Southwestern University

United States of America (USA)

Description

Southwestern University offers a top-ranked integrated arts and sciences curriculum that incorporates the humanities, fine arts, social sciences, and natural sciences.

Top reasons to study here

Paideia: Interconnected Learning
High-Impact Experiences
Undergraduate Research
Active Learning
Mosaic: Educating the Whole Person
Sustainability

Southwestern University programs

about Southwestern University

Overview

At Southwestern University, you are not simply the passive consumer of current knowledge; you are an active participant in the creation of new knowledge. The Southwestern Experience is designed to develop the intellectual practices necessary to enhance your ability to explore regions of original thought and creative expression.

The world is changing—and at an accelerating pace. In a 21st-century career, you will be required to advance the frontiers of knowledge, adapt quickly to change, problem-solve new and complex challenges, and anticipate what’s next.

We’ve created an experience that prepares you for these new realities. Combining our flexible curriculum, the development of modern ways of thinking, and real-world experience, SU will equip you with the skills required to adapt, create, collaborate, and view challenges from multiple perspectives. These skills represent a valuable piece of a much broader, more relevant education for the tomorrow that awaits you.

History

In 1835, Colonel William B. Travis penned a letter to the New York Christian Advocate calling for the establishment of a Methodist presence in the new Republic of Texas. Five years later, in 1840, the first of Southwestern’s four root colleges was born from the vision of Methodist missionary Martin Ruter.

Education

Ours is a history of firsts. We are the first institution of higher education in Texas, home to three of the first Rhodes Scholars in Texas, and the first to celebrate homecoming. This tradition of firsts continues as Southwestern University creates a new and dynamic educational experience designed to produce a 21st-century thinker.

You will learn to discover connections across majors, between disciplines, and in relation to your experiences outside the classroom. Paideia helps you develop a holistic, integrated view of concepts and methods, empowering you to think in broader, more collaborative, and more original ways. You will graduate with a cultivated curiosity and the desire to learn, explore, and create change—in your careers and in life.

Research

Every student at Southwestern University engages in research and creative projects, whether it’s writing a literature review for a final sociology essay or designing a theatrical performance for a capstone course. But undergraduate research goes well beyond the classroom. Through programs such as Summer Collaborative Opportunities and Experiences (SCOPE), Faculty-Student Research Projects, and the King Creativity Fund, Southwestern students enjoy multiple opportunities to become independent researchers and artists, articulating significant, previously unexplored questions and making original contributions to their fields.

Partnering with faculty and peers, our students present their research or creative works at on-campus symposia as well as at professional conferences around the world; they even coauthor scholarly publications and exhibit their work at curated exhibitions. These experiences hone our students’ problem-solving and communication skills, providing the framework for lifelong innovation and creative thinking. Moreover, Southwestern’s undergraduates develop strong bonds with their peer researchers and their faculty mentors, a key element of our commitment to supporting personal growth.

Career

Our award-winning, student-centered approach to professional development is highly personalized – from advising to programming to customized connections with employers. This boutique model leverages our Career Community network of engaged alumni to help you find career direction while enhancing the skills you need for both personal and professional success.

Services

Student services

Student Organizations
Student Activities
Safety & Security
Athletics
Counseling Center
Diversity Education
Health Center
Intramural & Recreational Activities (Sira)
Residence
Spiritual & Religious Life
Student Life Mission Statement
Su Police Department

Housing services

We offer a variety of residential facilities and living options including residence halls and spacious apartments. Within each of these options, you also have the choice of either single-gender and co-ed residence configurations.

All first and second-year Southwestern students are required to live on campus, and the majority of upper-class students chose to remain on campus as well. We offer multiple options for the residential experience.

First-Year Women’s Residence Hall

Ernest Clark Hall

First-Year Men’s Residence Hall

Martin Ruter Hall

First-Year Coed Residence Hall

Upper-Division Residence Halls – Photo Tours

Library services

Research
InfoDesk
Special Collections
Resources & Services A – Z
Library Staff Directory

ICT services

Services and Information

The InfoDesk
Printing and Copying
Pirate Card
Computing and Software
Connecting with Others
Internet and Telephone
Audio/Visual Equipment and Technology
Data and Reporting

Medical services

Southwestern University Health Center provides excellent medical services that promote physical and mental health, support academic success, and foster a healthy campus community. We recognize each student encounter as an opportunity for health promotion and education. We are committed to providing high quality services that are confidential, respectful, accessible, and support the holistic wellness of the individual.

Student life

Campus life

There’s a feeling of unity that encircles the Southwestern campus, with countless activities, organizations, and ways to get involved. Whether it’s Greek life, intramural sports, a religious organization or academic club, there’s a place for everyone.

Sports facilities

The Southwestern University Department of Athletics utilizes and maintains several facilities for competition and administration of 20 intercollegiate athletic programs.

Georgetown Isd Birkelbach Field
(Football)

Robertson Center
(Basketball And Volleyball)

Rockwell Family Baseball Field
(Baseball)

Taylor-sanders Field
(Softball)

Walzel Natatorium
(Swimming And Diving)

Marvin D. Henderson Sr. Tennis Courts
(Tennis)

Varsity Field
(Soccer And Lacrosse)

Teravista/berry Creek Golf Courses
(Men’s And Women’s Golf)

Southwestern Fieldhouse And Track
(Football And Track And Field)

Student clubs

With over 90 registered organizations listed in our Organization Guide, there are numerous opportunities for involvement outside the classroom.

Accreditation

#62 Best Value SchoolsU.S. News & World Report, 2022
Forbes names Southwestern as the #1 undergraduate liberal arts college in Texas in its 2019 Grateful Grad Colleges.
Southwestern earned a coveted place among The Princeton Reviews’s 2021 Best 386 Colleges Guide. Southwestern climbed from #3 in the past two years to #2 in the nation among Impact Schools.
Southwestern is one of 45 colleges included in Colleges That Change Lives.
Southwestern University named a 2019 “Best College Value” by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Southwestern has tied for the #1 National Liberal Arts College in Texas in the latest U.S. News & World Report ranking.
Southwestern is routinely recognized as a Veteran Friendly school and was again included in the 2019-20 Guide to Military Friendly Schools.