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University of Notre Dame

a coeducational Roman Catholic school in Notre Dame, Indiana (adjacent to South Bend), with an enrollment of approximately 12,000 students overall

The Campus

Notre Dame's 137 buildings are spread out over a campus of 1,250 acres. Landmarks include: the Log Chapel, a replica of the first building erected at Notre Dame; the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, a replica of a shrine at Lourdes, France; and the 128-year-old Main Building with its famed Golden Dome.

The 14-story Hesburgh Library, completed in 1963, holds more than 2 million volumes. Important collections include the Dante Library of books from the early 1500's, the Hiberniana collection of Irish history and literature, the Kirsch-Wenninger-Niewland Biology Library, and the Zahm South American Library.

Notre Dame Stadium hosts the "Fighting Irish" football team, famous for Knute Rockne, George Gipp, and the Four Horsemen of Notre Dame.

Educational Programs

Divisions within Notre Dame include the College of Arts and Letters, the College of Science, the College of Engineering, and the Mendoza College of Business, the School of Architecture, and the School of Law. Notre Dame's graduate school offers 46 master's and 23 doctoral degree programs in and among 35 departments and institutes.

Rev. Edward SorinHistory

On November 26, 1842, 28-year-old French priest Rev. Edward Sorin and seven companions from the Congregation of Holy Cross took possession of 524 acres that the Bishop of Vincennes had given them in the Indiana mission fields. The school that Sorin built on that land was named in honor of Our Lady of Lourdes -- L'Université de Notre Dame du Lac in French. Notre Dame was officially chartered by the Indiana Legislature on January 15, 1844.

Courses in physics and geology were added to the curriculum in 1863.

The College of Science was established in 1865.

The nation's first Catholic law school was established at Notre Dame in 1869. The first Catholic College of Engineering was also established here, in 1873.

Women were admitted to undergraduate studies in 1972.

Notable Alumni

The Notre Dame Alumni roll includes executives of some of the nation's biggest corporations, numerous politicians, and a wealth of college and university presidents. It also includes the small sampling below:

Dr. Bob Arnot, NBC News medical correspondent
Bruce Babbit, Secretary of the Interior and Governor of Arizona
Ernesto Perez Balladares, President of Panama
Jimmy Brogan, comedian
Michael Collins, author
Phil Donahue, television talk show host
Mike Golic, co-host of ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning"
Regis Philbin, television personality
Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of State
Joe Theismann, football player and NFL analyst for ESPN
James D. Wetherbee, astronaut

The official website of Notre Dame is www.nd.edu.

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SKC Films Library >> Education >> Individual Institutions: United States

This page was last updated on 01/15/2017.