Chartered in 1910, today’s University of Dallas in Irving, Texas didn’t start coming into focus until 1956, when it opened its doors to “students of all faiths and races”, welcoming the 96 initial students to a Catholic university offering graduate and undergrads numerous degree programs.
Though still very much in touch with it Catholic roots, UD is more than just a theological school, offering influential art and English programs, as well as being home to the Graduate School of Management, started in 1966 and offering “the largest MBA program in the southwest”. The present day student body of about 3300 is made up of largely full time undergrads and mostly part time graduate students (owing to theflexible distance learning and online options available) seeking degrees ranging from Bachelor to PhD.
With a core curriculum full of Western literature, history, and philosophy, as well as a healthy dose of Catholic learning and missionary opportunity, UD offers a number of majors of study for both the religious and academic learners. Majors trend from undergraduate offerings in Pastoral Ministry and Business Leadership, to Master’s tracts in numerous business and management areas, and PhD programs Literature, Philosophy, and Political Philosophy, with an interdisciplinary PhD with a core curriculum in great books (the only one in the nation). There are also fine pre-law and pre-med programs.
Online and distance learning at UD does offer some online degrees, but with “all foundation and core courses as well as many elective courses offered in both onground (weekend/eveing classes) and online formats, with many offered in a hybrid format”, much of the work towards any degree can be accomplished with minimal traditional study.
Online graduate programs are available through the School of Ministry, with both a Master of Theological Studies or a 4 year graduate certificate from the UD Catholic Biblical School program (an “intensive study covering the entire Bible). Online courses are the same as on campus and weekend/evening offerings, allowing the flexibility to learn in whatever combination works best for you, whether totally from home or mixing night, traditional, and online classes. There is also an MS program online, with Cybersecurity or Information Technology options that require no traditional learning, but, as with most online offerings, students can mix on campus in at will. The MS program can also be combined with an MBA, for a 63 credit dual degree that can be completed with minimal on campus work, in an accelerated or flexible, slow pace (there are year round classes with multiple starting points per term). MBA degrees are also almost entirely online, with 10 different degreeable majors open to online learning and hybrid learning.
Graduate certificates in a range of theological and business areas are also available for distance learners, from Accounting to Marketing Management. The Center for Professional Development at the UD Learning Center in Frisco provides most of the certification courses, as well as providing the onground learning. Online resources range from library to registration to advisement. There is also a fine study abroad opportunity on its satellite campus in Rome, Italy.
With a mix of religious dogma and academics, online and on campus learning, as well as the perks of a big city campus (10 minutes from downtown Dallas) with all the attention of a small school (12:1 student faculty ratio), the University of Dallas is a religious school with education on the brain.
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