Discovering the University of Tampa: A Comprehensive Overview

The University of Tampa (UTampa), a private institution nestled in the heart of Tampa, Florida, offers a dynamic blend of academic rigor and vibrant city life. Founded in 1931, UTampa has evolved into a comprehensive university attracting students from across the globe.

Campus and Location

The University of Tampa is situated on a beautiful 110-acre campus along the Hillsborough River. The University's location within downtown Tampa is unmatched, providing students walking access to hundreds of internship, job, and research opportunities. The campus provides a traditional, self-contained environment just steps away from the professional and cultural opportunities of a bustling city.

Accessibility and Surroundings

Tampa International Airport is just 15 minutes from campus. Greyhound Bus and Amtrak also service Tampa. A taxi ride from the airport costs about $20.00, while an Uber/Ride-Share ride costs about $15.00. The University of Tampa is situated in the heart of downtown Tampa, granting students walking-distance access to some of the region's best opportunities for work and play. Students cross the Hillsborough River to access jobs, internships, and research opportunities within one of the country's fastest-growing cities. For moments of weekend fun, students will enjoy popular nearby shopping and dining districts like Channelside, Water Street, and Hyde Park, or take a stroll or bike ride along the Tampa Riverwalk or Bayshore Boulevard, the world's longest continuous pedestrian sidewalk.

Campus Aesthetics and Facilities

UTampa has invested over $1.06 billion in new academic facilities, technology, and residence halls since 1998. Since 2021, UTampa has unveiled several new additions to campus including the Ferman Center of the Arts, Jenkins Health and Technology Building, and the recently renovated Benson Alex Riseman Fitness and Recreation Center, which boasts new basketball and sand beach volleyball courts, new human performance labs, and a brand-new two-story aquatic center complete with a lap pool, recreational pool, and hot tub. This grand musical sculpture soars over 105 in the center of campus and forms a striking focal point as part of a park-like plaza for students to reflect, gather, and interact. The University of Tampa's newest addition is a 10-story multipurpose building.

The campus "feels like summer every day," and it's within walking distance of downtown as well as "within a five-minute drive from Hyde Park, Ybor, and Soho, which all offer a wide variety of activities." A typical day for students "is always planned around knowing it's going to be a sunny day."

Historic Significance

Plant Hall - a National Historic Landmark built in 1891 by Henry B. Plant - is a leading example of Moorish Revival architecture in the southeastern United States and a focal point of downtown Tampa. In addition to serving as a main location of classrooms and faculty and administrative offices, the building is also home to the Henry B. Plant Museum. UT's grounds include Plant Park, a landscaped, palm-tree-lined riverside area in front of Plant Hall's main entrance. It features cannons from Tampa's original harbor fort and the Sticks of Fire sculpture. It also is home to the oak tree under which Hernando de Soto supposedly met the chief of the local Native American tribes upon first coming ashore at what is now Tampa. UT is also one of few schools with an anti-gravity monument from Roger Babson's Gravity Research Foundation. The "Anti-Gravity Rock", as it is commonly referred to, is located on the crosswalk between the College of Business parking lot and the Macdonald-Kelce Library, at the very end of the Science wing of Plant Hall.

Academics and Programs

The University of Tampa offers over 200 areas of study for undergraduate and graduate students. UTampa couples small, discussion-based classroom environments with real-world learning experiences to set students up for success. The University of Tampa's undergraduate curriculum is designed to give students a broad academic and cultural background as well as a concentrated study in a major. The university is organized into four colleges: College of Arts and Letters; College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education; College of Natural and Health Sciences; and the John H.

Popular Majors

Some of UT's most popular majors include international business, biology, marketing, marine science, criminology, finance, communication, psychology, sport management, entrepreneurship and nursing.

Core Curriculum: Spartan Studies

Students complete a comprehensive core curriculum known as Spartan Studies, which is highlighted by the unique and innovative First-Year Seminar - an academic orientation program that encourages student development via exploration of global issues, career possibilities, critical thinking and communication skills.

Global Perspective

International experience is an important focus at the University of Tampa. Through globally oriented courses and study abroad opportunities, students are prepared to live and work internationally. Each year UTampa students travel to over 60 countries through semester-long study abroad programs or faculty-led travel courses.

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Experiential Learning

The University of Tampa is a sunny, growing, global university that affords its undergraduates the choice of more than 200 areas of study, as well as "many resources and opportunities…[that provide] hands-on and experiential learning." Students rarely feel overwhelmed, and they find they "have a lot of support from staff and peers." Everyone is "eager to help and provide opportunities to make up any missed work or [to] obtain extra credit." The business and the science programs here are "amazing and what UT's forefront is about," and the campus location near downtown means "job opportunities are everywhere." The school hosts "seminars going on all the time about…jobs, social skills, law school, [and] medical school."

Faculty and Teaching

"Professors are very personal with students" and "are very much available for extra help or extra explanations both during and outside of class." Faculty members are often also researchers, which gives students "the opportunity to create and carry out experiments," and additionally, there are "many internship and career opportunities that are available while you are still in college." Classes often take on a non-traditional format, featuring guest lectures from professionals or graduate professors.

Degree Programs

The University of Tampa offers bachelor's degrees in accounting, actuarial science, advertising and public relations, allied health, animation, art, art therapy, athletic training, biochemistry, biology, business information technology, chemistry, communication, computer science, criminology and criminal justice, cybersecurity, dance, data science, design, economics, education (elementary and secondary certification), English, entrepreneurship, environmental studies, film and media arts, finance, financial enterprise systems, forensic science, graphic design, history, human performance, international business, international studies, journalism, liberal studies, management, management information systems, marine science (biology and chemistry), marketing, mathematical programming, mathematics, museum studies, music, music education, music performance, musical theatre, new media, nursing, philosophy, physical education, physics, political science, psychology, public health, sociology, Spanish, sport management, theatre and writing.

Minors and concentrations are offered in advertising, aerospace studies, applied sociology, art history, Asian studies, biology/business, biology/molecular, biology/organismal and evolutionary, business administration, business analytics, criminal investigation, exercise physiology, French, geography, international studies, law, justice and advocacy, leadership studies, military science, naval science, professional and technical writing, recreation, speech, sustainability and women's and gender studies. Pre-professional programs offered include pre-dentistry, pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-veterinary science, allied health and chemistry.

Continuing Studies and Graduate Programs

An undergraduate School of Continuing Studies offers 30 degree programs designed for adults who want to study part-time. Four summer sessions also offer excellent learning and professional advancement opportunities. At the graduate level, the business school offers an MBA, Executive MBA, Professional MBA and M.S. degrees in accounting, business analytics, cybersecurity, entrepreneurship, finance, information and technology management, and marketing. An M.S. in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master of Physician Assistant Medicine, M.S. in Exercise and Nutrition Science, M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice, M.A. in Professional Communication, M.A. in Social and Emerging Media, M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction, M.Ed. in Educational Leadership, and M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology are also offered.

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Accelerated Programs

The accelerated 4+1 MBA, 4+1 M.Ed., 4+1 M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice and 4+1 M.S. in Instructional Design and Technology allow undergraduates to earn their master's degree with just one additional year of study. Qualified UTampa students and alumni are also guaranteed admission to several graduate programs.

Student Life and Campus Culture

The University of Tampa is a medium-sized university with 11,400 students (10,000 full-time undergraduates) from all 50 states and most of the world's countries. UTampa provides a dynamic environment for students to begin their studies, establish their career-path, and make lifelong connections.

Diversity and Inclusion

The University of Tampa is "very diverse in that people from all different cultures make up the community." There is a large international student population and the majority of students are from out of state, and "many are very outgoing and will go out of their way to be there for other students." "I've met people from Sweden, Bermuda, Nigeria, and many other nations…. The diversity among the…cultures [at] UT is something," says a student.

Clubs and Organizations

With students traveling an average of 900 miles away from home to attend UTampa, the Spartan community has no shortage of activity to get involved in. UTampa offers over 300 clubs and student groups making it easy for students to find what they're looking to get involved in. From social groups, to academic organizations, Greek Life, intramural sports, club sports, and everything in between, there is a group for you at UTampa! The University of Tampa boasts over 300 clubs and organizations, including honor societies, student media, fraternities and sororities, community service groups and intramural sports.

Residential Life

About 60% of full-time UT students live on the university's main campus. Straz Hall and Palm Apartments offer apartment-style living, with each student having a private room but sharing a bathroom, kitchen and common area with three others. Five dorms, Smiley Hall, McKay Hall, Grand Center, Austin Hall and Vaughn Center, offer traditional dormitory arrangements, with two or three students in a connected suite sharing a bathroom and open living areas. Three halls, Brevard Hall, Morsani Hall and Jenkins Hall, offer a hybrid package with students sharing a common area but without a kitchen. Finally, Urso Hall provides students with what is essentially a studio apartment, a private suite consisting of a bed, closet, kitchenette and restroom. The Barrymore Hotel, located about 1 mile (1.6 km) from campus, also houses some students. Two students typically stay in each room, which is equipped with two double beds, a bathroom and closet space. UT's wireless internet is available, along with cable television.

Campus Traditions and Activities

Many students study by the river or walk around campus with others; "hammocks are super popular" (there's even a Hammock Club), and "renting bikes and biking the Riverwalk is also a fun way to pass time." Although students typically start partying on Thursday nights, some point out that "nothing is crazy" in that regard. "Many people are involved in Greek life," and others enjoy extracurricular clubs. Of course, students are always happy to head to the beach.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Trainings completed include trainings on depression, anxiety disorders, suicidal ideation, grief, trauma, eating disorders, sexual orientation, gender identity, domestic violence. Tampa General Hospital patient safety, non bias patient treatment and care required annual learning. UTampa has a comprehensive peer-education program called Live Well with 20 initiatives that focus on all aspects of Well-being. There are three specific organizations under this umbrella that focus directly on mental health: Active Minds- Focus on educating students about mainting and managing mental wellbeing and provides education on resources available. Balance UT- focuses on stress relief and mindfulness practices, primarily through Yoga and Meditation Healing Arts - Focuses on promoting good mental health through offering a creative atmosphere through expressive activities. Never Alone UT- offers peer support for sense of belonging - but is not under the Live Well Umbrella. We have also implemented peer wellness coaching for students. "Mental Health and Wellbeing is built into the first-year curriculum (wellness week and resources sharing) and mandatory for all students. There are specific courses within the colleges that do offer mental health and wellbeing in their coursework, and is quite varied. We are working on an emotional wellbeing toolkit that will be available for faculty and staff to integrate lessons/activities into their classroom as part of a SAMHSA grant and also the proposed QEP on emotional wellbeing. This will be disseminated in August of 2025. Individual courses have components, i.e. graduate student MBA students work on emotional intelligence. Wellness/Mental Health and Life-Skill programming is offered to all students in many different ways - Through our Spartan Ready programs, Wellness Programming, Guest Presentations in the Classroom, Live Well UT Programming, Vector Solutions on-line Mental Health Program. Students are eligible for wellness coaching through the Wellness Center, and a peer wellness coaching program is being developed and will be available within the next year. A formal Resilience Reset workshop is highly marketed for students.

Athletics

The University of Tampa competes at the Division II level in the Sunshine State Conference (SSC). UTampa has one of the top NCAA Division II sports programs in the nation, winning 26 national championships. UT presently competes in baseball, men's and women's basketball, beach volleyball, men's and women's cheerleading/dance, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's golf, men's and women's lacrosse, women's rowing, men's and women's soccer, softball, men's and women's swimming, women's tennis, men's and women's track, and women's volleyball. UT athletes are among the top in the SSC in terms of All-American, All-Region, and All-Conference players along with numerous Commissioner's Honor Roll recipients.

Admissions and Financial Aid

Admissions is fairly competitive as the Tampa acceptance rate is 41%. The University of Tampa accepts the Common Application and has a test-optional admissions policy.

Cost and Financial Aid

Ninety-two percent of UTampa students receive financial assistance. Each accepted applicant to the University is automatically reviewed for merit-based scholarships. Upon completion of the FAFSA, each student is also reviewed for need-based assistance. Departmental and specialized scholarship of varying amounts are also available for students based on area of study, leadership skills, and other qualifications.

Facilities and Resources

UT has about 50 computer labs and wireless Internet access across campus. The Sykes College of Business, in addition to housing a computer lab, has a stock market lab, equipped with terminals and plasma screen TVs for teaching finance majors the intricacies of the stock market. The Macdonald-Kelce Library houses more than 275,000 books and 65,181 periodicals, as well as online research databases, a computer lab, study rooms and special collections, including Florida military materials, old and rare books, and local history and UT archives. For student recreation there is a new Fitness and Recreation Center, a two-floor, 60,000 square foot space featuring six exercise rooms, including indoor cycling, functional training and yoga. There is also an on-campus aquatic center, the pool has a deep swimming section for scuba classes; it is open to students at limited times. UT's theater department hosts student produced and acted plays across Kennedy Boulevard in the historic Falk Theatre. Falk also hosts large academic gatherings, student productions and concerts.

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