Nazareth College is a private liberal arts college in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1924 by the Sisters of St Joseph as a Catholic college, with 25 female students as its first class. In the 1970s the college became coeducational and religiously independent.
There are four academic divisions at Nazareth: the College of Arts and Sciences, the School of Education, the School of Health and Human Services and the School of Management. The liberal arts core curriculum at Nazareth is called the “uncommon core”. Rather than following a prescribed curriculum, students pick their own courses based on issues that interest them.
Service is a core value at Nazareth. A high proportion of Nazareth students are involved in community service, either through volunteering or through one of the college’s academic programmes, such as the community youth development major.
Nazareth College was the second formerly Catholic education institution to be declared no longer Catholic by a Bishop. Although it now has no official faith, the college maintains it connections with the Sisters of St Joseph while providing nondenominational ministry for students and staff. The college’s Center for Spirituality Council organises a range of spiritual and interfaith activities, from yoga to volunteering.
The main campus is located in Pittsford, a suburb of Rochester. Its 150 acres are the quintessential picturesque college, with landscaped gardens and woodland surrounding the college buildings. Several underground tunnels cleverly connect the classrooms and residential buildings, providing shelter from the cold New York winter. The Erie Canal runs alongside the campus and provides a bike path.
