Accreditation:  Winthrop's academic programs are measured by national standards of quality.  Winthrop University is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097:  Telephone number 404-679-4501) to award bachelors, masters and specialist degrees.  In 1974 the School of Business Administration developed a five-year plan that called for AACSB accreditation. Accreditation at the undergraduate level was achieved in 1979, and graduate accreditation was obtained in 1983. This national accreditation guarantees that curriculum and admission policies meet rigorous standards and that graduate faculty hold doctorates in the areas in which they teach, in addition to bringing extensive business experience to the classroom.