Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

In 1978 Pope John Paul II promulgated the Apostolic Constitution Ex Corde Ecclesiae, which made allowance, in Article 3.3, for the establishment of Catholic universities by laypersons. Prior to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, only clergy and religious, along with affiliated institutions such as regional episcopal conferences and religious societies, were authorized under canon law to found institutes of higher learning under the patronage of the Roman Catholic Church. The document reflects the directives of the Second Vatican Council, which called for increased lay participation in the Church's liturgical and administrative life.

UCAM, the brainchild of founder and president José Luis Mendoza Pérez,[1] was the first such university to be established under the new conditions presented in Article 3.3. A member of the Pontifical Council for the Family and father of 14 children, Mendoza serves as president of the university. At its establishment in 1996, UCAM had a population of approximately 600 students. As of 2012 its population had expanded to over 16,000.[2]

UCAM's stance toward the secular world is informed by this notion, as can be seen in the Letter from the President introducing English-speaking foreign students to UCAM. According to Mendoza, the university has:

"a vocation both to teach and evangelise in the academic, scientific and cultural world and provide an instrument in Faith to solve the many questions and problems of contemporary society and in this way contribute to social, cultural and human development and progress".

The university has different headquarters and centers, the main campuses being those located in Murcia and Cartagena. It also offers training in Madrid and remotely, with a multitude of examination venues nationwide. With more than 20,000 students and around 1,000 teachers, its objective is to promote quality university education with future representation on all continents.​

It is built on an approximate area of ​​25,000 square meters (14,500 built) and will soon have an annexation of another 200,000 for gardens, parking, sports facilities and university residence. It is located 4 km from the urban center of the city of Murcia, in the Los Jerónimos Monastery (18th century), which, together with its baroque church, is declared a National Historic-Artistic Monument and forms the so-called Los Jerónimos Campus, headquarters from the Catholic University of San Antonio de Murcia (UCAM). The Campus consists of large and bright classrooms, Library, Assembly Hall, Meeting and Work Rooms, Laboratories, Computer, Multimedia and Language Classrooms and Cafeteria-Dining Room.

Other UCAM headquarters and schools, complementary to the Los Jerónimos Campus are:

·Cartagena Campus

·VET Institute

·COCO School of Design

·UCAM Online

·UCAM Spanish Sports University

·John Paul II Institute

Faculty of Law

• Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology

• Bachelor's Degree in Law

• Bachelor’s Degree in Labour Relations and Human Resources

Faculty of Economics and Business

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and Management

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration (in English)

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing and Commercial Management

• Bachelor's Degree in Tourism

• Bachelor's Degree in Tourism (Bilingual)

UCAM Polytechnic School

• Bachelor's Degree in Principles of Architecture

• Bachelor's Degree in Civil Engineering

• Bachelor's Degree in Building Services Engineering

• Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering

• Bachelor's Degree in Telecommunication Technology Engineering

Faculty of Medicine

• Bachelor’s Degree in Medicine

• Bachelor’s Degree in Dentistry

• Bachelor´s Degree in Dentistry (in English)

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

• Bachelor's Degree in Psychology (in English)

Faculty of Sport

• Bachelor's Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

• Bachelor's Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences (in English)

• Degree in Dance

Faculty of Nursing

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing

Faculty of Pharmacy and Nutrition

• Bachelor's Degree in Biotechnology

• Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy

• Bachelor's Degree in Pharmacy (in English)

• Bachelor's Degree in Food Science and Technology

• Bachelor's Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics

• Bachelor's Degree in Gastronomy

Faculty Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Podiatry

• Bachelor's Degree in Physiotherapy

• Bachelor's Degree in Podiatry

• Bachelor's Degree in Occupational TherapyFaculty of Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Modern Languages

• Bachelor's Degree in Modern Languages (in English)

• Bachelor's Degree in Translation and Interpretation

• Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Primary Education

Faculty of Communication

• Bachelor's Degree in Audiovisual Communication

• Bachelor's Degree in Journalism

• Bachelor's Degree in Advertising and Public Relations

Furthermore, UCAM has entered into academic and double degree programme agreements with prestigious business schools and universities, including the following:

• EADIC Engineering, Training & Development Solutions

• IEBS Digital School

• Anahuac University in Mexico City

• Autonomous University of Chile

• UPTC, Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia

The average tuition fees for students are €7,800 per year, ranging from a minimum of €4,000 to a maximum of €14,300 depending on the degree course.

The university maintains connections[3] with over 200 other universities worldwide. Preparation for working life is part of the education program at UCAM.

• Media related to Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website