Experiential Learning and Research
Students in the Department of Religion & Philosophy are eligible to participate in a number of internship and other experiential learning opportunities, which take full advantage of the college’s New York CIty location to broaden your exposure to fields as expansive as law, journalism, nonprofit leadership and interfaith activism. Explore internship opportunities close to home, in partnership with one of the public-facing centers housed in this department, or venture further out into the broader New York Metro area. Majors in Peace and Justice Studies take advantage of a number of partnerships to develop internships and creative fieldwork research assignments. Recent examples include: Carmelite NGO at the United Nations , Catholic Charities of New York, Fordham Bedford Housing, Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR), The International Movement of Catholic Students, Latinas on the Verge Excellence, The Dorothy Day Guild, New York City Council Members, Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, United Nations Staff 1% for Development Fund, various New York City Council Members, judges and more.
Interdisciplinary Centers Staffed by the Department of Religion and Philosophy
The Dorothy Day Center
The Dorothy Day Center engages students on issues of peace, social justice, and Catholic social teaching with an exhibit and special focus on Dorothy Day.
The Center engages students with research on issues connected to peace and social justice in the City and the world and brings in exciting guest speakers to work with students .
The Center also hosts the offices of the organization working to make the peace activist, Dorothy Day, a saint. This gives students the opportunity to network with a range of exciting peace activists and religious leaders nationally and internationally.
The Holocaust Genocide and Interfaith Education Center
The Holocaust Genocide and Interfaith Education Center works to eradicate human suffering, prejudice, and racism through education. Courses connected to the center focus on interfaith dialogue, preventing genocide, and peace. An exhibit in the library brings visitors to learn about the history of the Holocaust.
The HGI Center frequently employs students as interns who work on museum curation, tours of the archive, survivor testimonies, and other aspects of HGI’s mission. Through the HGI, students regularly find internships with local and global partners.
Preparation for Law School
Students planning to go to law school do well to focus on critical thinking, logic, and ethics: all disciplines which are housed in the Department of Religion & Philosophy. See here for more information on pre-law pathways.
Students can participate in the Ethics Bowl Debate Team for course credit or as an extracurricular activity. Ethics Bowl Debate is a unique, collaborative experience that builds skills in critical thinking and oral communication while exploring current moral issues. Team members have the opportunity to participate in an intercollegiate tournament sponsored by the Association for Professional and Practical Ethics. For more information contact Dr. Eoin O’Connell at eoin.oconnell@manhattan.edu.