About Saint Peter’s University

 

Saint Peter’s University, inspired by its Jesuit, Catholic identity, commitment to individual attention and grounding in the liberal arts, educates a diverse community of learners in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs to excel intellectually, lead ethically, serve compassionately and promote justice in our ever-changing urban and global environment.

Saint Peter’s University, New Jersey’s Jesuit University, was founded in 1872 as an independent liberal arts college. One of 28 colleges and universities in the United States sponsored by the Society of Jesus, Saint Peter’s University has become Alma Mater to more than 25,000 graduates and has met the educational needs of many other students. Saint Peter’s University began as a men’s college. Women were admitted to the evening school for the first time during the 1930’s. The College became fully coeducational in 1966 when women were admitted to the day session. In 1979 the College introduced its first graduate program in education. In 2012, Saint Peter’s College was recognized by the State of New Jersey as Saint Peter’s University.

Today approximately 3,000 full-time and part-time students are enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs at the main campus in Jersey City.

The Jersey City Campus serves students in five schools: The College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Business Administration, the School of Nursing, the School of Education, and the School of Professional & Continuing Studies (SPCS) which provides courses and programs on a part-time basis for students who work during the day and need the convenience of classes on weeknights and Saturdays.

The Jesuit Nature of Saint Peter’s University

 

As a Jesuit, Catholic university, Saint Peter’s has a long and venerable commitment to academic excellence, to spiritual and moral values, and to the individual personal development of its students. The 450-year-old tradition of Jesuit education is manifested through the University’s strong core curriculum, through cura personalis (personal care) for its students, and through the cooperation of Jesuits and lay persons in the educational mission of the University.

Through personal counseling, academic advisement, career services, and a vibrant campus life, the University has exemplified its tradition of cura personalis by developing various ways of meeting student needs. The intellectual and spiritual dimensions of the Saint Peter’s University experience are manifested in many ways – but especially through the interaction of students, faculty, and administrators who work together on University committees and various programs.

 

The Educational Objectives of Saint Peter’s University

 

Saint Peter’s University is a humanistic institution where the study of the liberal arts is considered the foundation for all educational programs. The University offers more than 50 bachelor’s programs and six associate degree programs, all of which are based on the principle that knowledge in a special field gains depth, broadness of interpretation, and an understanding of moral values only when based on the humanistic disciplines. The purpose of education is to analyze ideas, to probe mysteries, to suggest solutions to problems, to express thoughts, to understand, and to question the phenomenon of permanence amidst change. In short, education is the process of preparing personally and professionally for one’s life work.

The self-awareness and values developed as a result of the Saint Peter’s experience provide a significant spiritual, intellectual, and cultural basis for specialized studies in the arts, the sciences, and pre-professional programs.