How many majors/pre-professional programs do you have?
We offer more than 90 majors and 60 minors. Undergraduate degrees are available in the bachelor of arts, bachelor of music, bachelor of science, bachelor of science in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering. We also offer pre-professional programs in pre-chiropractic, pre-dentistry, pre-engineering, pre-law, pre-medicine , pre-optometry, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-physician assistant and pre-veterinary medicine. A full listing of majors can be found here.
What is your academic schedule?
UST is on a 4-1-4 academic calendar. This means our fall and spring semesters are each four months long, but are divided by an optional one month term called January term or J-Term. During this time, students have the option to go home, take one or two courses, conduct research, work on campus or study abroad. Our fall semester begins the Wednesday after Labor Day and ends in mid-December. Our spring semester typically begins at the end of January and ends mid-May.
Do you have an honors program?
Yes. The Aquinas Scholars Honors Program provides opportunities for motivated and curious students to deepen and enrich their undergraduate education. Aquinas Scholars take a minimum of four honors sections of core curriculum courses. Classes are capped at 20 students each and are discussion based. Aquinas Scholars also are required to complete a minimum of three interdisciplinary honors seminars. These two-credit courses are free of charge and are often taken over J-Term, in the summer or on top of regular classes during a semester. The program provides social opportunities as well. Retreats and outings are held throughout the year.
What type of school is St. Thomas?
St. Thomas is a Catholic co-educational liberal arts university. With the liberal arts core curriculum, most of our majors take fours years to complete (for full-time students).
How many students graduate in four years?
Our most recent stats show that 61 percent of students who started as freshmen graduated four years later. This is much higher than the national average and also includes those students who transfer out of St. Thomas or choose not to complete their degree. Keep in mind that if you want to graduate within four years, it's possible. Classes are available and you'll have an advisor who can help you plan your schedule.
Do you offer internships/research opportunities?
Yes. St. Thomas is connected with local businesses, clinics and organizations so that our students may participate in internships and/or research opportunities. Internships and research positions also are available (both unpaid and paid) on campus.
The St. Thomas Career Development Center is a resource for students looking for assistance in writing their résumé, building interviewing skills, accessing job and internship listings and more.
What are your largest majors?
Based on the numbers of students majoring in each program, business is our largest program followed by biology (some of these students pursue the pre-medicine program), communication and journalism, psychology, education, and engineering.
What is the average class size and the student-to-faculty ratio?
The average class size is 21 students and the student-to-faculty ratio is 15:1.
What opportunities are there to study abroad?
Each year nearly 1,000 St. Thomas students study abroad on semester, yearlong, J-Term or summer programs. We have St. Thomas sponsored programs and programs offered through affiliated colleges and universities. Programs are offered each year in more than 40 countries spanning all seven continents. St. Thomas is ranked by the Institute of International Education seventh nationally for the percent of undergraduates studying abroad (59 percent).
What is the ACTC?
The Associated Colleges of the Twin Cities (ACTC) is a consortium of Twin Cities colleges and universities. UST students can take classes at Augsburg College, St. Catherine University, Hamline University, and Macalester College. These credits are fully transferable and you pay St. Thomas tuition.
Do you have to apply to the program in which you plan to major?
In most cases, you do not. Once a student has been accepted to St. Thomas, he or she can choose to major in any of the more than 90 programs on campus. Select programs, such as education and music require students to prove certain competencies before declaring their major.
Does St. Thomas offer Post-Secondary Enrollment Options (PSEO)?
No, St. Thomas does not enroll high school students for PSEO on our campus. A list of participating instutions is available on the Minnesota Department of Education PSEO website. However, St. Thomas does evaluate completed PSEO coursework for credit when students apply to St. Thomas as incoming freshmen or transfer students.
