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Santa Clara University is a private Jesuit university located in the heart of the Silicon Valley in Santa Clara, California. Situated on a lush, 106-acre campus featuring world-renowned gardens and state-of-the-art facilities, the university is located at the southern tip of the San Francisco Bay and is adjacent to San Jose, the tenth largest city in the Unites States. Santa Clara University opened its doors in 1851 as an all-boys preparatory school; however, the Mission Santa Clara de Asís, around which the school’s campus was built, dates back to 1777 when it was founded by Father Junipero Serra. By 1912 the school had grown to reach university status and in 1961, females were admitted into the program making Santa Clara the first coeducational university in California. Today, Santa Clara is known as one of the nation’s top educational institutions and the 6th best Catholic university in the US.
Academic Programs
Accredited through the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, Santa Clara awards baccalaureate, Master and doctoral degrees. Undergraduate degrees include Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Science in Commerce which are available in more than fifty majors, minors, and programs. Among Santa Clara’s graduate degrees, the school offers a wide range including Law; Business; Engineering; Counseling Psychology; Education; Pastoral Ministries; and through the Jesuit School of Theology.Santa Clara is dedicated to educating the whole person – mind, body and soul – and seeks to blend high-tech innovation with a social consciousness that is grounded in the Jesuit educational tradition. The university’s goal is to “help shape the next generation of leaders and global thinkers” who are committed to leaving the world a better place. To this end, Santa Clara places strong emphasis on deep community engagement including community programs, activities, and initiatives, all for the purpose of strengthening connections between the university, its neighbors and the world and creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn, grow, and serve.
Student Life
More than 9,000 students are enrolled at Santa Clara University, including over 5,000 undergraduates. The school’s campus features approximately ten residence halls, spacious library and learning commons, a Center of Performing Arts, a television studio, state-of-the-art classrooms, and the de Saisset Museum. The University’s ideal location provides students with a host of opportunities and sight-seeing options. The San Francisco Bay Area is one of the most culturally and environmentally diverse regions in the world and the Santa Clara campus is a short drive from both San Francisco and the Santa Cruz beaches. With almost 300 days of sunshine a year, plenty of opportunities exist for the adventurous, outdoorsy student, including surfing, biking, climbing, skiing and more; the Bay Area also has much to offer for students who prefer more quiet and subdued activities with the best bookstores and coffee shops around.Santa Clara is an NCAA Division I-AA school and is also a member of the West Coast Conference. Nicknamed the “Broncos” and playing under the colors of red and white, Santa Clara boasts nearly twenty intercollegiate sports. The campus features extensive athletic facilities, including the Malley Fitness center, the Sullivan Aquatic Center, and a new softball field opened in 2016.