Morehouse College

Although times change, Morehouse’s mission remains steadfast: to produce academically superior, morally conscious leaders for the conditions and issues of today, whether “today” is post-Civil War or turn of the new millennium.

Martin Luther King Jr. led the country through one of its most transforming civic movements; David Satcher resuscitated the issues of health care disparity and access; Maynard Jackson taught the world the value of diversity and equal access as the first African American mayor of Atlanta; Donn Clendenon scored in the history annals and was part of a miracle when he was named a World Series MVP; and Shelton “Spike” Lee continues to challenge how the world views blacks in life with critically acclaimed films.

At Morehouse, we are redefining the meaning of leadership. It’s not about attaining the highest title or position, but about attaining skills such as compassion, civility, integrity and even listening. Morehouse is poised to become the epicenter of ethical leadership as we continue to develop leaders who are spiritually disciplined, intellectually astute and morally wise.

And leadership first begins at home. Nearly three-fourths of our students volunteer within the community. This volunteerism connects them to their communities and helps them see that, as individuals and as a squadron of educated black men, they can make a difference.

Many Morehouse students also travel or study abroad, awakening them to the complexities of a global community. In today’s age, ethical leaders must have an appreciation of different perspectives and customs, and must also be prepared to negotiate the discordant views that are converging from the four corners of the globe. Morehouse is committed to training the leaders who will change their communities, the nation and the world.

There is a world of professions and universities to choose from, and today, black men have access to them all. But many of the best and brightest choose Morehouse. Most people—even the students themselves—are awestruck by the sight of so many talented, studious and highly motivated young black men seeking knowledge and fulfillment. New Student Orientation, when hundreds of fresh-faced freshmen march into King Chapel for the first time, is just as moving as Commencement, when they emerge, queued in a line 500-members strong, as well-trained scholars and leaders. Nowhere else in America, or the world, does this happen. Morehouse has traditionally graduated more black men than any other school, anywhere.

We call that something the “Morehouse Mystique.” The phrase is not easily defined or understood, but it’s also not just a clever slogan. The Mystique is joining a brotherhood like none other. And after being ignored, stereotyped or marginalized, it’s about finally finding that “home” that, deep inside, you always knew existed, where you are the heart, soul and hope of the community. And where you are not alone. This is what makes Morehouse unique. No other institution in the world can match the Morehouse experience. Other colleges and universities may call, but African American men continue to choose the ‘House.

Morehouse's history is so impressive, so tangible, that you can't help but be filled with a keen sense of awe and respect for the men who have come to this place before you and gone on to make outstanding contributions to society. You know their names: Nobel Peace Prize laureate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., filmmaker Shelton “Spike” Lee, Olympic Gold Medalist Edwin Moses, and countless other Morehouse Men among your family members, friends and mentors who are leaders in their churches, communities and professions.

Now, you are contemplating walking in their footsteps. You are attracted to Morehouse, in part, because you perceive within yourself the potential for the greatness you have come to admire in men such as these. You are at a crossroads in life's journey, where history and the future intersect.

Morehouse has grown from a handful of students learning in the dim light of a church basement in 1867, to a world-respected institution with a chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and a rigorous, increasingly international curriculum.

Our nearly 3,000 students are exposed to emerging technologies and prepared for global leadership in diverse careers. As a Morehouse student, you may choose from 35 areas of study en route to earning the Bachelor of Arts or the Bachelor of Science degree.

The College's mission is to develop men with disciplined minds who will lead lives of leadership, service and self-realization, emphasizing the continued search for truth in the liberal arts tradition. As the nation's only male, historically and predominately higher education institution for African Americans, special emphasis is given to the African American experiences and the impact that people of the African diaspora have made in a global context.

To engage this historic mission, the College provides a rigorous academic curriculum with a focus on leadership development, scholarship, research and global awareness, and a student development co-curriculum that enhances self-awareness and actualization through -- but not limited to -- opportunities for service learning and travel abroad studies.

From motivated, inspired students hurrying to class or taking a moment to relax on the "Yard"; to jazz, spoken word, and energetic debate wafting on Brown Street; to the prodigious words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. '48 etched on the base of a statue of this nation's greatest civic transformer; life on the Morehouse College campus is full of sight, sound, and wonder.

An enriched environment—where there is an equal emphasis on ideas about intellectualism, social responsibility, and manhood, as well as on the tools for advancing academic excellence—is necessary for a Morehouse brand of world-class education. Lectures, seminars, and conferences, along with a plethora of student organizations, social events, and athletic activities, mean that life on campus is always exciting and engaging. As a residential college, where all ideas are fodder for transformative dialogue—both within the classroom and the residential house—Morehouse is fertile ground, where potential and possibility inevitably morph into purpose, scholarship, and leadership.