East Tennessee State University

East Tennessee State University International Student Insurance

East Tennessee State University, located in Johnson City, Tennessee, was established in 1911. It was founded as the East Tennessee State Normal School, a teacher training institution. It became East Tennessee State Teachers College in 1925 and underwent a host of other name changes as its mission and course offerings expanded until 1963, when it officially adopted its current name. ETSU is the fourth-largest university in Tennessee and operates two off-campus centers in Kingsport and Elizabethton. Today, the school enrolls more than 14,000 students and counting each year. Its colors are navy blue and gold, and its athletic nickname is the buccaneers.

On Campus

ETSU’s unique degree offerings include an accredited program in Bluegrass, Old Time, and Country Music; the Appalachian Studies program; and the United States’ only master’s degree in storytelling. It also plays home to the James H. Quillen College of Medicine, which consistently ranks among the top schools in the country for rural medicine and primary care education. The school was also the first in the nation to offer a Ph.D. program in Sport Physiology and Performance.

Noteworthy campus offerings include the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services, featuring the Regional Resources Institute, the Archives of Appalachia, and the Reece Museum of art and history; and the Charles C. Sherrod Library. ETSU is also the U.S. Olympic Training Site for Weightlifting, Canoe and Kayak, and Bobsled and Skeleton.

Notable Alumni

Notable ETSU alumni include country musician Kenny Chesney; writers Jo Carson, Joseph Garber, and Phyllis Tickle; U.S. Federal Judge J. Ronnie Greer; musician Mo Sabri; and newspaper editor Kenneth P. Johnson.

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