<p>I'm considering applying to USD because it looks like I could get a good scholarship, but I'm a little concerned about the religious affiliation. I personally am not religious at all. I have Christian friends and I don't hate religion or anything, but I personally identify as atheist/agnostic.</p>
<p>How Christian is the campus? Are all the students very religious? Will the religious affiliation affect my education at USD (am I required to take any religion-based courses?)
As a non-religious student, will I feel left out at all?</p>
<p>Also, how does it compare to Chapman and Pepperdine? More religious or less? </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>My S is accepted to USD, but hasn’t decided where he is going yet - but my brother-in-law went to law school at USD. His comments are the religion at USD is along the line of ethical discussions- not catechism class. Other comments I have seen at other sites tend to confirm this view. </p>
<p>I am can not comment on Chapman, but we visited Pepperdine while touring west coast possibilities last spring break. While the campus is beautiful (but we preferred the look of USD) it is very strict from a religious perspective. While I don’t have a family member to confer with - the tour guide stressed the conservative christian nature of the school, including mandatory chapel attendance, the dry campus even if you are 21 etc…</p>
<p>Pepperdine - very religious
Chapman - no religious affliation at all
USD - definately an ethics centered cirruculum, you have to take 2 or 3 religion classes, one of them must be an ethics class. various religion subjects, and some very interesting, world religions, marriage, etc…, and also take 2 philosophy classes plus a logic class.
students are about 50% catholic, but overall, not that religious, way less so than Pepperdine, but of course, more so than public schools or Chapman. The school itself - admininstration, faculty, rules, philosophy - is very Catholic, and it is very present, but much of it is optional, and they do not push their religion or views on you</p>
<p>it probably becomes more of a “comfort” and “fit” thing for you</p>
<p>Thank you. I think I will be applying to Chapman and USD next year.</p>
<p>I attended USD almost 10 years ago, and what BayAreaCAMom indicated is very accurate. I’m Christian, and actually wished the University was more faith-based. But it wasn’t and probably still isn’t. Overall, its a beautiful campus, and I really appreciate many of my professors there.</p>
<p>I don’t think that USd is religious at all. I think Pepperdine is more religious, but I’m not completely sure. As someone who has gone to Catholic school for the past 12 years, and I’m not especially religious (sort of agnostic), just confused. It’s not that big of a deal, at least at the schools I’ve been to, and I’ve always had nuns as principles (I’m from san diego btw). If you had to take religion classes, they’re more like philosophy, psychology, ethics, history, and you actually learn a lot, and do a lot of meditation and finding yourself. It’s actually pretty nice if you have good teachers and a good environment. Some people believe, some have other religious affiliations, no one pressures you into anything, and I’m sure USD is even less religious than what I’m used too.</p>
<p>I’m thinking about Point Loma Nazarene but you actually have chapel prayer three times a week and have to sign in. If I do go there, I am not looking foreword to it.</p>
<p>Parent of USD student here.
We also visited Pepperdine on our west coast tour and agree with ChicagoBear.
USD and Pepperdine both required 3 Theology classes.
Pepperdine had specific courses for 2 (Old and New Testament) plus one other, and required chapel attendance.
USD has any 3 Theology: My student took World Religions, an intersession travel to India to study the main religions of India, and an Islam course. No Christian catechism at all and no required attendance at services.</p>
<p>Could someone please tell me how it’s like at University of San Diego now? </p>
<p>It’s not very religious and is getting less so by the minute. For some of us, that’s discouraging. Not that we want to push any religion or chapel or specific courses on the Catholic religion or any other faith, or anything remotely like any of that, however, it is a religious-based and founded school and monies subsidized it from faith. Environmentalism is the new religion there. And, I’ll say something controversial here. I have seen it in Catholic high schools and now see it in Catholic or other Christian colleges. Everyone wants the money from them (the grants, the scholarships) and to enjoy the subsidized tuition by some, but all of these anti-religious people want to go there and not be bothered with religion at all. I sort of resent that as a Catholic. The following may tell you how far the university has fallen from its roots: USD drag show goes on despite Vatican appeal - San …
<a href=“http://www.utsandiego.com/.../usd-drag-show-goes-on-despite-...”>www.utsandiego.com/…/usd-drag-show-goes-on-despite-…</a>
U‑T San Diego
Apr 9, 2014 - The drag show will go on at the University of San Diego Thursday despite an ongoing effort to ban the event — a petition that’s been taken all …</p>
<p>I’m a student at USD and I definitely identify more with atheist/agnostic. However, I am a Theology major and I’m fascinated with the broad range of options for theology classes on campus such as “Holocaust: The death of God or death of Man” and things like that. It is definitely more secular than Pepperdine. I would say that the Catholic identity of the school can have as much or as little impact on you as you let it. </p>