Florida A & M University in Panama City, FL

The Florida A & M University in Panama City, FL is a public, coeducational university that is historically a black, land-grant institution. It is part of the State University System of Florida.

A large percentage of the students have been and still remain African American. Degrees offered by Florida A & M University include Arts and Sciences, Education, Engineering, Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences.

The A & M in the name stand for Agricultural and Mechanical, which means that the university's full name is the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University

The university was founded in 1887 and is the third oldest institution in the State University System of Florida. When it was founded in 1887, it was called the State Normal School for Colored Students. At that time it had only two instructors and 15 students, and one building.

FAMU currently offers baccalaureate degrees in 63 disciplines, master's degrees in 36 disciplines. PhDs are available in the following: educational leadership, and mechanical, chemical, civil, industrial, electrical and biomedical engineering. PhDs are also available in environmental sciences, physics and pharmacy.

The Florida A & M University has a College of Law located in Orlando. Degree programs are also offered in Marianna, Chattahoochee, Miami and Jacksonville.

Of the 13,000 students enrolled in the university, about 92% are African American. Most students (74%) are Florida residents. In 1998 the Southern Association of Colleges and Universities reaffirmed the university for another 10 years.

In 1997 the TIME Magazine-Princeton Review selected the Florida A & M University as the "College of the Year". In 1999 Black Issues in Higher Education cited that FAMU awarded "more baccalaureate degrees to African-Americans than any institutions in the nation."