Undergraduate Admission 2024 Viewbook - University of San Diego
Welcome
to the University of San Diego
At USD we’re guided by our mission and vision – and we hope you’re inspired to join us.
You’ll experience something not found anywhere else in the world. This is a place that puts community, faith and service at the center, changing the lives of our students while changing the world for the better. Our unique location and our stunning campus, situated along an international border, in a highly biodiverse environment, is the perfect backdrop for your college experience.
MISSION
We are a contemporary Catholic university, grounded in the liberal arts and anchored along an international border, advancing academic excellence to create a more inclusive, sustainable and hopeful world.
VISION
Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love.
Grounded in the Liberal Arts, Focused on the World
At USD, we believe in the power of interdisciplinary learning, and we challenge students to see the ways in which all subjects are ultimately interconnected in our society. USD’s liberal arts tradition teaches students how to learn holistically, think critically and communicate effectively across borders and boundaries. Our faculty prepares students to explore the complexity of the human mind to become compassionate and ethical leaders with a desire to transform the world.
100 TOP
NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES
U.S. News & World Report
MAJORS
Accountancy*
Anthropology*
Architecture*
Art History*
Behavioral Neuroscience
Biochemistry
Biology*
Biophysics
Business Accounting
Business Administration*
Business Analytics*
Business Economics
Chemistry*
Communication*
Computer Science*
Economics*
Electrical Engineering
English*
Environmental and Ocean Sciences*
Ethnic Studies*
Finance*
French and Francophone Studies*
History*
Individualized Major
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Integrated Engineering
Interdisciplinary Humanities
International Business*
International Relations*
Italian Studies
Liberal Studies
*Also offered as a minor
Marketing* Mathematics*
12:1
Mechanical Engineering
Music*
Philosophy*
Physics*
Political Science*
Psychology*
Real Estate*
Sociology*
Spanish*
Supply Chain Management
Theatre*
Theology and Religious Studies*
Visual Arts*
MINORS
Africana Studies
Asian Studies
Biomedical Ethics
Changemaking
Chinese
Classical Studies
Cognitive Science
Creative Writing
Entrepreneurship
Environmental Studies and Policy
Film Studies
Food Studies
German
Information Technology Management
Italian
STUDENT TO FACULTY RATIO AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
21
Latin American Studies
Law and Ethics
Law, Justice and Society
Leadership Studies
Management
Medieval and Renaissance Studies
Nonprofit Social Enterprise and Philanthropy
Philosophy, Politics and Economics
Public Relations
Women’s and Gender Studies
PRE-PROFESSIONAL ADVISING
Pre-Health Advising
Pre-Allied Health
Pre-Dental
Pre-Medical
Pre-Nursing
Pre-Occupational Therapy
Pre-Optometry
Pre-Pharmacy
Pre-Physical Therapy
Pre-Physician Assistant
Pre-Podiatry
Pre-Veterinary
Pre-Law Advising
Pre-PK-12 Teaching
ROTC PROGRAMS
Air Force
Army Navy
SPOTLIGHT: PROFESSOR CAWA TRAN
Cawa Tran, PhD, assistant professor of biology, studies symbiosis, specifically the connection between corals, sea anemones and microorganisms, and the algae and bacteria that live inside of them.
SMALL CLASSES
You’ll learn from our expert faculty members — not teaching assistants — in small classes of typically about 21 students. All our classes are led by faculty members who also serve as your academic advisors.
CREATE COMMUNITY
As part of the first-year experience at USD, students who share a common interest live and study together. Our Living Learning Communities (LLCs) ease your academic and social transition into college, expand your intellectual curiosity beyond the classroom and establish an immediate sense of community with your faculty members and fellow residents. While in an LLC, students take classes together and live near one another, supercharging the college experience and melding academics, co-curricular activities and community engagement.
A CORE CURRICULUM DESIGNED FOR YOUR SUCCESS
Learn the skills essential to cultivate innovation and prepare for your future pursuits and investigate questions of ethical, religious and philosophical inquiry. Our faculty have crafted USD’s core curriculum to create a learning environment where ideas and challenges are explored and discussed openly among a vibrant intellectual community. It spans critical competencies that employers routinely tout as the most important skills needed in the workforce. All USD undergraduate students, no matter their major, engage in a diversity of perspectives that can only come from critically examining art, history, literature and the human experience.
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We call “America’s Finest City” Home
Sunny San Diego is the eighth largest city in the country and provides our students with a rich array of academic, social and cultural opportunities. Our campus consistently ranks among the nation’s most beautiful – a perfect place to inspire students to make a difference in the world.
From the tranquil shores of Mission Bay to the lively atmosphere of Pacific Beach, and the captivating wonders of the Point Loma tide pools to the breathtaking views of Torrey Pines, our surroundings provide not just an endless source of fun and entertainment, but also a perfect backdrop for learning and exploring. Research opportunities, internships and cultural engagement are all an integral part of the USD experience. Students pair real-world experiences with academic learning, preparing them to excel in their chosen fields of study and contribute meaningfully to the world.
USD Baseball wins the West Coast Conference Tournament and earns the program’s 10th bid to NCAA Tournament.
ATHLETICS
USD is home to 17 NCAA Division I athletic teams and more than 40 club and intramural teams. All of our Division I Toreros compete in the West Coast Conference with the exception of football, which competes in the Pioneer Football League, and men’s rowing. Our Torero scholar-athletes win on the playing field, in the classroom and in the community, contributing thousands of volunteer hours throughout the region.
Basketball, Cross Country, Rowing, Soccer, Softball, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Track and Field, Volleyball
STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS
We offer a wide array of religious and multicultural student organizations, interest-based clubs, professional societies and community service clubs.
The Alcalá Bazaar allows students to discover the opportunities and resources available.
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2024 FOWLER GLOBAL SOCIAL INNOVATION CHALLENGE
Each year, the University of San Diego serves as a a nexus for global social innovation and entrepreneurship during the Fowler Global Social Innovation Challenge.
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RESEARCH IN REWIND: ACCESS TO A LIFE-GIVING RESOURCE
Created by USD faculty, the Water Justice Exchange is an initiative aimed at breaking down silos to encourage cross-discipline collaboration around water justice issues.
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COMMUNITY, CULTURE AND CONNECTION
“USD is proud to be part of Linda Vista… this community has given so much to our campus. We not only share a common space, we share a vision of a world where cultural diversity is both respected and appreciated.”
- Charlotte Johnson, Vice President of Student Affairs
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CARING FOR OUR COMMON HOME
Since 2010, USD’s Office of Sustainability has led initiatives to reduce the university’s energy consumption by more than 35 percent, water consumption by nearly 22 percent, and greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 percent.
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Build a More Inclusive, Sustainable and Hopeful World
At the University of San Diego, we are dedicated to fostering inspired and meaningful lives within a community that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Our vibrant Torero community is composed of students, families, staff and faculty members from various backgrounds and faith traditions that come together to create a culture of connections and shared passions.
In addition to an engaging and integrated academic experience on campus, USD empowers students to care for our common home by making a difference in our city, across our border and around the world. Our location at the edge of an international gateway uniquely prepares students to embrace the breadth and depth of ways they can become globally competent citizens. As a faith-based institution, we inspire and challenge our students to see the world, and themselves, with new eyes.
ENGAGE THE COMMUNITY
As one of only 30 Changemaker campuses around the world, USD is committed to providing opportunities for all students to engage in social change and social innovation both inside and outside the classroom.
PRACTICE SUSTAINABILITY
USD is at the forefront of efforts to care for our common home. We have one of the largest onsite solar energy systems at a private college in the U.S., offer more than 120 sustainability-focused courses across our curriculum, and is home to the Climate Collaborative, a San Diego-based network that seeks to advance climate planning solutions. Our campus, as well as our city and region, provide countless opportunities for our students and faculty members to learn how to be good stewards of our planet’s resources.
EXPLORE THE WORLD
USD has consistently ranked among the top schools for the percentage of undergraduates participating in a study-abroad program. Choose from more than 70 academic programs in more than 35 countries.
PREPARE FOR YOUR CAREER
All undergraduates participate in one of three career readiness programs — Passport, Compass or Connect — depending on their intended majors. These programs complement the curriculum and assist students in exploring their passions, developing career-building skills and connecting them with networks that lead to meaningful post-graduation plans.
Invest in Your Future
Higher education is one of the most important — and long-lasting — investments a family will make, and at USD, we’re committed to doing everything we can to help with the cost of attendance. More than 75% of USD students receive some financial assistance and we offer a variety of financial aid opportunities, including:
MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS
About 40% of our entering first-year class will receive a merit scholarship. These are based on a student’s grades and coursework in school, as well as a holistic review of a student’s cocurricular activities and involvement.
NEED-BASED FINANCIAL AID
ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS
Our Division I athletics program offers scholarships based on a student’s talents in their sports. These are awarded through the Department of Athletics.
All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than March 2 of their senior year of high school. A wide range of federal, state and institutional aid is offered based on a family’s income and the results of the FAFSA. For additional information about affording a USD education, go to sandiego.edu/AffordingUSD.
USD DREAM ACT / CA DREAM ACT
Undocumented students may be eligible to qualify for state and/or institutional aid, with financial need being determined by either the California Dream Act Application or the USD Dream Act Application.
TUITION / COST OF ATTENDANCE
Tuition: $58,420
Fees: $1,066
Average Room and Board: $17,270
CAREER OUTCOMES
Investing in a USD education will provide dividends for a lifetime. Our graduates become part of the Torero family — a global resource for networking. Each year, USD’s Career Development Center surveys recent graduates to see where they are six months after graduation. The following data is based on USD’s Class of 2023.
A TORERO GREETING, LIVE FROM OUTER SPACE USD Alumnus Matthew Dominick ’05 talks about life aboard the International Space Station.
Light the Way to Your Future
For more than 75 years, USD has been a beacon of hope even in the most challenging of times. Today, those challenges are as great as ever, and our students are preparing to meet them with the guidance and support from our faculty members and staff. Students are taught how to learn, how to think critically and how to communicate across disciplines with integrity and compassion.
The admissions process at USD is a holistic one, meaning that we consider many factors in identifying a student’s strengths, abilities and passions. The process starts by completing the Common Application (commonapp.org). For more details about our holistic application review process, go to sandiego.edu/WhatWeLookFor.
In addition to completing the Common Application, including USD’s Member Questions, all first-year applicants must submit:
