I’m interested in the University of San Francisco to study hospitality management. They have one of the best programs for this degree in not only California, but the country. The only thing I’m concerned about is the Jesuit Catholic part. I’m not catholic, or religious at all. So once I found this out i was immediately put off by the university. Then I read on their website that most of the student body isn’t even catholic, and that if you attend the university your’re not required to practice the religion. However I would like to hear from anyone that has any insight as to the catholic presence on the campus. Anything helps, thanks.
Yes, it’s Jesuit Catholic.
No, you don’t have to practice any religion.
USF was on my DD’s radar for awhile, she visited the school formally last summer. Everyone has to take some sort of religion class along the way but they are generally studies of religions not the practicing of one. Being Catholic is not a pre-req and like most, my DD was at first put off by the religious aspect, she got over that once she visited. All that said, we took USF off the list due to their housing issues and high cost - my DD wants a “college experience” which includes living on/near campus and once the freshman year is over, the students end up scattered all over the peninsula where affordable housing is darn near impossible to obtain.
The Jesuits have a reputation as one of the most liberal and progressive Catholic orders. It’s kind of ironic that a non-religious person is “put off” by the Jesuits, because many of the most conservative and traditional Catholics would say exactly the same thing.
The Jesuits also have a reputation for high academic standards. Most of the top-ranked Catholic universities in the US are Jesuit, including schools like Georgetown, Boston College, and Fordham.
Catholic religious practice is certainly available at USF, but it is optional. As noted above, most of the student body is non-Catholic. There is a core curriculum which includes a theology/religious studies requirement, but you don’t have to study Catholicism specifically.
Student housing is a big concern at USF, as it is at most Bay Area universities. USF has on-campus housing for freshmen, but after that it is very limited; most students have to move off-campus. But don’t expect to find reasonably affordable student housing down the street from the campus, like at (for example) Davis, SLO, Chico, or San Diego State. In fact, it may be difficult to find reasonably affordable student housing anywhere within San Francisco city limits, or in any suburb within reasonable commuting distance of SF.
@Corbett Yes that is the reputation but not the reality. Jesuits are no more liberal or progressive than any other order. In fact women were not recognized by the Jesuit order until the last 5 years or so, whereas the Franciscans accepted women in the order about 1200 AD.
The truth is very, very few American Catholic colleges are really super catholic.
In terms of Catholic chill factor, the Franciscans OFM would probably get the blue ribbon as the most “liberal” and laid-back though spiritual and symbolic.
My wife graduated from USF. She is not the least bit religious and it was not an issue at all.
“The truth is very, very few American Catholic colleges are really super catholic.”
I think the Catholic universities are ‘super catholic.’ They are just not what you expect ‘super Catholic’ to be. The are serving their missions, educating students, serving the communities they are in. There is somehow an impression that there is some kind of ‘super catholic’ way to live.
I go to University of San Francisco and barely anyone here is religious. Nothing religious even happens here, I totally forget were a jesuit school. Yea there are the requirements but its super easy to fill with some kind of history like course
hey coastal kid, what’s it like to attend? it’s one of my top choices right now and i’m wondering if it’s worth the price. what about the housing issue?