Roman Catholic institution covering more than 100 acres (40 hectares) in a residential area of Los Angeles, Calif., on a bluff above Marina Del Rey. Its history traces back to St. Vincent's College of 1865, the oldest institution of learning in southern California. The university's name is the result of the 1973 merger of Loyola University of Los Angeles and Marymount College. The Jesuits, the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange all have influenced the university. About 70 percent of the students are Roman Catholic. Courses in religious studies are required for graduation. Undergraduate enrollment is about 4,000 students, the majority of whom are state residents. Women slightly outnumber men. About half of the undergraduates live on campus in dormitories or apartments. Bachelor's programs are offered by the Colleges of Liberal Arts, Science and Engineering, Communications and Fine Arts, and Business Administration. All undergraduates take core classes in the liberal arts, though specific requirements vary by college. The university conducts a variety of study abroad programs and internships. A special program called ENCORE helps students over the age of 30 prepare to return to the classroom. About 85 percent of Loyola Marymount's full-time faculty hold doctorates. The academic calendar is divided into semesters. Graduate programs are held primarily in the evenings and enroll more than 1,000 students. The university grants master's degrees in such areas as liberal arts and sciences, business administration, education, engineering and applied sciences, and communications. The School of Law, located on a separate campus in downtown Los Angeles, enrolls about 1,400 students seeking the Juris Doctor degree. Loyola Marymount conducts some 110 extracurricular activities. These include student government, intramural sports, the campus radio station, fraternities and sororities, choirs, debate squad, and various ethnic, professional, academic, service, and honor organizations. Annual events at the university include Special Games for handicapped children and the Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) celebration. Varsity sports teams, nicknamed the Lions, participate in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. School colors are crimson, gray, and light blue. |