The Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo, or UASD), widely recognized as the Primada de América (“First University of the Americas”), is the oldest institution of higher education in the Western Hemisphere and a cornerstone of Dominican public education. UASD Diploma Sample, Located primarily in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, UASD stands as a major public university system committed to accessible, high-quality education, research, and societal development.
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Its origins date to October 28, 1538, when Pope Paul III issued the papal bull In Apostolatus Culmine, elevating the Studium Generale run by Dominican friars since 1518 in the Convent of Santo Domingo to full university status as the Universidad Santo Tomás de Aquino. Officially recognized by royal decree in 1558, it initially offered programs in theology, law, medicine, and arts, modeled after European medieval universities. The institution faced closures and interruptions due to political upheavals, including Haitian occupations and independence struggles, but was reestablished as a secular entity in the 19th century. In 1866, it was revived as the Professional Institute by figures like José Gabriel García and Emiliano Tejera, renamed the University of Santo Domingo in 1914, and granted full autonomy via Law 5778 in 1961 following the fall of dictator Rafael Trujillo—marking its modern rebirth as the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo.
UASD’s flagship Ciudad Universitaria campus, inaugurated in 1947, provides a spacious, modern hub in Santo Domingo, with additional regional campuses and centers across the country for broader access. The university comprises eight faculties: Humanities, Arts, Law and Political Sciences, Health Sciences, Economics and Social Sciences, Sciences, Engineering and Architecture, and Agricultural Sciences. It offers a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs, emphasizing practical training, research, and community service.
With enrollment exceeding 139,000 students (recent figures around 139,918), including a large portion of undergraduates, UASD serves a diverse population as the nation’s largest public university. It ranks prominently in Latin America (e.g., #351-400 in QS Latin America rankings) and excels in social sciences, health, and liberal arts. Guided by its historic legacy and mission to train professionals who drive national progress, UASD remains a vibrant, inclusive institution fostering innovation, equity, and cultural advancement in the Dominican Republic and beyond.
