Charleston Southern University, founded in 1964 as Baptist College, is an independent comprehensive university located in North Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston Southern enrolls a maximum of 3,200 students. Affiliated with the South Carolina Baptist Convention, the university's mission is promoting academic excellence in a Christian environment. Charleston Southern focuses its educational programs on five life preparation concepts: values and ethics, communication, leadership, service and wellness. The university is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools to award associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees. CSU students can choose from more than 30 undergraduate majors and graduate programs in business, criminal justice, and education as well as nursing (BSN and MSN programs are available). Each degree program is combined with a comprehensive liberal arts foundation which is designed to develop problem-solving and communication skills. The Derry Patterson Wingo School of Nursing (CSU's nursing program) offers a three year BSN program that works closely with area hospitals.