<p>For the non-Catholic here, what is the basic -- and I mean, just a brief description, not the total history -- difference in a Catholic university founded by the Jesuits vs. Franciscans vs. Holy Cross, etc.? Just wondering if there was a basic philosophical difference or something more concrete.</p>
<p>Because of the decline in the number of religious actually teaching at these universities, there probably is less of a distinction. American Catholic education is also influenced by the availability of textbooks and other outside factors, etc.</p>
<p>A Jesuit education traditionally focused on the total formation of each individual in his community. The mission is to educate the whole person — intellectually, spiritually, socially. The “spiritually” aspect doesn’t mean that the student must learn to be Catholic.</p>
<p>Hopefully others can chime in more about a Jesuit education and the others. :)</p>
<p>With the exception of just a small number of Catholic colleges (maybe 2 or 3), most non-Catholics would feel fine attending any of them.</p>
<p>Holy Cross is in fact a Jesuit college.</p>
<p>^^^</p>
<p>I thought he was referring to Notre Dame and the Congregation of the Holy Cross</p>
<p>University of Portland was also founded by the Congregation of the Holy Cross so I thought the same thing mom2.</p>
<p>OP I think on most Catholic college campuses you will find a commitment to educating the mind and the spirit. You will also find a similar commitment to service and perhaps social justice. My daughters attend a La Sallean college and their motto is “enter to learn leave to serve” You will see the same sort of motto at Catholic colleges and universities throughout the nation.</p>
<p>Educating the spirit is not specifically geared toward Catholicism on many/most of these campuses though there may be a theology component it is frequently humanities focused ie The Bible as Literature, or the History of Christianity.</p>
<p>Our research, which took us to most of the well known Catholic colleges and universities in the West revealed no palpable difference between the Jesuit, La Sallean, Holy Cross or Diocesan Catholic schools in terms of their focus on the students academic and social growth.</p>
<p>Holy Cross and Georgetown are both Jesuit schools and tend to be more liberal than Notre Dame which is not Jesuit.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the info; it is helpful. The main university we are considering was founded by the Congregation of the Holy Cross; I looked up the course guide and everyone has to take a philosophy/religious studies class, but there is no required attendance at mass or anything like that. This university also has a very active and well-advertised master’s program for working adults, as well as night and weekend classes for non-traditional students. I have always liked their commercials on TV, even before my son was considering going there. The catchline in the commercials is “Learn to think.” Always appropriate!</p>
<p>It’s hard to beat the Jesuits for education. The Jesuits themselves are so extraordinarily well-educated that that mindset permeates everything that they do. I don’t say this to denigrate the Franciscans or Dominicans, fine orders of educatoras as well–but they’re not Jesuits. You might look at the Jesuit Colleges and Universities website for information about the 23 colleges and about the overall philosophy of the order.</p>
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<p>everyone has to take a philosophy/religious studies class,</p>
<p>I don’t know what school this one is, but typically Catholic U’s require some kind of spiritual or theology or biblical studies class of some sort. Sometimes it can be World Religions, or Judaic Studies, or something else from a list of classes. Some have one required Core class, but it’s not a “Learn to be a Catholic class” LOL</p>
<p>Yes… the Jesuits have the rep of being the brainiacs, but that doesn’t mean that a very fine education can’t be had at a Catholic U of another religious order.</p>
<p>Catholic Universities everywhere, regardless of the order which runs it,or even teaches there, will emphasize the liberal arts. You will learn HOW to think, not WHAT to think. Google Catholic Orders of Priests and do a little homework. A lot of the spiritual talk is overlapping and sounds the same, but there are distinctions in emphasis and overall focus. </p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with the Holy Cross Fathers at UPortland or Notre Dame University. </p>
<p>There are Vincentianes, Franciscans, Redemptorists, Augustinians, Jesuits, Benedictines, Sulpicians, Cisterians, Dominicans, Assumptionists, Marianists and Christian Bros (including the LaSallians).</p>
<p>Religious Order Priests and brothers take the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience (to their Superior General). Diocesan Priests take the vows of Chastity and Obedience (to their immediate Bishop). Obedience includes living arrangements on or off campus, career choices and assignments etc. </p>
<p>Catholic University is run by the Bishops of the United States under the auspices of the Pope, and has no particular religous order in charge, per se. University of San Diego is a diocesan university and run by the Archbishop of San Diego.</p>
<p>Some religious orders are more inclined towards education than others, but regardless, if they operate a university, they all do very well. From Siena to St. Bonaventure to LaSalle to St. Francis to Providence College to Canisius to Dayton to Xavier to Notre Dame to UPortland to Franciscan College of Steubenville to Ave Maria to Incarnate Word to Villanova to the 28 Jesuit Colleges and Universities in the US you have a myriad of Catholic schools to choose from and among. Its about values and holistic approach to teaching liberal arts, caring about the person, giving back to community and serving others and Almighty God. </p>
<p>Basically the Jesuits only teach, and usually at their own universities, with rare exceptions, and of course the prep schools associated with their university. They used to be formidable in football and basketball and now its just mostly basketball. They are cagey thinkers and wily foxes…which is a good thing. They will challenge you and pull the best out of you, while working you to death. But a Jesuit education is worth its weight in gold and is prized by corporations and government alike. </p>
<p>Catholic schools with perhaps one or two exceptions, wont proselytize you and force you to take their dogmatic courses. Theology can be a compendium of comparative religions or the study of one eastern religion or the Protestant Reformation of Luther and Calvin. They teach courses on Judaism and Orthodox Christianity, as well as Islam. </p>
<p>Best of luck to you.</p>
<p>List of the 28 Jesuit colleges sorted by popularity:</p>
<p>[Jesuit</a> Colleges and Universities Quiz Results - sporcle](<a href=“http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php]Jesuit”>http://www.sporcle.com/games/jesuit_colleges_results.php)</p>
<p>I am a grad student @ St. John’s, which is Vincentian. I am Protestant. Other than signs all over campus, nothing in my classes or class requirements reflect anything Vincentian, Catholic, or really particularly Christian.</p>
<p>susgeek, we can all joke about that and the Vincentian’s, but I will pass on “the opportunity.” LOL. </p>
<p>There is a a pecking order in Catholic colleges for religiosity and the Franciscans probably win the most “awards” for being the most holy and most religious. Ave Maria and Christendom Colleges are highly Catholic and highly religious, but are not run by a particular order of priests and are not in the “mainstream” of Catholic education, meaning not on the big radar screen and not very popular…they are specialized schools for a specific purpose and specific student body. Ditto St. Thomas Aquinas College in California.</p>