University of San Diego

Inspired by faith, informed by our core mission and values, and dedicated to the ongoing legacy of our founders, the University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative Changemakers confront humanity's urgent challenges.

USD is dedicated to the values originally articulated by its founders, Bishop Charles Francis Buddy of the Diocese of San Diego and Mother Rosalie Hill of the Society of the Sacred Heart. Those values are reflected in the University's rich Catholic intellectual tradition. USD's community of scholars are committed to educating the whole person—intellectually, physically, spiritually, emotionally, socially and culturally. The university provides a character-building education that fosters independent thought, innovation, integrity, analytical thinking, and an open-minded and collaborative world view.

USD welcomes and respects those whose lives are formed by different traditions, and we recognize their important contributions to a pluralistic society and to an atmosphere of open discussion and discovery, which is essential to a liberal arts education.

The University of San Diego sets the standard for an engaged, contemporary Catholic university where innovative changemakers confront humanity’s urgent challenges. The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic institution committed to advancing academic excellence, expanding liberal and professional knowledge, creating a diverse and inclusive community and preparing leaders who are dedicated to ethical conduct and compassionate service.

The University of San Diego expresses its Catholic identity by witnessing and probing the Christian message as proclaimed by the Roman Catholic Church. The university promotes the intellectual exploration of religious faith, recruits persons and develops programs supporting the university's mission, and cultivates an active faith community. It is committed to the dignity and fullest development of the whole person. The Catholic tradition of the university provides the foundation upon which the core values listed below support the mission.

The University of San Diego has crafted a mission statement and core values that help articulate the common ground upon which its principles and aspirations have been built. These ideals, combined with the vision statement and strategic goals, guide the university community in decisions and directions. They are the foundation of the work at the University of San Diego. Distinguished faculty. Academic rigor. A supportive learning community. Welcome to the University of San Diego. Research and scholarship strengthen the teaching and learning environment and invigorate intellectual inquiry across the University of San Diego.

Our faculty collaborate with undergraduate and graduates students on interdisciplinary research and scholarship that focus on real-world problems. Their scholarship is guided by a desire for impact — impact on their field, locally and around the globe.

Our centers and institutes offer faculty and students unique learning and research opportunities and provide direct benefits and services to the San Diego, national and international communities. With cutting-edge curriculum designed to meet the demands of today’s working professionals, the University of San Diego offers four unique master’s degree programs that provide the practical skills you need to ignite your career – all in a flexible online format.

Each of our online master’s degrees is designed to be completed in just 20 months. Coursework is taken year-round, with three 14-week semesters each year. Each 14-week semester consists of two courses running for seven weeks each back to back, allowing you to focus on one course at a time.

Discover your passions and make a difference in the world. It all starts here, at the University of San Diego. The University of San Diego celebrates innovative thinkers who are interested in creating lasting change. If you're looking to embrace changemaking in a globally minded community of scholars, you may have just what it takes to become a Torero. Our admissions teams are here to help you get started.

As a Torero, your college experience will take you far beyond the classroom. You'll live, study and explore among a tightknit community of students from across the nation and around the world. A vibrant campus culture, exceptional research opportunities and global adventures await you.

Continue your academic journey through one of our 35 master's programs or one of our three doctoral programs. Your studies will be enriched by the opportunity to work alongside engaging faculty members who are dedicated to developing ethical and compassionate leaders and scholars.

Pursue your JD, LLM or MS in Legal Studies through our full-time, part-time or summer programs. Our distinguished faculty will support you academically and professionally as you work toward attaining a successful - and meaningful - career in the legal field.

Explore what it means to be a Torero at the University of San Diego! From our commitment to developing global Changemakers, to our students applying their knowledge and research to empower underserved local communities, Toreros are demonstrating what a 21st century education looks like at a Catholic university. Through student organizations, community service opportunities and much more, it’s easy to get involved in our diverse and inclusive campus community.