Purpose & Mission

McNeese State University is primarily a teaching institution whose mission is successful education of the undergraduate students and services to the employers and communities in its region. McNeese uses a traditional admissions process based on courses completed, GPA, and standardized test scores.

All academic programs at McNeese State University emphasize in-depth disciplinary knowledge and its application to academic and professional environments. McNeese graduates achieve success through the studied acquisition of content knowledge, the demonstration of discipline-specific skills and dispositions as well as mastery of general education competencies such as critical thinking, effective communication, and independent learning.

Audiences

McNeese is responsible for serving:

  • Residents of southwest Louisiana who have completed high school and are seeking either a college degree or continuing professional education;
  • Two-year college transfer students, particularly those from SOWELA Technical Community College;
  • Employers in the region, both public and private, school districts, health care providers, local governments, and private businesses;
  • Economic development interests and regional entrepreneurs; and
  • The area community, by providing a broad range of academic and cultural activities and public events.

Array of Programs and Services

  • An array of liberal arts programs at the baccalaureate level – arts and humanities, social sciences, natural sciences – appropriate to a teaching institution with a predominately undergraduate student body.
  • Baccalaureate programs in education, engineering, business, nursing, selected allied health fields, mass communication, and criminal justice.
  • Masters programs primarily related to education, engineering, arts and sciences, nursing, and business.
  • Support for area K-12 schools seeking college general education courses for advanced students and assistance in ensuring that their graduates are college- and career-ready.
  • Services specifically designed to meet the needs of regional economic development (small business development, support for entrepreneurs, problem-solving).

Special Programs/Features

  • Programs in innovation, entrepreneurship, and small business development supported by the Southwest Entrepreneurial and Economic Development Center.
  • Agricultural and related sciences with opportunities for experiential learning at three working farms and the Center for Advancement of Meat Processing and Production.
  • Custom academic programs and professional certifications integrated with area business and industry.
  • Applied undergraduate research partnerships in engineering, sciences, allied health and the Louisiana Environmental Research Center.
  • Cultural events are designed to connect McNeese with the regional arts community and K-12 education.