The First College Degrees

Few milestones in an individual’s life history are more significant than the attainment of a college degree. This achievement can catalyze a career, lead to advanced degrees and lifelong learning, and establish an ethical framework and social consciousness to guide one’s life decisions. In June of 1863, Saint Ignatius College, the antecedent of USF, conferred its first undergraduate college degree. The recipient was Augustus J. Bowie, who later earned a doctorate in engineering from the Royal Mining Academy in Germany and pursued a successful career as an international mining consultant, superintendent, and author of books on hydraulic mining. In June of 1867, Saint Ignatius College granted its first graduate degree to Alexander O’Neill, a physician practicing in San Francisco. Dr. O’Neill obtained his bachelor’s degree from St. Ignatius College, received his medical training in San Francisco, and returned to his alma mater to receive his master of arts degree.

In May of 2001, during our institution’s 142nd commencement, a total of 1,123 USF undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees were conferred on USF students, including 177 JD and 22 master’s degrees from our law school. Among the undergraduate degree recipients, 15.3 percent reported that they “plan to attend graduate school soon after graduation” and 56.6 percent reported that they “plan to attend graduate school sometime in the future.” Mr. Bowie began a fine tradition.

From 1996 to 2001, the USF Pre-Professional Health Committee successfully placed 52 USF graduates into medical schools, including such institutions as Yale, UCSF, Stanford, and Johns Hopkins. From 1996 to 2000 (the latest year for which national statistics are available), 56 percent of our applicants successfully gained admission to highly competitive medical schools, which compares favorably to national figures that indicate that only 38 percent of all applicants were admitted to medical schools during this same time period. Our 2001 alumni directory currently lists 187 physicians who hold one or more degrees from USF. Although our institution has never had a medical school, it’s fair to say that from the time of Dr. O’Neill, USF has lived up to its mission of offering ?undergraduate, graduate and professional students the knowledge and skills needed to succeed as persons and professionals, and the values and sensitivity to be men and women for others? (Vision, Mission, and Values Statement, September 11, 2001).


Source Note: For timely information on undergraduate and graduate degrees conferred at our most recent commencement ceremonies, I am indebted to Kevin Wilson, associate registrar, Academic Services. Likewise, James Ostrowski, USF’s law school registrar, furnished the most recent information on degrees conferred by our law school. Michael Kotlanger, S.J., USF’s archivist, furnished details on Mr. Bowie’s life after graduating from Saint Ignatius College. The Office of Institutional Research houses information on our graduating student surveys from May 1997 to the present, as well as data on USF students who have pursued professional degrees in the health-related professions since 1996.