page_title: Universidad del Sagrado Corazón
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Universidad del Sagrado Corazón / History
caption_attribution_description: Español: Primera sede del Colegio del Sagrado Corazón en Miramar.English: First building of the College of the Sacred Heart in Miramar, Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is an image of a place or building that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in the United States of America. Its reference number is 85002908
context_page_description: Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, abbreviated "USC" and often called simply Sagrado, is a private university in Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico. It is one of the oldest and largest educational institutions in Puerto Rico with origins dating back to 1880 with the establishment of an elementary school by the religious order of the Catholic Church known as "Religiosas del Sagrado Corazón" in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
  The university is situated in an area which was urbanized in the first decades of the twentieth century with great residences that belonged to the privileged families of the time and is rich in architectural styles. Renowned architect Antonín Nechodoma located his residence in Monteflores and some residences designed by him are still in the area. Including buildings with the unique French-style neoclassic architectural characteristics of the residence of Pablo Ubarri, Count of Santurce, which is now the center of the university's main campus. Such buildings abound along with Puerto Rican adaptations of Victorian architecture.
context_section_description: It was the year 1880 when three nuns of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus landed on the docks of San Juan, coming from Havana, Cuba.  Their mission was to establish in Puerto Rico the educational and spiritual work that just 80 years before Mother Madeleine Sophie Barat had begun in France.
  At the beginning of the 20th century the institution acquired the Count of Santurce Estate and established the foundations of what makes-up today's campus.
  In 1935, the local government issued the Letter Foundation, whereby it established the College of the Sacred Heart. Four years later, in 1939, the institution granted its first academic degrees. The original founding purpose was as an educational center for women in Puerto Rico to achieve ample knowledge, not only for their personal enrichment, but for the benefit of the territory.
  In 1970, the religious order opted to transfer ownership and governance of the institution to the Board of Trustees (composed of some religious, but mostly lay members). This transition allowed for the notable expansion of academic offerings and student body.
  In February 1972, a change in the institution's original vision took place. The Board of Trustees approved the establishment of an entirely co-ed institution. In December 1976, the Board of Trustees authorized the use of the new official name: "Universidad del Sagrado Corazon" (USC) or University of the Sacred Heart (USH). In 1985, the University established the first three graduate programs in: Education, Communications, and Business Administration.
  In October 1984, Pope John Paul II held a mass at the university during the first and only Papal visit to Puerto Rico.
  In 1990, the university began to limit the number of undergraduate students accepted, in order to raise academic standards.
  In January of 2019, the division of continuing education was rebranded Sagrado Global, the School of Professional Studies at Sagrado, and started offering professional certificates in Digital marketing, Data Analytics, and Graphic Design, among others.  These professional certificates, some of which are also offered remotely, require taking 6 courses and can be completed in 1 year or less.  
  In 2019, the university had its first School of Music graduates with seven obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in Music.
  In 2019, Socorro Juliá- one of the oldest faces of the university was interviewed by El Vocero. She stated that she has been affiliated with the university since she was 5 years old, long before her religious calling.
  In 2019, the university joined forced with the Santurce Cultural Center in an initiative to help business owners by offering free business  workshops and help local business explore ways to grow their business.
caption: Colegio del Sagrado Corazón, first building at Miramar
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