Established in 1956, the University of Dallas (UD) is a private Catholic university located in Irving, Texas, in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. It is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). Since the first class in 1960, University of Dallas graduates have won significant honors, including 39 Fulbright awards. The University of Dallas ranked as one of the best Western colleges by The Princeton Review (2011) and it ranked as number 13 among Western regional universities by U.S. News & World Report (2015). The University of Dallas is one of 20 in the United States to be endorsed by the Cardinal Newman Society, an association dedicated to the promotion and renewal of faithful Catholic education.
Academics
The University of Dallas is one of 22 schools graded “A” by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni for a solid core curriculum. The university’s rigorous Core Curriculum consists of approximately twenty courses (two years) of common study covering philosophy, theology, history, literature, politics, economics, mathematics, science, art, and a foreign language.
The Core Curriculum not only includes a set of required courses, but includes specific standardized texts, which permit professors to assume a common body of knowledge and speak across disciplines. Classes in the Core typically have an average class size of 16 students to permit frequent discussion. Approximately 83% of the 140 full-time faculty hold a doctorate or highest degree in their field.
Undergraduate students can enroll in the Constantin College of Liberal Arts, the Satish & Yasmin Gupta College of Business, or the School of Ministry. The university awards bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS) degrees. The University of Dallas also offers several master’s degree programs and a doctoral degree program with three concentrations.
In addition to the degrees obtainable at the other colleges, there is a separate Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts. This school administers master’s degrees in American studies, art, English, humanities, philosophy, politics, psychology, and theology, as well as an interdisciplinary doctoral program with concentrations in English, philosophy, and politics.
Campus Life
The University of Dallas is set amidst a 744-acre native Texas landscape. The Braniff Memorial Tower is the center focal point of the campus. The university’s brown brick buildings are reminiscent of mid-20th century modern architecture. Some of them were designed by the well-known Texas architect O’Neil Ford. On-campus residency is required of all students who have not yet attained senior status or who are under 21 and are not married, not a veteran of the military, or who do not live with their parents or relatives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
The University of Dallas experience extends far beyond the classroom. The university’s emphasis on common readings fosters a tight-knit student body engaged in common intellectual endeavors. The Blakley Library, established in 1962, provides access to approximately 300,000 volumes – including circulating books, serials, and special collections – as well as 84,000 online publications and 115 databases.
The athletics program is also administered in such a way that remains in keeping with the classic liberal arts tradition. The 14 varsity men’s and women’s sports teams – nicknamed The Crusaders – participate in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC), a league that dates back to 1962. Student Activities and Recreational Services also encourages members of the UD community to live healthy and balanced lives through access to the Fitness Center and University Pool, a variety of Recreation Programs, Intramural Sports, and Club Sports.
In addition to academics and athletics, there are many other campus-based activities for students. The University of Dallas has a student newspaper, yearbook, campus ministry, student government, volunteer opportunities, and over 50 student-run organizations. These include many academic clubs, College Republicans, International Student Association, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Entrepreneurship Society, Law Society, Calligraphy Club, Dungeons and Dragons, Juggling, Adventure Crew, Students for Veterans, Rotary International, Crusaders for Life, Crusaders for Kids, Best Buddies, and Paws of Love.
Fine Arts
The Haggerty Art Village, set in a wooded grove on campus, was ranked as one of 26 best studio art programs in the U.S. by Parade magazine in 2010. Haggerty Art Village features studios for printmaking, papermaking, painting, ceramics, sculpture, woodworking and metalworking. There is also a Mac lab for digital photography and web design seminars. The art history building features the Haggerty Art Gallery, which hosts an eclectic array of exhibits. One notable feature of the graduate art program is that it gives all accepted graduates a full tuition scholarship, allowing them to study for three years and receive both their MA and MFA degrees.
For medieval scholars and lovers of old books, the on-campus editorial offices of Dallas Medieval Texts and Translations have been publishing a series of Medieval Latin texts with facing English translations. The goal of the long-term project is to build a library that will represent the whole breadth and variety of medieval civilization. The series is open-ended; as of May 2016 there were 21 published volumes with 20 more in preparation.
The Rome Experience
It’s one thing to read the Great Books… it’s quite another to see where many of them took place. According to U.S. News & World Report, 80% of 2010 University of Dallas graduates participated in international programs, which is the sixth highest percentage of students from any higher education institution in the U.S. to study abroad. University of Dallas students, generally sophomores, are able to spend a semester at its campus southeast of Rome which includes a library, a chapel, housing, a dining hall, classrooms, a tennis court, a bocce court, a swimming pool, an outdoor Greco-Roman theater, working vineyards, and olive groves. During their Rome Experience semester abroad, students follow in the footsteps of the great artists and philosophers, gaining firsthand insight and experiencing the kind of context that can’t be found in a book.
O’Hara Chemical Sciences Institute
Since 1973, the O’Hara Chemical Sciences Institute has provided new students at the University of Dallas the opportunity to complete two semesters of General Chemistry during the summer. Industrious incoming freshmen, especially those planning to major in chemistry or biochemistry, can complete a whole year’s worth of general chemistry in eight intensive weeks, which frees up the regular semesters for other courses. (By completing general chemistry in the summer you can finish Organic Chemistry before going to Rome in your sophomore year.) This residential program is highly competitive. A maximum of twenty spots are awarded each year and require SAT or ACT scores and a letter of recommendation from a science teacher. Accepted students receive a scholarship that provides free room, board, and tuition for the program; students only have to buy their textbooks.
Homeschool Students
The University of Dallas is hosting an open house for high school homeschoolers on Thursday, July 28, 2016, from 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM. This open house is a great opportunity for you and your family to see all the unique educational opportunities that UD has to offer. This event is specifically designed for homeschool students and will answer all your questions about the application process, financial aid, etc. During your visit you’ll meet with a homeschool admissions counselor, learn about the university’s rigorous classical liberal arts curriculum, the famous Rome Program, the spiritual life at UD, and more. You’ll also be able to tour the campus, visit the residence halls, talk with current students, and have lunch in the cafeteria. Take advantage of this invitation to experience life as a Crusader! Register online today to reserve your place on July 28. If you have any questions, please call 972-721-5266 or email crusader@udallas.edu.
RSVP for the Homeschool Open House
Published on: Jul 5, 2016