The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic university in San Diego, California. USD (an abbreviation also used by the University of South Dakota) offers more than sixty bachelor's, master’s, and doctoral programs. The university consists of six schools: the School of Business Administration, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the School of Law, the School of Nursing & Health Science, the College of Arts & Sciences, and the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies.
History
Chartered in 1949, the University opened its doors to its first class of students in 1952 as the San Diego College for Women. Most Reverend Charles F. Buddy, D.D., then bishop of the Diocese of San Diego and Reverend Mother Rosalie Hill, RSCJ, a Superior Vicaress of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, chartered the institution from resources drawn from their respective organizations on a stretch of land known as "Alcalá Park," named for San Diego de Alcalá. In September 1954, the San Diego College for Men and the School of Law opened. These two schools originally occupied Bogue Hall on the same site of University High School, which would later become the home of the University of San Diego High School. Starting in 1954, Alcalá Park also served as the diocesan chancery office and housed the episcopal offices, until the diocese moved to a vacated Benedictine convent that was converted to a pastoral center. In 1957, Immaculate Heart Major Seminary and St. Francis Minor Seminary were moved into their newly completed facility, now known as Maher Hall. The Immaculata Chapel, now no longer affiliated with USD, also opened that year as part of the seminary facilities. For nearly two decades, these schools co-existed on Alcalá Park. Immaculate Heart closed at the end of 1968, when its building was renamed De Sales Hall; St. Francis remained open until 1970, when it was transferred to another location on campus, leaving all of the newly named Bishop Leo T. Maher Hall to the newly merged co-educational University of San Diego in 1972. Since then, the University has grown quickly and dramatically increased its assets and academic programs with the financial capital coming primarily from the student body. The community, including local patrons and businesses, has also been integral to the University's success.
Arguably, the most dramatic growth since the 1972 merger has occurred since the mid-1980s. In 1998, Joan B. Kroc, philanthropist and wife of McDonald's financier Ray Kroc, and a strong advocate for world peace, endowed USD with a gift of $25 million for the construction of the Institute for Peace & Justice. USD further benefited from the general trend of yearly, unprecedented tuition increases among private universities, as well as multi-million dollar gifts from weight-loss tycoon Jenny Craig, inventor Donald Shiley, investment banker and alumnus Bert Degheri, and an addition $50 million Mrs. Kroc left the IPJ upon her passing. These gifts made possible, respectively, the Jenny Craig Pavilion (an athletic arena), the Donald P. Shiley Institute for Science and Technology, the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice, and the Degheri Alumni Center. Consequently, USD has been in the media spotlight hosting the West Coast Conference (WCC) basketball tournament in 2002 and 2003, and has been able to host prestigious functions such as the Kyoto Laureate Symposium at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice. Shiley's gift has provided the University with some of the most state-of-the-art teaching laboratories in Southern California. In 2005 the university expanded the Colachis Plaza from the Immaculata along Marian Way to the east end of Hall, which effectively closed the east end of the campus to vehicular traffic. That same year, the student body approved plans for a renovation and expansion of the Hahn University Center made possible by a $30 million gift from an anonymous alumus, which began at the end of 2007.
Environment and location
Alcalá Park sits atop the edge of a mesa overlooking Mission Bay and other parts of San Diego, California. The philosophy of USD's founderess and her fellow religious, relied heavily on the belief that studying in beautiful surroundings could improve the educational experience of students. Thus, to complement the natural beauty of the area, the university's buildings are designed in 16th-century Spanish Renaissance architectural style, paying homage to both San Diego's Catholic heritage and the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain. Many students and faculty choose to live on campus and immerse themselves in this architectural atmosphere and setting.
The campus is located approximately two miles north of downtown San Diego, on the north crest of Mission Valley in the community of Linda Vista. From the westernmost edges of Alcalá Park the communities of Mission Hills, Old Town, Point Loma, Ocean Beach, Bay Park, Mission Beach, and Pacific Beach can be seen. Also, views of the Pacific Ocean, Mission Bay, San Diego Harbor, the Coronado Islands, and La Jolla are also prominent throughout the campus.
Administration
Though a Catholic university, the school is no longer governed directly by the Diocese of San Diego or any religious order. Today, a layboard of trustees governs the university's operations. However, the Bishop of San Diego, the Most Rev. Robert H. Brom, retains a seat as a permanent member and retains control of the school's designation of "Catholic."
Academics
The University of San Diego offers more than 60 degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. USD is divided into six schools and colleges. The College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law are the oldest academic divisions at USD; the Kroc School of Peace Studies is the university's newest school. USD offers an honors program at the undergraduate level, with approximately 300 students enrolled annually.
U.S. News & World Report ranks USD 110 nd among "National Universities" and the Princeton Review includes USD in its guidebook of the 351 best universities. In 2009, the Princeton Review ranked USD as the #6 Most Beautiful Campus.
For potential applicants, the average GPA of admitted freshmen for fall 2007 was 3.76. The average SAT I score was 1175 and the average ACT score was 26.1.
The Institute of International Education said in their Open Doors 2009 Report on International Educational Exchange that The University of San Diego ranks second among national universities for its percentage of undergraduate students participating in study abroad programs. In the '08-'09 year USD had a 78.5 percent undergraduate student participation rate, up from the previous year’s 60 percent participation and No. 6 ranking. The current ranking, USD’s highest ever in the IIE report, continues a sharp increase for the university, which, as recently as 2006, was not ranked. In 2007, USD was ranked 26th among the top 40.
College of Arts and Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. The university is also a member of Mortar Board national honors society for college seniors, and participates with the National Society of Collegiate Scholars in recognizing the superior academic achievements of first and second year students. Fulbright, Truman, Goldwater and Strauss finalists and scholars have earned their undergraduate degrees at USD.
USD offers an MFA in Dramatic Arts in collaboration with the world renown Old Globe theater. This partnership makes one of the finest acting programs anywhere. Only seven students are chosen each year, and they are given full scholarships and stipends (worth more than $50,000/year). But most important, students are given the chance to perform at the Old Globe, one of America's finest regional theaters. Guest directors have included Jack O'Brien, Daniel Sullivan, Nicholas Martin, John Rando and Matthew August.
School of Law
Founded in 1954, the School of Law is accredited by the American Bar Association and is a member of the American Association of Law Schools. University of San Diego School of Law is one of only 80 ABA-accredited law schools to hold a membership in the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of American law schools. Well-respected, legal educator, Brian Leiter has often regarded the University of San Diego School of Law as having one of the strongest law faculties in the nation. In 2003-2004, Leiter ranked the school 22nd in the nation in terms of scholarly impact. In 2007, Leiter ranked the school's faculty 27th in the nation based on mean scholarly impact. The University of San Diego School of Law is also notable for attracting a strong student body, consistently placing amongst the top 40 US law schools. In San Diego, one out of every four practicing lawyers is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law. Among its several projects is the Center for Criminal Justice Policy and Management of which former
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