Engaged Students

From day one, USJ students embark on a journey of growth and transformation that combines a dynamic classroom environment with real-world experience. Starting with our signature First-Year Seminar, students transition successfully into college-level learning and living through personalized attention and guided faculty expertise. Moving into their academic majors, they continue to connect classroom learning with career opportunities and training as they engage in internships, community service, and study abroad programs - all rooted in the University's value-centered Catholic tradition.

The University's proximity to Hartford provides numerous opportunities for internships and service learning. Whatever your major, an internship is available at a local organization that will give you professional experience, credentials, and connections. "At the University of Saint Joseph, students have a multitude of opportunities to supplement their lectures with internships and community-based learning experiences," said student Melissa Lauretti. "I was able to engage in and contribute to the political process through my participation in the Connecticut General Assembly's internship program."

The world can be your classroom when you take advantage of the study abroad options provided by the Office of International Studies. USJ students live and study all over the world. Ashlee Hamilton studied a semester in Sicily and concluded, "I feel like a completely new person, with totally different goals and a whole new way to look at the world."

The Honors Program offers enhanced learning opportunities and close faculty mentorship. It is a motivated community of learners who excel in and out of the classroom as they combine academics with intensive practical experiences. Many Honors students present research at conferences or publish in periodicals.

Great Teaching

Great teaching is the hallmark of a University of Saint Joseph education. First and foremost, our professors identify themselves as teachers and are committed to students' success. "Saint Joe's is a teaching college and that's why (faculty) are here. It's what they want to do," said Sara Roysten who graduated in 2010 and is currently pursuing a Ph.D./M.D.

And the facts speak for themselves: Our average class size is 14 with a student/faculty ratio of 12:1 - ideal for faculty mentorship. Classes are taught by faculty members, not teaching assistants, so students study and work with professors all four years. USJ faculty members are experts in their respective fields - five are Fulbright Scholars and most hold terminal degrees. Students continually cite their close, mentoring relationships with professors as a key factor to their success.

The University of Saint Joseph consists of five Schools and more than 25 undergraduate and graduate programs, along with pre-professional and certificate programs.

Visit here to see a full list and descriptions of Saint Joseph's undergraduate programs.

View our graduate programs.

Learn more about our Program for Adult Learners.

Vibrant Community

Life on the USJ campus is never dull. Whether students are residential, commuters, undergraduates or graduates, opportunities abound for personal and professional enrichment.

Our 84-acre campus is located one mile from West Hartford's thriving downtown, four miles from the capitol city of Hartford, two hours from NYC or Boston, and only one hour from the beach or the mountains.

The University has seven residence halls, including two that feature apartment-style living. The Office of Student Activities sponsors numerous clubs that connect students to each other and the surrounding community, while developing marketable skills and fulfilling activities.

Community Service lives at the core of the USJ experience and all University-sponsored organizations perform service activities. The University has been consistently named to the Presidential Honor Roll for Community Service, and celebrates Mercy Day, an annual community service event.

USJ is an NCAA Division III school with teams in basketball, cross country, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming/diving, tennis, and volleyball. The athletic teams compete in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference and our coaches are regularly named Coach of the Year. The University also offers a wide variety of intramural and recreation opportunities.

The state-of-the-art O'Connell Athletic Center has a fitness center, pool, dance studio, indoor track, and gym. The exterior complex features an outdoor track, soccer/lacrosse field, softball field, and tennis courts.

The Arts are alive and well at The Carol Autorino Center for the Arts and Humanities, home to student performance groups, touring events, and local arts organizations. The year-round calendar features music, dance, theater, lectures, and more. The Center also houses the University of Saint Joseph Arts Gallery and the University Archives.

Successful Outcomes

The University of Saint Joseph gives you more than a degree - it gives you an education that will last a lifetime, one that will enable your personal and professional success in the years ahead. Our rich liberal arts tradition, combined with specific career preparation, prepares students to move through today's world with confidence and skill.

University of Saint Joseph alumnae/i are leaders in their communities and professions. They work as attorneys, physicians, writers, corporate leaders, politicians, health care workers, teachers, scientists, counselors, nurses, artists, historians, researchers, college presidents and more. Notable alumnae/i include: Sheila Horan, the first woman to head the FBI's anti-terror unit; Lynn Malerba, chief of the Mohegan Tribe; Ann Uccello, Hartford's first female mayor; Maura Melley, Connecticut's youngest Secretary of State, and many more.

Professors serve as mentors and guides as students move from college into the professional world. The Career Development Center works with students throughout their USJ years, teaching resume writing, job seeking, and interview skills. They help students find the right major, explore career options, and teach financial literacy. The University's expansive alumnae/i community also serves as a network to University of Saint Joseph graduates who are invited to join the thriving Alumnae/i Association.