Atlanta University in 1895. Clark College Clark College was founded in 1869 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, which later became the United Methodist Church as the nation's first four-year liberal arts college to serve the primarily African-American student population. Originally named Clark University, the school was chartered and incorporated in 1877. It first offered instruction at the postsecondary level in 1879, and awarded its first degree (baccalaureate) in 1880. It became Clark College in 1940. It was named for Bishop Davis Wasgatt Clark, who was the first President of the Freedman's Aid Society and became Bishop in 1864. A sparsely furnished room in Clark Chapel, a Methodist Episcopal church in Atlanta's Summerhill section, housed the first Clark College class. In 1871, the school relocated to a new site on the newly purchased Whitehall and McDaniel Street property. In 1877, the School was chartered as Clark University. An early benefactor, Bishop Gilbert Haven, visualized Clark as the "university" of all the Methodist schools founded for the education of freedmen. After the school changed locations several times, Bishop Haven, who succeeded Bishop Clark, was instrumental in acquiring in South Atlanta, where in 1880 the school conferred its first degree. In 1883, Clark established a theology department named for Dr. Elijah H. Gammon. In 1888 the Gammon School of Theology became an independent theological seminary, and is currently part of the Interdenominational Theological Center. Clark College merged with Atlanta University on July 1, 1988 to form Clark Atlanta University. Philanthropy In 2020, MacKenzie Scott donated $15 million to Clark Atlanta University. Her donation is the largest single gift in the history of the institution. Campus Clark Atlanta University's main campus houses 37 buildings, including an art museum, on and is southwest of downtown Atlanta. Residential facilities All undergraduate students with under 58 credits hours are required to live on campus. First-Year housing Beckwith Hall (men) Holmes Hall (women) Merner Hall (women) Pfeiffer Hall (women) Upperclassmen housing CAU Suites East / West (co-ed) Heritage Commons (co-ed) James P. Brawley Hall (co-ed) Graduate housing Beckwith Village (co-ed) Academics Clark Atlanta offers undergraduate and graduate degrees through the following schools: School of Arts & Science School of Business School of Education School of Social Work Clark Atlanta is the most comprehensive institution in the Atlanta University Center, offering over 40 degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. Clark Atlanta is annually ranked on the list