Santa Clara University - Academics

Quick Stats

College Prowler Take

This is an area where Santa Clara really excels. The student/teacher ratio is one of the best in the nation, and the classes are small. If you think (as I did as a freshman) recruiting offices over-emphasize the importance of class size and student/teacher ratio, I can tell you right now they don’t. It really does make a difference when you know your professor, and more importantly, he or she knows you. Classes are more intimate and productive, especially those in the arts and humanities. Also, each course is taught by an SCU professor, not a teaching assistant, so every class is led by someone knowledgeable and experienced.

The quality of a Santa Clara education is very high. It’s not an easy school by any means, but you won’t be working hard for nothing. The school may not get much name recognition in the Midwest or East, or from the general public of ESPN viewers, but it carries a good deal of clout among graduate schools and employers (especially on the West Coast).

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Students Speak Out

Anonymous says:

If it weren’t for the great... If it weren’t for the great academics, I would say that Santa Clara University is more like a summer resort than a university. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Most of the teachers I have had... Most of the teachers I have had are really good, and they always have plenty of time to meet with you. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

The teachers at Santa Clara take a... The teachers at Santa Clara take a special interest in making sure that students are engaged with the subject matter. Most will take the time to sit down personally with a student and address any confusions or concerns the student might have, or even just discuss a particular concept in more depth. Classes are structured to encourage participation and dialogue between peers, making them far more interesting and beneficial. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

Classes are not easy, but if you... Classes are not easy, but if you are having trouble, go to the teacher’s office hours and stuff. They will help you out a lot, and showing them you’re serious about it always helps. 12345 Academics Report

Anonymous says:

I don’t like the quarter system. I... I don’t like the quarter system. I don’t know why they can’t make the schedule closer to the way other schools are. It also kind of sucks to have to take three sets of finals every year. 12345 Academics Report

Facts

Did You Know?

For the 15th consecutive year, SCU has been ranked second among all master’s universities in the West.

The average class size at SCU is 25 students. About 90 percent of classes have less than 50 students.

Santa Clara is on the quarter system, with most students skipping the summer session. The average student takes 11 or 12 classes every year, in three different sets.

What are units? Santa Clara assigns “unit” values instead of “credits” to each of its courses in order to represent the amount of work that is required by a particular class. Most lower-division classes are four units; most upper-division and lab courses are five.

Every class is taught by a professor. There are no classes taught by TAs at SCU.

The Leavey School of Business was ranked as the third best undergraduate business program in California.

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