University of Scranton

University of Scranton is a private, co-educational Jesuit university. Located in Scranton, Pennsylvania, it was founded in 1888 as Saint Thomas Aquinas College by the Bishop William G. O'Hara. In 1938, it achieved university status and changed its name. In 1942, it came under the administration of the Society of Jesus. Today, the University of Scranton is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities.

University of Scranton is composed of five colleges: The College of Arts and Sciences, the largest, Dexter Hanley College for adult and part-time students, The Graduate School, Arthur J. Kania School of Management and the J.A. Panuska, S.J., College of Professional Studies.

Contents

1 The campus 2 Areas of study 3 National recognition 4 Curriculum 5 External links

The campus

The University of Scranton is situated on a 58 acre (235 km²) urban campus in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania. Since 1984, the university has built some 25 new buildings and renovated over 24 others.

• The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library features a 24-hour study area and wireless and wired Internet access throughout the entire building.
• St. Thomas Hall houses many major administration offices as well as many departments of the College of Arts and Sciences, including communication, physics and history. St. Thomas Hall also has a small chapel that is the site of daily mass.
• Nearby Loyola Hall of Science includes state-of-the-art science laboratories.
• The John J. Long, S.J., Center and adjoining William J. Byron, S.J., Recreation Complex house the Department of Exercise Science as well as intercollegiate and intramural basketball, wrestling, handball, tennis, racquetball, volleyball and swimming facilities.
• The lighted Fitzpatrick Field offer a turf playing surface for soccer, lacrosse, and field hockey.
• The university has 13 traditional residences, housing mostly for freshmen. Francis E. Redington Hall and John R. Gavigan Hall provide housing for upperclassmen students. The university owns over 20 additional houses and apartment buildings in the areas surrounding the campus, offering over 30 housing options for students, including Mulberry Plaza and Madison Square, two townhouse-style complexes featuring air conditioning, full kitchens, living areas and bedrooms.
• The Houlihan-McLean Center boasts a magnificently-restored concert hall.
• THe McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts includes the theatre and English departments, as well as a 300-seat theater with a modified thrust stage and "black box" studio theatre.
• The Gunster Memorial Student Center includes several of the university's student services offices as well as two food court-style cafeterias. The third floor Pocono Northeast Room offers a salad bar, traditional home-style meals, grilled and cold sandwiches and foreign meals. The second floor food court, renovated in 2004, includes a Quizno's sub and stations dedicated to Mexican food and grilled items as well as a small store.
• McGurrin Hall houses classrooms, laboratories and offices for the counseling and human services, health administration. human resources and nursing departments.
• Leahy Hall includes an auditorium, single-style student residence rooms and physical therapy department.
• Brennan Hall, built in 2000, boasts 71,000 square feet (7,000 m²) of space of classroom and office space. Included is a 148-seat auditorium and the McShane executive conference center, named in honor of former University President and current President of Fordham University, Joseph McShane, S.J.
• Hyland Hall includes the university bookstore and art gallery, as well as general-use classrooms.
• O'Hara Hall includes offices for Graduate School and Dexter Hanley College as well as other university administration offices including the annual fund, public relations and alumni relations.
• The Estate, the former home of the William Scranton family, includes the president's dining room and offices for the university's public initiative departments. The university's catering department is also housed here.
• Alumni Memorial Hall, formerly the university library, houses the psychology department as well as offices for the school's technology administration and computer maintenance center.
• Campion Hall provides housing for the Jesuit community. Many of the priests teach or hold administrative positions at the university or nearby Scranton Prepatory School.
• The university also owns a conference and retreat center at Chapman Lake.

Areas of study

The university's largest majors are biology, communication, business and physical therapy. Students in the university's premedical program frequently find internships at any of the three hospitals located in Scranton.

National recognition

The university has been honored with over 100 Fulbrights and recongnized in several national publications, including U.S. News & World Report, Kaplan's Publishing and Forbes Magazine. In addition's the school's acceptance rates for medical and law schools are well above the national averages.

Curriculum

The university offers a comprehensive liberal arts program. Students are required to take the core courses in public speaking, computer literacy and composition. Students are also required to take two theology courses, two philosophy courses, as well as an elective in one of these two areas. Filling out the general education requirements are 6 credits in science courses, 6 credits in writing intensive courses, 6 credits in cultural diversity courses, 3 credits in a math course, 12 credits in humanities courses and 3 credits in physical education.

External links

• University of Scranton (http://www.scranton.edu/)
• UofSNow.com, the university's independent Internet voice (http://www.uofsnow.com/)
• Scranton Student Magazine (http://www.scrantonstudent.com/)