Welcome to St. Edward's University

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Main Building

Tour stop audio transcript

Welcome to St. Edward's University, future Hilltopper! When you arrive on campus, you will be greeted by one of the most recognizable buildings in Austin. Main Building is among the oldest buildings on campus. In fact, Main's central steeple can be seen from many parts of the city. St. Edward's was founded as an all-boys Catholic school, until 1885 when it became a college. Main used to host classrooms and dormitories. Today, Main is home to offices like Admission, Student Financial Services, the Dean of Students, and the President's Office. On the north side, you will find the iconic Red Doors and a stunning view of downtown Austin. Each year, the incoming freshman class participates in Legacy Walk. Freshmen receive a medallion during the Medallion Ceremony and then walk through the Red Doors to formally join the university community. It is one of many traditions on our campus. In case this is your first visit, here are some tips to help you get started: -Click on the forward-facing arrow to start walking ahead or select the ""Next"" button to jump to the next destination. -If you already know where you want to go, simply select that location from the list on the sidebar OR click directly on the map below. -And remember to explore each destination in more detail by clicking the interactive icons included throughout each location.

You are now on the 3rd point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Main Building on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

Admission Office Welcome Center

Tour stop audio transcript

On behalf of the Admission Office, thank you for joining our virtual tour of the Hilltop. Here, you'll discover why St. Edward's University is a special and unique place. Located in the heart of Austin, Texas, St. Edward's University has a population of 3,590 students, with an average class size of 18. Our students represent 36 states, 45 countries, and 28 languages! We offer over 50 majors as well as many opportunities for internships, research and study-abroad. And we've been recognized as the #8 Best Regional Universities in the West by U.S. News & World Report. We're here to help you with your college search. Reach out to us!

You are now on the 7th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Admission Office Welcome Center on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

You are now on the 9th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Admission Office Welcome Center on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

School of Arts and Humanities

Tour stop audio transcript

Holy Cross Hall is home to the School of Arts and Humanities, where you can study writing, philosophy, communication, modern languages and video game development. At St. Ed's we have a 15 to 1 student to teach ratio, and our average class size is 18 students per class. When you are accepted to St. Ed's, you are accepted to the general university and can pursue a major and minor in any of the four schools. You do not have to apply to get into a specific academic program. The only exception is the BFA in Acting. Visit our theater stop for more information about studying theater and acting.

The Bill Munday School of Business

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Trustee Hall is home to The Bill Munday School of Business, where you find traditional programs in business along with unique areas of study like Entrepreneurship, Digital Media Management, International Business, and Digital Marketing. And thanks to partnerships with Austin's diverse business community, students use the city as their laboratory to experience, learn and grow as business professionals. Although Trustee is home to the business school, other classes are held here, too. Trustee is home to one of the 24 hour computer labs that we have on campus. All Hilltoppers have access to free, unlimited printing on campus, making the computer labs busy hubs of activity throughout the year.

School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

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The School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, or "BSS" as we call it, is housed in Doyle Hall. BSS includes majors such as psychology, criminal justice, political science, global studies, forensic science, environmental science and policy, and social work. It is home to the most advanced psychology labs in the city, and our students get to collaborate on professional research with faculty. Skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and communication are at the heart of the BSS curriculum and are often cited by employers as the skills they value most. Doyle Hall has a coffeeshop and shaded courtyard, making it the perfect place to enjoy time between classes.

School of Natural Sciences

Tour stop audio transcript

The School of Natural Sciences is housed in the John Brooks Williams science buildings complex. St. Edward's offers amazing programs in the natural sciences and boasts a strong pre-med program. Starting as early as your first year, you can do research with a professor, and you'll present research at a symposium. Undergraduate science students don't get those kind of opportunities at many schools. The labs are state of the art. You can choose from 13 majors, including Biology, Chemistry, Forensic Science, Computer Science, Environmental Biology and Climate Change, or pursue our 3+2 engineering partnership program. Fun fact: there's a greenhouse on the roof of the JBW-North building!

You are now on the 19th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from School of Natural Sciences on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

You are now on the 21st point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from School of Natural Sciences on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

The Student Center

Tour stop audio transcript

The Robert and Pearle Ragsdale Center, affectionately called "Rags", is the student hub of campus. The Office of Student Involvement is located on the third floor and supports more than 140 student clubs and organizations. You'll also find the South Congress Market, one of two large dining halls on campus. All of the food is fresh and sourced from within a 200 mile radius. The famrs are listed on the menus, so you know exactly where your food is coming from. You'll also find food for all dietary needs, and the staff is happy to customize any dish. In Rags you'll find Jo's Coffeeshop, a local Austin favorite.

Recreation and Athletic Center

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"The RAC", as we call it, takes a holistic and comprehensive approach to health. Workout in our spacious fitness center that is filled with natural light and modern, state of the art equipment. Take a GroupX fitness class, like yoga or spin, or attend workshops that support wellness in a variety of forms, like physical, emotional, social, financial, and environmental wellness. Participate in intramural programs or join a club sports team. And all Hilltoppers love to join Topper, our official mascot, to root on our competitive, Division-II varsity athletic teams. Access to the fitness center, games and most programs are free for all students, staff and faculty.

You are now on the 27th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Recreation and Athletic Center on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

You are now on the 29th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Recreation and Athletic Center on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

The Village

Tour stop audio transcript

The Village complex is made up of several residence halls, a dining hall, convenience store, coffee shop and the Health & Counseling Center. There are spacious patios and breezeways, where students gather to socialize and study. The views of the Austin skyline and the cooling breeze across the hilltop makes the Village a perfect spot to enjoy time outside, year round. The buildings include designer touches in a contemporary environment. In 2016, Alejandro Aravena, who designed The Village, was awarded the Pritzker Prize, the highest honor given to a living architect. He was recognized for his significant talent and socially responsible architecture.

You are now on the 33rd point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from The Village on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

Student Academic and Support Services

Tour stop audio transcript

In Moody Hall, students will find a number of different offices and campus services, including the Student Success Center, the Office of Career and Professional Development, the Study Abroad Office, International Students Services, the College Assistance Migrant Program, and Student Disability Services. There are also a number of classrooms in Moody Hall and the first floor atrium, with it's comfortable lounge seating and functional work stations, is a popular place for students to study and hangout between classes.

You are now on the 37th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Student Academic and Support Services on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

Our Lady Queen of Peace Chapel and Campus Ministry Building

Tour stop audio transcript

St. Edward's is a Catholic university, founded in the Holy Cross tradition. While many students identify as Catholic, more than 40 faith traditions are represented on campus. We are a diverse and inclusive community, and St. Edward's will support you as you grow in your faith, whatever it may be. The chapel offers daily mass and two masses on Sundays. Mass is not required, but the Sunday evening mass is quite popular! The Office of Campus Ministry, which is attached to the chapel, serves all Hilltoppers and offers space for students to connect, pursue service opportunities, engage in group discussions or participate in alternative spring break trips throughout the year.

The Munday Library and Learning Commons

Tour stop audio transcript

The Munday Library and Learning Commons is home to many resources. You don't even have to go inside the building to take advantage of some of them. The library has a fully electronic platform that gives you access to over one million books. This allows the library to have more space for individual and group study areas. Additionally, our electronic platform means that books are always up to date with the latest version, and multiple students can use the same book. Pretty cool, right?! The Writing Center and Digital Media Center are also housed here. You can get free assistance with your papers or reserve a production room and media equipment.

Basil Moreau Residence Hall

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Hilltoppers refer to Basil Moreau Hall as "BMH". It's one of several residence halls. Freshmen are required to live on campus, which makes it easy to adjust to college life and make friends. You choose which hall and room you want to live in, and you get to select your roommate, too. Students can bring cars to campus, but many students find it easy to use bikes, scooters, ride shares or the city bus to get around Austin. In BMH there are two room styles. Doubles, which are two people in a room with their own bathroom, or Suites, which are four people in two bedrooms, with a shared bathroom.

You are now on the 45th point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Basil Moreau Residence Hall on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

St. Andre Apartments, Upper-Level Student Housing

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The St. Andre Apartments provide condo-style living to students. It is the newest residence hall on campus and offers fully furnished apartment style rooms with a full kitchen in every apartment. Lounges, game rooms and beautiful outdoor spaces create opportunities for students to have fun and relax between classes. The building is also home to the Grab and Goat, which is a convenient, grab and go store that serves frozen yogurt, kolaches, tacos, artisan beverages, and snacks.

Hunt-Le Mans Residence Halls

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Edmund Hunt and Le Mans halls provide housing and are part of an area on campus referred to as "The Village". The main room style available in Hunt and Le Mans Halls is a double-suite, with two students per bedroom and four students per bathroom. Hunt and Le Mans feature kitchens, a large recreation room, laundry facilities, on-site resident mailboxes, 24-hour computer labs, and study areas.

You are now on the 51st point on the Hybrid2021 trail coming from Hunt-Le Mans Residence Halls on your way to Area Surrounding Campus.

Mary Moody Northern Theatre

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St. Ed's boasts one of the best theater programs in the country! We're one of the few undergraduate theaters that operates a full season in affiliation with Actors' Equity Association, the labor union representing American actors and stage managers in theater. Because of this arrangement, students receive professional mentoring opportunities and points toward their union card, which puts them first in line at auditions outside of the university. MMNT is a 178 seat arena theater, which makes it an intimate and exciting space to stage productions. Any student can pursue a degree in theater, but students can audition for theater scholarships as incoming students. Contact the Admission Office for more info.

Fine Arts Center

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The Fine Arts Center serves both the university and the Austin community through exhibitions of professional artists, faculty, alumni and students, as well as sponsored lectures and programming. It is both a teaching gallery and an exhibition venue. In this building you'll also find classrooms, faculty offices, art studios, and photography dark rooms. And in Austin, a creative city with a vibrant fine arts scene, your learning will extend beyond campus, through internships at galleries, festivals, and studios.

Sorin Oak

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Sorin Oak is named after our founder, Father Edward Sorin. It's said that he sat under this tree and decided it was the perfect place to build a school. Father Sorin also founded our sister school, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Sorin Oak is one of the oldest trees in Austin and is estimated to be between 500-600 years old. Students have a tradition of tapping their class ring on Sorin Oak at graduation, and it's a favorite spot for a midday break between classes throughout the year. The Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto is down the hill, and our grotto faces the Notre Dame grotto.

Austin Skyline from the Hilltop

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Austin, the capital of Texas, is commonly referred to as the "Live Music Capital of the World". Our campus is located just three miles from downtown, the epicenter of the action. The city has a bit of everything — natural beauty, vibrant nightlife, big business and a casual atmosphere. Recently, WalletHub named Austin the #1 Best College City in the U.S. based on academic, social and economic opportunities for students, and U.S. News & World Report ranked Austin #1 on its Best Places to Live in America list. Austin is a hub for creativity, technology, government and business and gives our students the opportunity to build their professional resume during college.

Area Surrounding Campus

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Walk a few blocks from campus, and you'll find yourself in the hippest part of Austin - South Congress Avenue, or "SoCo" as it's known with locals. Along SoCo, our students enjoy Austin's well known foodie culture - from foodtrucks to donut shops, health delights or BBQ, there's a place to satisfy every craving. Shop the cute boutiques, thrift stores and artistan booths. And on the First Thursday of every month, stores stay open late, offering special sales, free food and live music. Just beyond SoCo, our students look forward to attending the annual South by Southwest and Austin City Limits music festivals, and enjoying Austin's popular outdoor recreation scene.

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