University of San Diego facts for kids
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Former names
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San Diego College for Women (1949–1972) San Diego University (1949–1972) |
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| Motto | Emitte Spiritum Tuum (Latin) |
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Motto in English
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Send Forth Thy Spirit |
| Type | Private university |
| Established | 1949 |
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Religious affiliation
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Catholic Church |
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Academic affiliations
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| Endowment | $652.5 million (2022) |
| President | James T. Harris III |
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Academic staff
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1007 |
| Undergraduates | 5,702 |
| Postgraduates | 2,529 |
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Other students
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810 |
| Location |
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United States
32°46′16″N 117°11′15″W / 32.77111°N 117.18750°W |
| Campus | Urban |
| Colors | Blue and White |
| Nickname | Toreros |
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Sporting affiliations
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NCAA Division I – WCC, Pioneer Football League |
| Mascot | Diego Torero |
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The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Catholic university located in San Diego, California. It's a place where students can learn and do important research.
USD started in July 1949 as two separate schools: the San Diego College for Women and San Diego University. These two schools joined together in 1972 to form the university we know today.
The university has many different schools, like the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering and the Knauss School of Business. It also has the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, which focuses on making the world a better place.
USD offers 89 different programs for students. About 9,073 students attend the university. This includes students studying for their first degree, those studying law, and others working on advanced degrees. USD is known for its high level of research activity.
Contents
History of USD
The University of San Diego began in 1949. That year, two separate schools were created: the San Diego College for Women and San Diego University. The College for Women welcomed its first students in 1952.
The university was founded by Bishop Charles F. Buddy and Reverend Mother Rosalie Hill. They built the campus on a piece of land called "Alcalá Park." This name comes from San Diego de Alcalá, a saint.
In 1954, the College for Men and the School of Law opened. These schools were originally in a building called Bogue Hall. For almost 20 years, these schools grew on Alcalá Park.
In 1972, the two schools officially merged. They became the co-educational University of San Diego. Since then, the university has grown a lot. Many people and groups have helped it develop over the years.
The university has expanded significantly since 1972. In the mid-1980s and again in 1998, there were big growth periods. A famous person named Joan B. Kroc, who was married to the founder of McDonald's, gave USD a large gift of $25 million. This money helped build the Institute for Peace & Justice.
Other generous people also donated millions of dollars. These gifts helped build important places on campus. For example, the Jenny Craig Pavilion is an athletic arena. The Donald P. Shiley Center for Science and Technology provides advanced science labs. The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies helps students learn about peace. The Degheri Alumni Center is a place for former students.
Thanks to these gifts, USD has been able to host big events. These include basketball tournaments and international meetings like the Kyoto Laureate Symposium. In 2005, the university made the campus more friendly for walking by closing off some roads. A new Student Life Pavilion (SLP) opened in 2009. It has dining areas and spaces for student groups.
In 2022, students started taking classes in the new Knauss Center for Business Education. This large building helps business students work together and come up with new ideas. In spring 2022, USD had over 9,000 students from many different countries and all 50 U.S. states.
Campus and Location
Alcalá Park is built on a hill overlooking Mission Bay. From the campus, you can see amazing views of San Diego.
The university's founders believed that studying in a beautiful place helps students learn better. So, the buildings are designed in a special style called Plateresque architecture. This style comes from the 16th-century Spanish Renaissance. It honors San Diego's Catholic history and was inspired by the Universidad de Alcalá in Spain.
The campus is located about two miles north of downtown San Diego. It sits on the northern side of Mission Valley. From the campus, you can see many parts of San Diego, like Old Town and Point Loma. You can also see the Pacific Ocean, San Diego Harbor, and even the Coronado Islands.
In 2022, Travel+Leisure magazine said USD's campus was one of the most beautiful in the United States. Best Choice Schools also ranked it the most beautiful urban campus in the country.
How USD is Managed
Even though USD is a Catholic university, it is not directly run by the Diocese of San Diego anymore. Today, a group of people called a board of trustees manages the university. However, the Bishop of San Diego is always a member of this board. He helps make sure the school keeps its Catholic identity.
What You Can Study
USD offers more than 80 different degrees. These include bachelor's degrees (your first college degree), master's degrees, and doctorates (advanced degrees). Students can choose from programs in seven different schools and colleges:
- College of Arts and Sciences
- Knauss School of Business
- Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering
- Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science
- Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies
- School of Law
- School of Leadership and Education Sciences
The College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Law are the oldest parts of USD. The Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies is the newest. USD also has a special honors program for undergraduate students. About 300 students join this program each year.
- Undergraduate Programs: 43 bachelor's degrees with many different areas of focus; 56 minor subjects.
- Graduate Programs: 36 master's degrees, a law degree (Juris Doctor), five special law degrees (LLM), and four doctorates.
USD is known as a "Doctoral University: High Research Activity." This means the university awards many advanced research degrees and spends a lot on research projects.
The School of Business was recently renamed the Knauss School of Business. This happened after Don Knauss gave the university $50 million. This gift helps educate future business leaders who are ethical and caring.
Rankings and Achievements
| THES World | 601-800 |
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| USNWR National University | 98 |
| Washington Monthly National University | 151 |
| Forbes | 132 |
| Background | Total | ||
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| White | 49% |
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| Hispanic | 22% |
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| Other | 10% |
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| Asian | 7% |
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| International | 7% |
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| Black | 3% |
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USD is the youngest independent university to be ranked in the top 100 by U.S. News & World Report. In 2021, it was ranked tied for 88th among all national universities.
The undergraduate Engineering program at USD was ranked tied for 13th in the U.S. for engineering schools that don't offer doctorates. The Catholic Graduate Nursing School was ranked #1 in the nation.
The Knauss School of Business was ranked the second-highest undergraduate business school in California in 2022. It has also been ranked #1 in the nation for real estate colleges for two years in a row.
In February 2022, Travel+Leisure magazine called USD's campus one of the most beautiful college campuses in the United States. In 2021, The Princeton Review ranked USD highly for its beautiful campus, quality of life, study abroad programs, and green practices.
Sports at USD
The sports teams at USD are called the Toreros. They compete in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) sports. Most of their teams are part of the West Coast Conference.
Sports Facilities
USD has many great places for sports, including:
- Jenny Craig Pavilion
- Torero Stadium
- Fowler Park and Cunningham Field
- Skip and Cindy Hogan Tennis Center
- USD Sports Center Pool
- USD Softball Complex
- McNamara Fitness Room
- Varsity Weight Room
- Practice/Recreation Facilities
- Erg Room
- USD Boat House
USD has hosted many important sports events. These include NCAA Tournament games for soccer and tennis. The Jenny Craig Pavilion has also hosted the West Coast Conference Basketball Championships several times.
Famous People Who Went to USD
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Jim Parsons, actor from The Big Bang Theory
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Kris Bryant, baseball player for the Chicago Cubs
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Frances Townsend, former Homeland Security Advisor
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Mario Testino, famous fashion photographer
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Thomas J. Whelan, a United States federal judge
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Theo Epstein, President of Baseball Operations for the Chicago Cubs
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Mark Brnovich, Arizona Attorney General
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Juan Vargas, U.S. Representative
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Many notable people have studied at the University of San Diego, including:
- Sattam bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family.
- Carlos Bustamante, former Mayor of Tijuana.
- George Coker, a retired U.S. Navy commander and Vietnam War hero.
- Salvatore Cordileone, Archbishop of San Francisco.
- Eric Musselman, a basketball coach for the University of Arkansas.
- Lowell McAdam, former Chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications.
- Juan Vargas, a U.S. Representative.
- Lorenzo Fertitta, an entrepreneur and sports promoter.
- Andrew Firestone, a television personality and businessman.
- Monte Brem, founder and CEO of StepStone Group.
- Ryan Zinke, former United States Secretary of the Interior.
- Jonny Kim, a U.S. Navy physician, Navy Seal, and Astronaut.
- Todd Gloria, current Mayor of San Diego.
- John “Jocko” Willink, an author, podcaster, and retired Navy SEAL.
- Riley Adams, a Major League Baseball player.
- Alison Armitage, a former swimmer and actress.
- Paul Sewald, a Major League Baseball player.
- Robert Kardashian, a lawyer.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de San Diego para niños
