About St. Thomas University

Mission: St. Thomas is a Catholic university with rich cultural and international diversity committed to the academic and professional success of its students who become ethical leaders in our global community.

St. Thomas University (STU) is a private, nonprofit, Catholic university in Miami Gardens, Florida. At STU, you will immerse yourself in an environment that is overflowing with diversity, rich in tradition, and ripe with opportunity.

STU strives to prepare its students to be a leader in every area of their life—professionally, personally, and spiritually. The University has a long Catholic tradition of academic excellence, embracing new concepts and technologies, carrying out impressive programs of research over a wide variety of disciplines.

The University traces its roots to the Universidad de Santo Tomas de Villanueva, founded in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, by American Augustinians with assistance from European Augustinians. When the Castro government expelled the Augustinians from Cuba in 1961, several of the American Augustinians came to Miami, where they founded Biscayne College in 1961. The University came under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Miami in 1988, conferring upon St. Thomas the distinction of being the only Catholic Archdiocesan sponsored university in the State of Florida. When University status was attained, the name of the institution was changed to St. Thomas University to reflect its Cuban heritage.

STU has 24 Undergraduate Majors, 21 Graduate Majors, 7 Doctoral Programs and 1 Professional Program (Law) in four colleges: Gus Machado College of Business; College Of Health Sciences & Technology; Biscayne College and College of Law. STU has 25 varsity teams as part of a robust and competitive Athletics department.

Leadership Development

STU concentrates on developing personal and transferable skills necessary for professional life, such as problem solving, critical analysis, research, and written and oral communication. Through group projects you will learn how to operate effectively in a team setting. STU alumni are a tightly connected network with strong links to many firms and organizations in professional sports, travel and tourism, and international business and commerce.

Internships and even job placement opportunities are available to students in most programs, allowing you to engage in stimulating, fulfilling, and career-enhancing endeavors. The Student Success Center is designed to enrich all aspects of the student experience and ensures every student armed with skills and tools to succeed.

St. Thomas University History

St. Thomas University was founded in 1961 as Biscayne College by the order of the Augustinian Friars. The college was accepted as a member of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and first accredited by the Commission on Colleges in 1968. Through continued growth and development, Biscayne College earned university status in 1984 after the addition of 10 Master degree programs and the opening of the School of Law. The University came under the sponsorship of the Archdiocese of Miami in 1988, conferring upon St. Thomas the distinction of being the only Catholic Archdiocesan sponsored university in the State of Florida.

When University status was attained, the name of the institution was changed to St. Thomas University to reflect its Cuban heritage. The University traces its roots to the Universidad de Santo Tomas de Villanueva, founded in 1946 in Havana, Cuba, by American Augustinians with assistance from European Augustinians. When the Castro government expelled the Augustinians from Cuba in 1961, several of the American Augustinians came to Miami where they founded Biscayne College. Given their experience in Cuba, the University’s founders, and specifically its first president, who was vice rector of Villanueva, were intimately familiar with teaching students from different backgrounds. That commitment to student diversity continues strongly today.

The St. Thomas University School of Law is one of only two accredited Catholic law schools south of Georgetown University’s School of Law in Washington, DC. The School of Law at St. Thomas was fully accredited by the American Bar Association in February 1995, and offers the Juris Doctor degree (J.D.).

St. Thomas has given its graduates the confidence and skills necessary for success in a variety of fields. Among notable graduates are: Alex Penelas, the former Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Andy Elisburg, Vice President of Operations for the Miami Heat; Christina Fernandez, Chief Marshall for the Southern Region U.S. Marshals Service; and John Dooner, CEO of Interpublic Group of Companies.

Bobcat Impact

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