Founded in Wilmington, Delaware, in 1821, Widener University is composed of eight schools and colleges that offer liberal arts and sciences, professional, and pre-professional curricula. An independent, doctoral/research-intensive institution chartered in both Pennsylvania and Delaware, Widener is today a four-campus university offering more than 100 programs of study leading to associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees. The university's schools include the College of Arts and Sciences, School of Engineering, School of Hospitality Management, School of Human Service Professions, School of Law, School of Business Administration, School of Nursing, and University College.
The first four of Widener's predecessor institutions were located in Delaware: Bullock School (1821-1846), Alsop School (1846-1853), Hyatt's Select School for Boys (1853-1859), and the Delaware Military Academy (1859-1862).
The Pennsylvania legislature granted the institution a universal charter on April 8, 1862. In 1867, Pennsylvania Military Academy (1862-1892) purchased 20 acres of land in Chester, Pennsylvania, on the same site that is today the core of the university's 100-acre Main Campus. In order to indicate without ambiguity that the academy was vested with collegiate powers and privileges, the name was changed in 1892 to Pennsylvania Military College (1892-1966).
In 1966, Pennsylvania Military College officially became PMC Colleges (1966-1972). The name Pennsylvania Military College was retained for the all-male, cadet college and the name Penn Morton College was adopted for an undergraduate coeducational civilian component.
The modern structure of the university was introduced in 1972, when the cadet corps was disbanded and the academic offerings were reorganized into the forerunners of today's schools and colleges. Concomitantly, the name Widener College (1972-1979) was adopted in recognition of Philadelphia's Widener family, a descendant of which served as chair of the university's Board of Trustees.
In recognition of its comprehensive offerings, Widener College became Widener University in 1979. Graduate programs had been introduced in 1967, starting with a master's program in engineering and the MBA program. Subsequently, the university has added a wide variety of master's and doctoral programs, most begun in the 1980s.
The university acquired the Delaware Campus in 1976. Today, the 40-acre campus in suburban Wilmington houses the Widener University Law Center, a branch of University College, and graduate offerings from the School of Business Administration. The Harrisburg Campus, opened in the fall of 1989, houses a branch of the School of Law and graduate social work, education, and nursing offerings. All other academic programs are offered on the Main Campus in Chester.