Saint Louis University

What is the history of Saint Louis University?

Saint Louis University (SLU) is a private Jesuit university founded in 1818 in St. Louis, Missouri. It began as Saint Louis Academy, established under Bishop Louis William Valentine DuBourg, and became a Jesuit institution in 1827. Its 1832 university charter made it the first university established west of the Mississippi River.

SLU grew from a small school into a university offering undergraduate, graduate and professional education. Its development included schools of medicine, law and business, as well as programs in health care, engineering and aviation. The university also established a campus in Madrid, Spain, which remains an important part of its international education offerings. That history helps explain SLU's present combination of Jesuit education, professional programs and an urban St. Louis campus.

What are the faculties and departments at Saint Louis University?

Saint Louis University offers bachelor's, graduate and professional degrees across the arts and sciences, business, engineering, education, health fields and law. Applicants should search by intended major: admission requirements and the sequence of courses can differ substantially between, for example, nursing and political science.

Its academic units include the College of Arts and Sciences; Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business; School of Science and Engineering; School of Education; Doisy College of Health Sciences; Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing; College for Public Health and Social Justice; School of Medicine; and School of Law. Programs span subjects such as biology, computer science, aviation, accounting, public health, social work and health professions.

SLU also offers opportunities outside a single major, including undergraduate research and interdisciplinary study. Prospective students interested in a licensed profession should check the specific program's admission sequence, clinical or fieldwork requirements, and the state in which they hope to practice. Admission to the university does not necessarily mean immediate admission to every specialized program.

What is the location of Saint Louis University?

Saint Louis University's principal U.S. campus is in St. Louis, Missouri, in an urban setting near Midtown and the Grand Center arts district. Its health-related facilities extend into the city's medical corridor, so a student's daily route depends partly on their program.

The setting gives students access to hospitals, cultural institutions, employers and community organizations, but it also calls for ordinary city-campus planning: compare travel times between classes and placements, learn the university's transportation options, and budget for commuting if living off campus. St. Louis Lambert International Airport serves the region and is useful for students traveling from farther away. SLU's Madrid campus is a separate study location; applicants should confirm which campus offers their intended degree and services.

What is the mission and vision of Saint Louis University?

Saint Louis University identifies itself as a Catholic, Jesuit institution committed to learning, research and service. Its stated mission connects the pursuit of truth with service to humanity and the Jesuit ideal of the greater glory of God.

In practice, that identity appears in the university's emphasis on ethics, reflection, community engagement and attention to the whole person, often described in Jesuit education as cura personalis. These are institutional aims, not measures of every student's experience. Applicants need not assume that all academic or social activities are religious, but should expect the university's Catholic and Jesuit affiliation to be visible in campus programming and its approach to education.