The University of South Florida (USF), known within its system as USF Tampa, is a public university system located in Tampa, Florida, USA, with an autonomous campus in St. Petersburg, blank">About USF St. Petersburg and branch centers in _Sarasota and Lakeland. The main campus is located in North Tampa, near the City of Temple Terrace. It is bordered on the south by Fowler Avenue and on the north by Fletcher Avenue with Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to the west and 50th Street on the east side. The university is in close proximity to the Museum of Science and Industry as well as Busch Gardens and the University Mall shopping center.
The university is the third largest in the state of Florida (after University of Florida and University of Central Florida), with a total enrollment of 44,891 for the 2007 academic year. USF is currently ranked ninth in the country in terms of enrolled students. Academically, USF is a top tier public research university, one of only three in Florida and 63 in the nation.
USF's mascot is the Bull (originally called the Brahman) and its colors are green and gold. The university's sports teams participate at the NCAA Division I-A level. In 2005, USF joined the Big East Conference. USF previously belonged to Conference USA, the Metro Conference, and the Sun Belt Conference.
USF is currently the national headquarters for Phi Alpha Theta, a professional history honor society which promotes the study of history.
