The University of San Carlos (USC; Filipino: Pamantasan ng San Carlos; Cebuano: Unibersidad sa San Carlos), colloquially referred to as San Carlos or Sangkarlos, is a private, Catholic, and research university administered by the Philippine Southern Province of the Society of the Divine Word in Cebu City, Philippines since 1935. It was founded originally in 1595 as Colegio de San Ildefonso, but was closed during the expulsion of the Jesuit missionaries in the Philippines in 1768. The Colegio reopened in 1783 as Seminario-Colegio de San Carlos, until it separated from the seminary in 1924. The Colegio de San Carlos became a university on July 1, 1948.
USC has 2 campuses with combined land area of 88 hectares or 217 acres (Talamban campus has 78 hectares). The Commission on Higher Education has recognized 8 of its programs as Centers of Excellence and 12 of its programs as Centers of Development as of March, 2016.
At present, USC has a population of 25,000+ students. 250+ of which are foreign students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs. It offers academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate level.
San Carlos's notable alumni include 1 Philippine president, senators and congressmen, presidential cabinet members, military officials, legal personages, journalists, awards laureates, celebrities, and businessmen.
History
Early history
thumb|left|Historical marker installed by the [[National Historical Commission of the Philippines in 2010]]
The current claim of the Administration of the University of San Carlos is that the institution was originally founded as the Colegio de San Ildefonso, a grammar school attached to the Jesuit residence in Cebu. It was established by Spanish Jesuit missionaries Antonio Sedeño, Pedro Chirino and Antonio Pereira in 1595. The Colegio de San Ildefonso was closed in 1769 with the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain and the Spanish dominions.
Prompted by the decree of the Council of Trent that every diocese must have a seminary for the formation and training of priests, Bishop Mateo Joaquin Rubio de Arevalo, in a letter dated October 25, 1777, petitioned Charles III of Spain for the legal bequest of the buildings of the old Colegio de San Ildefonso. This was granted by a royal decree dated October 29, 1779, which was subsequently confirmed by the Real Audiencia de Manila on the October 16, 1782. On August 23, 1783, the Spanish government officially turned over the properties that it had confiscated and hitherto owned, marking the birth of the Cebu Seminary, named the Real Seminario de San Carlos after the counter-reformation saint, St. Charles Borromeo.
Despite the founding of the seminary in 1783, there were no permanent faculty members during the first few years of its operation, as hardly anyone was trained for seminary administration and theological teaching. In 1825, the Seminary's first rector, Fr. José Morales del Rosario, was appointed by the Dominican Bishop Francisco Genoves, and was followed by a series of secular rectors until 1867. Bishop Genoves was succeeded by Bishop Romualdo Jimeno, another Dominican, whose episcopate saw the help of his confreres from the University of Santo Tomas in Manila, which drastically improved the Seminary's quality of education. thumb|The facade of the Seminario-Colegio de San Carlos at the start of the Vincentian administration.|leftHowever, this position is contested by scholars. According to Fr. Aloysius Cartagenas, a professor at the Seminario Mayor de San Carlos of Cebu, “following Church tradition, the foundation event and date of University of San Carlos should be the decree of Bishop Romualdo Jimeno on May 15, 1867 (turning over the seminary to the Congregation of the Missions) and the first day of classes in the history of what is now USC is July 1, 1867, the day Fr. José Casarramona welcomed the first lay students to attend classes at the Seminario de San Carlos.” Thus, he says that San Carlos cannot claim to have descended from the Colegio de San Ildefonso founded by the Jesuits in 1595, despite taking over the latter's facilities when the Jesuits were expelled by Spanish authorities in 1769. According to him there is “no visible and clear link” between Colegio de San Ildefonso and USC. San Carlos was specifically for the training of diocesan priests, and it simply took over the facility of the former, a Jesuit central house with an attached day school.
The university, as an autonomous institute as per the modern definition of a university, started to function in 1867. Though claims have been made to its origin as an autonomous institute at the time of opening of a seminary as a religious school of indoctrination in 1783. University even stretches the claim of its origin back to founding of another center of religious teaching in 1595, which was later closed down. Thus claims about being the oldest, and being a university in its earlier versions or the claims of using shut down institutes as its constituents are concocted and disputed.
According to Dr. Victor Torres of the De La Salle University, the University of San Carlos' claim dates back to 1948 only when USC was declared a university. Fidel Villarroel from the University of Santo Tomas argued that USC only took over the facility of the former Colegio de San Ildefonso and that there is no 'visible' and 'clear' link between San Carlos and San Ildefonso. In 2010, the National Historical Commission of the Philippines installed a bronze marker declaring USC's foundation late in the 18th century, effectively disproving any direct connection with the Colegio de San Ildefonso. while the Seminary remained under the Vincentian Fathers until 1998. The first SVD rector of the San Carlos College was Fr. Arthur Dingman. In 1937, the Colleges of Law and Commerce were opened, followed by the College of Education in 1938, and by the College of Engineering in 1939. 1940 marked an important year in the history of the institution, as it was in this year when women were first admitted into the collegiate section under the Junior Normal School, opened in the same year.thumb|318x318px|Courtyard of the Fr. Lawrence Bunzel Building.The Second World War saw the closure of the college in 1941. Currently, the former building for Boys' HS has been converted to a multi-purpose building, while the former Girls' HS is now a Landbank branch.
In 2012, USC inaugurated one of the country's biggest university central library and learning resource center at the Talamban campus. Infrastructure development of USC Talamban campus is being undertaken continuously with the expansion and building of access roads within the campus, underground cabling of utilities and communication lines, and construction of the new university stadium, conference and tourism center. USC Talamban campus is envisioned as an Univer-City by 2030 one of the first among the universities in the country. This announcement by the school sparked a large online backlash from the students, which expanded to backlash from other concerned parties after the extension was announced.
In 2025, the USC Basic Education department was formally separated from the rest of the university as San Carlos School of Cebu, Inc. (SCSC), still under the administration of the SVD. SCSC's grand launching ceremony was held on September 5, 2025.
Campuses
USC consists of two campuses in different areas of Metro Cebu, with a combined land area of 88 hectares.
Downtown Campus
USC's Downtown Campus (DC), colloquially referred to as the Main Campus, is located in a city block enclosed by P. del Rosario Street, Pelaez Street, Sanciangko Street, and Junquera Street. This campus primarily holds the School of Business and Economics and the School of Law and Governance. The buildings of the Downtown Campus are among the oldest structures in the university.thumb|Fr. Arthur Dingman BuildingFr. Arthur Dingman Building, which is perhaps USC's most recognizable facade. It was formerly known as the Administration Building. Designed by Paolo Beltran in the beaux-arts style, the building is USC's oldest standing edifice, being built from 1947 to 1951. This building replaced an older college building, which was destroyed during the September 12, 1944 pre-liberation bombings of Cebu. It is listed as an Important Cultural Property. among others. Currently, it houses the Carolinian Inn and the Carolinian Cafe, as well as other lecture halls used by the School of Business and Economics. The building is connected to the Arthur Dingman Building by a structure called the transitorium. The building is named after Gabriel Martelino Reyes, who served as Archbishop of Cebu from 1934 to 1949, and then served as the first Filipino Archbishop of Manila.
Fr. Ernest Hoerdemann Building, formerly known as the Law and Graduate Business Building, which is located near the corner of Pelaez Street and Sanciangko Street. Completed in 2009, it is the newest building in the Downtown Campus. The building was completed in 1961.
Talamban Campus
USC's Talamban Campus (TC) is its largest campus by land area, occupying a 78 hectare property in Talamban, Cebu City, along Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue. The campus landscape is known for its steep terrain, being situated at the foot of Cebu's central mountain range. It is marked by its forest-like greenery, as it populated with various species of trees. This campus hosts the School of Engineering, School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, School of Healthcare Professions, and the School of Architecture, Fine Arts, & Design.
Fr. Lawrence Bunzel Building, formerly known as the Technological Center. This building is the most recognizable building in the campus, and is the only major building entirely visible from the campus gates. It is the oldest in the campus, inaugurated in 1966. The building is home to the School of Engineering, which was the first school to move to the Talamban Campus. thumb|Arnoldus Science Complex (foreground) viewed from the Fr. Philip van Engelen Building|261x261pxFr. Philip van Engelen Building, formerly known as the Arts and Sciences Building. It houses the liberal arts departments of the School of Arts & Sciences.
Fr. Robert Hoeppener Building. The building houses the School of Healthcare Professions.
Fr. Joseph Baumgartner Learning Resource Center, commonly referred to as the LRC. The building houses the university's central library. It is dubbed as the biggest library building in the country. Aside from the various book collections, the building also houses the USC Biological Museum, which has an extensive natural history collection.
Fr. Michael Richartz Center. The building's primary feature is the Michael Richartz Hall, which is a large conference hall located in the center of the building. The installation ceremonies of the recent university presidents were held in this building.. The building also has a few classrooms and other facilities, mainly used by tourism management students.
SAFAD Building. Among the most recently built buildings in the Talamban Campus, it hosts the School of Architecture, Fine Arts, & Design (SAFAD). The building is noted for its minimalist architecture, as well as its vibrant murals along the SAFAD Theatre.
Multiple buildings were largely designed by Fr. Winand Klassen, SVD, in the brutalist style: thumb|Scenery of the Talamban Campus (with the TC Church in the background)|262x262pxArnoldus Science Complex, also known as the Science Building, which is home to the natural science departments of the SAS. It was completed in 1981, and is the second oldest major building of the campus. The building is divided into three wings, namely the Fr. Edgar Oehler Wing (chemistry), Fr. Francis Oster Wing (physics), and the Fr. Enrique Schoenig Wing (biology). The building has an annex called the Science and Mathematics Education (SMED) Building, which houses the School of Education since the 2020s.
Church of St. Arnold Janssen and Joseph Freinademetz, also known as the TC Church was consecrated by Cardinal Ricardo Vidal on March 24, 2004. It serves as the church of the local campus, and houses the philosophy department.
St. Joseph Freinademetz Formation House, occupying the former facilities of the SVD Retreat House. It is the central house and seminary for the brotherhood candidates of the Society of the Divine Word Philippine Southern Province.
The Talamban Campus has various sporting venues, including a covered basketball court, a stadium, and a soccer field
Administration and organization
{| class="mw-collapsible toccolours" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; font-size:90%; line-height:1.4em; width:300px"
| colspan="2" |
|-
|School
|Year founded
|-
| colspan="2" |
----
|-
|Arts and Sciences
|1934
|-
|Law and Governance
|1937
|-
|Business and Economics
|1937
|-
|Education
|1938
|-
|Engineering
|1939
|-
|Healthcare Professions
|1947
|-
|Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design
|1984
|-
| colspan="2" |
----
|}
The University of San Carlos is governed by a Board of Trustees, consisting of ten members. The Board elects the University President, who as the chief executive officer, appoints the Vice Presidents, Chaplain, Deans, Registrar, Principals, and other officers. The President is assisted by three vice presidents: one for Academic Affairs, one for Administration, and one for Finance. These officers constitute the President's Cabinet. Each university president serves three year terms, and is eligible for reappointment.
The University is divided into seven collegiate schools, each headed by a dean. Each school is divided into multiple academic departments devoted to a specific discipline, each headed by a department chair. USC's seven collegiate schools are as follows:
- School of Arts and Sciences (SAS)
- School of Law and Governance (SLG)
- School of Business and Economics (SBE)
- School of Education (SEd)
- School of Engineering (SOE)
- School of Healthcare Professions (SHCP)
- School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design (SAFAD)
The College of Law, which is organized under the School of Law & Governance, is headed by its own dean.
Academics
Degree programs
The University of San Carlos offers education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, through its various academic units. As of 2024, the university offers 45 undergraduate degree programs, along with 34 graduate programs, 3 of which are professional degree programs.
University of San Carlos Program Offerings per School (2026-2027):
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"
|+
!School
!Undergraduate Programs
!Graduate Programs
!Postgraduate Programs
|-
|School of Arts and Sciences (SAS)
|
- Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
- Bachelor of Arts in Communication Major in Media
- Bachelor of Arts in English Language Studies
- Bachelor of Arts in Literary and Cultural Studies With Creative Writing
- Bachelor of Philosophy
- Bachelor of Science in Psychology
- Bachelor of Science in Biology
- Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology
- Bachelor of Science in Chemistry
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
- Bachelor of Science in Data Science
- Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
- Bachelor of Science in Information Systems
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics
|
- Master of Arts in Anthropology
- Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics
- Master of Arts in Literature
- Master of Arts in Philosophy
- Master of Arts in Psychology Major in (Clinical Psychology, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, and Social Psychology)
- Master of Science in Biology
- Master of Science in Marine Biology
- Master of Science in Environmental Science
- Master of Science in Information Techology
- Master of Science in Physics
|
- Doctor of Philosophy in Anthropology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy
- Doctor of Philosophy in Biology (Bioscience Track)
- Doctor of Philosophy in Information Technology
- Doctor of Philosophy in Physics
|-
|School of Law and Governance (SLG)
|
- Bachelor of Arts in Political Science Major in (Law & Policy Studies, and International Relations & Foreign Service)
|
- Master of Arts in Political Science
- Juris Doctor (Thesis/Non-Thesis)
|
|-
|School of Business and Economics (SBE)
|
- Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in (Financial Management, Human Resource Management, Marketing Management, and Operations Management)
- Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
- Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting
- Bachelor of Science in Internal Auditing
- Bachelor of Science in Economics
- Bachelor of Science in Economics with Data Analytics
- Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management
- Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management
|
- Master of Business Administration (Professional Track and Thesis Track)
- Exacutive Master of Business Administration
- Master of Science in Accountancy
- Master in Management Accounting
- Master in Internal Auditing
- Master of Arts in Economics
- Master of Management Major in (Hospitality Management and Tourism Management)
|
- Doctor of Philosophy in Business Administration
|-
|School of Education (SEd)
|
- Bachelor of Special Needs Education Specialization Early Childhood Education-Montessori Education
- Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in (Mathematics and Science)
|
- Master of Arts in Education Major in (Montessori Education - <small>Primary or Lower Elementary</small> and Special Education)
- Master of Arts in Mathematics Education
- Master of Arts in Science Education Major in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
|
- Doctor of Philosophy in Education Major in Research and Evaluation
- Doctor of Philosophy in Science Education Major in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics
|-
|School of Engineering (SOE)
|
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
- Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
|
- Master of Science in Civil Engineering Major in (Water Resources & Environment and Structural Engineering)
- Master of Science in Chemical Engineering
- Master of Science in Computer Engineering
- Master of Science in Electronics Engineering Major in (Computer & Communications Option and Instrumentation & Control Option)
- Master of Science in Industrial Engineering
- Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering
|
- Doctor of Engineering
|-
|School of Healthcare Professions (SHCP)
|
- Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Nurtrition and Dietetics
|
- Master of Science in Pharmacy
- Master of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Doctor of Pharmacy
|
|-
|School of Architecture, Fine Arts, and Design (SAFAD)
|
- Bachelor of Science in Architecture
- Bachelor of Science in Interior Design
- Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
- Bachelor of Fine Arts Major in (Advertising Arts and Cinema)
|
- Master of Architecture Major in (Architectural Science, Urban Design, Interior Architecture, and Landscape Architecture)
|
|}