With a Shaw AFB and a Sumter office, we offer afternoon, evening, weekend and online classes. Continue your education to accommodate your busy schedule.
Saint Leo was the ideal choice to fill the higher education needs at Shaw Air Force Base when the center opened in 1975. With an approach that tailors course offerings term by term woven around a single-minded focus on being of service to students, the University brings higher education to the doorstep of its military and civilian students.
Ever affected by military assignments and deployments, Shaw grew at the hefty rate of 10-percent a year through the mid-1980s. Right after Desert Storm that growth leveled out with the reduction in forces, then another population explosion took place when troops newly back from that conflict resumed their studies. The fluctuations affected not only the troops themselves, but their families and support personnel as well. Ninety to 120 day TDY rotations were — and are — a way of life, not an exception. To meet the needs of an increasingly mobile military,the center is tapping Saint Leo’s growing online course availability.
The Shaw Center is a result of Saint Leo University’s long standing relationship with the Military. This partnership with the Air Force allows the university to provide education to military, their families and civilians in the surrounding communities. Through this partnership, Saint Leo is able to teach from their classrooms, provide access to the library and allow students to access the computer labs in the Education Building. Additionally, all students attending Saint Leo University may access library services online through Saint Leo’s online electronic library.
Saint Leo University is a Catholic, coeducational liberal arts university offering programs leading to the associate's and baccalaureate degrees and the Master of Business Administration, Master of Education and Master of Criminal Justice degrees. Chartered on June 4, 1889, Saint Leo originated when the Florida legislature authorized the Order of St. Benedict of Florida to "have and possess the right and power of conferring the usual academic and other degrees granted by any college in this State."
As the first Catholic college in Florida, Saint Leo opened its doors with the dedication of its main building on September 14, 1890. In this pioneer year, Saint Leo enrolled 32 students for classes. These students engaged in the study of the basic curriculum, which included amix of liberal arts and commercial courses leading to the Master of Accounts degree. In addition to the basic curriculum, the College periodically went through a military phase with uniforms, and required drilling to instill discipline and order. On June 20, 1893, Saint Leo conferred the Master of Accounts degree on its first graduating classof five students.
In 1920, the College was phased out as the faculty decided to focus on becoming what one longtime Benedictine called "a serious English-style prep school." A year later, in 1921, Saint Leo became accredited by the Southern Educational Association. After several name changes, the institution settled on Saint Leo College Preparatory School in 1929. It lasted until 1964.
Reaching for a larger mission, Saint Leo opened again as a college in1959. During this time, Saint Leo received a great deal of assistance from the Benedictine sisters at Holy Name Monastery, its neighboring community. Operating first on the associate's level, the College moved quickly to a four-year program and conferred its first bachelor's degree on April 23, 1967, on 51 men and 13 women. It was accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools on November 29, 1967, retroactive to include the charter bachelor of arts class.
In 1969, the College was reorganized when the Order of Saint Benedictof Florida transferred title and control to an independent board of trustees. Shortly after this reconstruction, Saint Leo began to broaden its purpose, which echoed its military history. In 1973, the College responded to requests from the armed services to offer degree programs on military bases. Now, Saint Leo University is one of the largest providers of higher education to military-related personnel in the United States.
In December 1994, the college was granted Membership at Level III to offer the Master of Business Administration. Membership was granted retroactive to January 1, 1994. On August 24, 1999, Saint Leo's growth was once again validated with its ascension to university status.
Saint Leo University now has a total enrollment of more than 13,000 with 3,000 on its main campus, more than 7,000 on military bases and community colleges located in seven states, and 3,000 enrolled in the university’s Center for Online Learning.
Claim your future with a degree from Saint Leo University's Shaw Center today! We are the reputable source for flexible continuing education.We offer degrees in business administration, criminal justice, human resources administration and other popular areas of study.And if attending a traditional classroom doesn’t fit into your schedule, you can expand your knowledge on the Internet through our Distance Learning Program or even get an MBA online
Our mission is to provide what you need, for where you're going. You'll love the person you become here!
Sumter Office Information
2751 South Wise Drive, Sumter, SC 29150
803-469-0028
Hours:
Monday—Thursday 2pm—10pm
Friday CLOSED
Saturday 9am—2pm
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts
Associate of Arts - Criminal Justice
Associate of Arts - Business Administration
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
Bachelor of Science - Health Care Management
Bachelor of Arts - Business Administration: Management
Bachelor of Arts - Business Management
Bachelor of Arts - Human Resources Management
Bachelor of Arts - Human Services Administration
Bachelor of Arts - Criminal Justice
