Exploring Undergraduate Programs at the University of South Florida

The University of South Florida (USF), a public research university with campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee, offers a wide array of undergraduate programs designed to prepare students for successful careers and advanced studies. This article delves into the undergraduate experience at USF, exploring its academic offerings, campus life, and resources available to students.

A University of Distinction

Established on December 18, 1956, USF has grown into a major educational and research institution within the State University System of Florida. With a budget of $2.80 billion (2025-2026) and an endowment of $768 million (FY 2025), USF is committed to providing high-quality education and fostering innovation. The university's motto, "Truth and Wisdom," reflects its dedication to academic excellence and intellectual discovery.

USF is accredited by SACS and holds affiliations with prestigious organizations such as AAU, ORAU, and Sea Grant. The university's commitment to research is evident in its ranking by the Intellectual Property Owners Association, which placed USF 1st in Florida, 7th in the United States, and 16th worldwide in the number of US patents granted in 2018. USF faculty, staff, students, and alumni collectively hold over 2,400 patents.

Campus Locations and Environment

USF operates across three campuses: Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota-Manatee. Each campus offers a unique learning environment and contributes to the overall USF experience.

Tampa Campus

The main campus in Tampa spans 1,562 acres and serves over 41,000 students. It houses 14 colleges and is the doctoral granting campus of USF. The Tampa campus is located in North Tampa, east of the University neighborhood, approximately seven miles north of downtown. Known for its lush greenery, the campus boasts over 19,000 trees and has been recognized as a Tree Campus USA by the Arbor Day Foundation since 2011. Reflecting this arboreal emphasis, many streets and dormitories on campus are named after trees.

The Tampa campus provides multiple services and resources necessary for students to succeed both in the classroom and in their personal lives. In 2008 the university opened a new student union called the Marshall Student Center. The name pays homage to Phyllis P.

St. Petersburg Campus

The USF St. Petersburg campus is situated along Bayboro Harbor in downtown St. Petersburg. It is located next to Albert Whitted Airport and less than a mile from the Salvador Dalí Museum and Al Lang Stadium.

Sarasota-Manatee Campus

The USF Sarasota-Manatee campus shares its origins with New College of Florida. When USF Sarasota-Manatee was established as a branch campus in 1975, it originally shared a campus with what is now the independent New College of Florida, but was at the time a USF system member called New College of the University of South Florida. New College became independent of the USF system in 2001 and USFSM took its place as a member institution in the USF system, but USFSM and New College continued to share a campus until a new campus was completed for USFSM across the street in 2006. Nearly 2,000 students take classes at USFSM each year. The Sarasota-Manatee campus has one residence hall with 200 beds.

Academic Programs and Opportunities

USF offers a wide range of undergraduate programs across its various colleges and campuses. Students can pursue bachelor's degrees in diverse fields, gaining the knowledge and skills necessary for their chosen careers.

Majors and Areas of Study

The most popular majors at University of South Florida include:

Read also: History of the Block 'M'

Health Professions and Related Programs
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services
Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Social Sciences
Psychology
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services
Engineering
Communication, Journalism, and Related Programs
Education
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities

These programs provide students with a strong foundation in their chosen fields, preparing them for future success.

Combined-Degree Programs

USF offers combined-degree programs that allow students to earn both a bachelor's and a master's degree in a shorter amount of time. These programs provide an accelerated path for students seeking advanced knowledge and skills in their chosen fields. Examples of combined-degree programs include:

B.A. in Art History to M.A. in Art History
B.A. in English to M.A. in English
B.A. in Humanities and Cultural Studies to M.A. in Liberal Arts: Film Studies Concentration
B.A. in Mass Communications to M.A. in Mass Communications
B.A. in Mass Communications to M.S. in Advertising
B.S. in Advertising to M.S. in Advertising
B.S. in Biomedical Sciences to Pharm.D. in Pharmacy
B.S. in Integrated Public Relations and Advertising to M.A. in Mass Communications
B.S. in Integrated Public Relations and Advertising to M.S. in Advertising
B.S.B.E. in Biomedical Engineering to M.S.B.E. in Biomedical Engineering
B.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering to M.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering
B.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering to M.S.E.M. in Engineering Management
B.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering to M.S.E.V. in Environmental Engineering
B.S.C.E. in Civil Engineering to M.S.M.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering
B.S.C.H. in Chemical Engineering to M.S.B.E. in Biomedical Engineering
B.S.C.H. in Chemical Engineering to M.S.C.H. in Chemical Engineering
B.S.C.H. in Chemical Engineering to M.S.E.M. in Engineering Management
B.S.C.H. in Chemical Engineering to M.S.M.S.E. in Materials Science and Engineering
B.S.C.S. in Computer Science to M.S.C.S. in Computer Science
B.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering to M.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering
B.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering to M.S.E.M. in Engineering Management
B.S.E.E. in Electrical Engineering to M.S.M.S.E.

Electives and Minors

In addition to their major coursework, undergraduate students at USF have the opportunity to take electives and pursue academic minors.

Electives, general education and upper-level requirement courses. are complementary to a student’s major. These courses allow students to explore different subjects, broaden their knowledge, and develop new skills.

Academic minors provide students with the opportunity to specialize in a specific area of study outside of their major. A minor can enhance a student's major. to and/or diversifies their portfolio. Minors help students develop competencies related to career readiness. which can be practiced in each academic minor. Students should explore available minors to see what is a good fit for their interests and goals. Students should also consider how much room you have to add an academic minor.

Read also: Legacy of Fordham University

Academic Resources

USF provides a variety of academic resources to support undergraduate students in their studies. These resources include:

Libraries: The USF Libraries system includes the Tampa library, two regional library spaces, and the USF Health Libraries. The regional library spaces are the Nelson Poynter Memorial Library, located on the USF St.
Tutoring Services: USF offers tutoring services in various subjects to help students succeed in their coursework.
Academic Advising: Academic advisors provide guidance and support to students in choosing courses, planning their academic path, and achieving their educational goals.

Campus Life and Activities

USF offers a vibrant campus life with a wide range of activities and organizations for students to get involved in.

Student Organizations

USF has hundreds of student organizations catering to diverse interests and passions. Students can join clubs related to academics, sports, arts, culture, and community service.

Recreational Facilities

The Campus Recreation Center on the USF Tampa campus is a 21,000-square-foot, WiFi-enabled fitness facility featuring a two-basketball court gymnasium, six group fitness rooms, a bouldering wall, a 200-meter indoor three-lane running track, 120 pieces of cardio equipment, six racquetball courts, and a 25-meter indoor swimming pool. Inside the facility, members can work out, take group fitness classes, play intramural sports, rent equipment, receive personal training, undergo fitness assessments, and more. The Campus Recreation Center, known as the USF Gymnasium at the time, was also the first on campus home to USF's men's basketball team, who played three home games there in 1978-7…

Traditions and Landmarks

USF has a rich tradition and several iconic landmarks that contribute to the university's unique identity.

The Bulls: USF's sports teams are known as the South Florida Bulls and compete in the American Conference of NCAA Division I.
The USF Seal: In 1958, President John Allen commissioned a seal for the new university, wanting a symbol that would represent education on a global scale.
Green and Gold: USF's official colors are green and gold.
Bull Statues: The university has a total of 9 life size bronze bull statues across the three campuses, with one on the St. Petersburg campus, one on the Sarasota-Manatee campus, and seven on the Tampa campus (three in front of the south entrance of the Marshall Student Center, three in The Village housing complex, and one in front of the student entrance at the Yuengling Center, plus a 15-foot tall topiary bull at the north entrance of the Marshall Student Center). The bull statue on the St. Petersburg campus was installed on February 7, 2013. These statues are a rich part of USF tradition. The original three statues (the ones outside the MSC, dubbed the "Running of the Bulls") plus the topiary bull represent the four years a student spends in college, with the topiary bull representing a student's senior year as it symbolizes the student's growth over the past four years and faces one of the main entrances to campus (Palm Drive) as it will soon run off into the world. As the student government president, Mark Lombardi stated, "It’s about building campus tradition and culture. It’s going to be the first thing you take your picture with and the last thing you take your picture with.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza: One of the most popular gathering spots on the Tampa campus is Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza, which is located between the John and Grace Allen Building and the Marshall Student Center, marked by a small bust of the civil rights activist. Beneath the bust of Dr. King are five granite lines pointing in the directions of five cities significant to his legacy: Atlanta, Boston, Memphis, Montgomery, and Washington D.C. The bust faces a reflecting pool with fountains which marks the geographical center of campus. On the other side of the pool are stone tablets engraved with Dr.
Botanical Gardens: The 15 acre botanical garden on USF's Tampa campus was established in 1969 for use by the Biology Department. The garden contains over 3,000 taxa of plants including fruit trees, bonsai trees, grasses, begonias, orchids, bromeliads, palms, aroids, bamboo, gingers, carnivorous plants, cycads, cactus and succulent plants, an herb and scent garden, wetland forest, temperate forest, subtropical shade garden, and Florida upland scrub and sandhill habitats.
Castor Beach: Castor Beach is an artificial beach on campus by the lake outside of Betty Castor Hall, one of the largest dorms on the Tampa campus. The beach is complete with white sand taken from the nearby Clearwater Beach, which is regularly voted as one of America's best beaches. The area has a beach volleyball net, hammocks, and chairs with umbrellas and is a popular spot for relaxing on campus.

Admission and Costs

Admission Requirements

The Fall 2022 Freshman class of approximately 4,000 students earned admission to the university with an average SAT score of 1309 out of 1600, ACT score of 29 out of 36, and high school GPA of 4.21. 41% of the members of the incoming class graduated in the top 10% of their high school class.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition and fees vary depending on the student's residency status and the campus they attend. As an example, for the College of Engineering, the cost is $211.19 per credit hour for in-state students and $611.39 per credit hour for out-of-state and international students. For the Muma College of Business, the cost is $431.43 per credit hour for in-state students and $921.74 per credit hour for out-of-state and international students.

Rankings and Recognition

USF has consistently been recognized for its academic excellence and research contributions.

U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 "Best Medical Schools: Research" ranked USF’s Morsani College of Medicine in Tier 1-the only Florida school so ranked-making it the state’s highest-ranked medical school for research.
USF was ranked #103 on the list of all universities, and #46 among public universities in 2020, and #181 among all national and #100 among public universities in 2010. This ranking also put USF as #4 in Florida overall and #3 in Florida among public universities.
U.S. News also ranked USF as the only Florida university in the Top 10 Best Value Colleges, at #8 among public universities.
USF was recognized in U.S. News ranking of top National Universities for Social Mobility.
Niche ranked USF #19 for top public universities in America and #67 for best colleges in America in 2023.

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