University of Dallas

University of Dallas is a private Catholic university located in Irving, Texas, within the Dallas–Fort Worth metropolitan area. Founded in 1956, it was established by local civic and religious leaders and is affiliated with the Diocese of Dallas. The university offers undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs through its Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts, Constantin College of Liberal Arts, and Gupta College of Business. It is especially known for its core curriculum in the liberal arts and its study abroad program at its Rome campus in Italy. Students drawn to University of Dallas often seek a Catholic intellectual tradition, small class sizes, and a curriculum centered on philosophy, theology, and the humanities.

University of Dallas was founded in 1956 in Irving, Texas, by the Diocese of Dallas along with local civic leaders who sought to create a Catholic university to serve North Texas. Constantine E. McGuire became the first president and helped establish the institution’s academic structure and mission. In its early years, University of Dallas emphasized a liberal arts education grounded in the Catholic intellectual tradition. During the 1960s and 1970s, the university expanded its academic offerings and launched its Rome program, allowing undergraduates to study in Italy as part of the core curriculum. The Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts and later the business school broadened graduate education. Over time, University of Dallas developed additional professional and graduate programs while maintaining a focus on its core curriculum. Today, it continues to operate from its Irving campus and its Rome campus, integrating liberal arts education with professional studies.