What’s it like to study a Masters in Tampa?
Tampa’s roots lie in Fort Brooke, a military settlement established in 1824 after the United States had purchased Florida from the Spanish. It wasn’t until 1849 that Tampa was incorporated as a village, however. After the American Civil War, Tampa grew in size and importance, helped by booming shipping and mining industries aided by discovery of phosphates.
In the 1880s, thousands of Cuban and Spanish immigrants moved to Tampa, many of whom worked for entrepreneur Vicente Martinez Ybor’s cigar factory. Ybor built many houses for the new arrivals, and the area eventually became known as Ybor City, a diverse neighbourhood that is now the nightlife epicentre of Tampa.
Thrill-seeking postgraduates will enjoy the abundance of theme parks in the Tampa Bay region, which includes world-famous attractions like Busch Gardens and Adventure Island. Other highlights include Lowry Park Zoo and the Florida Aquarium, where you can check out some local alligators from behind the safety of a plate glass wall.
The Tampa Museum of Art features an excellent collection of cultural artefacts spanning the ages, from ancient Greek ceramics to contemporary photography. Another important part of Tampa’s creative scene is the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, a riverside arts complex comprised of five theatres – the largest such institution in the south-eastern USA. Both organisations are based on Tampa’s redeveloped Riverwalk, a district that spans the lovely waterfront area.
Student accommodation options in Tampa include on-campus residence halls as well as off-campus housing and private rents.
Universities in Tampa
There are 10 universities and higher education institutions in Tampa. The largest of these is the University of South Florida, which is a public research university with nearly 44,000 students. The private University of Tampa is also based in the city, along with the Florida branch of Schiller International University.
Careers in Tampa
Tampa has a diverse economy, with key sectors including construction, tourism, energy, finance and the maritime industry.