Sarah Mitchell
Fordham University is a private Jesuit research university in New York City. It was founded in 1841 as St. John's College by John Hughes, then coadjutor bishop of New York, and is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States. While Fordham has been governed independently of the church since 1969, it continues to be influenced by Jesuit and Catholic traditions and principles. The university's curriculum includes theology, and students have access to spiritual resources on campus. Fordham's Catholic presence has been described as noticeable but not overwhelming, with a diverse student body and administration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of University | Jesuit, Catholic university |
| Founding | Founded in 1841 as St. John's College by John Hughes, then coadjutor bishop of New York |
| Location | Fordham neighborhood of the Bronx in New York City |
| Governance | Governed independently of the church since 1969; the board of trustees maintains the institution as a "Jesuit, Catholic university" |
| Curriculum | Influenced by Jesuit educational principles; theology is part of the core curriculum |
| Student Body | Approximately 15,300 students from more than 65 countries |
| Diversity | Aspires to be diverse and inclusive, catering to students from various backgrounds and religious traditions |
| Athletics | The university's athletic teams are known as the Rams and have a strong history in football, basketball, and baseball |
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What You'll Learn
Fordham University is a Jesuit, Catholic university
Fordham University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States and the third-oldest university in New York City. While it has been governed independently of the church since 1969, every president of the university between 1846 and 2022 was a Jesuit priest, and the curriculum remains influenced by Jesuit educational principles.
As a Jesuit and Catholic university, Fordham draws inspiration from both of these traditions. It gives special attention to Catholicism while also providing a place where all religious traditions can interact with one another. This approach adds dimensions to one's understanding of faith and the conviction of their beliefs.
The Jesuit spirit at Fordham is characterised by full-hearted engagement with profound ideas, communities around the world, injustice, beauty, and the entirety of the human experience. Translated from Latin, three key ideas that encapsulate the Jesuit mission at Fordham are: strive for excellence in everything you do, care for others, and fight for justice.
While Fordham University is officially independent of the church, it continues to be influenced by its Jesuit and Catholic heritage, fostering an environment where diverse religious traditions can coexist and interact.
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It was founded as St John's College in 1841
Fordham University was founded as St. John's College in 1841 by John Hughes, the Irish-born coadjutor bishop (and later archbishop) of the Diocese of New York. Hughes had purchased the 106-acre Rose Hill Manor farm in the village of Fordham, New York, two years prior with the intention of establishing a Catholic seminary and college.
St. John's College officially opened on June 24, 1841, the feast day of Saint John the Baptist, with a student body of six. The college was paired with St. Joseph's Seminary, which had opened the previous year. The curriculum at St. John's consisted of a junior division, requiring four years of study in Latin, Greek, grammar, literature, history, geography, mathematics, and religion, and a senior division, requiring three years of study in "poetry" (humanities), rhetoric, and philosophy. The college's academic ethos was founded on Jesuit values, aiming to develop both the moral and intellectual faculties of its students.
In 1845, the seminary church, Our Lady of Mercy, was built, and several Jesuit priests from the St. Mary's Colleges in Maryland and Kentucky joined the faculty. In 1846, the New York state legislature granted St. John's College the power to confer degrees and diplomas, and in 1847, the college opened its first school in Manhattan.
St. John's College was renamed Fordham University, after the neighbourhood of the Bronx in which its original campus is located. It is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States and the third-oldest university in New York State. While the university has been governed independently of the church since 1969, it continues to be influenced by Jesuit educational principles, and its curriculum remains grounded in Jesuit values.
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It is the oldest Catholic university in the northeastern US
Fordham University is a private Jesuit research university in New York City, United States. It was founded in 1841 as St. John's College by John Hughes, then a coadjutor bishop of New York. The college was placed in the care of the Society of Jesus shortly after its founding and has been a Jesuit-affiliated independent school under a lay board of trustees since 1969. While the university has been governed independently of the church since 1969, every president of Fordham University between 1846 and 2022 was a Jesuit priest, and the curriculum remains influenced by Jesuit educational principles.
Fordham University is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States and the third-oldest university in New York State. As the first Catholic institution of higher education in the region, it has a long history of academic excellence and is consistently ranked as one of the top universities in the country. The university has three campuses in New York City: the Rose Hill campus in the Bronx, the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan, and the Westchester campus in West Harrison.
The university has a strong commitment to service and volunteer work, with many opportunities for students to engage in local and global service projects. Fordham enrols approximately 15,300 students from more than 65 countries and is composed of ten constituent colleges, including four undergraduate and six postgraduate colleges. The university offers a range of programs in various fields, including business, law, pharmacy, and the arts, with a strong tradition in the fine arts, including music, theatre, and visual arts.
Fordham University has produced many notable alumni, including former U.S. President Bill Clinton, actor Denzel Washington, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and the first female vice-presidential candidate of a major political party in the United States, Geraldine Ferraro. The university's athletic teams, the Rams, have also achieved notable success, including a win in the Sugar Bowl and several notable alumni in the NFL and other sports leagues.
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Students must take two theology classes
Fordham University is a private Jesuit research university in New York City, United States. It is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States and the third-oldest university in New York City.
Students at Fordham University are required to take two theology classes. The first is called Faith and Critical Reasoning (FCR), which provides a background in theology and an introduction to the field of theological study. In this course, students read religious texts from a variety of traditions and explore different theories of God. The second theology class can be chosen from a range of upper-level courses focusing on different religions and aspects of religion. These courses are not intended to indoctrinate students into any particular religious belief system, and students from any religious background can enrol and benefit from the classes as long as they complete the assigned readings and actively participate in class discussions.
Theology classes at Fordham University are designed to be academically rigorous and to expose students to a range of religious and theological ideas. The university's theology department is well-funded and highly ranked, and the curriculum reflects the Jesuit educational principles that have influenced the university's history and mission.
The specific content of the theology classes can vary depending on the professor teaching them, as they have some flexibility in course design. However, the first class, Faith and Critical Reasoning, typically covers a range of topics, including:
- Different theories of God, such as God as a woman, as a part of the LGBTQ+ community, or as a dark-skinned individual
- The nature of God, including concepts such as a just god, an evil god, or a combination thereof
The second theology class can be chosen from a variety of options, including:
- Sacred Texts and Traditions: This course explores sacred texts from different religious traditions and their impact on culture and society.
- Religion in the Modern World: This course examines the role and influence of religion in contemporary society.
- Honors Sacred Texts: A more advanced study of sacred texts and their interpretation.
- Focused Study: Theology: A specialised course allowing students to delve deeper into a specific area of theology.
These courses provide students with a well-rounded understanding of theology and its intersection with other fields, such as literature, politics, and society. They also offer a space for students to explore their own beliefs and those of others, fostering an environment of intellectual curiosity and open dialogue.
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The curriculum is influenced by Jesuit educational principles
Fordham University is a private Jesuit research university in New York City. Founded in 1841, it is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States. The curriculum at Fordham remains influenced by Jesuit educational principles.
Jesuit education is based on a 450-year-old tradition that aims to form students intellectually, morally, and spiritually toward lives of solidarity, service, and professional success. Emphasis is placed on learning through community service, interdisciplinary courses, and the engagement of faith, theology, philosophy, and ethics studies. The Jesuits believe that a high-quality education is a path to a meaningful life of leadership and service. They understand that combining the liberal arts, the natural and social sciences, the performing arts, and other branches of knowledge is a powerful means to develop leaders who can transform society.
The Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm, a key aspect of Jesuit education, accentuates five elements that should characterise the learning experience: context, experience, reflection, action, and evaluation. In the Jesuit tradition, educators consider the backgrounds and environments of their students to provide a sense of personal care or 'cura personalis'. Human experience is the starting point of Jesuit education, with teachers creating conditions for learners to gather and assimilate new information, fostering the growth of knowledge in completeness and truth.
Reflection is a key aspect of Jesuit education, where learners are encouraged to be more reflective and gain a deeper understanding of what they have learned. Memory, understanding, imagination, and feelings are used to fully grasp the subject matter and its relationship to other areas of knowledge. Action is also emphasised, where learners are urged to move beyond knowledge to action, contributing to the global community through actions rooted in justice, peace, and love. Jesuit education stresses the importance of improving the world and addressing significant world problems.
The spiritual vision of Jesuit education is grounded in the presence of God, encompassing imagination, emotion, and intellect. It encourages students to seek the divine in all things, including cultures, areas of study, and human experiences. Jesuit education is a call to human excellence, developing the whole person and approaching academic subjects holistically. Students are invited to reflect on their place in the world and consider how to act with courage, commitment, and good faith.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Fordham University is a Jesuit, Catholic university. It is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the northeastern United States.
Fordham University was founded as St. John's College in 1841 by John Hughes, the coadjutor bishop of New York. It was placed in the care of the Society of Jesus shortly after its founding and has been influenced by Jesuit educational principles ever since. While the university has been governed independently of the church since 1969, its curriculum remains influenced by Catholicism and Jesuit traditions.
Fordham University is a diverse institution that welcomes students from all religious backgrounds. While the university's curriculum is influenced by Catholicism, it is not imposed on students. Students seeking a Catholic community can find one on campus, with many devout Catholic students attending mass and participating in spiritual life through the office of campus ministry.
