Pontifical Catholic University of Chile

Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile
Latin: Universitas Catholica Chilensis
Motto In Christi lumine pro mundi vita
Established June 21, 1888
Type Private Catholic (Traditional)
Chancellor Francisco Javier Errázuriz Ossa
Rector Ignacio Sánchez Díaz
Admin. staff 2,732
Students 22,122
Location Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins #340, Santiago
Website www.uc.cl

The Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (UC or PUC) (Spanish: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) is one of the six Catholic Universities existing in the Chilean university system and one of the two Pontifical Universities in the country, along with the Pontifical Catholic University of Valparaíso. It is also one of Chile's oldest universities and one of the most recognized educational institutions in Latin America.[1] Since it is a Pontifical University, it has always had a strong and very close relationship with the Vatican. It was founded on June 21, 1888 through a decree issued by the Santiago Archbishop. Its first chancellor was Monsignor Joaquín Larraín Gandarillas, and at the very beginning, the university only taught two subjects, law and mathematics. It is part of the Universities of the Rectors' Council of Chilean Universities, and although it is not state-owned, a substantial part of its budget is given by state transferences under different concepts.

According to the "Higher Education Supplement" (THES), published by British newspaper The Times, it is located in the 277th spot among the world's best universities, making it the best ranked Chilean university and the second best in South America.[2] In the 2010 admission process, approximately 48% of the students who achieved the best score in the Prueba de Selección Universitaria matriculated in the UC.[3]

It's ranked 2nd in Latin America according to the QS World University Ranking.[4] Its law school was ranked 1st in Latin America in the 2011 QS World University Ranking.[5]

Contents

Campuses

UC has four campuses in Santiago and one campus in Villarrica. The campuses in Santiago are:

These four campuses have a total of 223,326.06 m2 constructed in a 614,569.92 m2 terrain. The Villarrica campus has 1,664 m2 constructed in a 2,362.5 m2 terrain.

History

UC was founded on June 21, 1888, to offer training in traditional professions (law) and in technological and practical fields such as business, accounting, chemistry, and electricity. On February 11, 1930, Pope Pius XI declared it a pontifical university, and in 1931 it was granted full academic autonomy by the Chilean government. It is a private, urban, multi-campus university. It is one of the eleven Chilean Catholic universities, and one of the twenty-five institutions within the Rectors' Council (Consejo de Rectores), the Chilean state-sponsored university system.

UC's 18 faculties are distributed through four campuses in Santiago and one regional campus located in southern Chile. The technical training centers affiliated with the University are: DUOC, the Rural Life Foundations, the Baviera Foundation, the Catechetical Home and the San Fidel Seminary. These centers carry out technical-academic extension activities in rural and agricultural areas. Other UC activities are a Sports Club, a nation-wide television network, and a Clinical Hospital dependent on the Faculty of Medicine.

UC 's Graduates of the School of Architecture (one of the most prominent in Latin America) have also made important contributions to the country with such work as the Central Building ("Casa Central") of UC, and the National Library.

Two of its most important alumni are the Jesuit Saint Alberto Hurtado and Eduardo Frei Montalva, a Chilean president. Both of them studied in the School of Laws. Sebastián Piñera, current Chilean president, graduated from the university's School of Economics.

Collaborations

The Department of Industry and System Engineering is engaging Stanford Technology Venture Program of Stanford University on a collaboration on innovation and technology ventures.

Double degrees

The following is a list of double degrees offered at a graduate level.

Faculties and subjects

  • College UC
    • Bachelor of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
    • Bachelor of Social Science
    • Bachelor of Arts and Humanities
  • Faculty of Agronomy & Forest Engineering
    • Agronomy
    • Forest Engineering
  • Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Urban Studies
    • School of Architecture
      • Architecture
    • School of Design
      • Design
    • Institute of Urban and Territorial Studies
  • Faculty of Arts
    • School of Visual Art
      • Visual Art
    • School of Theater
      • Acting
    • Institute of Music
      • Music
  • Faculty of Biological Sciences
  • Faculty of Economic and Administrative Sciences
    • Commercial Engineering
    • Economics Institute
    • School of Administration
  • Faculty of Social Sciences
    • Institute of Sociology
      • Sociology
    • School of Psychology
      • Psychology
    • School of Social Work
      • Social Work
  • Faculty of Communications
    • School of Journalism
      • Journalism
      • Audiovisual Direction Program
    • Institute of Medical Studies
  • Arts Faculty
    • Arts
  • Faculty of Law
    • Law
  • Faculty of Language and Literature
    • English Literature and Linguistics
    • Spanish Literature and Linguistics
    • Institute of Chinese Literature
  • Faculty of Education
    • Early Childhood Education
    • Education
    • General Education
  • Faculty of Engineering
    • School of Engineering
      • Dept. of Computer Science
      • Dept. of Engineering and Construction Management
      • Dept. of Structural and Geotechnical Engineering
      • Dept. of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering
      • Dept. of Transportation and Logistics Engineering
      • Dept. of Industrial and Systems Engineering
      • Dept. of Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering
      • Dept. of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering
      • Dept. of Electrical Engineering
      • Mining Center
    • School of Construction
      • Construction
  • Faculty of Philosophy
    • Institute of Philosophy
      • Philosophy
    • Institute of Aesthetics
      • Aesthetics
  • Faculty of Physics
    • Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics
      • Astronomy
    • Department of Physics
      • Physics
  • Faculty of History, Geography, and Political Science
    • Institute of History
      • History
    • Institute of Geography
      • Geography
    • Institute of Political Science
      • Political Science
  • Faculty of Mathematics
    • Mathematics
    • Statistics
  • Faculty of Medicine
    • School of Medicine
      • Medicine
    • School of Nursing
      • Nursing and Obstretics
    • School of Odontology
      • Odontology
  • Faculty of Chemistry
    • Chemistry
    • Chemistry and Pharmacy
  • Faculty of Theology
    • Theology

People

Notable professors

Notable alumni

Knowledge Transfer, Service & Consultancy

References

  1. ^ "Ranking Web of World universities: Top Latin America". Webometrics.info. http://www.webometrics.info/top100_continent.asp?cont=latin_america. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  2. ^ Higher Education Supplement. 2009 The Times
  3. ^ "Los Mejores Puntajes Prefieren la UC - DSRD - PUC". DSRD. http://dsrd.uc.cl/los-mejores-puntajes-prefieren-la-uc. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 
  4. ^ "QS Latin America University Ranking". http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/latin-american-university-rankings/2011. 
  5. ^ "QS Law University Ranking". http://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2011/subject-rankings/social-sciences/law. 
  6. ^ "Muere la destacada actriz nacional Paz Yrarrázaval". La Tercera. 2010-04-11. http://latercera.com/contenido/1453_250445_9.shtml. Retrieved 2010-05-10. 
  7. ^ "El Mercurio (Santiago), 28 de enero de 2007, p.D8". Diario.elmercurio.cl. http://diario.elmercurio.cl/detalle/index.asp?id={aadf3c06-b030-45e7-bd8a-8b44472bd685}. Retrieved 2011-05-23. 

External links

Chilean Traditional Universities (Consejo de Rectores)