# Towson University

> university in Maryland, United States

**Wikidata**: [Q1474129](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1474129)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Towson_University)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/towson-university

## Summary  
Towson University is a public university in Towson, Maryland, founded in 1866 as the Maryland State Normal School. It is part of the University System of Maryland and serves over 18,000 students, offering undergraduate and graduate programs across disciplines.  

## Key Facts  
- Founded in 1866 as the Maryland State Normal School; renamed Towson University in 1997.  
- Public institution and member of the University System of Maryland.  
- Student body: 18,921 students (as of latest data).  
- Faculty and staff: 1,276 employees.  
- Admission rate: 79% (2020).  
- Classified as a "master's college or university" with large programs by the Carnegie Classification.  
- Affiliated with organizations like the Association of American Colleges and Universities and the American Council on Education.  

## FAQs  
### Q: When was Towson University founded?  
A: Towson University was founded in 1866 as the Maryland State Normal School. It adopted its current name in 1997.  

### Q: Is Towson University a public or private institution?  
A: Towson University is a public educational institution and part of the University System of Maryland.  

### Q: What are Towson University's notable academic programs?  
A: The university offers programs through colleges such as the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics and is recognized for teacher education, business, and health sciences.  

## Why It Matters  
Towson University plays a significant role in Maryland’s higher education landscape as a comprehensive public institution. Originally established to train teachers, it has evolved into a diverse university with a strong focus on both undergraduate and graduate education. Its membership in organizations like the Association of American Colleges and Universities underscores its commitment to academic excellence and accessibility. With a large student body and a wide range of programs, Towson University contributes to workforce development and research in the region, particularly in STEM fields and the humanities.  

## Notable For  
- Founded as a teachers' college in 1866, reflecting its historical focus on education.  
- Transitioned from a normal school to a comprehensive university with name changes in 1935, 1960, 1976, and 1997.  
- Member of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities, emphasizing community engagement.  
- Athletics program (Towson Tigers) competes in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association.  

## Body  
### History  
Towson University was established in 1866 as the Maryland State Normal School, later becoming the Maryland State Teachers College at Towson (1935). It underwent several name changes, including Towson State College (1960), Towson State University (1976), and finally Towson University in 1997.  

### Academics  
- **Student Body**: 18,921 students.  
- **Academic Calendar**: Semester-based.  
- **Colleges**: Includes the Fisher College of Science and Mathematics.  
- **Carnegie Classification**: "Master's Colleges and Universities: Larger Programs" with a focus on STEM and professional disciplines.  

### Affiliations  
- Member of the University System of Maryland.  
- Part of the Association of American Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, and the National Humanities Alliance.  

### Campus  
- **Location**: Towson, Baltimore County, Maryland.  
- **Coordinates**: 39.3928° N, 76.6047° W.  
- **Address**: 8000 York Road, Towson, MD 21252-0001.  

### Admissions  
- **Admission Rate**: 79% (2020).  
- **Yield Rate**: 25% (2020).  

### Athletics  
- **Team Name**: Towson Tigers.  
- **Conference**: NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association.  

### Notable Alumni and Faculty  
- **Joyce Currie Little**: American computer scientist and faculty member.  
- **Jonathan Lazar**: Computer scientist and researcher.  

### Rankings and Recognition  
- Recognized for high research activity and undergraduate selectivity in Carnegie classifications.  
- Part of the Higher Education Leadership Initiative for Open Scholarship (since 2023).

## References

1. Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System
2. Virtual International Authority File
3. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120073011/https://secure.aacu.org/iMIS/AACUR/Membership/MemberListAACU.aspx)
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240120080233/https://acememberdirectory.azurewebsites.net/)
5. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20240126121019/https://nhalliance.org/about/members/)
6. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231220190347/https://www.heliosopen.org/members)
7. [Source](https://aascu.org/our-members/)
8. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20231016073235/https://www.crl.edu/membership/members)
9. [Source](https://www.cumuonline.org/membership/cumu-members/)
10. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
11. MusicBrainz
12. [Library of Congress Linked Data Service](http://id.loc.gov/authorities/classification/LD5351.T55)
13. GeoNames
14. [Source](http://www.towson.edu)
15. [Source](http://km.aifb.kit.edu/services/crunchbase/)
16. GRID Release 2015-12-14
17. GRID Release 2016-12-06
18. Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education
19. Quora
20. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions
21. [Source](https://orcid.org/signin)
22. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph
23. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
24. Name Suggestion Index
25. National Center for Education Statistics