The University of Charleston was founded by the Southern Methodist denomination in 1888 as Barboursville Seminary in Barboursville, West Virginia, and became a college in 1889. In 1901, it was renamed Morris Harvey College in honor of a prominent donor.

During the Great Depression, the college moved to Charleston to take advantage of the larger metropolitan area. As a result of the merger between the Methodist church North and South, the college disaffiliated from the denomination and Morris Harvey College became independent in 1942.

From 1935 to 1947, the college was located in downtown Charleston, holding classes in several separate buildings. During these years, the college grew steadily, in part because of a merger with Kanawha Junior College and an affiliation with the Mason College of Fine Arts and Music. Recognizing the need for a unified campus, in 1947 construction of the present facilities began on the south bank of the Kanawha River.

The Board of Trustees changed the name from Morris Harvey College to the University of Charleston on December 13, 1978.

Today, the University still benefits from its location in the dynamic capital city and from the beauty of West Virginia's hills. Proximity to the seat of government, to the state's largest medical, commercial, and financial centers and to major research and manufacturing facilities provides excellent opportunities for experiential learning.

The University serves the community as a focal point for numerous intellectual, scientific, cultural, athletic and civic events. These interactions between the University and the community are vital to the achievement of the University's mission.

For more information about the University's history, visit the UC Historical Almanac.