Overview
St. Thomas University Offers a Wide Range of Undergraduate Degree Programs for All Interests, Aptitudes, and Careers
St. Thomas has five schools and one college that make up its academic units. They are Biscayne College (the Institute for World Languages); the School of Business; the School of Leadership Studies; the School of Science, Technology, and Engineering Management; the School of Theology and Ministry; and the School of Law.
As a private university, St. Thomas offers a flexible set of general education requirements, including philosophy and religion, history and the humanities, the physical sciences and mathematics. St. Thomas University offers 25 major fields of study plus 4 pre-professional tracks. Major academic programs and departments at St. Thomas include the departments of business administration, education, communication arts, physical sciences and mathematics, professional management, humanities, and social sciences and counseling.
Students looking to take part in the 21st century's accelerating global leadership campaigns come to STU for political science, communication arts, and organization leadership. Supporting them will be the scientific leaders in such fields as biology, chemistry, computer science, computer information systems, mathematics, and engineering -- always popular courses at STU.
Academic stalwarts like religious studies, English, and history are always vibrant classes, while those who are called to serve -- in psychology, mental health counseling, marriage and family therapy, guidance and counseling, health care services, nursing, environmental justice, elementary education, and secondary education -- find their calling well-served by the dedicated faculty and dynamic classes at STU.
Finally, there are always ambitious entrepreneurs ready for what STU has to offer, so the business, sports administration, accounting, finance, economics, management, and tourism/hospitality courses and programs are always well attended.
Strict Undergraduate "General Education Requirements" Flow from STU's Catholic Mission of True Service to Humanity
St. Thomas University's general education requirements for undergraduates follow from its mission, and allow students to select from a broad range of courses that support lifelong, value-oriented education. To this end, courses in the humanities develop college-level skills of written communications, an appreciation for literary masterpieces, and an understanding of the values inherent in the fine arts. The natural world and quantitative reasoning coursework develops critical thinking and gives students the scientific method as a methodology for exploring the material world.
The culture and society requirement challenges students to assess the great achievements of the past, while philosophy emphasizes the "foundational wisdom of human reason," and religious studies explore the varieties of religion and religious experience, promoting "the search for meaning" (Ex Corde Ecclesiae) and inserting the Gospel into conversations with other university disciplines and society at large.
The Catholic identity requirements promote deeper understanding of the Catholic heritage of intellectual and artistic achievement. Finally, the diversity requirement promotes a vigorous, lively interchange among peoples and cultures. Additional services offered by the university to help students enhance their academic experience are the honors program, internship opportunities, and a summer study abroad program.
Dual-Enrollment Program Gives High School Juniors and Seniors the Opportunity to Take College Courses Before Enrolling
The dual enrollment program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to take college-level courses for college credit while still in high school. Juniors and seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) may participate by applying for admission to St. Thomas University's dual enrollment program via their high school's STU liaison. Offered at participating high school locations in the fall and spring semesters, courses are taught by St. Thomas University professors and/or high school teachers that meet STU's criteria.
All course credits received in the dual enrollment program are accepted by St. Thomas University and are typically transferable to other colleges and universities. While each high school has its own set of courses that it offers, dual enrollment courses at the participating high schools are the equivalent of St. Thomas University undergraduate courses, as listed in its undergraduate catalog.
Student Clubs and Organizations Offer a World of Interests to Balance the Academic Rigors with Action, Service, and Fun
St. Thomas University clubs and organizations range in their goals from academic and social to athletic and awareness raising. Being a part of a campus club or organization can greatly enrich the student experience here at St. Thomas.
Academic clubs include the Empire, an organization that promotes an appreciation of the studies of history and political science, as well as the Psychology Club that works to promote educational experiences to enhance students' understanding of the field. The Biology Club promotes study in the biological sciences and provides students with interest-centered extracurricular activities.
Cultural organizations have flourished on campus, too. The Association of Latin-American Students (ALAS) is an international organization, with a membership of students from Latin America and the Caribbean that encourages academic excellence for the Hispanic community while fostering cultural harmony among other ethnic groups. There are groups for other cultures and nationalities, as well.
In addition to other cultural, special interest, and fan clubs, there are several journalism and media clubs at STU. WSTU TV runs a closed-circuit television station with students as anchor personalities and technicians, while the "Driftwood" literary and visual arts magazine publishes poems, short stories, essays, screenplays, and photography submitted by students, faculty, and staff.
Life Is Not Just Study and Exams So While Varsity Teams Compete in the NAIA, STU Students Play Intramural Games Together
Recreational sports at St. Thomas University include a variety of year-round activities, including intramural flag football, softball, basketball, and volleyball. On-campus athletic facilities include 6 tennis courts, a swimming pool, 2 basketball courts, 4 baseball fields, a soccer field, 2 football fields, and a fitness and training center for general student use. The university is a member of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) and the Florida Sun Conference. St. Thomas fields men's basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis, and golf and women's soccer, softball, tennis, and volleyball.
Financial Aid Packages Combine Scholarships, Grants, and Work-Study to Help STU Students Pay for an Education
St. Thomas has always been committed to providing financial assistance to students who might otherwise be unable to afford an education. Year after year, up to 85 percent of STU students receive financial assistance, with recent years seeing an average aid award of $7,500 per student.
St. Thomas participates in federal, state, and institutional need-based financial aid programs and offers grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study opportunities. There are also a number of merit-based scholarships awarded to academically talented students, and athletic grants to young athletes of outstanding ability.
Some of STU's major scholarships include Honors Scholarships, St. Thomas Scholarship, Catholic High School Grants, Transfer Assistance Program, and International Student Scholarships.
