The Toccoa Falls College curriculum is divided into three distinct but related areas: Biblical education, general-education, and professional-education.

As the college enters its second century, Toccoa Falls College continues its distinction of being a Bible college that offers studies in the liberal arts.

TFC is focused on students who are dedicated to Christ and aspire toward academic excellence in preparing to invest their lives either in full-time Christian ministry or in ministry through their secular employment.

TFC currently has 28 majors and 36 minors in nine different schools: Arts & Sciences, Bible & Theology, Business Administration, Christian Education, Communication, Counseling, Music, Teacher Education, and World Missions.

In the fall 2006 academic semester, the main campus of Toccoa Falls College enrolled 908 students representing 30 different Christian denominations from 34 states and 6 countries. Of the total number of students enrolled, 57% were women; 66% lived on campus; 12% were minority; 2% were international students.

In the fall of 1907, Dr. Richard A. Forrest founded the Golden Valley Institute at Golden, North Carolina, to provide educational opportunities for young people in the South who had been educationally deprived. The institute offered general and biblical studies to prepare dedicated persons for Christian ministries and service.

Realizing the need to be nearer a railroad for easier access, on January 1, 1911, Dr. Forrest purchased the Haddock Inn and 100 acres of land including the beautiful Toccoa Falls, near Toccoa, Georgia. On October 19, 1911, the institute moved from Golden Valley to Toccoa. Reorganized and enlarged, Toccoa Falls Institute which had existed in embryo in Golden Valley became a reality. Since many early students of Toccoa Falls Institute had not had the opportunity for a secondary education, general and vocational high school courses were offered along with the two-year track of biblical and theological training.

Under the direction of Dr. Forrest, the school kept pace with the advancement of educational standards in the United States. In 1928, the State of Georgia fully accredited the Toccoa Falls High School. This established a cooperative relationship with the county educational system that continued until the academy closed in 1976.

In 1937, the two-year Bible Course was expanded to a four-year Bible college program by adding to the biblical and theological studies a number of courses in the field of general education. The Legislature of the State of Georgia chartered the college division in 1939 and authorized the institute to grant the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Education. In 1957, the college was accredited by the Association for Biblical Higher Education, formerly the Accrediting Association of Bible Colleges, and on December 13, 1983, by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

During the history of the institution, there have been six presidents: Dr. Richard A. Forrest, Founder; Dr. Julian A. Bandy; Dr. Kenn W. Opperman; Dr. Paul L. Alford; Dr. Donald O. Young; and Dr. W. Wayne Gardner. In October 1975, in order to keep abreast of the current usage of terms, the Board of Trustees changed the name from Toccoa Falls Institute to Toccoa Falls College.

Dr. Forrest often referred to the school as a "tree of God's planting." The tree has expanded and has borne much fruit. It has also been severely tested on several occasions. In 1913, Haddock Inn, which housed all the school facilities, burned to the ground. In 1950, fire destroyed LeTourneau Hall, the women's dormitory. In 1958, the music building burned.

The severest trial of all came on November 6, 1977, when the dam holding back the lake above the falls burst and 40 acres of water surged across the lower campus leaving in its wake 39 dead, 60 injured, and millions of dollars in property damage. When the news of the tragedy spread, thousands of people responded. Local, state, and federal agencies, churches, colleges, businesses, and private individuals gave personal, material, and financial aid. With their help the college has recovered. (Read more about the Toccoa Falls flood of 1977. God has been faithful. Though tried by fire and water, His "tree" continues to flourish.

The college has always maintained a fellowship with evangelical Christian organizations. Dr. Forrest was associated with the Christian and Missionary Alliance for over half a century. He pastored the First Presbyterian Church in Toccoa for 25 years and upon his retirement became pastor-emeritus. An evangelist of national reputation, he preached regularly in churches of many different denominations and personally desired that the ministry of Toccoa Falls College be as broad as the wide fellowship of Christian believers. His heartwarming biography is told in the book, Achieving the Impossible--With God, by Lorene Moothart. The larger story of Toccoa Falls is found in A Tree God Planted by Troy Damron.

Visit TFC History for lots more about Toccoa Falls College's first 100 years!

Toccoa Falls College is committed to maintaining the highest standards of Christian scholarship.

The College is accredited to award associate and bachelor's degrees by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097; 404-679-4501).

The College is accredited to award associate and bachelor's degrees by the Commission on Accreditation of the Association for Biblical Higher Education (5575 South Semoran Boulevard, Suite 26, Orlando, Florida 32822-1781; 407-207-0808).

The College holds teacher education approval by the Professional Standards Commission of the State of Georgia (1452 Twin Towers East, Atlanta, Georgia 30334; 404-657-9000).

The College is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music, a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (11250 Roger Bacon Drive, Suite 21, Reston, Virginia 22090; 703-437-0700).

The bachelor degrees in the School of Business Administration are accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (P.O. Box 25217, Overland Park, Kansas 66225; 913-632-3009)

For 100 years, Toccoa Falls College has been committed to seeing Christian young adults develop character with intellect. Our students have the opportunity to integrate biblical truth, academic excellence, and intentional spiritual formation within a caring Christian community. Biology, Teacher Education, Counseling Psychology, Biblical Studies, and World Missions are just a few of the many majors offered by our experienced and caring faculty. Our graduates leave TFC with invaluable experiences, spiritual development and a marketable degree that includes practical learning and allows for vast professional opportunities. If you have committed your life to God's calling, Toccoa Falls College may be the place for you!

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Biblical Studies
Biology
Business Administration
Christian Education
Church Music (B.M.)
Counseling Psychology
Cross-Cultural Adult Education
Cross-Cultural Business Administration
Cross-Cultural Studies
Early Childhood Education
English (B.A.)
English Education (6-12)
Family & Children's Ministries
General Studies (A.A.)
History Education (6-12)
Interpersonal and Public Communication
Mass Communication
Middle Grades Education
Music
Music Education (B.S.)
Music Performance (B.M.)
Outdoor Leadership & Education
Pastoral Ministries
Philosophy & Religion
Pre-Law
Science Education (6-12)
Youth Ministries

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English
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Hebrew
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Outdoor Leadership & Education
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Pre-Ethnomusicology
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Teacher Education
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Youth Ministries