full-time students, except those living at home and those seniors 21 years of age or older, live on campus and purchase one of the meal plans offered to residential students through Sodexho Food Service. Staff Resident Directors live in each residence hall and supervise upperclass Student Resident Advisors, who live on each residence hall floor.

Each residence hall room is equipped with two phone lines, two network-access lines, and free cable television.

Religious Life

On-campus religious organizations and activities for students include Icthus (United Methodist Student Movement), Baptist Collegiate Ministry, Roman Catholic mass, Canterbury House (Episcopal Church), Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Campus Crusade for Christ, and Soul Interest Bible study. Stepping Stones, a student-led ecumenical praise and worship service is held weekly in Brown Chapel.

Faculty

See faculty directory.

Athletics

Athletic Conference: The Summit League

Athletic Facilities:

  • Basketball Complex
  • Baseball/Softball Complex
  • Climbing Tower
  • Soccer Complex
  • Tennis Courts
  • Fitness Center
  • Gymnasium
  • Aerobic/Dance Room
  • Swimming Pool
  • Racquetball Courts
  • Weight Area

NCAA Division I: Centenary is the smallest Division I school in the nation. Centenary competes against other Division I schools in volleyball, soccer, gymnastics, basketball, cross country, baseball, golf, tennis, softball, and swimming.

Centenary Colors: Maroon and White.

Student-athletes: 61% of Centenary's athletes have a 3.0 GPA or higher.

For athletics additional information, see GoCentenary

For members of the Athletic Hall of Fame, see Centenary Athletic Hall of Fame

National Recognition for Centenary

  • "No. 8 Best Value" Among the Best Universities–Master's (By Region) in the South, U.S. News & World Report, "Great Schools, Great Prices.” August 2006, for 2007 Guidebook
  • No. 13 among the Best Universities–Master's in the South, U.S. News & World Report, August 18, 2006, and in Year 2007 Guidebook America’s Best Colleges
  • Among the "The Best 361 Colleges" for 2006-07, The Princeton Review, released August 22, 2006, for 2007 edition
  • Among the Top 10 (No. 3) Master’s Level Institutions With High Proportions of Undergraduates Studying Abroad, The Chronicle of Higher Education, 2003
  • Colleges that encourage Character Development, The Templeton Guide
  • "Among the Nation's 150 Best College Values," Money Magazine
  • Top 200 Colleges for Science, Peterson's Guides
  • "Best Colleges," Student Advantage Guide to the Best Colleges, Princeton Review
  • "Among the 87 Best," America's Best Christian Colleges
  • Top Colleges and Universities in the U.S. for the World's Best Students, Peterson's Competitive Colleges
  • Barron's Best Buys in College Education, Profiles of 247 Colleges, 2007 Edition, and previous editions
  • Peterson's Four-Year Colleges
  • Seventeen Magazine's Top 10 Coolest Small Colleges (No. 6), October 2002

Alumni Hall of Fame

Induction into the Alumni Hall of Fame is the highest honor conferred by the Centenary Alumni Association. See Members of the Centenary Alumni Hall of Fame

Centenary's Alma Mater

Centenary College of Louisiana's school song is known as the Alma Mater. The words are by James Church Alvord. The verse and chorus commonly sung at graduation and other school ceremonies are:

Verse
Where the sleepy, silver bayou
Gleams among the pines,
Watching o'er the throbbing city
Alma Mater shines.

Chorus
Forward, forward, Centenary—
Time and tide may fail,
But our hearts shall love thee ever—
Centenary, Hail.

For additional information see History of Centenary's Alma Mater.