Dr. Simon Green Atkins established Slater Industrial School in 1892. It became the first school to offer high school courses for African Americans. The academy became a public school in 1895 and it name was changed to Slater Industrial and State Normal School tow years later. It started offering teaching certificates in 1905 and the General Assembly made it a four year school in 1925 the name was change to Winston-Salem Teachers’ College. It was named Winston-Salem State College in 1961 and became Winston-Salem State University in 1969.
Since its founding in 1892, Winston-Salem State University has grown from a one-room frame structure to more than 39 buildings located on 117 acres; from one teacher to more than 300 faculty members; and from 25 pupils to a student body of more than 5600. The university offers 60 programs: 45 bachelor’s degree programs; nine master’s degree programs (business administration, computer science and information technology, elementary education, English as a second language and linguistics, master of arts in teaching, nursing, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and rehabilitation counseling); and six certificate programs (non-profit administration, family nurse practitioner, advanced nurse educator, add-on licensure program in English as a second language, special education, academically/intellectually gifted, and computer programming).
From 2001-2007, U.S.News and World Report magazine has ranked Winston-Salem State University among the top regional, public, liberal arts colleges in the South in its annual “America’s Best Colleges” guide.