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Webster University is a private, non-profit, international university with a main campus located in the Saint Louis area of Missouri. Established in 1915 by the Sisters of Loretto, a Catholic religious organization, the school was progressive for its time, founded for the purpose of providing higher education for women and was one of the first Catholic women’s colleges west of the Mississippi River. Originally named Loretto College, the first male students were not admitted until 1962. In 1967 the Sisters of Loretto transferred ownership of the school to a lay Board of Directors, making it the first Catholic college in the nation to be completely under lay control. In 1983 the school, by then known as Webster College, formally changed its name to Webster University, as a reflection of the institution’s growth and achievements.
Academic Programs
Webster University is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and has been so since 1925. The University’s mission as a global institution is to ensure “high quality learning experiences that transform students for global citizenship and individual excellence.” A globalized curriculum is a distinctive hallmark of a Webster University education; each student is exposed to a worldwide network of students who live, study, and work around the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia.Webster University is made up of several colleges and schools, namely the College of Arts & Sciences, the Leigh Gerdine College of Fine Arts, the George Herbert Walker School of Business & Technology, the School of Communications, and the School of Education. In addition, Webster University boasts a number of interdisciplinary centers which serve as “incubators of academic research and issue-focused institutes contribute to the student experience and advancing educational excellence.” More than 80 undergraduate programs are currently offered at Webster University as well as over 50 graduate programs. Students may have the opportunity to study in a wide range of locations across the globe, including in the US, Austria, China, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Thailand.
Student Life
Nearly 17,000 students are currently enrolled at Webster University, including more than 3,000 undergraduates. Students come from all across the United States to study at Webster University as well as from more than 100 countries. Diversity and inclusion are at the core of Webster University and the university strives to foster a welcoming environment. Webster University’s main campus is located in the beautiful, vibrant area of Webster Groves. All freshmen students enrolled at Webster University’s main campus are required to live in University Housing during their first two years, with certain exceptions. First-time, freshmen housing is offered in West Hall and Maria Hall, while the East Hall, Webster Village Apartments, Glen Park Apartments, and Big Bend Apartments are reserved for transfer and returning students as well as graduate students.Webster University’s varsity teams compete at the NCAA Division III level and the athletic department is a member of the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SLIAC). Webster University’s varsity sports include basketball, cross country, soccer, tennis, track, and field, men’s football, baseball, and golf, and women’s softball and volleyball.