Make It Davao: University of Mindanao

Matina Campus

The University of Mindanao, popularly called as UM, is one of the leading universities in Mindanao, recognized nationally and internationally for its academic excellence. It is a private, non-sectarian institution for higher learning in Davao City, established and incorporated on July 27, 1946 as Mindanao Colleges by its founder, Atty. Guillermo E. Torres, Sr. It is one of the oldest and largest private universities in Mindanao with the most number of accredited programs in the Philippines today by the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation or PACUCOA - a private accrediting agency that gives formal recognition to an educational institution by attesting that its academic program maintains excellent standards in its educational operations in the context of its aims and objectives.

UM in the 1960s at Main Campus in Bolton Street, Davao City

On the school's first year of operation, there were only about 381 students with thirteen teachers, and classes were then held in four rented rooms in the Borgaily Building along San Pedro Street. The school offered Elementary, two-year Secondary Course (1st and 2nd years), two year Elementary Teacher Certificate, two-year Associate in Commercial Science, and two-year Associate in Arts. Because of the increasing number of students, the school decided to buy Club Royale along Legaspi Street and renovated the building to suit classroom requirements.

Main Campus in Bolton Street

In the years that follow, a parcel of land that used to be a site of a Japanese school along Bolton and Bonifacio Streets was acquired by the school. Soon, despite the devastated and idle appearance left by the American bombings in 1944, construction of a one-story school building at Bolton Street began where the present Main Campus is now situated. All classes from Club Royale were transferred to the Bolton campus in the school year 1947-48. With the ever increasing number of students, the Japanese Embassy grounds across the school was eventually purchased in 1964. It was also at this time that the Mindanao Collegian, the first free campus paper in Mindanao, was created which became the breeding ground of Davao media men.

In 1948, the University established three campuses in Digos, Bangoy, and Peñaplata. More campuses were subsequently erected in Tagum (1950), Ilang-Tibungco (1951), Panabo (1951), Guianga (1952), Cotabato (1959), Bansalan (1962), and later in Toril and Matina.

On December 21, 1966, the school was renamed to University of Mindanao. The University became popular not only among middle classes and the Open Education Program in the early 1970s enabled the university to help the poor but deserving college undergraduates employed in business, as well as the self-employed to earn college education.

Today, UM has ten branches spread over thirteen campuses in Mindanao with four campuses in Davao City. The UM Main Campus in Bolton Street, Davao City occupies two adjacent lots namely the Administrative Building and Research Tower Area, and the Embassy Area. The Administration Building and Research Tower Area consists of the 4-storey Social Science Building, the 4-storey Technology Building and 7-storey Research Tower Building. The Embassy Area, which took its name from the previous occupancy, is composed of the Gymnasium, College of Accountancy, and the College of Criminology Buildings. The Colleges of Business Administration, Law and Graduate Programs are also housed in this campus. Currently, the University has nine colleges and offers Undergraduate Programs, Graduate Programs, Doctorate Programs, and Technical Courses:

Colleges

College of Business Administration Education
College of Engineering Education
College of Accounting Education
College of Law Education
College of Architecture and Fine Arts Education
College of Nursing Education
College of Arts and Sciences Education
College of Teacher Education
College of Criminal Justice Education

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Arts in English
Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship
Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science
Bachelor of Science in Financial Management
Bachelor of Law
Bachelor of Science in Forestry
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy
Bachelor of Science in Hotel and Restaurant Management
Bachelor of Science in Accounting Technology
Bachelor of Science in Information System
Bachelor of Science in Agroforestry
Bachelor of Science in Information Technology
Bachelor of Science in Architecture
Bachelor of Science in Library and Information Science
Bachelor of Science in Biological Science
Bachelor of Science in Management Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Business Economics
Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Computer Management
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Human Resource Management
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Management Accounting
Bachelor of Science in Office Administration
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Marketing Management
Bachelor of Science in Operations Management
Bachelor of Science in Business Administration - Operations Management
Bachelor of Science in Painting
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Physics
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Biological Science
Bachelor of Science in Computer Management
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - English
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Filipino
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Electronics Engineering
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Music, Arts & Physical Education
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Generalist
Bachelor of Science in Secondary Education - Social Studies
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Pre School
Bachelor of Science in Social Work
Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education - Special Education
Bachelor of Science in Tourism Management

Graduate Programs

Master in Business Administration
Master in Guidance & Counseling
Master in Chemical Engineering
Master in Human Resource Development
Master in Civil Engineering
Master in Human Resource Management
Master in Education - Educational Management
Master in Library and Information Sciences - Non-Thesis Program
Master in Education - English
Master in Library and Information Sciences - Thesis Program
Master in Education - Filipino
Master in Mechanical Engineering
Master in Education - Guidance & Counseling
Master in Public Administration
Master in Education - Mathematics
Master in Technology & Livelihood Education
Master in Education - Physical Education
Master of Science in Criminalistics
Master in Education - Science
Master of Science in Economics
Master in Education - Technology & Livelihood Education
Master of Science in Law Enforcement Administration
Master in Electrical Engineering
Master of Science in Social Work
Master in Environmental Planning

Doctorate Programs

Doctor in Business Administration
Doctor of Education
Doctor in Business Administration
Doctor of Philosophy in Criminology
Doctor in Public Administration
Doctor of Philosophy in Management

Technical Courses

Automotive Servicing NC II
Caregiving NC II
Building Wiring Installation NC II
Consumer Electronics Servicing NC II