University of San Francisco

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The University of San Francisco: A Brief History

The University of San Francisco was established as the City of San Francisco's first institution of higher education by the Jesuit Fathers in October 1855. The original college, known first as St. Ignatius Academy, was located in a simple frame building 26 feet long by 16 feet wide. The Academy opened its doors as a "Jesuit college for the youth of the city" under the guidance of Father Anthony Maraschi, S.J., founder and first president. The original site of the institution, on the south side of Market Street between Fourth and Fifth Streets, is currently the Westfield Shopping Center.

On April 30, 1859, the State of California issued a charter under the title of "Saint Ignatius College," empowering the College to confer degrees "with such literary honors as are granted by any university in the United States." The curriculum included courses in Greek, Spanish, Latin, English, French, Italian, algebra, arithmetic, history, geography, elocution, and bookkeeping.

In 1862, a new building for the College was constructed on the same site, on Market Street between Fourth and Fifth. The 1862 catalog stated the purpose of St. Ignatius College as the "giving of a thorough classical, mathematical and philosophical education." In June 1863, the first bachelor of arts degree was conferred.

In 1880, the College moved to a new building, which had been erected on Van Ness Avenue near the site of the Civic Center. This location currently is the site of the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. Twenty-six years later, the 1906 San Francisco fire and earthquake destroyed the institution and all its laboratories, libraries, and art treasures. The College was relocated to "temporary" quarters at Hayes and Shrader Streets within the year. From 1906 to 1927, St. Ignatius College was known as "the shirt factory" because of its resemblance to a number of hastily built structures south of Market Street, some of which actually were shirt factories.

In 1930, on the occasion of its Diamond Jubilee, at the request of alumni groups and civic, professional and industrial leaders of San Francisco, St. Ignatius College became the University of San Francisco.

Since 1855, the University of San Francisco has grown with the city whose name it bears. Today, USF, with its 55 acres, is San Francisco's largest independent university campus, located on a hilltop near Golden Gate Park, and overlooking downtown San Francisco and the Pacific Ocean. The coeducational student body represents all geographic sections of the United States and over 80 countries. Although USF retains its rich Jesuit Catholic heritage, its students and faculty are from all religious backgrounds.

The Jesuit traditions of scholarship and dedication to a liberal education are the foundation for all academic programs at USF. Undergraduate and graduate programs are offered in arts, sciences, business, and nursing. Professional programs are offered by the School of Nursing, School of Law, School of Business and Management, the College of Professional Studies, and the School of Education, which confers an Ed.D. degree.

The Jesuits continue their commitment to the University they founded and are joined in that commitment by other religious and lay faculty. The University's humanistic tradition views the individual mind and spirit as its most valuable resources. The academic philosophy at USF emphasizes enrichment of personal values, expansion of personal responsibility, and lifelong learning.

Early Beginnings, The College of Arts and Sciences

In 1925, what had been the departments of Arts, Sciences and Philosophy officially became the College of Arts and Sciences to reflect the changes taking place within the College, including an increase in the number of elective courses offered to students. In 1927, to accommodate the growing student population, the Liberal Arts building (Campion Hall) was completed and dedicated and the entire University was moved to its present location.

In 1931, under Dean Hubert Flynn, S.J., the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Science were established as major divisions. In 1982, the name was changed to reflect the incorporated status of both Colleges into one - the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Currently, the College is identified as the College of Arts and Sciences.

School of Law

The USF School of Law was established in 1912 with classes held in the Grant Building on Market Street. Matthew I. Sullivan, who later became Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court, was the School's first dean. In 1917, the School moved its classes to Hayes and Shrader Streets, the temporary quarters for the University following the earthquake and fire of 1906. In 1927, the School of Law relocated to the current USF campus. The school now occupies both Kendrick Hall and the Dorraine Zief Law Library. The latter 60,000 square foot, state-of-the-art building was completed in 2001. In 2003, Kendrick Hall, originally built in 1962 and expanded in 1982, was completely reconstructed, including its classrooms, seminar rooms, offices, student support services and lounges. In January 2004, the University of San Francisco School of Law formally dedicated the Koret Law Center, the complex which comprises both the reconstructed Kendrick Hall and the new Dorraine Zief Law Library. The law school facilities now count among the finest in the United States.

School of Business and Management

Founded in 1924, the business program began as a four-year evening certificate program. In 1925, the College of Commerce and Finance was established, and the first bachelor of commercial science degrees were awarded in 1928. In 1947, the College of Business Administration became a separate academic division under Dean Roy C. Hall. The College of Business has been accredited nationally since 1953 by the American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business. In 1974, the name was changed to McLaren College of Business when the program became headquartered in McLaren Center. In 1981, AACSB accreditation was achieved for the MBA program. In 1991 the name was changed to the McLaren School of Business. In 1999, the name was changed to the School of Business and Management, with the undergraduate program named the McLaren College of Business, and the graduate program named the Graduate School of Management. In 2003, the Graduate School of Management was renamed the Masagung Graduate School of Management. The School is committed to the preparation of men and women for leadership positions in the public and private sectors. A practical orientation is added to a theoretical foundation to prepare students for the increased complexity of organizational environments. The City of San Francisco provides a unique setting for this educational experience.

School of Education

In 1948, the University established the Department of Education under the leadership of Paul J. Harney, S.J. From its inception, and through the decades of the 1950's and 1960's, the Department had a highly reputed teacher preparation program. In addition to the teacher preparation program, the school offered several master's degree programs. In 1972 the Board of Trustees established the School of Education and in 1975 the first doctoral students were admitted to study for the newly approved Doctor of Education degree. The years from 1975 to 1980 represented an expansion period during which the enrollment grew rapidly in the doctoral programs, and innovative master's degree and credential programs were offered off-campus at various sites throughout the state. The School's focus has shifted to serving the professional growth needs of mid-career working adults. Currently, the School enjoys a well-established reputation as a leading School of Education dedicated to meeting the needs of professional educators through academic programs, research, and other services.

School of Nursing

The University of San Francisco School of Nursing began in 1948 as a department within the College of Arts and Sciences. This first nursing department was a cooperative effort with the Sisters of Mercy so that registered nurses from nearby St. Mary's Hospital could earn their baccalaureate degrees. An independent School of Nursing was formed in 1954 and accredited by the National League for Nursing when the first class graduated in 1958. Sister M. Beata Bauman, S.M., served as the School's first dean from 1956-1970. Classes were held in Campion Hall or in temporary postwar buildings from the government, called Quonset huts. Administrative and faculty offices were in St. Mary's Hospital until Cowell Hall was built in 1969. The baccalaureate program provides a strong liberal arts and science preparation coupled with professional knowledge in nursing theory and practice. The School provides various educational pathways for applicants who have graduated from high school, for college transfer students, and registered nurses. For individuals who have a baccalaureate degree in another area, the School of Nursing offers a Masters entry program. The School began offering a Master of Science program in Nursing in the Fall of 1984, and was accredited later by the National League for Nursing.

College of Professional Studies

The College of Professional Studies began as part of an ongoing university commitment to adult education. Evening classes had been offered through the University's Liberal Arts and Commerce division from 1925 until 1951. In 1952, in response to the educational needs of World War II and other veterans, the university opened its doors further to adult learners by creating an Evening College to serve the needs of daytime working professionals. During that period, the Evening College began offering coursework leading to degree programs for adult learners, and by 1971, non-credit and non-degree courses were being offered as well. The on-campus courses were delivered through evening and weekend formats. During the mid 1970's (not unlike many major colleges and universities) USF began to offer off-campus degree programs. The academic external degree programs were initially offered through the Office of Continuing Education, established in 1975. The academic degree programs were approved by the Board of Trustees in 1978. In 1979, the Board of Trustees upgraded the Office to the School of Continuing Education. The intent was to add to the university quality programs and instruction, quality faculty and students, and consistent enrollment patterns and revenue. In 1980 the Board of Trustees approved a name change to the College of Professional Studies (CPS).

The College's undergraduate and graduate degree programs have been designed to meet the unique needs of a working adult population. Through the Experiential Learning Center, the undergraduate programs offer CPS students the opportunity to petition for credit for learning acquired outside the traditional classroom. The College offers programs in Northern and Central California which are scheduled throughout the year and do not necessarily follow a traditional academic calendar.

Important Dates in the History of the University


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San Francisco, CA 94117-1080

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