The University of San Diego (USD) is a private Roman Catholic research university in San Diego, California. Founded in July 1949 as the San Diego College for Women and San Diego University, the academic institutions merged from the California school system into University of San Diego in 1972. The university offers 42 baccalaureate degrees, and several degrees in law, nursing, (master's, PhD, and DNP), and other doctorate programs. The university comprises seven different academic colleges.