In 1959, the Louisiana Legislature authorized the establishment of LSUA as a two-year commuter college under the governance of the LSU Board of Supervisors. LSUA registered its first students in September of 1960. The first degree program, an Associate in Nursing degree, was initiated in the Division of Nursing in 1964.
The additional academic divisions of Liberal Arts, Business Administration, and Sciences were created in 1967. In 1974, LSUA was accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. This accreditation was reaffirmed in 1984, 1994, and 2004.
Only one associate degree was available at LSUA from 1964 to March 1986, when the Associate of Arts and Associate of Science transfer degrees were approved. Over the next 15 years, several associate degree and certificate programs were added that the university continues to offer including:
From 1976 through Spring 2003, Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College offered the upper-level course work for select bachelor's degree programs on the LSUA campus through a program known as LSU Senior College. Initially, the Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Bachelor of General Studies were offered. The Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education was added in 1982-83.
ALEXANDRIA - LSUA and Bossier Parish Community College (BPCC) have signed a comprehensive 2+2 MOU, creating a seamless pathway for BPCC students holding an Associate of Applied Science in Fire Science to transfer directly into LSUA’s Bachelor of General Studies with a concentration in Disaster Science and Emergency Management.
Under the new agreement, students from BPCC who successfully complete their associate degree and meet LSUA’s admission requirements will be fully admitted into LSUA’s specialized disaster science program. After transferring up to 57 earned credit hours, students will complete an additional 63 hours at LSUA, fulfilling all requirements for the Bachelor of General Studies with a Disaster Science and Emergency Management Concentration. This clear, structured academic pathway supports students in achieving their educational and professional goals, addressing critical workforce needs in emergency management and disaster preparedness across Louisiana and beyond.
LSUA Chancellor Paul Coreil, Ph.D., said, “One thing LSUA and BPCC have in common is that we always try to meet our state's workforce needs. No one questions the need for skilled workers in disaster management and recovery. This partnership reflects our shared hope to create more opportunities for Louisiana students to succeed while helping build a safer, more resilient state. By aligning our academic programs, we are investing in both education and public safety.”
BPCC Chancellor Rick Bateman, Ph.D., noted, “Building pathways for our students to begin their college career with an eventual bachelor's degree in mind is important to us. BPCC grads are special students, because we think a lot about 'caring our students to success' with caring and attentive faculty and staff pouring into students who develop resiliency in pursuit of their educational goals.”
Both institutions anticipate this collaboration will boost enrollment, encourage degree completion, and provide real-world training that benefits students, communities, and emergency agencies across Louisiana. Regular program evaluations will assess student performance, providing data to refine the transfer process and continuously uphold rigorous academic standards. This partnership reinforces LSUA’s dedication to creating accessible higher education opportunities while fostering skilled professionals ready to serve their communities in times of crisis.
LSUA Provost Liz Beard, Ph.D., concluded, “We are thankful for the commitment of Dr. Callegari and Dean Whittington to follow through on an idea that was planted by the local community expressing a local need. Hopefully, this is the first of many opportunities for LSUA to develop bachelor’s degree pathways for BPCC students.”
For more information about LSUA’s Disaster Science and Emergency Management program and transfer opportunities, visit explore.lsua.edu.
Written by Adam Lord
Photo credit - Nathan Parish | LSUA Strategic Communications
Pictured [L-R] - Beau Bevan (BPCC Director of Fire Science), Dr. Michael Whitaker (BPCC Dean of Nursing and Allied Health), Dr. Rick Bateman (BPCC Chancellor), Dr. Paul Coreil (LSUA Chancellor), Beth Whittington (LSUA Dean of the College of Social Sciences), Dr. Jay Callegari (LSUA Associate Professor of Criminal Justice), Dr. Liz Beard (LSUA Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs)
On June 5, 2001, following approval by the Louisiana State University Board of Supervisors and the Louisiana Board of Regents, the Louisiana Legislature passed legislation (Senate Bill 853) allowing Louisiana State University at Alexandria to offer baccalaureate degrees. In December 2002, SACSCOC approved a substantive change request from LSUA, thereby accrediting the university to award both associate and baccalaureate degrees.
In Fall 2003, LSUA was reorganized into colleges and departments rather than divisions. The College of Arts and Sciences is comprised of the departments of Arts, English and Humanities; Behavioral and Social Sciences; Biological Sciences; and Mathematics and Physical Sciences. The College of Professional Studies is comprised of the departments of Allied Health, Business Administration, Education, and Nursing.
LSUA began offering four baccalaureate degrees in Fall 2003: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Bachelor of General Studies, Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, and Bachelor of Liberal Studies. Because there were students at LSUA who had completed upper-level course work through LSU Senior College, LSUA produced its first bachelor's degree graduates in December 2003.
A Bachelor of Science in Psychology, approved by the LSU Board of Supervisors in March 2005, and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics, approved by the LSU Board in June 2006, are now offered. In 2008 the university began offering Bachelor of Arts degrees in English, Communication Studies, and History, along with Bachelor of Science degrees in Business Administration, Criminal Justice, and Nursing.
In addition to the Department of Education offering courses that lead to an Associate of Arts in The Care and Development of Young Children and the Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education, courses are offered for alternative certification in the following areas: Elementary Education, Grades 1-5; Health and Physical Education, Grades K-12; and Secondary Education, Grades 6-12 for the areas of biology, English, history, and mathematics. Students who major in biology, English, history, or mathematics may declare Secondary Education as a minor in these areas of study, earning certification to teach that subject in Grades 6-12. Add-on certifications are available for Early Childhood Education (PK-3) and Special Education in area of existing certification(s).
The Oaks, the university’s first student housing complex, opened in the fall of 2007. The complex, which includes four apartment buildings and a community center.
LSUA hired its first athletic director in January 2007 and began competing in NAIA men’s baseball and women’s fast-pitch softball in Spring 2008. In January 2010, LSUA’s new on-campus baseball-softball complex was unveiled in an opening day dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony. The complex is located on the north side of campus adjacent to the Fitness Center and features seats transferred from the famed Alex Box Stadium on the Baton Rouge campus.
LSUA added five sports in 2014 including men’s and women’s basketball and soccer teams along with women’s tennis. LSUA joined the Red River Athletic Conference in 2014. The RRAC includes Bacone College (Okla.), Huston-Tilloston University (Texas), Jarvis Christian College (Texas), Langston University (Okla.), LSU-Shreveport, Our Lady of the Lake University (Texas), Paul Quinn College (Texas), Texas College, University of St. Thomas (Texas), University of Texas-Brownsville, University of the Southwest (New Mexico) and Wiley College (Texas) in addition to LSUA.
The university’s newest building, Mulder Hall, was opened in August 2011. The building is a 70,000 square-foot facility that provides 18 classrooms, 4 academic department office suites, 52 faculty offices, 2 conference rooms, a computer lab and a writing lab, a painting and drawing studio, a ceramics studio, a photography suite, and a black box theater that seats 175 people.