College of Arts and Sciences is the historic core of the university and, with 31 majors, four masters programs, and 205 full-time faculty, the largest unit on campus. The newest major, architecture, approaches the profession from a humanistic perspective. All USD undergraduates take the college’s core curriculum, which exemplifies the intellectual vitality of a liberal arts education. The quality of our faculty and students is reflected in the college’s 22 honor and professional societies which include Phi Beta Kappa and Mortar Board.
School of Business Administration develops socially responsible business leaders with a global outlook and a passion for innovation. The school is accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, the top accrediting body for business schools globally. Business Week has ranked the school 28th among U.S. undergraduate business programs and 26th among U.S. part-time MBA programs. Our MBA program also was ranked 21st in the world for integrating social and environmental issues by the Aspen Institute’s Beyond Grey Pinstripes study.
Engineering offers a unique Bachelor of Sciences/Bachelor of Arts dual degree, the only one in the nation automatically earned by all graduates. Our curriculum emphasizes preparation for work in industry and the development of professionalism and values. Our students become innovators by participating in real-world engineering projects in such fields as alternative energy and health care technology. USD engineering was ranked 26th among non-doctoral engineering programs by U.S. News & World Report.
Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science is a premier private graduate
school with a public conscience. The school has been ranked in the top 10
percent of graduate nursing programs by U.S. News & World Report.
Our faculty are internationally recognized in their fields and have extensive
postgraduate research training. Faculty maintain vigorous programs of research
and the school has been awarded the largest research grant in USD history. Our
Nursing Clinical Simulation Laboratory is unique in the state of California and
provides expert clinical training using cutting-edge technology. On a global
level, our alumni are making a profound impact on health in high-level
leadership positions in academic and clinical settings.
Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies was founded in 2007 and works for sustainable peace and justice through innovative education, interdisciplinary scholarship, advanced practice and policy engagement. The master’s curriculum in Peace and Justice Studies is interdisciplinary and involves faculty from USD’s other schools as well as utilizing the school’s own core faculty, curriculum, dedicated facility and students. Areas of focus include conflict analysis and resolution, human rights, development and human security. KSPS students also benefit greatly from the school’s two practice-oriented institutes – the Institute for Peace & Justice and the Trans-Border Institute.
School of Law is a national leader in preparing future lawyers to be skilled attorneys, effective advocates, and socially responsible practitioners. The school is a member of the Order of the Coif, the most distinguished rank of U.S. law schools. U.S. News & World Report has ranked our tax faculty sixth in the nation. Our first-year students have an average LSAT score in the 89th percentile. Our alumni score higher than the state average as first-time takers of the California Bar Exam, one of the most difficult in the country.
School of Leadership and Education Sciences prepares educators and leaders to serve a diverse society by focusing on human dignity and the quality of life. The school granted the university’s first degree, a Master's of Education, in 1960, and it established the nation’s first doctoral program in leadership studies in 1979. Our alumni are pioneers in fostering curricular innovation and teaching excellence. In 2009, USD's 60th anniversary year, the school was ranked among the top 100 universities in graduate education program for the second year in a row by U.S. News & World Report.
