Morgan State University was founded in 1867 as the Centenary Biblical Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. The institute’s role was to train men for ministry, but it opened up admission to women and remains coeducational today. It was renamed in 1890 to honour the Reverend Lyttleton Morgan, a travelling preacher who was the school’s first chairman.
Morgan State University became a public institution in 1939. However, it is not owned by Maryland State. Instead, it runs independently and is governed by its own Board of Regents.
Morgan State University is a historically black educational institution. It has 11 academic divisions: liberal arts; business and management; education and urban studies; engineering; computer, mathematical and natural sciences; graduate studies; architecture and planning; community health and policy; social work; global journalism and communication and the Honours College.
The university’s Patuxent Environmental and Aquatic Research Laboratory provides environmental students with lab and field research experience. The institute’s mission is to carry out research into solutions for society’s environmental problems.
The university has a history of sporting excellence, particularly in football, producing numerous top players. It was the first historically black university to field a lacrosse team. Athletic teams compete under the name Bears in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.
The university is also known for its musical excellence. The Morgan State University Choir has travelled around the world, performing at renowned music venues. Many of its performances have actually been televised and aired internationally. The choir performs with more orchestras annually than any other university choir.
