Johnson & Wales University Charlotte, N.C.
jayWOO
That feeling you get when you find a university that offers hands-on opportunities for real-world experience and the skills to start your future right now.
Johnson & Wales has two campus locations: Charlotte, North Carolina, and Providence, Rhode Island. In this book, you’ll explore JWU Charlotte.
In 1914, women were still fighting for basic rights in the U.S., such as the right to vote or own property. But this didn’t stop Gertrude Johnson and Mary Wales from challenging the status quo. These two enterprising women threw caution to the wind and opened their own business school with just one student and one typewriter. Their goal was simple — teach people skills that are in demand.
This goal has been the driving force of the school ever since, leading us to
expand our academic offerings to include programs in the arts and sciences, engineering, design, food, health and hospitality. With the same innovative spirit as Gertrude and Mary, we craft programs in response to the needs of all industries. We also blaze new trails to explore the industries of tomorrow and prepare students like you for what’s ahead.
Our founding mothers would be proud.
Lessons Actionin
Cutting-edge facilities let you experience your lessons instead of just learning them.
To learn, you must do. But where and how can you “do”? You’ll need the right tools and the right spaces. Hospitality students can’t learn how to manage a restaurant from a book — they practice leading a team through dinner service in the Hospitality Dining Lab. Baking & Pastry students can’t create delicious artisan breads or indulgent chocolate treats with a pen and paper. They need dedicated kitchens with state-of-the-art equipment to master their craft.
We have invested in the spaces and tools our students need to create, experience, innovate and do.
SAMPLE COURSE
BIO2206 Microbiology Lab
Students examine microbes in food and organisms to learn how to identify, grow and control microbial agents. You’ll also learn how to use the cutting-edge scientific equipment in the lab.
SAMPLE COURSE
FSM2055
Beverage Appreciation
In this course, you’ll conduct your own beverage tastings to learn about the history and taste profiles of different beverages and how to pair them with food.
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Lilly Langevin ’25
When she’s not in class, this Hospitality Management major is using what she’s learned while working at The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte as a guest relations agent. “JWU has played a huge role in this work experience because my courses have helped me learn, grow and develop the fundamental skills I need to work in the hospitality industry,” Lilly says.
“It’s been nice to have a supportive environment here that pushes you toward your dreams, even when they sound unrealistic or hard to reach.”
Alijah Jamison ’24
STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Alijah Jamison ’24
This Business Administration major has served as the student body vice president and the Commuters Connect vice president, as well as completing a prestigious internship at the White House — it’s safe to say that Alijah was born to be a leader.
FAVORITE JWU PROFESSOR ALIJAH’S COURSE SCHEDULE
Mo Moshtaghi
FAVORITE CLASS
Psychology or City as Text
DREAM JOB
Something in politics — I hope to return to the White House to finish the work I started as an intern.
• BUS3010 Business Analytics
• BUS4030 Global Strategy Capstone
• ECON1001 Macroeconomics
• PSYC1001 Introduction to Psychology
• RTL3055 History of Fashion
• ENTR4010 Change and Innovation Management
Major Breakthroughs
Industry-responsive areas of focus
JOHN HAZEN WHITE
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Liberal Studies
Psychology
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Business Administration
Business Studies
Corporate Accounting & Financial Analysis
Entrepreneurship
Fashion Merchandising & Retailing
Marketing & Advertising
COLLEGE OF FOOD INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Applied Food Science
Baking & Pastry Arts
Culinary Arts
Culinary Nutrition
Food & Beverage Entrepreneurship
COLLEGE OF HEALTH & WELLNESS
Health Science
Public Health
COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT
Baking & Pastry Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management
Culinary Arts and Food & Beverage Industry Management
Hospitality Management
Sports, Entertainment, Event — Management
Get Your Hands Dirty
(Not literally, unless you’re into that.)
We believe in diving straight into hands-on experiences from day one. Craft exquisite creations in our chocolate lab or bring your entrepreneurial dreams to life in the Student Innovation Lab. Master the art of food styling with top-notch multimedia equipment or add an international flair to your hospitality education by studying abroad.
Learning at JWU is immersive, exciting and transformative.
JWU students got an inside look at the research and development lab of Carolina Ingredients, a custom spice and seasoning manufacturer that specializes in nonGMO, vegan and organic products.
High Impact
It’s no secret — hands-on, experiential education is the best way to learn.
We’ve been perfecting this approach to education for over 100 years now — it began with one student learning to use a typewriter and has turned into thousands of students experiencing their desired fields through real-world projects, internships and Directed Experiential Education (DEE) courses.
Unique to JWU, DEE courses are project-based learning opportunities that allow students to work with industry partners to complete a specific project. JWU students have produced videos, created advertising campaigns, consulted on business practices and more.
Where the Wildcats Are
Pride, Courage, Character and Community are the four pillars of the Wildcat Way.
What type of person do you hope to become? If you strive to be someone who takes pride in themselves and their work, has the courage to take on new challenges, shows strength of character and makes a difference in their community — you’ll be in good company here. Our students have the drive to chase their goals and the grit to persevere.
They come from around the world and from all walks of life. Different cultures, perspectives and ideas all come together to produce an incredible environment for learning and living.
When you surround yourself with Wildcats, you can’t help but be inspired.
The Queen City
Besides the fact that this city rules, Charlotte is called the Queen City because it was named in honor of Queen Charlotte when it was settled in 1768.
You’ll find us in the Third Ward of Uptown Charlotte, one of the fastest-growing cities in the country. We’re just minutes from several professional sports arenas, such as the Bank of America Stadium (home to the NFL Carolina Panthers), as well as music venues, art and history museums, beautiful parks and incredible food.
Take a stroll through Charlotte’s unique neighborhoods or hop on the CityLynx streetcar line to easily travel through Uptown.
Club Join the
One of the best ways to get involved, make new friends and get that quintessential “college experience” is to join one of our 30 student-run clubs and organizations. There’s something for every interest — you can plan events for fellow students with the Campus Activities Board, learn how to mix drinks with the Bartender’s Guild or parry and riposte with the Wildcat
Student Clubs and Organizations
Fencing Club. And if you can’t find a club that matches your unique interests, you can start your own.
You’ll find clubs and organizations that span a variety of categories:
• Academic & Professional
• Advocacy & Awareness
• Arts & Media
• Club Sports & Recreation
• Culinary
• Cultural & Faith-Based
• Governance & Programming
• Fraternities, Sororities and Social Fellowships
We’d love to list them all, but like we said — there’s 30 of them!
CLUBS & ORGS
To learn more about life on campus and how to join in, visit jwu.edu/studentlife/clt
We Like Win to
“Teaming”
with Potential: Athletics
Our United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA) varsity sports allow student-athletes to strike the perfect balance between crushing it in the classroom and on the field (or the court, the fairway, the track — whatever playing surface they’re on). Our trophy cabinet has become quite full in the last few years alone, with stellar performances at the individual and team level.
In 2023 and 2024, JWU Charlotte Athletics won the USCAA Director’s Cup, which identifies the top overall athletic department among all USCAA member schools.
Whether you shoot hoops with the basketball team or hit the back nine with the golf team, you’ll be a winner here.
MEN’S
• Basketball
• Cross-Country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Tennis
WOMEN’S
• Basketball
• Cross-Country
• Golf
• Soccer
• Softball
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• Volleyball
We’ve Got Your Back
“We recognize that our students begin their journey at JWU equipped with unique lived experiences that shape their lives. We make an intentional effort to build an environment where students feel comfortable being their authentic selves.”
R.J. Kilgore
Director
of Academic Support Center for Academic Support
The health and wellness of our students is a top priority. We take a holistic approach to supporting students by offering services that emphasize the importance of mental health as well as physical, spiritual, academic and financial well-being.
ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES
Accommodations for learning disabilities, physical challenges and chronic medical conditions
ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER
Tutoring, writing labs and study skills workshops
BANK OF AMERICA SUMMER BRIDGE PROGRAM
An outreach program for accepted students from the greater Charlotte area to stay on campus for a 2.5week summer experience that will prepare them to transition into college life
COUNSELING SERVICES
Confidential professional counseling
HEALTH & WELLNESS SERVICES
Basic healthcare services, such as treatment of common illnesses, prescription refills, lab testing, wound care and STI screening and prevention
STUDENT ACADEMIC SERVICES (SAS)
Academic planning with advisors and counselors
STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES
Financial planning guidance to help you pay for college
Investing Your in Future
College is an investment that should pay off, so what is the return on JWU? It’s careerreadiness, a résumé that will stand out, a professional network built throughout your time here and the experience needed to land your dream job.
Our dedicated Experiential Education & Career Services office connects students with opportunities through career fairs, internships and networking events. They also offer résumé-building and mock interview sessions, so you’ll have all the preparation you need to ace a job interview.
95%
Career Outcomes Rate, which reflects students who are either employed, continuing their education, enlisted in military service or performing voluntary service within six months of graduation. Our rate is consistently higher than the national average.
1,260
internships were completed by students universitywide last year, and 81% of them were paid opportunities.
Accelerating Forward
What comes after your bachelor’s degree? You’ve got options.
If you’re a forward thinker and already planning for a graduate degree after your bachelor’s, you’re going to love our J2 program. J2 allows full-time JWU undergraduate students to earn their master’s degree faster by starting their graduate-level coursework in their senior year, saving time and money on an advanced degree.
You can also explore our combined undergrad/grad programs and pre-professional health programs.
As a JWU alum, you can also take advantage of our Wildcat Alumni Scholarship — a 25% discount on your graduate tuition if you qualify.
Learn more at jwu.edu/undergrad-to-grad. AFTER JWU
CONNECTED
JWU alumni worldwide 126,000+
Forever Wildcats
When you graduate from JWU, you’ll be joining an alumni network that spans the globe — our alums represent 128 countries.
JWU alumni often return to campus to recruit students at our career fairs, visit classes to share insight about their industry and network with the next generation of Wildcats. Their affinity for their alma mater runs deep, and they love nothing more than returning to their old stomping grounds.
Our
Alumni Family
What are Wildcat alumni up to?
There’s just something about Charlotte that makes our alumni want to stick around after graduating. They have changed the landscape of the city by opening successful restaurants and businesses, aiding in the creation of new industries and connecting with the locals through community service projects and programs.
courtesy
Photo
of Rico
Marcelo Photography
LIFE-CHANGING FOOD
Chayil Johnson ’17
The Community Matters Café is not only a restaurant, but a life-skills training program for graduates of the Charlotte Rescue Mission’s addiction recovery program. As the executive chef, Chayil works with these students every day to teach them new skills and prepare them to successfully transition back into the workforce.
CRAFT BEER CATALYSTS
Conor Robinson ’10 and Tara Goulet ’06
Back in 2011, there was only one beer brewery in Charlotte, which inspired these two craft-beer loving alums to team up with their friends and open their own neighborhood craft beer brewery. Birdsong Brewing Co. helped usher the craft beer craze into the city, and they haven’t stopped growing since.
Financial Aid Understanding
Once you’ve applied and been accepted to JWU, you’ll be assigned a personal financial planner to assist you and your family with creating a plan to pay for college.
DID YOU KNOW?
& 99% of our on-ground students receive institutional aid
First steps for U.S. students applying for financial aid:
1 Create your FAFSA student ID at fafsa.gov
2 Gather your license, social security card and bank statements
3 List JWU’s school code, 003404
We offer a variety of scholarships and grants for academic performance, membership in student organizations, veterans, financial need and more.
For more information, check out jwu.edu/payingforcollege
If you take part in an on-campus visit experience through November 17 of your senior year of high school, you could be eligible to receive a Visit Grant of up to $5,000, renewable for up to four years while at JWU!
This is Just the Beginning
Applying is the first step toward your future at JWU. We review every material you submit holistically. What are we looking for? Your story — who you are in your school, community, home and life — and who you want to become.
APPLICATION COMPONENTS
• Common Application OR JWU Application
• High school transcript(s)
• Essay (optional but encouraged)
• Standardized test scores (optional and totally up to you)
FALL 2025 APPLICATION DEADLINES
• Early Action 1 (EA1): November 17
• Early Action 2 (EA2): January 15
• Regular (Rolling): July 1
Apply (for free!) at apply.jwu.edu.
Notice of nondiscrimination: JWU does not illegally discriminate on the basis of any protected class, including age, ancestry, color, disability, familial status, gender or gender identity, genetic information, military service, national origin, pregnancy and related conditions, race, religion, sex, veteran status, and any other protected class, and prohibits all illegal discrimination, including illegal sex discrimination, in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and other law, including in admission and employment. Inquiries about Title IX/Section 504 may be referred to JWU’s Title IX Coordinator at titleix@jwu.edu . JWU’s nondiscrimination
be located at https://catalog.jwu.edu/ The university