Tusculum University

Tusculum College is among the oldest education institutions in the United States, dating back to 1794. It was the first college in the state of Tennessee, and in fact predates the founding of the state by two years. Tusculum was founded by two pioneering Presbyterian ministers for the benefit of settlers striving to build a home in the new territory.

The name Tusculum is a reference to the home of Cicero, the Roman emperor and philosopher, whose work on civic duty inspires the university’s teaching to this day.

More than 60 majors, minors and pre-professional programmes are on offer at Tusculum. They cover a wide range of academic fields, from psychology to sports management, encompassing the arts, sciences, humanities and professional studies.

Since 1991, Tusculum has branded itself as a civic arts college, rather than a liberal arts college. The university has a “focused block” calendar of two eight-week terms per semester. The purpose of these extended periods is to develop a deep understanding of topics in citizenship and democracy alongside a student’s major and to allow students the opportunity to take part in in-depth experiential learning activities such as studying abroad.

Two museums housing collections relating to the history of the college and the surrounding area can be found on campus. Museum studies students have the chance to use the museums for hands-on experience in professional museum practice.

The town of Greeneville was developed close to the university, and today Tusculum lies in one of its suburbs. The Appalachian Mountains and Nolichucky River lie close by, and the town itself has several parks and recreation areas.