Dedicated to the pursuit of wisdom, of truth, and of virtue
1845 E. Northgate Drive | Irving, TX 75062 | 972.721.5000
Read their full response below. Keep in mind that these responses are conversational in nature, and do not necessarily reflect the official policies or standards of the school or the ACCS.
What makes this college/university experience unique?
The University of Dallas has its own campus just outside of Rome, Italy. All students have the opportunity to study here for a semester, and most students take advantage of this opportunity. All of our students, regardless of their intended major, take our 60-credit hour Core curriculum, which includes courses in literature, philosophy, history, theology, foreign language, math, science and the arts.
Do you offer any of the following: Great Books courses, Great Books programs, Latin or Greek studies, classical Christian teacher courses
Our Core curriculum includes study of the Great Books. A sampling of texts includes The Iliad, The Odyssey, Plato’s Republic, Aristotle’s Metaphysics, Wealth of Nations, Crime and Punishment, various works of Shakespeare, Dante’s Divine Comedy and various American founding documents and writings.
The Classics Department offers studies in both Greek and Latin. UD offers a graduate program to prepare educators to teach in the Classical tradition at the graduate level. With the rise of classical ed charter schools across the nation, we’re in a perfect position to provide sound preparation for teachers in need of deepening their understanding of the Classical education tradition.
Do you have any comments specifically for classically educated students?
Students with a background in classical education are typically well-poised to thrive in our academic environment. We have students from multiple classical high schools, including Evangel Classical Christian School, Covenant Christian Academy (TX), Providence Classical School (TX), Regents School of Austin, Coram Deo Academy (TX), Cambridge School of Dallas, and The Covenant School Dallas.
What fun and interesting activities happen at your college? Do you have unique traditions or events?
Our most unique tradition is our annual celebration of Groundhog Day. Many activities occur to celebrate this holiday, culminating with crowning of a Groundhog King and Queen from the senior class and a huge outdoor party with food, drinks, bonfires and live music. Alumni often return to campus for this celebration.
What is your mission/vision statement? How do you ensure your faculty maintain your vision?
The University of Dallas is a Catholic university whose primary purpose is to provide its students an excellent liberal education, one that draws from the great riches of the Western intellectual tradition and is in fidelity to the Catholic Church. We exhort our students to love truth and justice, and so guide them toward truth, wisdom and virtue. Such guidance is given through an education in those liberating arts and sciences that enable us to think for ourselves and to live a virtuous examined life so that we can direct all our efforts to the greater glory of God.
Once freed, all that God has made is open for our inquiry, and in understanding the created order and the human place in it, our efforts do indeed redound to the glory of our Creator. It is not just that a liberally educated person can think well about anything, he or she knows there is an obligation to pursue truth wherever it leads, and in this way one can discern the truth in Augustine’s paradox that we are only free when we are bound to the Truth, that is, to the Logos, the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. The freedom that attends following the Truth leads to living well and righteously.
At the University of Dallas we intentionally hire for those who appreciate this liberal Christian vision of education. Part of that process is asking them to articulate in their own words our Mission and their support for it. Once hired, we provide extensive orientation that focuses on our Mission and liberal education in general, and also provide ongoing opportunities such as lecture series and intellectual retreats which focus on elements of our Catholic liberal education.
