Suffolk University

What is the history of Suffolk University?

Suffolk University began in Boston in 1906 as the Suffolk School of Law, founded by Gleason L. Archer Sr. Its early purpose was to make legal education accessible to people who worked during the day - an origin that helps explain the university's continuing emphasis on professional education.

The institution later expanded beyond law to offer liberal arts, sciences, and business education. Today it comprises the College of Arts & Sciences, the Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk University Law School. Its downtown Boston buildings, rather than a separate residential campus, place students close to the courts, government offices, businesses, and cultural institutions relevant to many of its programs.

What are the faculties and departments at Suffolk University?

Suffolk University organizes its academic programs through the College of Arts & Sciences, the Sawyer Business School, and Suffolk University Law School. Prospective students should distinguish the undergraduate and graduate programs in the first two schools from the professional law degrees offered by the law school.

The College of Arts & Sciences spans humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, communication, and the arts. Examples include biology, psychology, political science, journalism, and theatre. Sawyer Business School offers fields such as accounting, finance, management, and marketing. Suffolk also offers graduate study, including business and other professional programs. Applicants comparing majors should check the current academic catalog for the precise degree, required courses, and any admission rules that apply to their program.

Reported student-to-faculty ratio is 15 to 1. That institution-wide measure is not a class-size guarantee: laboratory, introductory, seminar, and graduate courses can differ substantially.

What is the location of Suffolk University?

Suffolk University is in downtown Boston, Massachusetts, near Boston Common, the State House, and the city's government and business districts. Its buildings are integrated into the surrounding streets, making the experience different from that of a self-contained suburban campus.

Public transportation is particularly relevant for commuters. Multiple Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority subway and bus connections serve downtown Boston, while regional rail connects the city with surrounding communities. Students considering off-campus housing should compare rent with the time and cost of their actual commute, including evening travel after classes or activities. Boston Logan International Airport is the principal nearby airport.

What is the mission and vision of Suffolk University?

Suffolk University describes its mission in terms of access to education, student development, and engagement with the wider world. Its founding commitment to educating working students remains an important part of its institutional identity, although applicants should assess current schedules and program formats against their own needs.

The university's stated priorities include combining liberal learning with professional preparation and using its Boston setting for experiential opportunities. Those are institutional aims, not assurances that every student will obtain an internship or a particular career outcome. Suffolk is a private, nonsectarian university.