<p>I wanted to know how much of a role religion plays at this Catholic college?</p>
<p>I want to apply for a teaching degree (right school for this?) but I'm just worried that i have to be Catholic or will be forced to participate in religious traditions that I do not want to be a part of. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>You will not be forced to be Catholic or participate in Catholic religious traditions.</p>
<p>Agreed. You will not be forced to participate in any Catholic traditions. However, the students and faculty are so friendly and welcoming that you might become tempted to convert to Catholicism. 
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<p>You will probably need to take a theology course or two, but there may be options. Look at the core requirements and make sure you’d be comfortable with the theology. There will be plenty of non-Catholics on campus, and plenty of Catholics who don’t attend Mass once off at college! You might feel awkward if you went to Franciscan University at Stuebenville, but not a U Dayton.</p>
<p>I attended UD as a non-Catholic student way back in the '80s. At that time, at least, the gen-ed requirement could be satisfied by taking either religion or philosophy classes. I took philosophy. Alhough I had many friends who were regular church-goers, I never once attended mass and never once felt any pressure to do so. It was an incredibly welcoming and inclusive environment. </p>
<p>But do go there knowing that it is a Catholic university and that you will see evidence of that every day. If it will bother you to have events like graduation begin with a prayer, include a mass, crucifixes on the walls, don’t go there. You don’t have to participate, but you do have to be respectful of the administration and the ceremonies.</p>