Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala

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Seal of the Universidad de San Carlos

The Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala (USAC) was one of the first universities in America. It was officially declared a university on January 31, 1676 by royal command of King Charles II of Spain. It had previously been known as the School of Saint Thomas (Escuela de Santo Tomás), founded in 1562 by the priest Francisco Marroquín. The University finally gained international acceptance by Official Decree from Pope Innocent XI, on June 18 1687.

In the early years, in the from the XV to the XIX centuries it offered studies in civil and liturgical Law, theology, philosophy, medicine and Indian languages. In the XX century it produced some of the best writers in Guatemalan Literature, including the Nobel Prize in Literature, Miguel Angel Asturias, in 1966.

During the Repression years (1962-1996) and what some call the Guatemalan Civil War (early 1960s to 1995), the University was at the forefront of the fight of the people against military dictatorship. As a university it was open to all ideologies, including communist socialist, and others.

Contemporarily, the University offers courses in practically all areas of science and humanistic studies, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. There are several USAC extensions in all the major cities of the Country. It is considered one of the best public universities in Central America. It is the only public university in the country.

See also

• List of universities in Guatemala

External links

• Official webpage of the Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala