Southern Arkansas University

Southern Arkansas University (SAU) (formerly known as Southern State College, Magnolia A&M, and Third District Agricultural School) is a public four-year institution located in Magnolia, the seat of Columbia County in Arkansas, not far from the Louisiana state line.

Southern Arkansas University is located in Magnolia, which, as of the census of 2000, has a population of 10,858. The city is situated in the southwestern part of the state fifty miles east of Texarkana on U.S. Routes 79, 82, and 371.

Southern Arkansas University was established by an Act of the Arkansas Legislature in 1909 as a district agricultural high school for southwest Arkansas and was originally named Third District Agricultural School, often called by students and faculty “TDAS.” Its first term began in January 1911, with its curriculum including only subjects at the secondary school level. In 1925, the State Legislature authorized the school to add two years of college work and to change its name to Agricultural and Mechanical College, Third District (Magnolia A&M).

The university’s athletic nicknames are Muleriders and Lady Muleriders. The Muleriders take their name from the legend that the football team in the early 1900s had to ride mules from the college’s agricultural department to catch the nearest train 6 miles north of the college in order to reach out-of-town football games. The teams are the only sports team in the US with the nickname and are often listed in top 10 lists of the most unusual or unique mascot names.

Southern Arkansas University added a new graduate studies program in 2007, the Executive Master of Public Administration, headed by Dr. Pat Edgar.  The new program offers many courses, including social justice courses, research methods in Public Administration, Legal Issues of Public Administration and Ethics.

Courses Offered
Graduate Programs

• Master of Public Administration (MPA)
• Master of Arts in Teaching
• Master of Business Administration
• Master of Education
• Master of Science
• Master of Science in Agriculture
• On-line Programs
• Undergraduate Programs

Schools & colleges

• College Of Education
• College of Business
• College of Science & technology
• School of Graduate Studies
• Honors College
• College of Liberal & Performing Arts

Contact Details
Southern Arkansas University
100 E. University,
Magnolia,
Arkansas 71753-5000
Telephone: (870) 235-4000
Official Website: http://web.saumag.edu/