The Religious Studies Program is central to the Marywood experience. Every student takes several courses in religious studies as part of Marywood's liberal arts core curriculum. An accurate understanding of religion prepares one to be a responsible citizen in this diverse and interdependent world.
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Philosophy and Religious Studies
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Philosophy and Religious Studies
The Philosophy and Religious Studies department prepares students to carry out Marywood's goal for all students: learning to live responsibly in an interdependent world. Religious Studies majors experience a comprehensive overview of the religious beliefs, practices, and values of Christianity and Judaism, as well as other religious traditions. Special attention is given to the Catholic tradition, but course offerings are broad enough to benefit students of all traditions. Philosophy majors take an exciting intellectual journey with the greatest minds that have ever lived and receive excellent preparation for a professional career in law, medicine, business, education, government, or further graduate study. The department offers different tracks for both majors and minors. In the Bioethics Certificate Program, students learn how to think through complex ethical issues
Undergraduate Programs
Environmental Studies - Humanities (BA)
Environmental Studies - Justice (BA)
Environmental Studies - Science (BA)
Philosophy (BA)
Religious Studies (BA)
Bioethics Certificate
Accreditations
Institutional:
Middles States Commission on Higher Education
About The Philosophy and Religious Studies Department
The Philosophy Program promotes the development of the person as an individual and as a meaningful contributor to society. The primary goal of philosophy courses is to address some of life's ultimate questions, to enable to students to lead a more substantive and meaningful life. Philosophical reflection on the ultimate questions should lead to reasoned foundations conducive to support for human values; to an awareness of a duty to work for justice, compassion, and peace; and to the integrated and rich human life worth living, thus providing students the abilities and opportunities to be more responsible for the interdependent world in which they find themselves.
Philosophy and Religious Studies Faculty
Our faculty members have diverse backgrounds and experiences and are sensitive to your needs and goals. We're eager to help you answer Marywood's call to live responsibly in an interdependent world.
Socrates Cafe
Students, staff, faculty and visitors meet monthly in the Learning Commons for lively discussions on wide-ranging topics. Typically, the assembled group proposes topics and then decides democratically which will be the focus of the session's discussions; thereafter the topic is addressed from all angles, with everyone getting their fair say.
Students, staff, faculty and visitors meet monthly in the Learning Commons for lively discussions on wide-ranging topics. Typically, the assembled group proposes topics and then decides democratically which will be the focus of the session's discussions; thereafter the topic is addressed from all angles, with everyone getting their fair say.
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Food Recovery Network
Students Organized to Uphold Life (SOUL)
Commencement Medals
Czachor Medal for Academic Excellence in Religious Studies
The Czachor Medal for Academic Excellence in Religious Studies was founded by the Czachor family of Archbald, PA, and was first awarded in 1975. To be eligible, a student must be a graduating senior with a major or minor in Religious Studies. Minors must have completed 15 credits in religious studies.
Evaluation Criteria
- Up to four (4) points will be awarded to each student for his/her overall Q.P.A.
- Up to four (4) points will be awarded to each student for his/her Q.P.A. in religious studies. In order to be eligible, a student must have a minimum Q.P.A. of 3.0 in religious studies.
- The student with the highest combined number of points will receive the medal.
- The student with the second highest number of combined points will receive Honorable Mention.
- If a tie occurs, the following considerations will be weighed in order to determine the winner: 1) total number of religious studies courses completed and 2) service to the department.
Mary Pace Medal for Excellence in Philosophy
The Mary Pace Medal was founded by Reverend William Pace in memory of his mother, Mary Pace, to honor a graduating senior who has demonstrated, according to the criteria stated below, an understanding of and appreciation for philosophical inquiry. Students do not need to major or minor in Philosophy in order to qualify for this prestigious award. All graduating seniors are invited to submit papers for consideration in the competition for the Pace Medal.
To compete, three things must be done. One, complete three courses in philosophy by the end of the Fall semester in the year you are to graduate. Course work counts 10%. Students seeking the Gold Medal must maintain a 3.25 QPA overall as well as in Philosophy.
Two, write an essay of approximately four to eight pages. Essays count 50%. Use proper format, e.g. essay must be typed, double-spaced, title page with name, local address and phone number, and so on. Essays must be submitted to a faculty member of the philosophy program no later than February 1 of graduating year. A submitted essay may be a formal research paper or an informal creative essay, but it must present an argument supporting the student’s opinion on a significant philosophical subject. And it may be a paper that was submitted for a course and revised for the competition or one especially written for the competition. Essays must meet the objectives of the department as stated in the catalog, i.e., you should write a philosophical essay that is a clear, coherent exposition of a concept, problem or theory, which demonstrates the ability to analyze, evaluate and synthesize the matter discussed.
Three, participate as a finalist. To be eligible for an interview as a finalist, a student’s paper must receive an overall assessment as being above average by a majority of the philosophy faculty. Such participation involves an approximately 20 minute informal student-faculty discussion based on your essay and certain specific questions.
- What is philosophy? In the course of your answer be prepared to discuss at least two major areas of philosophy of your choosing (epistemology, ethics, metaphysics, etc.).
- What is the value of philosophy to you personally, and what role will philosophy have in your future?
- From your course work in philosophy, whom do you consider a great philosopher and why?
- What is a significant philosophical position you are convinced is correct? Come ready to explain and defend your conviction.
- Informal discussion, which counts 40%, will be conducted in a relaxed atmosphere. You will be notified regarding specific time and place.
Questions on the competition are available from Dr. Aaron Simmons at asimmons@marywood.edu.
Religious Studies Resources:
Theology Library
Provides a comprehensive treatment of various aspects of theology.
www.shc.edu/theolibrary
America Magazine
A weekly publication, with selected articles available online.
www.americamagazine.org
National Catholic Reporter
A weekly publication, with selected articles available online.
www.natcath.org
US Catholic
A weekly publication, with selected articles available online.
www.uscatholic.org
Documents of Popes, Bishops, and Councils About Justice and Peace
Contains a wealth of documents related to Catholic social justice teachings.
www.justpeace.org
Network: A Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Provides a voice within the Catholic community calling for peace and economic justice.
www.networklobby.org
Bread for the World
Bread for the World seeks justice and the end to hunger.
www.bread.org
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
The USCCB is an assembly of Catholic Church bishops who work together to unify, coordinate, promote and carry on the work of the Catholic Church in the U.S.
www.usccb.org
Vatican: The Holy See
Official Web Site of the Vatican.
www.vatican.va
The Pluralism Project at Harvard University
http://pluralism.org
Biblical Archeology Review
Provides biblical and archeological news and select articles online.
www.bib-arch.org
Catholic News Service
Major source of Catholic news.
https://catholicnews.com/
We offer the following as places to begin a search for material about a philosopher, a philosophical work, ideas, theories, or principles. By no means do the following websites begin to cover the vast number of web sites available in Philosophy.
General Philosophy Websites:
Philosophy Pages provides some excellent introductory material to Philosophy. The site contains a dictionary of philosophical terms, a one-page overview of over thirty philosophers, a section on logic, a guide to the history of Western philosophy, and a timeline for Western philosophers. There are web links virtually everywhere throughout the site, so it is relatively easy to follow through on any specific philosophical quest.
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy contains excellent entries on many philosophers and branches of philosophy.
The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy contains good overviews of philosophers' ideas.
Bartleby defines itself as follows: "The preeminent Internet publisher of literature, reference and verse providing students, researchers and the intellectually curious with unlimited access to books and information on the web, free of charge." Check it out.
Bioethics:
Religious Tolerance offers a general view of the controversy concerning physician-assisted suicide as well as statistics.
The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS is the main advocate for global action on HIV and AIDS.
The National Transplant Society provides current statistics and background information on the allocation of transplantable organs in the United States.
The United Network for Organ Sharing offers information on and explanation of organ sharing with "quick links" to data and resources.
The President's Council on Bioethics contains government information on numerous ethical issues in biomedical science and technology.
Human Genome Project Information provides, obviously, information on the human genome project.
Philosophy of Religion:
Judaism 101 gives an account of thirteen principles of Jewish Faith, G-d's attributes, human nature, the Messiah and the three categories of Jews.
General Information on Islam contains a summary of Islamic belief in God, angels, the Koran and the prophets. A brief piece on Muhammed's life, the five pillars of Islam, terrorism and the jihad are also included.
Hinduism: The World's Oldest Religion provides a general introduction to Hinduism followed by a treatment of the Hindu Trinity, puja (daily prayer), the Bhagavad Gita, Hindu classes and castes, the four periods of Hindu life, karma, the major schools about the relationship between humans and Truth.
Buddhist Information and Education Network recounts the life of the Buddha, the basic tenets of Buddhism, the four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path, the five precepts, the three jewels of Buddhism, and the various groups of Buddhists.
Critical Thinking/Logic:
Logic contains very good general background information on logic in general and formal and informal reasoning in particular; as one might "deduce," this is the logic section from Philosophy Pages.
Logic and Fallacies (from "The Atheism Web") contains an introduction to logic and, like the previous site, a formidable list of informal fallacies, also with definition and example; yes, even atheists must be logical.
Philosophy and Religion
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Philosophy and Religion Events
Monday
May 26
12:00 AM
Memorial Day: No Classes, Administrative Offices Closed.
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Memorial Day: No Classes, Administrative Offices Closed.
Date/Time:May 26/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
May 27
12:00 AM
Last Day to Register/ Add Classes for Summer III Session
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Date/Time:May 27/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
May 27
12:00 AM
Summer Session I & III Classes Resume
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Summer Session I & III Classes Resume
Date/Time:May 27/12:00 AM
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Thursday
Jun 19
12:00 AM
Juneteenth Day (Online Hours to Supplant Lost Day) No Classes, All Administrative Offices Closed
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Juneteenth Day (Online Hours to Supplant Lost Day) No Classes, All Administrative Offices Closed
Date/Time:Jun 19/12:00 AM
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Friday
Jun 20
12:00 AM
All Administrative Offices Closed, Scheduled Classes Can Be Conducted Online
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All Administrative Offices Closed, Scheduled Classes Can Be Conducted Online
Date/Time:Jun 20/12:00 AM
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All Administrative Offices Closed, Scheduled Classes Can Be Conducted Online
Friday
Jun 20
12:00 AM
Summer Session I & III Classes Resume
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Summer Session I & III Classes Resume
Date/Time:Jun 20/12:00 AM
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Saturday
Jun 21
2:00 PM
Design Your Future Summer Overnight Camp 2025
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Design Your Future Summer Overnight Camp 2025
Date/Time:Jun 21/2:00 PM
Location: Center for Architectural Studies 105
DESIGN your FUTURE
an inside architecture + design summer 2025 program
June 21, 2025 @ 2 pm through June 28, 2025 @ 3 pm
Students enrolled in the Design your Future Program will be
actively participating in a combination of fun design projects and competitions,
organized and guided by Marywood University's experienced faculty.
Students will be exposed to a number of practical and theoretical questions presented
as part of guest lecture and workshop series, and will have the opportunity
to converse with practicing architects and designers.
Design your Future Program 2025, accepts students who will be starting
their Fall ’25 academic year as rising juniors, seniors, or as high school graduates.
The DyF'25 in-residence program, will be housed in Marywood's Center for Architectural Studies,
Students will be assigned individual desks and will have the opportunity of using the
same spaces as our undergraduate and graduate students. Furthermore,
students enrolled in the program will have the opportunity of seeing in action
various laboratories and shops (wood/metal/3D printing/CNC router/laser cutting/etc.)
Design your Future Program 2025 is planned with the desire of an immersive
experience, engaging students in a number of demonstrations anchored to the
Architecture, Interior Architecture, Virtual Architecture, and Construction Management
Programs. DyF_25 would like to reach out to a wide and diverse group of high school
students. The program has established a participation fee of $1,150, to ensure that this
opportunity is affordable and accessible to all.
The program fee includes:
- overnight stay in a room shared with one roommate)
- three daily meals served in the dining hall
- day trip (transportation and tickets) to an amusement park
- supplies for all program’s daily activities
Design your Future Program 2025 will accept registrations until the maximum number
of students has been reached or until May 30th 2025.
Full amount is due at the time of registration.
Full refund can only be issued on or before May 16th 2025.
Drop off - June 21, 2025 @ 2pm
Pick up - June 28, 2025 @ 3pm
DyF '25
Program Director
Arian Korkuti, Ph.D.
akorkuti@marywood.edu
Saturday
Jun 28
12:00 AM
Summer Session I Ends
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Summer Session I Ends
Date/Time:Jun 28/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Jul 1
12:00 AM
Summer Session I Final Grades Due by Noon
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Date/Time:Jul 1/12:00 AM
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Friday
Jul 4
12:00 AM
Independence Day: No Classes, All Administrative Offices Closed
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Date/Time:Jul 4/12:00 AM
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Monday
Jul 7
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Jul 9
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Friday
Jul 18
12:00 AM
Last Day to Withdraw from Summer III Classes
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Aug 16
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Summer Session III Ends
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Aug 17
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Summer Session II Ends
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Date/Time:Aug 17/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Aug 19
12:00 AM
Summer Sessions II & III Final Grades Due by Noon
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Date/Time:Aug 19/12:00 AM
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Wednesday
Aug 20
12:00 AM
University Housing Opens for New Residential Students
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University Housing Opens for New Residential Students.
Saturday
Aug 23
12:00 AM
University Housing Opens for Returning Students (Meal Plans Begin with Dinner)
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Date/Time:Aug 23/12:00 AM
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Monday
Aug 25
12:00 AM
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Date/Time:Aug 25/12:00 AM
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Monday
Aug 25
12:00 AM
Official Graduation Date for Students Fulfilling Degree Requirements in Summer Sessions
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Date/Time:Aug 25/12:00 AM
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Monday
Oct 6
12:00 AM
Mid-Semester Examinations Begin
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Date/Time:Oct 6/12:00 AM
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Monday
Oct 13
12:00 AM
Undergraduate and Graduate Fall Break Day … No Classes …
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Date/Time:Oct 13/12:00 AM
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Wednesday
Oct 15
12:00 AM
Fall Semester Classes Resume
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Date/Time:Oct 15/12:00 AM
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Thursday
Oct 16
12:00 AM
Undergraduate Midterm Grades Due by 5 P.M.
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Date/Time:Oct 16/12:00 AM
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Monday
Oct 27
12:00 AM
Registration Begins for Spring Courses
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Date/Time:Oct 27/12:00 AM
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Friday
Oct 31
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Wednesday
Nov 5
12:00 AM
Advocacy Day (Online Hours to Supplant Lost Day)
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Date/Time:Nov 5/12:00 AM
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Monday
Dec 1
12:00 AM
Fall Semester Classes Resume
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Dec 13
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Fall Semester Ends
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Dec 16
12:00 AM
Final Grades Due by Noon
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Date/Time:Dec 16/12:00 AM
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Jan 12
12:00 AM
Spring Semester Begins
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Monday
Jan 19
12:00 AM
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Day...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed
Date/Time:Jan 19/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Jan 20
12:00 AM
Last Day to Register/Add Spring Courses
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Jan 20
12:00 AM
Spring Semester Classes Resume
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Feb 13
12:00 AM
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Date/Time:Feb 13/12:00 AM
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Mar 2
12:00 AM
Mid-Semester Examinations Begin
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Date/Time:Mar 2/12:00 AM
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Saturday
Mar 7
12:00 AM
Spring Break (3/7-3/15)
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Date/Time:Mar 7/12:00 AM
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Mar 16
12:00 AM
Spring Semester Classes Resume
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Date/Time:Mar 16/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Mar 17
12:00 AM
Undergraduate Quarterly Grades Due By 5 P.M.
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Date/Time:Mar 17/12:00 AM
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Friday
Mar 27
12:00 AM
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Date/Time:Mar 27/12:00 AM
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Mar 29
12:00 AM
Palm Sunday
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Date/Time:Mar 29/12:00 AM
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Wednesday
Apr 1
12:00 AM
Easter Holiday Begins at Conclusion of Classes
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Easter Holiday Begins at Conclusion of Classes
Date/Time:Apr 1/12:00 AM
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Thursday
Apr 2
12:00 AM
All Administrative Offices Open
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Apr 5
12:00 AM
Easter Sunday
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Date/Time:Apr 5/12:00 AM
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Monday
Apr 6
12:00 AM
Easter Monday...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed
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Date/Time:Apr 6/12:00 AM
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Apr 7
12:00 AM
Registration Begins for Fall Courses
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Date/Time:Apr 7/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Apr 7
12:00 AM
Spring Semester Classes Resume
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Apr 14
12:00 AM
Research Day Placeholder
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Apr 15
12:00 AM
Monday Classes Meet
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Monday Classes Meet
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Friday
May 15
12:00 AM
Hooding and Honors Ceremonies
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Hooding and Honors Ceremonies
Date/Time:May 15/12:00 AM
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Saturday
May 16
12:00 AM
Commencement
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Commencement
Date/Time:May 16/12:00 AM
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Monday
May 18
12:00 AM
Summer Session I Begins
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Date/Time:May 18/12:00 AM
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Monday
May 18
12:00 AM
Summer Session III Begins
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Date/Time:May 18/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
May 26
12:00 AM
Summer Session I & III Classes Resume
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Summer Session I & III Classes Resume
Date/Time:May 26/12:00 AM
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Saturday
Jun 27
12:00 AM
Summer Session I Ends
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Summer Session I Ends
Date/Time:Jun 27/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Jun 30
12:00 AM
Summer Session I Grades Due by Noon
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Summer Session I Grades Due by Noon
Date/Time:Jun 30/12:00 AM
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Friday
Jul 3
12:00 AM
Independence Day Observed...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed …
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Independence Day Observed...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed …
Date/Time:Jul 3/12:00 AM
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Saturday
Jul 4
12:00 AM
Independence Day...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed
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Independence Day...No Classes … All Administrative Offices Closed
Date/Time:Jul 4/12:00 AM
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Saturday
Aug 15
12:00 AM
Summer Session III Ends
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Summer Session III Ends
Date/Time:Aug 15/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Aug 18
12:00 AM
Summer Session II & III Grades Due by Noon
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Summer Session II & III Grades Due by Noon
Date/Time:Aug 18/12:00 AM
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Monday
Aug 24
12:00 AM
Fall Semester Begins
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Fall Semester Begins
Date/Time:Aug 24/12:00 AM
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Tuesday
Aug 25
12:00 AM
Official Graduation Date for Students Fulfilling Degree Requirements in Summer Sessions
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Official Graduation Date for Students Fulfilling Degree Requirements in Summer Sessions
Date/Time:Aug 25/12:00 AM
Location: Academic Dates
