SEATTLE UNIVERSITY

private, coeducational institution of higher education in Seattle, Wash., U.S. It is affiliated with the Jesuit order of the Roman Catholic church. It offers about 50 undergraduate degree programs and about 20 graduate degree programs; professional degrees are also available. Seattle University comprises 10 academic units: the College of Arts and Sciences, Albers School of Business and Economics, the Graduate School, Matteo Ricci College, the Institute for Theological Studies, the Institute of Public Service, and schools of Education, Law, Nursing, and Science and Engineering. There are opportunities to study abroad in Grenoble, France; Graz, Austria; Taejon, S.Kor.; Tokyo; and Caracas, Venez. Seattle University is one of the largest independent universities in the Northwest, with an approximate enrollment of 4,800 students. Seattle University was founded in 1891 as the Immaculate Conception parish school for boys; it opened in 1894 and high school level instruction began in 1895. In 1898 the school became Seattle College; bachelor of arts degrees were first awarded in 1909. Because of World War I, instruction was suspended from 1918 until 1922. Women first matriculated in 1933 and first graduated in 1936. The school was elevated to university status in 1948. A professional degree program was established in the mid-1930s, and a doctorate program was added in 1976. Seattle University is a pioneer in creating academic programs, including addiction studies programs (1973), graduate programs in software engineering (1979), and undergraduate programs in environmental engineering (1990).